Objective:To investigate the qualification criteria of age, flying hours and personality characteristics among test pilots, and to provide theoretical foundation on development of test pilots qualification strategies.Methods:Thirty-six test pilots were randomly selected to complete Cattell's 16 Personality Factor (16PF) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) assessments. They were divided into 30-39 years group and 40-49 years group. The 16PF and MMPI scores were compared between different age groups. Among which, 30 test pilots, who were experienced test flight for over 2 500 h, were selected for semi-structure interview to sample their opinion on the requirements of age and flying hours of being a test pilot.Results:The statistic of interview showed that the age and flying hours requirements of fighter test pilots would be 30-35 years old and >1 000 h respectively, while 30-35 years old and unrestricted flying hours for the test pilots of bomber and transporter. The selection should meet the physical requirements of high-performance fighter pilots for those 2 kinds of test pilot. In MMPI assessments, correction scale scores of the test pilots in 30-39 years group were significantly lower than those in 40-49 years group ( U=97.50， P=0.040), but their schizophrenia scale scores were significantly higher than those in 40-49 years group ( U=95.50， P=0.035). There was no significant difference between groups in other personality scales (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The test pilots for different aircraft types ask for different flying hours requirements. Even the fighter and bomber/transporter ask for test pilot′s different flying hours requirements, but due to the insignificance on personality characteristics between different age groups, it would be necessary to investigate further on the selection criteria for different age segments.