PILOT INTERVIEW Note PDF

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET
CHAPTER
1. Introduction ………………………………………….. Pg 2
2. Phone Interview …………………………………….. Pg 3
3. The Panel Interview
First Impressions …………………………….. Pg 5
The Format of a typical Panel Interview …… Pg 6
4. How to Answer the Questions
Three most important questions ……………. Pg 7
Other powerful questions ……………………. Pg 20
Overcoming negatives “I’ve been fired” …….. Pg 23
5. Behavioral questions ……………………………….. Pg 25
6. Technical Questions ………………………………... Pg 35
7. Scenario Based Questions ………………………… Pg 39
8. Group Exercises ……………………………………... Pg 41
9. Helpdesk ………………………………………… …… Pg 42
copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

1. INTRODUCTION
Airline pilot interviews have evolved dramatically over the last decade. Gone are
the days of two check captains rigorously probing your aerodynamic technical
knowledge. Nowadays the interview team will generally consist of at least one
member of the human resources department and representatives of flight ops.
The modern airline interview is now centered around the behavioral based
concept developed by human resource teams around the world and can
seemingly have very little to do with aviation. Behavioral based interviews work
on the premise that how you have conducted yourself in the past is an indication
of how you will perform in the future.
There are three general categories of behavioral questions:
1. Example Based Questions
2. Negative or Difficult Questions
3. Open Ended Questions
Pilots are very good at what they do but tend to perform poorly when face with
this type of job interview. This work booklet will give you guidance and examples
on how to approach and prepare for your interview.
This booklet has been designed to be used in conjunction with the Virtual
Interview Program. Whilst not designed to provide you with the answers, they
must be your own words, it will help you structure and deliver your responses in a
clear and concise manner.
We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us should you
feel you have a question that we have not been able to answer for you. Best of
luck!
The Team At Flightdeck Consulting
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2. THE PHONE INTERVIEW
A pre-interview telephone screening assessment is becoming an increasingly

common tool used by Human Resource Departments around the world.
It is essential to ensure your phone interview is a pre booked appointment and

not an impromptu telephone call. If the phone call is taken and you are not ready,
explain to the caller that you are not in a position to take the call, take their name
and number and call them back at a time that suits you, or book in an
appointment that is mutually convenient. This will not be considered rude nor will
it jeopardize your chance of success. The phone interview is your first step in
getting that dream job; it must be treated seriously and not dismissed as just a
friendly chat with someone from the recruitment office. Remember to remain
professional even if they don’t.
TIPS:
♦ Make an appointment for the phone interview ensuring you can
take the call at a time that will allow you not to be distracted and
you are in a quiet location.
♦ Remain professional remembering this is an interview.
♦ Refer to your notes but don’t read from them, use bullet points
for reference.
♦ Stay upbeat, positive and passionate.
♦ Use short, clear and concise answers.
Whilst the interview will normally last 10- 15 minutes, be prepared to clear an
hour of your time so as not to be time pressured. There are several questions
that must be asked and this will allow you to prepare in advance.
During your preparation write your answers in point form. During the interview
this will allow you to refer to your notes whilst still ensuring your answers are
fresh, natural and unscripted.
The opening questions will normally confirm information that they have about you
is correct. Your contact information, licenses, ratings and flying hours. Know your
CV and make sure it is up to date.
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QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR IN ADVANCE
o Tell me about your career to date?

o Why do you want to work for us?
o What do you know about our company?
o What do you have to offer us?
o What remuneration are you expecting?
o When are you available to start?
o Do you think you will be able to cope with the flexibility
requirements of last minute roster changes?
o You will be flying with different people everyday, tell me about a
time you have flown with someone very different from yourself?
Normally they will then explain the process from here and what to expect, when
and how they will contact you should you be successful.
In the chapter on Panel Interviews we have outlined in detail how to answer the
above questions. Just remember, have your notes in point form, this enables you
to sound natural and unscripted.
Notes
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3. THE PANEL INTERVIEW
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
From the moment you walk into the building your interview has begun.
Everybody from the doorman to the receptionist is watching you and they will all
form an opinion so the old saying about first impressions applies from the
moment you walk in the door until you’re safely out of the building.
Within seconds of meeting someone a first impression is made and that

impression is virtually irreversible. That vital first few minutes of meeting the
interviewers, your greeting, handshake, smile and body language will determine
how your interviewers will perceive you and the tone for the day will be set. If
their opinion of you is positive then throughout the day they will be looking at your
actions and answers to confirm it, if it is negative they will be looking for
negatives to confirm their opinion.
Much of what is required to make a good impression is common sense. But with
a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make
that first impression not just good but great. Just remember you want to be the
standout candidate, but for the right reasons!
TIPS;
♦ Dress should be neat, tidy and appropriate. There is no such thing
as over dressing in a job interview, however it is best to be
conservative.
♦ A confident handshake, but not too firm, making eye contact with
your opposite.
♦ Have a pleasant and warm smile.
♦ Make positive small talk (even if your morning was awful)
♦ Be courteous and attentive.
♦ Have a positive, confident outlook on the day.
♦ You have worked hard for this day, don’t blow it by making a joke
that’s taken the wrong way. I have seen so many jokes back fire on
the candidate, it’s not professional and has no place in today’s
professional job interview.
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THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL PANEL INTERVIEW
Representatives from both the HR department and Flight Operations will conduct
your airline interview.
Questions will be asked in order to cover the following topics;
o About your career
o About yourself
o About the company
o Behavioral questions
o Scenario based questions
o Technical questions
o Your questions to the interview panel
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4. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
Your answers must be well

thought out and delivered in a
clear, concise and positive
manner!
SOUNDS SIMPLE DOESN’T IT!
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1. “Tell us about yourself?”
2. “What attributes will you bring to this company?”
3. “Why do you want to work for us?”
These are three questions that must be asked in any panel interview and they
are also the three answers that you must nail in order to have any chance in
getting through the interview.
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QUESTION 1. “Tell us about yourself”?
Or
“Tell us about your career to date”?
Or
“Tell us how you got to be sitting here today”?
This question is normally the opening question of the interview.
“Nice to meet you Mark, why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about
yourself?”
Some may call it an “ice breaker” but in reality it sets the tone for the remainder
of the interview.
Your answer must highlight and concentrate primarily on your aviation career,
you are there for an aviation position so keep it aviation related.
Structure your answer using the following guidelines;
1. Start off by a quick introduction about yourself, your interests and the
current position you hold.
2. Then go all the way back to the beginning of your interest in aviation,
leading into your first job and subsequent career.
3. Bring your story to a close with a brief summary of your current

employment. This is referred to as closing the “loop”.
“My name is Jason Steven’s, I’m 28 years old, married and the father of two young
girls. I am currently employed as a Dash 8 First Officer with Central Plains Airlines. I
completed my commercial license in 2002 at Proflite Flying School in California and
was immediately employed as a flight instructor. In 2004 I relocated to Phoenix to take
up a First Officer position on a Brasilia with Phoenix Air Charter. Unfortunately shortly
after my initial line check the company went into liquidation. To support my family I
undertook casual waiting jobs at night whilst job hunting by day. In December 2006 I
was offered and accepted a position with Central Plains Airlines in Arizona on the
Metroliner and worked my way up to the position of First Officer on the Dash 8-400”
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Try an example for yourself
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It is essential to rehearse this answer, however it must come over as fresh,

interesting and unscripted. The best way to achieve this is by keeping the
manner and grammar of your answer informal, as if you are chatting to a friend
over coffee. It needs to come from the heart and have your passion and
enthusiasm shine through.
Stories about your time in a particular company will keep the interviewer
interested as well as making your answer personal to you.
The importance of this is that when the company has the “wash up” of all the
interviewees for the week and they review the notes on your particular interview
you will stand out through your stories, not by a scripted, perfectly worded
answer that is impersonal.
When you discuss employment at a company always talk about the positives of
your time there. If you find that there are areas where you had difficultly in certain
positions and times in your career the less said the better.
Telling horror stories about

previous employers can be
discussed at the bar, AFTER
YOU GET THE JOB!!!!
Remember, everything is positive, all is good, that you are an upbeat and
happy person with a fantastic outlook on life! If this persona is displayed then
this is how the interviewers will remember you. If you come across as a negative
person who has had a hard career and feels hard done by, then the interviewers
will go away with a negative outlook on your performance and would think twice
about employing someone with those characteristics.
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If you have areas of non-aviation employment then by all means mention it,
however keep it brief. For example
“From 2002 to 2004 I was employed in various IT positions for two major
communications companies based out of Sydney.”
TIPS;
♦ Be confident, if you believe it they will too!
♦ Talk slowly and emphasis the important information.
♦ Be sincere, passionate and positive!
♦ Don’t waffle or repeat yourself, keep it short and to the point.
♦ Be clear, concise whilst using positive words.
♦ Never make a personal comment or opinion on someone or

something.
♦ Add in short examples of your time in particular companies
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QUESTION 2. “What do you have to offer our company?”
Other variants of this question can be:
o What attributes will you be bringing with you?

o Why should we hire you?
o How do you stand out amongst the other candidates?
o How would your current manager describe you?
o What are your strengths?
o We are interviewing 20 people for one position, why should you get
the job?
o The candidate before you has an impressive resume, why should
we hire you over him?
o What do you have to offer over and above the other candidates we
are interviewing today?
This question is all about you and this is your moment to
SELL
YOURSELF!
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There is a simple method to follow that helps anyone to answer this question.
The best way around it is to write down 5 descriptive words that best describe
you. Expanding the words into examples.
Description plus Evidence gives Credibility.
“I am dedicated to my career, I worked part time in the hospitality

industry for over three years in order to support my passion for flying
and to maintain my interest in aviation. On completion of my CPL I
packed my bags and headed North to Darwin in hope of finding work.
After 3 months of cleaning hangars I was offered my first charter flight
with the company. I was told it was in reward for putting in so much
hard work and dedication. I stayed with that company for over 3 years,
during which time I moved up through the ranks until I was flying RPT
multi-crew operations on Dash-8’s.
I am also very reliable. I am more than happy to help out in anyway

that I can and my company know that they can always rely on me.
Recently the company found themselves short staffed at the last
minute so they called me on a day off, I was in the pre-flight briefing
within the hour. In the past I have also helped out with extensions of
duty when requested.
I am very passionate about my flying career, from a very young age I

have loved aviation. I still to this day collect model aircraft and am
always excited to go to work and never think of it as a chore. I wear
my uniform with pride and I am always striving to do the best job
possible every flight.
*I am also very honest and approachable. I am not afraid to admit fault,

own up to a problem or speak up if I feel I need to. I believe my
honesty and positive outlook on life also makes me more
approachable. In the past I have often found myself being approached
by the “new guy” who has numerous questions about our operation
and I am more than happy to sit down and go over things to help out in
my spare time. These are qualities I will bring with me to Virtual
Airlines.”
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Know your opening and closing statements by heart and

make them powerful!
Below are some descriptive words to get you started.
Motivated Passionate Show initiative Driven
Hard working Positive Respectful Team Player
Focused Responsible Energetic Enthusiastic
Calm Approachable Professional Unfazed
Composed Gentle Active Honest
Reliable Dedicated Flexible Friendly
Integrity Loyal Patient Relaxed
Emphatic Leadership Communicator
Choose five descriptive words to expand on.
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2. __________________________________________________
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Now try combining the five words into a complete answer.
Q. How do you stand out from other candidates?
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QUESTION 3. “Why do you want to work for our airline?”

The answer should be 90% about the company and only 10% about you.
There are two great resources to help you on your way.
1. Visit the Airlines website. Click on “About Us”. Here you will find details on
such things as the companies “ethos”, headquarters, personnel,
destinations etc. This is a handy insight into how the company views itself.
2. Visit Wikipedia and search for your airline. Print it out and make notes to
refer back too.
Make notes on the following.
o Company headquarters and key personnel.
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o Brief History.
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o Financial situation, business outlook and management style.
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o Alliances.
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o Aircraft type, Numbers and Orders.
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o Destinations, frequency and future destinations.
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o Key Markets i.e. Business, Leisure etc.
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o The type of people they employ.
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o And most importantly, what makes the company unique.
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Having now done your research now try and combine your information into a
unique answer.
Example; Virgin Blue, Australia
“ Virgin Blue has an innovative approach to business with a very

dynamic and forward way of thinking. I really like how they think
outside of the square with their advertising campaigns. The
company has a secure financial position with recent expansions
internationally into the Asia Pacific region providing plenty of
opportunity for advancement. They have a modern fleet of aircraft
that are highly efficient, flying to interesting destinations around
Australia and the Pacific. Everyone within the company seems to
have an energy about them that is contagious, they are open,
upbeat and friendly. On a personal note working for Virgin Blue
would offer me a long-term stable career with boundless
opportunities in an environment that is enjoyable, ever changing
and one that I would very much like to be apart of.
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This answers shows:
o You have done your research.
o You respect their company.
o You are enthusiastic about working for the company.
o You can see yourself fitting into the culture of the company.
OTHER POWERFUL QUESTIONS;

“What do you hope to gain out of employment with us?”
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
“What is your ultimate goal with our airline?”
“What are your expectations of working for us?”
Be honest with your answer without sounding too selfish. At any opportunity bring
in the positive aspects of the company within your answer. This answer is really a
mix of the answer to “why you want to work for us”. Be honest with how you see
your future unfolding with them.
Example;
“I hope to gain a long-term stable career with a company that offers a

variety of flying, both domestic and international on a variety of modern
jet aircraft. I hope to gain my Captaincy on the B737 and with my
instructing background possibly move into a position of check and
training. I would also look forward to going to work each day knowing
that I would be operating with crew that are genuinely happy, upbeat
and friendly with a great positive outlook on life.”
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“If you had a job offer from both us and XYZ Airlines, which one would you
choose?”
This is obviously a delicate question and one that will require a lot of thought on
your behalf before the interview. Stay upbeat and positive, Here’s an example.
“If I am fortunate to be offered both positions I will stick to my

original goals of working with Jetblue. Jetblue can offer me the
opportunities to fly a range of aircraft both domestically and
internationally and I believe has the right culture fit for me as a
person”
Word of WARNING! Avoid at all cost any situation or answer that may be
construed as being negative.
Focus on the positives of the company and interview you are attending.
NOTE: In the example above there was no mention of XYZ Airlines.
“What don’t you like about your current job?”

This is an example of a negative question.
Mention what you like about the position-- then move on to what the job doesn’t
offer you.
“I am currently a Captain on the Dash-8-400, I love the flying, the

people and the company, however my career goal is to be a Jet
Airline Captain and my current company is unable to offer me
this.
When addressing negative questions it is best to keep the information to a

minimum, short and to the point. Don’t labor the situation, you will sound like you
are making excuses and that you are trying to convince the interview team of
your point of view, this can only lead to a negative outcome.
Short, to the point and move on.
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“Tell us about a time recently you have been under stress, how did you recognize
it and how did you cope with it?” or “How do you cope with stress in general?”
This doesn’t specifically have to be about aviation. What they are looking for is
how you cope with stress in general and how you analyze problems from the
past. Be honest about the problem and how it affected you without going into too
much detail. Remember to add in how you cope with stress in general.
“A time recently when you were stressed?”
1. “My fiancé broke up with me completely out of the blue, moved out and back to
her native country! At the same time I was studying for my cyclic simulator tests.”
2. “My wife’s family were struggling financially with their business and we had a
lot of money tied up with it.”
3. “I accepted a new basing which came in conjunction with my upgrade to

command on a new aircraft type. I had to move states, which involved renting out
my own house, looking for a new house in a new city that I was unfamiliar with
while studying for my command on a new aircraft type.
“How did you recognize it?”
• I couldn’t concentrate on anything at work, all I could think about was the
problem.
• I became quite irritable, people commented on my bad moods.
• I started to blame other people
• I wasn’t sleeping very well
“How did you deal with it?”
• I confronted the problem head on

• I organized a plan of attack to solve the problem
• I wrote out a schedule of “must do items” in order of preference
• I admitted fault and communicated this to the appropriate people involved
• I opened up the communication lines
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“How do you cope with stress in general?”
• Make an effort to deal with the problem, I don’t ignore it

• Spend time with my friends, go to BBQ’s and take time out for myself
• I take the family dog for a walk
• I do exercise, go surfing, mountain bike riding
• I go to the movies, read a book, meditate
• I talk with my girlfriend/ wife about the problem and ask for their advice,
opinion
OVER COMING NEGATIVES

Most of us at some point in our careers have been let go of, had extended
periods of unemployment or left a job on bad terms, everyone has that skeleton
in their closet, including those who are conducting the interview!
The important thing is how you deal with it in under the pressure of an interview.
If you go into the interview carrying baggage from a previous situation the
interviewers will most certainly pick up on it and probe deeper until your true
feelings are exposed for the world to see.
Don’t offer up any negative information but at the same time don’t avoid or lie
about it.
As a general rule if it’s not a problem for you it wont be a problem for them.
TIPS:
If you have had extended periods of unemployment highlight positively how you
filled your time.
“During the downturn of 2008 I found myself un-employed

for a period of six months. Whilst still actively job hunting I
filled in my extra time by starting a fitness regime of
cycling, swimming and yoga. For mental stimulation every
Friday I worked as a volunteer at the local school library.”
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If you were let go by your last employer state what you learnt from the
experience.
“Following a disagreement with my chief pilot over …… I was

let go of my position. It was a good learning experience for
me. After much self-analysis of the situation I came to the
realization that by listening more carefully to my chief pilot I
would have avoided the conflict and the end result.”
In the above example we have not avoided fault, haven’t made excuses and
have turned the situation into a learning experience.
When addressing negative questions it is best to keep the information to a

minimum, short and to the point. Don’t labor the situation, you will sound like you
are making excuses and that you are trying to convince the interview team of
your point of view, this can only lead to a negative outcome.
Short, to the point and move on.
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5. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS
TELL US ABOUT A TIME …..?
These type of questions are known as behavioral questions and the theory,
rightly or wrongly is that how you have behaved, reacted, managed, conducted
yourself in the past is an indication of how you will behave in the future. They are
a feature of the modern job interview and can be quite daunting to the
unprepared.
Behavioral questions generally fall into three categories.
1. Example Based Question
2. Open Ended Questions.
3. Difficult or Negative Questions.
In preparation for these questions we recommend putting together a list of at

least five scenarios that you have PERSONNALLY been Involved with. They
must be aviation related. Once you have thought out and planned your examples
you can adapt them to virtually any question that is thrown at you.
If the interview is purely based on behavioral questions (No Technical questions)
it is advised to come up with at least eight scenarios.
The following areas must be covered;
o Planning
o Teamwork
o Conflict
o Communication
o Error making and recovery
Write down a short example for the following.
1. When have you been involved with a task that had a deadline?
(Hint; ATPL’s or aircraft conversions are good for this example.)
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2. An occasion when you worked in a team environment.

(Hint; A team can consist of yourself, ground staff, loaders and other crewmembers.)
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3. A time you worked with someone you didn’t get along with.
(Hint; Be honest, say what was difficult, don’t offer excuses, end on how you dealt with it.)
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4. When you had to change your communication style to suit your audience.
(Hint; Someone where English was their second language, or a non aviation person.)
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5. When have you let yourself or your boss down?

(Hint; This should be early on in your career when mistakes are expected to be made.)
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Now that you have your examples, when structuring your answers follow this
three-part process using the acronym:
S. A. O.
S = The Situation.
A = The Action Taken.
O = The Outcome.
“Give an example of a time you had to act quickly and on your feet?”
This is an example-based question.
The Situation.
I was operating a charter flight from Moree to Brisbane in a Cessna 310

with four passengers on board. On reaching the circuit area and lowering
the landing gear I received both visual and oral cues that the left gear was
not fully extended.
The Action Taken.
I silenced the warning horn by retracting the flaps, which both calmed the
passengers and allowed me to focus on the task at hand. I actioned the
appropriate checklist which included manually extending the landing gear.
This gave me the required three green lights indicating the gear was down
and locked. To further confirm the gear was down I requested a fly by of
the tower. After confirmation by the tower I extended the landing flaps to
ensure there was no warning horn.
The Outcome.
I completed my landing checklist and made a normal approach and

landing. On disembarking the group leader commented on my calm
demeanor and professionalism during a tense situation.
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Now use your examples to answer the following questions.
Describe a time you used logic to solve an unusual situation?
The Situation
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Your Actions
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The Outcome
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Describe to us a time you led a team to a successful outcome?
The Situation
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Your Actions
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The Outcome
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Tell us about a time you have had a personal conflict with a work
colleague?
The Situation
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Your Actions
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The Outcome
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When have you had to change your communication style to get your point
across?
The Situation
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Your Actions
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Tell us about a time your performance was lacking? How did you recognize
it and what did you do to resolve the situation?
The Situation
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Your Actions
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The Outcome
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More examples of behavioral question you should be prepared for.
• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to

successfully convince someone to see things your way.
• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that
demonstrated your coping skills.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and
logic in solving a problem.
• Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet
or achieve it.
• Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to
influence someone's opinion.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy

with which you did not agree with.
• Please discuss an important written document you were required to

complete.
• Tell me about a time you had to do a monotonous task, how did you keep
motivated
• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of
duty in order to get a job done.
• Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were
required to prioritize your tasks.
• Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second

decision.
• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
• Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another
person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or
vice versa).
• Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
Page 33 of 42
• Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish

and failed.
• Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
• Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset
customer or co-worker.
• Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
• Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
• Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to

solve a problem.
• Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
• Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed

preventive measures.
• Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular

decision.
• Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.
• Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
• A time you had to complete a task that was well below your skill level, how
did you keep motivated?
• A problem on the aircraft for which there were no Standard Operating

Procedures to follow.
• A time you had to deal with a change in your work environment
• What is the longest duty you have had and how did you prepare for it.
Page 34 of 42
6. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
Most airlines will ask technical questions during the interview. The types of
questions will range from Instrument Flight Rules, General Aeronautical
Knowledge, Meteorology, and Aerodynamics etc.
The best information available on these questions will be found in your own
notes, manuals as well as forums or pilot chat websites. As the range of technical
questions is vast it is not the intention of this work booklet to provide answers to
all the questions but to provide you with guidance on how to structure your
answers.
You will be asked questions on your current aircraft type, routes and destinations
you serve. Be sure you study up on these items.
When structuring your answers be sure to keep your response short and to the
point. Don’t allow yourself the opportunity to get confused and tangled up. If the
interviewer requires more detail let them ask for it.
Describe to us what
TCAS is?
Question; This is an open-ended question.
“TCAS is an acronym for Traffic Collision

Avoidance System. It provides co-coordinated
maneuvers to the pilots of aircraft that are
transponder equipped in order to avoid a collision”.
Now wait for the interviewer to ask further questions.
Page 35 of 42
Another example.
Why do some aircraft have winglets?
“Winglets reduce drag by

preventing the mixing of the upper
and lower airflow”
What type of drag does it reduce?
“Induced Drag”
OK, When is induced drag at its

greatest?
“During Take Off &

Landing”
This is a far better way to structure your answer and avoid confusion than,
Page 36 of 42
“Some aircraft have winglets to reduce drag by

preventing the mixing of the upper and lower
airflow therefore reducing wingtip vortices
therefore reducing induced drag resulting in
decreased fuel burn and therefore increase
range. Induced drag is at its highest during take
off and landing BLAH, BLAH, BLAH”
Get the idea !

When answering open ended questions (those that ask you to explain
something) keep your answer brief and answer as if you are explaining the topic
to someone who has no aviation experience. The idea is that you answer the
question in brief and expect to get the interviewer to ask further questions,
therefore helping to guide you through your answer. Some of the topics that can
be asked have so much information to them it is hard to know where to start and
finish and therefore can open up the opportunity of digging yourself into a hole!
One more example;
“What is GPWS?
“GPWS stands for Ground
Proximity Warning System. It is
a system built into the aircraft in
order to aid the pilots to avoid
controlled Flight into Terrain”.
How many alert modes are

there?
It consists of seven modes all of which
have a voice announcement to bring
the pilots attention to the immediate
threat. Such as “Terrain, Pull Up”.
Page 37 of 42
Ok, What is enhanced

GPWS?
“Enhanced GPWS uses a built in terrain

database which combined with GPS allows
the system to look forward rather than just
vertically as is the case with traditional
GPWS, ultimately giving the pilot’s more time
to react.”
Examples Of Commonly Asked Questions
“What is the missed approach obstacle clearance?”
“What happens to stall speed as load factor increases?”
“What are your actions in the event of windshear on take off?”
“Why does the B747 have wing tips and the B777 doesn’t?
“Why does the airbus A330/A340 carry fuel in the tail?”
“Describe to us the carioles effect?”
“What do you know about typhoons in the Asia Pacific region?”
“What is ETOPS?”
Page 38 of 42
7. SCENARIO BASED QUESTIONS
Building questions can play an important part in an interview, some airlines like to
place the candidate under stress by asking a “no win situation” question. They
want to see how you handle the stress and whether or not you will dig yourself a
hole and if so how will you handle it?
“Your Captain breaks a rule in flight, what do you do about it?”
“I would bring it to his attention, maybe he didn’t realize he made the error.”
“Ok now that you have brought it to his attention, he tells you he is a senior check
Captain and to mind your own business, what will you do now?”
“I would say that I was new in this position and that my understanding of the
Standard Operating Procedures was ….. I would explain that I have a command
to look forward to and that I would like to keep a clean slate with work and not
have any incidents on record, so whilst we fly together do you mind sticking to
the normal procedures.”
“How far would you take the matter?”
“If it become a flight safety risk such as an unstable approach and no corrective
action was taken I would be obliged to take over”
“If it was a blatant act of breaking rules and he continued to do it on the following
sectors I would advise him that if he didn’t stop that I would be forced to submit a
flight safety report”
The best way around awkward situations is to point out the basic facts and the
company procedures and then put the onus back on the Captain.
Always give someone the opportunity to own up to an incident before you go and
report it to the chief pilot, always inform the person you are going to report him or
her.
Page 39 of 42
“You smell alcohol on the Captains breath, what are you going to do about it?”
“I would take the Captain aside. I would explain that I can smell alcohol on his
breath and that I was concerned. I would strongly advise him to report unfit for
duty”
“And if he refused or denied it?”
“I would ask him not to put me into a position where I would have to report him”
Explain the facts, the consequences and offer a solution.
Page 40 of 42
8. GROUP EXERCISES
During the group exercises you will be separated into groups of 8-10 and
assigned the same task as other groups. There is normally a time limit and there
is some form of a problem to solve. Sometimes you will be given a problem to
solve without all of the information and other times it may require using your own
experience and knowledge to complete a task.
You will be observed from a distance by all facilitators. They will observe how
you behave in a team environment.
The facilitators are looking for is a variety of characteristics. These can be

summarized below.
• Team interaction and participation.

• Ability to speak up and voice your own opinion in front of the group.
• Leadership skills without being overbearing.
• Ability to follow orders.
• Friendliness and respect towards your work colleagues.
• Your overall personality.
The facilitators on the day are looking for an overall behavior that will suit their
airlines own aircrew profile. Always be upbeat and positive. Don’t be afraid to
speak up if required, however remember to follow instructions and respect others
in the group. Balance is the key.
An example of a typical group exercise can be found in the online program.
Page 41 of 42
9. HELPDESK
Should you require any further help with your interview preparation please do not
hesitate to contact us through info@flightdeckconsulting.com
We offer one on one coaching which has an amazing success rate.
Best of luck with your airline interview.
From the team at FLIGHTDECK CONSULTING.
www.flightdeckconsulting.com
Page 42 of 42

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AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET

2. Phone Interview …………………………………….. Pg 3

3. The Panel Interview

First Impressions …………………………….. Pg 5

The Format of a typical Panel Interview …… Pg 6

4. How to Answer the Questions

Three most important questions ……………. Pg 7

Other powerful questions ……………………. Pg 20

Overcoming negatives “I’ve been fired” …….. Pg 23

5. Behavioral questions ……………………………….. Pg 25

6. Technical Questions ………………………………... Pg 35

7. Scenario Based Questions ………………………… Pg 39

8. Group Exercises ……………………………………... Pg 41

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

There are three general categories of behavioral questions:

1. Example Based Questions

2. Negative or Difficult Questions

3. Open Ended Questions

The Team At Flightdeck Consulting

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

2. THE PHONE INTERVIEW

A pre-interview telephone screening assessment is becoming an increasingly

It is essential to ensure your phone interview is a pre booked appointment and

♦ Remain professional remembering this is an interview.

♦ Stay upbeat, positive and passionate.

♦ Use short, clear and concise answers.

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR IN ADVANCE

o Tell me about your career to date?

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

3. THE PANEL INTERVIEW

Within seconds of meeting someone a first impression is made and that

♦ Have a pleasant and warm smile.

♦ Make positive small talk (even if your morning was awful)

♦ Be courteous and attentive.

♦ Have a positive, confident outlook on the day.

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL PANEL INTERVIEW

Questions will be asked in order to cover the following topics;

o About your career

o About the company

o Scenario based questions

o Your questions to the interview panel

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

4. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Your answers must be well

SOUNDS SIMPLE DOESN’T IT!

THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1. “Tell us about yourself?”

2. “What attributes will you bring to this company?”

3. “Why do you want to work for us?”

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

QUESTION 1. “Tell us about yourself”?

“Tell us about your career to date”?

“Tell us how you got to be sitting here today”?

This question is normally the opening question of the interview.

Structure your answer using the following guidelines;

3. Bring your story to a close with a brief summary of your current

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

Try an example for yourself

copyright2010 Flightdeck Consulting

It is essential to rehearse this answer, however it must come over as fresh,

Telling horror stories about