What is 100 KSA in pilot training?

100 KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes. It is an EASA competency-based training framework introduced as part of the Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) syllabus. It focuses on developing practical pilot competencies — communication, decision-making, situational awareness, threat and error management, and crew resource management — rather than pure theoretical knowledge.

Is 100 KSA assessed by written exam?

No. Unlike traditional ATPL subjects, 100 KSA is not assessed by a written exam. Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) assess students through scenario-based exercises, group tasks, simulator sessions, and practical demonstrations. Students must demonstrate competency across all areas before sitting final ATPL theory exams.

What is Threat and Error Management (TEM) in aviation?

Threat and Error Management (TEM) is a safety framework used in aviation training. It describes how pilots identify and manage threats (external hazards), errors (mistakes made in response to threats), and undesired aircraft states (the result of unmanaged errors). TEM forms a core part of 100 KSA and CRM training.

What competencies are covered in 100 KSA?

100 KSA covers: Communication, Leadership and Teamwork, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Situational Awareness, Workload Management, Threat and Error Management (TEM), Application of Procedures, Flight Path Management, and Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) awareness.

What is the difference between ATPL theory and 100 KSA?

ATPL theory subjects (Meteorology, Navigation, Air Law etc.) are assessed by written multiple-choice exams with a 75% pass mark. 100 KSA is not examined by written test — it is assessed continuously through practical scenarios and group exercises throughout the integrated training course. It focuses on how you apply knowledge and behave in a crew environment, not just what you can recall.

Competency-Based Training

100 KSA — Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes

EASA's competency framework that every student pilot on an integrated course needs to understand. Not a written exam — a different kind of assessment entirely.

What is 100 KSA?

100 KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes. It is a competency-based training area introduced by EASA as part of the updated integrated pilot training syllabus. Rather than testing what you can recall, it focuses on how you apply knowledge, make decisions, and behave in a crew environment.

Traditional ATPL theory subjects test memory — you study facts and answer multiple-choice questions. 100 KSA is different. It asks: can you think clearly under pressure? Can you communicate effectively in a cockpit? Can you recognise and manage errors before they become accidents?

The reason EASA introduced it is straightforward: accident analysis consistently showed that most aviation incidents were not caused by lack of technical knowledge, but by failures in decision-making, communication, and situational awareness. 100 KSA is designed to address that gap.

Pillar 1

Knowledge

Theory, procedures, regulations, and technical data — the foundation that underpins everything else.

Pillar 2

Skills

Problem-solving, decision-making, communication, leadership, workload management, and mental calculation.

Pillar 3

Attitudes

Professionalism, integrity, cooperation, self-motivation, and commitment to safety throughout your career.

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Core Competencies

100 KSA is structured around a set of core competencies that you must demonstrate throughout your training. These are assessed continuously — not in a single exam.

Competency	What It Involves
Communication	Accurate, concise, and professional radio calls, briefings, and crew communication. Readback and hearback discipline.
Leadership & Teamwork	Effective crew coordination, supporting and challenging colleagues, sharing tasks and responsibility appropriately.
Problem Solving & Decision Making	Identifying options, evaluating risk, choosing courses of action under time pressure. Using structured models such as DECIDE.
Situational Awareness	Perceiving what is happening, understanding its meaning, and projecting future aircraft and environment states. Avoiding SA breakdowns.
Workload Management	Prioritising tasks, delegating, using checklists, maintaining safe separation from saturation. Avoiding task fixation.
Threat & Error Management (TEM)	Identifying external threats, catching errors before they escalate, recovering from undesired aircraft states. The TEM model: Threats → Errors → UAS → Accident.
Application of Procedures	Using SOPs correctly, knowing when to deviate, cross-checking and verifying actions in normal and abnormal situations.
Flight Path Management	Manual and automated control, energy management, awareness of automation modes, avoiding automation surprises.
Mental Maths	Quick calculations without a calculator — fuel, wind corrections, descent planning, performance adjustments — in realistic time pressure.

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How 100 KSA is Assessed

There is no written exam for 100 KSA. Your Approved Training Organisation (ATO) assesses you throughout the course using a combination of methods:

Scenario-based exercises — Multi-subject problems that combine meteorology, flight planning, navigation, and human factors into a single realistic scenario. You are assessed on your approach, not just your answer.

Group tasks — Collaborative exercises where your communication, leadership, and teamwork are observed. Being technically correct but unable to work in a crew is still a fail.

Mental maths tests — Timed calculations without a calculator, simulating the kind of quick decisions pilots make in the air.

Simulator sessions — Practical flying assessments focused on TEM, CRM, and abnormal procedure management.

Formative and summative assessments — Ongoing feedback throughout training, with formal competency sign-offs at key stages. You must demonstrate competency in all areas before sitting your ATPL theory exams.

The key difference from ATPL theory: there is no single pass mark. You are assessed on demonstrated competency across all areas, and a weakness in one area cannot be compensated for by strength in another.

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Common Questions

Is 100 KSA the same as CRM? ▾

Crew Resource Management (CRM) is one component within the broader 100 KSA framework. CRM focuses specifically on how pilots work together as a crew — communication, leadership, and task sharing. 100 KSA is wider, covering individual competencies like mental maths, application of procedures, and flight path management as well.

What is Threat and Error Management (TEM)? ▾

TEM is a safety framework that describes how pilots interact with their environment. Threats are external factors — weather, ATC, technical failures — that increase risk. Errors are mistakes made in response to threats. Undesired Aircraft States (UAS) are the result of unmanaged errors. The TEM model: Threats → Errors → UAS → Accident. Managing each stage before it progresses is the goal.

Can I fail 100 KSA and still sit ATPL theory exams? ▾

No. On integrated courses, you must demonstrate competency in all 100 KSA areas before progressing to your ATPL theory exams. Your ATO controls this progression. If you have specific concerns, speak to your training organisation early — the assessments are formative by design, and most ATOs want to support you rather than fail you.

What are the five hazardous attitudes? ▾

The five hazardous attitudes from FAA/EASA human factors research are: Anti-authority ("Don't tell me what to do"), Impulsivity ("Do something — now!"), Invulnerability ("It won't happen to me"), Macho ("I can do this"), and Resignation ("What's the use?"). Recognising these in yourself and others, and applying the antidote, is a core part of 100 KSA attitudes training.

Does 100 KSA apply to modular training? ▾

100 KSA is primarily structured for integrated ATP(A) training courses. Modular students will encounter CRM and human factors content in their ATPL theory subjects (particularly Human Performance) and in their MCC/APS MCC courses, but the formal 100 KSA competency framework as described here applies mainly to integrated courses. Check with your ATO for your specific requirements.

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