Is Pilot Assessments or SkyTest better for air traffic controller preparation?

SkyTest is generally the more relevant of the two for controller selection because it publicly offers dedicated European, UK and Ireland, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland ATCO products. The correct choice still depends on the assessment named in your invitation.

Is Pilot Assessments better for pilot selection?

PASS is a strong option for candidates who want a browser-based, pilot-first platform combining psychometric tests, reasoning, mathematics, physics, aviation English, ATPL revision, interviews, personality preparation, and dashboard tracking. SkyTest may be preferable when a specific downloadable pilot-screening product closely matches the selection route.

Does PASS prepare candidates for FEAST?

Pilot Assessments does not publicly present a dedicated FEAST package. Some exercises may train transferable abilities, but FEAST candidates should begin with FEAST-specific information and products matched to their invitation.

Does SkyTest offer NATS preparation?

SkyTest publicly offers a UK and Ireland ATCO product designed around Aon/cut-e, FEAST I, FEAST II, and the NATS Situational Judgement Test. Candidates must still verify the current NATS process and their invitation.

Can either provider guarantee assessment success?

No. Neither practice platform can guarantee an official score, selection result, training outcome, or job offer.

Should I buy before receiving an invitation?

Usually, wait until you know the employer, assessment provider, and pathway. Both vendors offer broad catalogs, and buying the wrong package can waste preparation time and money.

Pilot Assessments vs SkyTest: Pilot and ATCO Prep Compared

How this comparison was prepared

This comparison was prepared by the ATC Practice Test Editorial Team from public Pilot Assessments and SkyTest product information reviewed on August 1, 2026. Each provider was assessed by intended audience, delivery model, pathway coverage, access conditions and product-selection risk. Commercial relationships do not decide the winner; the conclusion is based on which product family matches the candidate’s confirmed assessment route.

Quick verdict

Choose Pilot Assessments (PASS) when you are preparing for pilot selection and want a broad online platform covering aptitude tests, reasoning, knowledge, interviews, personality preparation, and progress tracking.

Choose SkyTest when you need software that matches a clearly identified pilot-screening or air traffic controller pathway. SkyTest publicly separates several ATCO editions, while PASS remains primarily pilot-focused.

For ATC candidates, SkyTest is usually the more relevant comparison option. That does not mean every SkyTest product fits every controller assessment. Match the exact edition to your invitation.

Affiliate disclosure

This comparison contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Our conclusions are based on pathway fit and public product information, not commission rates.

Comparison table

Editorial comparison based on public vendor information reviewed on August 1, 2026. Verify live products, prices, compatibility, and access terms before purchasing.
Criterion	Pilot Assessments (PASS)	SkyTest
Primary audience	Pilot, cadet, airline, and flight-school candidates	Separate products for pilots and air traffic controller candidates
Delivery	Online browser platform requiring an internet connection	Platform-specific software and downloads; requirements vary by product
Pilot aptitude systems	Aon/cut-e, ADAPT, COMPASS, PILAPT, Mollymawk, reasoning, interviews, personality, ATPL, math, physics, English	Multiple pilot-screening packages including regional, airline, DLR, and UK-oriented products
ATCO products	No publicly identified dedicated ATSA, FEAST, NATS, or NAV CANADA package	European ATCO, UK & Ireland ATCO, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland ATCO products
Progress tools	Dashboard, performance goals, history, comparisons, and flagged questions	Training statistics, weak-area emphasis, optional cloud synchronization, and community benchmarking on supported products
Best fit	Candidates preparing for pilot selection and airline or academy assessments	Candidates who can match a specific SkyTest edition to their pilot or ATCO pathway
Main risk	Buying a pilot-first product for a controller-specific assessment	Buying the wrong regional or pilot/ATCO software edition

The fundamental difference

The two providers overlap in aviation aptitude preparation, but their product architecture is different.

Pilot Assessments presents PASS as an online pilot assessment platform. The service combines psychometric tests, theory and reasoning content, interviews, personality preparation, targeted airline or flight-school courses, and dashboard tools.

SkyTest offers a larger collection of separate software products. Some are designed for pilot screening, while others are explicitly designed for ATCO screening.

This distinction matters more than the number of exercises. The best preparation product is the one aligned with the selection process you will actually complete.

Pilot Assessments: strengths and limitations

Strengths

PASS combines several stages of pilot preparation in one browser-based environment:

Aon/cut-e, ADAPT, COMPASS, PILAPT, and Mollymawk practice
broader aptitude and reasoning tests
mathematics and physics
aviation English
ATPL revision
cadet and HR interview preparation
personality preparation
performance goals and progress tracking
airline- and flight-school-targeted courses

The dashboard is particularly relevant for candidates who want to monitor performance over time and keep several preparation areas in one account.

Limitations

PASS requires an active internet connection and does not offer an offline application.

Its public offer is pilot-first. It does not publicly identify a dedicated package for ATSA, FEAST, NATS, or NAV CANADA.

Its refund policy is restrictive, and package periods are fixed. Candidates should test compatibility and read current terms before purchasing.

Best for

airline pilot applicants
flight-school candidates
cadet-program candidates
candidates whose invitation names a pilot aptitude provider covered by PASS
candidates who want theory, interviews, personality, and psychometrics in one online platform

SkyTest: strengths and limitations

Strengths

SkyTest publicly separates pilot and ATCO products.

Its ATCO catalog includes:

European ATCO Screenings, designed around FEAST I, FEAST II, and SureSelect-style preparation
UK & Ireland ATCO Screenings, designed around Aon/cut-e, FEAST I, FEAST II, and the NATS Situational Judgement Test
Germany, Austria & Switzerland ATCO Screenings, combining European modules with regional and national-style content

SkyTest also offers multiple pilot-screening products for different regions, airlines, and assessment families.

This specialization is a major advantage when the candidate knows the exact pathway.

Limitations

The catalog can be confusing. A pilot DLR product is not a substitute for a German ATCO product, and a general European ATCO edition may not be the best match for a UK or DACH invitation.

Compatibility, platform, activation, download, and license conditions vary by product and should be checked before purchase.

Best for

FEAST-related candidates
UK and Ireland ATCO candidates
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland ATCO candidates
pilot candidates whose selection route closely matches a SkyTest pilot product
candidates who prefer dedicated software rather than a browser-only platform

Which is better for FEAST?

SkyTest is the more directly relevant provider because it publicly offers European ATCO products designed around FEAST-related frameworks.

PASS may still train general abilities used across aviation selection, but it should not be presented as a FEAST-specific course.

Start with official FEAST information and your employer’s instructions, then compare the relevant product:

Which is better for NATS?

SkyTest publicly offers a UK and Ireland ATCO edition that references NATS-related preparation, Aon/cut-e, FEAST stages, and the NATS Situational Judgement Test.

That makes it more relevant than PASS for a NATS candidate, but the candidate must still follow the current NATS invitation and official instructions.

Which is better for FAA ATSA?

Neither comparison should override an ATSA-specific resource.

PASS is pilot-focused. SkyTest’s main public ATCO products focus heavily on European, UK, Irish, and DACH pathways, although its catalog may refer to wider international use.

FAA candidates should begin with:

Which is better for pilot aptitude tests?

The answer depends on the candidate’s preparation style and invitation.

Choose PASS when you want:

online browser access
a broad all-in-one pilot platform
psychometrics, theory, interviews, and personality preparation
dashboard-based progress tracking
a targeted airline or flight-school course available in the PASS catalog

Choose SkyTest when you want:

a dedicated software package
a product tied to a specific screening family or region
offline or platform-specific software where supported
a training catalog that matches the named pilot-selection route

Purchase checklist

Before buying either product, verify:

Is the assessment for a pilot or an air traffic controller role?
Which employer, school, airline, ANSP, or regulator is involved?
Is a test provider or framework named in the invitation?
Does the exact product cover that provider or framework?
Is the product online-only or installed software?
Does it work on your operating system and intended device?
How long does access or the license last?
What are the refund and activation rules?
Are prices, VAT, discounts, or shipping displayed correctly for your location?
Are you relying on official instructions for the real assessment?

Final recommendation

Pilot Assessments and SkyTest are not interchangeable.

PASS is the stronger fit for candidates who want a comprehensive online pilot-assessment environment.

SkyTest is the stronger fit for candidates who have identified a specific pilot or ATCO screening product in its catalog, particularly European, UK and Ireland, or Germany/Austria/Switzerland controller pathways.

For an ATC candidate, the safest order is: