PilotPrep.

The problem

Pilots facing the FAA CogScreen-AE evaluation are in one of the highest-stakes assessment windows in aviation. Failure means grounding — career end for working pilots, career delay for trainees. The pain stack is structural:

Test anxiety (severe, frequent — pilots unfamiliar with computerized cognitive tests feel overwhelmed); no preview access (FAA doesn't allow practice on the actual CogScreen, creating blind spots in preparation); lack of personalized feedback (traditional prep offers generic advice, not pattern recognition across the 13 modules); expensive human consultants ($2,000 sessions); limited pilot-specific resources (general brain-training apps don't norm against pilot populations, miss the test mechanics, and don't speak the aviation language).

The solution

PilotPrep delivers 13 interactive cognitive test modules that replicate the mechanics of CogScreen-AE with adaptive difficulty driven by clinical-grade algorithms (LRPV, SDT metrics) — and pilot-specific norming so scores actually map to how the user will perform on the real evaluation.

The Coach's Corner AI feature runs after each practice session, generating personalized analysis within 10 seconds: cognitive strength radar chart, weakness identification, percentile rankings against pilot norms, and tailored improvement strategies. Replaces $2,000 consultants with $60/month access, available 24/7, scored against pilot-specific norms, and capable of producing the kind of personalized feedback generic brain training can't.

How it works

13 cognitive test modules: BDS, MATH, VSC, SDC, MTS, MAN, PF, SAT, DAT, ASC, DTT, FA, FOLD — each replicating the corresponding CogScreen-AE subtest. Adaptive difficulty using LRPV (Latency-Response-Probability-Variance) and SDT (Signal Detection Theory) metrics calibrates challenge level in real time. Real-time performance tracking across all clinical metrics (accuracy, speed, consistency).

Coach's Corner flow: pilot completes 3+ modules → system auto-triggers AI analysis → loading state ("Analyzing your cognitive profile…") → within 10 seconds: cognitive strength radar chart (visual), weakness identification (text), percentile rankings against pilot norms, personalized improvement strategies.

Primary model: Google Gemini 2.5 Pro — chosen for strong reasoning on multi-dimensional pattern recognition, long context window for detailed test metrics, and empathetic coaching language quality. AI tone: professional yet encouraging, avoids medical jargon, frames feedback constructively.

Who it's for

Primary buyers (B2C): individual pilots, specifically — (1) HIMS pilots (substance abuse recovery protocol, mandatory CogScreen-AE testing), (2) pilots seeking medical certificate renewal who want to prepare, (3) aviation students preparing for future assessments, (4) professional pilots with self-improvement goals.

Most revenue-generating segment: HIMS pilots aged 35–55 with commercial or airline transport pilot certificates — career stakes are highest, regulatory pressure is binding, and willingness to pay is acute. B2B secondary: flight schools (training program supplement), FAA-approved Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) (patient prep tool), airlines (workforce preparation programs).

Why it matters

The aviation industry faces a 34,000-pilot shortage in the US alone by 2025, mandatory recurrent training requirements, and accelerating digitization of pilot training and assessment. AI adoption in aviation safety and pilot evaluation is structurally tailwind as the industry digitizes against the pilot shortage.

PilotPrep's strategic bet is on vertical depth where the regulatory bar is high: pilot-specific norming, clinical-grade metrics, CogScreen-AE-fidelity mechanics — none of which generic AI brain-training tools can match without rebuilding the product against FAA guidance. Once the trust position is established with HIMS pilots (the highest-stakes segment), expansion to recurrent training, airline workforce programs, and adjacent aviation cognitive assessments becomes a natural path.

At a glance

Project

PilotPrep

Built by

Siva Darivemula

One-liner

AI cognitive test prep for pilots facing FAA CogScreen-AE — 13 adaptive modules, pilot-specific norming, and a Coach's Corner AI replacing $2K consultants.