Decoding EASA's KSA100: The Core Competencies You Need to Master

Published on: May 23, 2025

Hey everyone, Christopher here. If you're starting your EASA Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training, you'll definitely encounter "KSA100" – it stands for Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes. This isn't just another subject area; it represents a shift in how EASA wants pilots to be trained, ensuring we're not only proficient in technical theory but also equipped with crucial underlying competencies right from the start.

EASA formally integrated this "Area 100 KSA" to ensure that training moves beyond rote learning and truly prepares student pilots for the dynamic and often challenging realities of operational flying. The aim is to cultivate well-rounded pilots who excel in areas like decision-making, teamwork, communication, and managing their own workload effectively. It’s about building a holistic set of abilities that contribute directly to safer and more efficient flight operations. This approach, underscored by EASA decisions like ED Decision 2020/018/R, ensures that the development of these core skills is a continuous thread throughout your training.

So, let's dive into what this KSA100 area covers, using the latest EASA syllabus details from their Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011). My goal is to break this down for you, making it clearer what EASA expects and how you can focus your development.

The Foundation: ICAO Core Competencies

EASA builds the KSA100 framework upon a set of core competencies initially defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as detailed in ICAO Doc 9995, the 'Manual of Evidence-based Training'. As per the syllabus (reference 100 01 00 00), you need to recognise these foundational competencies:

• Application of Procedures
• Communication
• Aircraft Flight Path Management, automation
• Aircraft Flight Path Management, manual control
• Leadership and Teamwork
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Situation Awareness (referred to as "Awareness; Situation" in some syllabus tables)
• Workload Management

These eight pillars are fundamental to your growth as a competent aviation professional.

Diving Deeper: KSA100 Core Competencies Learning Objectives

The EASA KSA100 syllabus then goes into much greater detail, outlining specific Learning Objectives (LOs) for several of these core competencies (under syllabus reference 100 02 00 00). These LOs describe the abilities you're expected to develop and demonstrate. Let's look at them:

1. Communication (Syllabus reference 100 02 01 00)

Being an effective communicator in the aviation environment means you need to:

• (01) Show the ability to identify whether the recipient is ready and able to receive the information.
• (02) Show the ability to appropriately select what, when, how and with whom to communicate.
• (03) Show the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and concisely.
• (04) Show the ability to confirm whether the recipient correctly understands important information.
• (05) Show the ability to listen actively and show you understand the information you receive.
• (06) Show the ability to ask relevant and effective questions.
• (07) Show the ability to adhere to standard radio-telephony phraseology.
• (08) Show the ability to accurately read, interpret, construct and respond to given documentation in English.
• (09) Show the ability to correctly interpret non-verbal communication.
• (10) Show the ability to use appropriate eye contact, body movement and gestures that are consistent with and support verbal messages.

2. Leadership and teamwork (Syllabus reference 100 02 02 00)

Working effectively within a crew involves demonstrating that you can:

• (01) Show the ability to create an atmosphere of open communication that encourages participation.
• (02) Show the initiative and the ability to give directions when required.
• (03) Show the ability to admit mistakes and take responsibility.
• (04) Show the ability to anticipate and respond appropriately to others' needs.
• (05) Show the ability to carry out instructions when directed.
• (06) Show the ability to communicate relevant concerns and intentions.
• (07) Show the ability to give and receive feedback constructively.
• (08) Show empathy, respect and tolerance for others.
• (09) Show the ability to engage others in planning and to allocate activities fairly and appropriately according to others' abilities.
• (10) Show the ability to address and resolve conflicts and disagreement in a constructive manner.
• (11) Show the ability to project self-control.

3. Problem-solving and decision-making (Syllabus reference 100 02 03 00)

The flight environment often requires quick thinking and sound judgment. You'll need to:

• (01) Show the ability to seek accurate and adequate information from appropriate sources.
• (02) Show the ability to identify and verify what and why things have gone wrong.
• (03) Show the ability to employ proper problem-solving strategies.
• (04) Show the ability to persevere in working through problems.
• (05) Show the ability to use appropriate and timely decision-making processes.
• (06) Show the ability to set priorities appropriately.
• (07) Show the ability to identify and consider options effectively.
• (08) Show the ability to monitor, review and adapt decisions as required.
• (09) Show the ability to identify and manage risks.

4. Situation awareness (Syllabus reference 100 02 04 00)

Maintaining a clear understanding of your environment and operational status is critical. This involves being able to:

• (01) Demonstrate the ability to identify and assess accurately the general environment as it may affect the operation.
• (02) Demonstrate the ability to identify threats, errors and undesirable aircraft states.
• (03) Demonstrate the ability to manage threats, errors and undesirable aircraft states.

5. Workload management (Syllabus reference 100 02 05 00)

Effectively managing your tasks and cognitive resources means you need to:

• (01) Show the ability to maintain self-control.
• (02) Show the ability to plan, prioritise and schedule tasks effectively.
• (03) Show the ability to manage time effectively when carrying out tasks.
• (04) Show the ability to offer and accept assistance, delegate when necessary and ask for help early.
• (05) Show the ability to manage interruptions, distractions, variations and failures effectively.

Beyond the Core: Other Key KSA100 Focus Areas

The KSA100 syllabus also extends into other vital areas to ensure comprehensive pilot development:

• Additional Threat and Error Management (TEM) Related Learning Objectives (Syllabus reference 100 03 00 00): This includes:
  • Application of knowledge (100 03 01 00): Demonstrating pre-flight planning skills and relating KSA/TEM to flight phases in ground training.
  • Upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) and resilience (100 03 02 00): This involves recognizing upset 'threats' and suggesting effective 'threat management' in scenario situations, recognising potential upset 'errors' and suggesting effective 'error management' in scenario situations, explaining causes of upsets, demonstrating resilience, and managing stress/fatigue to maintain situation awareness. The syllabus notes that "Resilience is defined as 'the ability to recognise, absorb and adapt to disruptions'. It is supported by the pilot's core competencies and improved by experience, which can be gained by training for unexpected events or situations."
• Mental Maths (Syllabus reference 100 04 00 00): This section requires you to "Demonstrate, in non-calculator test scenarios or scenario exercises, the ability in a time-efficient manner to make correct mental calculation approximations" for a range of practical in-flight estimations. These include:
  • (01) Convert between volumes and masses of fuel using range of units.
  • (02) Estimate time, distance and speed.
  • (03) Estimate the rate of climb or rate of descent, distance and time.
  • (04) Add or subtract time, distance, and fuel mass.
  • (05) Calculate fuel burn given time and fuel flow.
  • (06) Calculate the time available (for decision-making) given relevant fuel information.
  • (07) Determine the top of descent using a simple method that is described by the approved training organisation (ATO).
  • (08) Determine the values that vary by a percentage, e.g. dry-to-wet landing distance and fuel burn.
  • (09) Estimate heights at distances on a 3-degree glideslope.
  • (10) Estimate headings using the 1-in-60 rule.
  • (11) Estimate headwind and crosswind components given wind speed and direction and runway in use.

Your KSA100 Journey with Teoricos.es

Phew, that's a fairly comprehensive overview of what EASA's KSA100 entails! It might seem like a mountain of information, but remember, these competencies are designed to be woven into your entire training program, from ground school to flight training. They're not just a checklist but a way of thinking and acting as a pilot.

Here on Teoricos.es, my aim is to help you navigate these topics. We can explore these Learning Objectives in more detail, discuss practical ways to develop these skills, and share insights to make your learning journey smoother and more effective.

Building a strong foundation in these KSA100 areas will undoubtedly make you a more capable, confident, and safer pilot. If you have specific questions about any of these LOs or areas you'd like to see covered, please drop a comment below!

Fly safe,
Christopher

Browse More Topics | Back to Blog