AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK

www.flightdeckconsulting.com

The world leader in job interview training and coaching

 AIRLINE PILOT
WORKBOOK
www.flightdeckconsulting.com

Contents
1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. THE PHONE INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3. THE PANEL INTERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL PANEL INTERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
QUESTION 1. “Tell us about yourself”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
QUESTION 2. “What do you have to offer our company?”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
QUESTION 3. “Why do you want to work for our airline?”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Overcoming Negatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7. SCENARIO BASED QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8. TOP 50 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
9. GROUP EXERCISES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
10. HELP DESK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 2

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 operations.

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
Pilots are very good at what they do but tend to perform
poorly when faced 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 and experiences, 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
contact with us should you feel you have a question that we
have not been able to answer for you.

3. Open Ended Questions

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 appear to be overly casual.
Tips:
■■ M
 ake an appointment for the phone interview and ensure
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.
■■ R
 efer 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 standard questions that must
be asked and this will allow you to prepare in advance.
Notes
FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK
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 the 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.
QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR IN
ADVANCE
■■ Tell me about your career to date?
■■ Why do you want to work for us?
■■ What do you know about our company?
■■ What do you have to offer us?
■■ What remuneration are you expecting?
■■ When are you available to start?
■■ D
 o you think you will be able to cope with the flexibility
required by last minute roster changes?
■■ Y
 ou 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, guidance on answering the above questions. Just
remember, have your notes in point form, this enables you to
sound natural and unscripted.
4
3. THE PANEL INTERVIEW
FIRST IMPRESSIONS THE FORMAT OF
From the moment you walk into the building your interview A TYPICAL PANEL
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
INTERVIEW
walk in the door until you’re safely out of the building.
Representatives from both the HR department and Flight
Within seconds of meeting someone a first impression is Operations will conduct your airline interview.
made and that impression is virtually irreversible. That vital
first few minutes of meeting the interviewers, your greeting, Questions will be asked in order to cover the following
handshake, smile and body language will determine how topics;
your interviewers will perceive you and the tone for the day ■■ About your career
will be set. If their opinion of you is positive then throughout
the day they will be looking at your actions and answers to ■■ About yourself
confirm their decision, and visa versa if it is negative.
■■ About the company
Much of what is required to make a good impression
■■ Behavioral questions
is common sense. But with a little extra thought and
preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make ■■ Scenario based questions
that first impression not just good but great. Just remember
you want to be the standout candidate, but for the right ■■ Technical questions
reasons! ■■ Your questions to the interview panel

Tips: Notes

■■ D
 ress 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.
■■ M
 ake positive small talk, this will help to settle your
nerves.
■■ Be courteous and attentive.
■■ Have a positive, confident outlook on the day.
■■ Y
 ou have worked hard for this day, don’t blow it by
making a joke that’s taken the wrong way. I have seen
too 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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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 our company?”

These are three questions that must and will be asked in any panel interview. They are also the three answers that you
must perform well with in order to be a successful candidate.

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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 interview opener.

Q “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 ■■ S

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;
 tart off with a quick introduction of yourself, your
interests and the current position you hold.
■■ T
 hen go all the way back to the beginning of your
interest in aviation, leading into your first job and
subsequent career.
■■ B
 ring your story to a close with a brief summary of your
current employment. This is referred to as closing the “loop”.

A “My name is Jason Steven’s, I am 28 years old, married and the father of two young
girls. I am a keen fisherman and enjoy keeping fit by cycling and chasing my girls
around the house.
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”

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
panel 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 they will review
the notes on your particular interview. You want to stand out
through keeping your answers interesting, 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!!!
Notes
FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK
Remember, everything is positive, all is good, 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 will certainly think twice about employing
someone with those characteristics.
If you have areas of non-aviation employment then by all
means mention it, however keep it brief. For example:
A “From 2002 to 2004 I was
employed in various IT positions
for two major communications
companies based out of Sydney.”
Tips:
■■ Talk slowly and emphasis the important information.
■■ Be sincere, passionate and positive!
■■ D
 on’t waffle or repeat yourself, keep it short and to the
point.
■■ Be clear, concise whilst using positive words.
■■ N
 ever make a personal comment or opinion on someone
or something.
■■ A
 dd in short examples of your time in particular
companies
8
QUESTION 2. “What do you have to offer our
company?”
Other variants of this question can be: This question is all about you and this is your
■■ What attributes will you be bringing with you? moment to ...
■■ Why should we hire you?
■■ How do you stand out amongst the other candidates?

10SE0LL%
■■ How would your current manager describe you?
■■ What are your strengths?
■■ W
 e are interviewing 20 people for one position, why
should you get the job?

YOURSELF!
■■ T
 he candidate before you has an impressive resume,
why should we hire you over him?
■■ W
 hat do you have to offer over and above the other
candidates we are interviewing today?

There is a simple method to follow that helps anyone to answer this question. The best way to start is to write down 5
descriptive words that best describe you. Expanding the words into examples.

Description plus Evidence gives Credibility

A “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 allow myself to pursue
my career in aviation. On completion of my commercial pilots licence 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 my 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 on 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.”

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 9

 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.

1.

2.

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 10

3.

4.

5.

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 11

 Now try combining the five words into a complete answer.

Q How do you stand out from other candidates?

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 12

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.
■■ V
 isit 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.
■■ Visit Wikipedia and search for your airline. Print it out and make notes to refer back too.
Make notes on the following.

Company headquarters and key personnel

Brief History

Financial situation, business outlook and management style

Alliances

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 13

Aircraft type, numbers and orders

Destinations, frequency and future destinations

Key markets i.e. business, leisure etc

The type of people they employ

And most importantly, what makes the company unique

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 14

Having now done your research combine your information into a unique answer.
Example: Virgin Blue, Australia

A “ 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 be very proud to be a part of.

This answers shows: Example

■■ You have done your research.

A
■■ You respect their company.
“I hope to gain a long-term stable
■■ You are enthusiastic about working for the company. career with a company that offers
■■ Y
 ou can see yourself fitting into the culture of the a variety of flying, both domestic
company. and international with a variety of
modern jet aircraft. I hope to gain
my Captaincy on the B737 and
OTHER POWERFUL QUESTIONS;
with my instructing background
possibly move into a position of
“What do you hope to gain out of employment
with us?”
check and training. I would also
look forward to going to work
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” each day knowing that I would
be operating with crew that are
“What is your ultimate goal with our airline?”
genuinely happy, friendly and
“What are your expectations of working for professional.”
us?”
Be honest with your answer without sounding too selfish.
At any opportunity bring in the positive aspects of the
company. This answer is really a combination of your answer
to “why you want to work for us”. Be honest with how you
see your future unfolding with them. Q “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.

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 15

 This doesn’t specifically have to be about aviation. What
they are looking for is how you cope with stress in general

A “If I am fortunate to be offered

positions with both companies I will
stick to my original goal of working
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.
with Jetblue. Jetblue can offer me
the opportunities to fly a range
of aircraft both domestically and
internationally and I believe has the Q “A time recently when you found
yourself to be stressed?”
right culture fit for me as a person”

1. “ We were fast approaching an unrealistic deadline and it

was clear to me that the project would not be finished to
Word of WARNING! Avoid at all cost any situation or answer my standards in time”.
that may be construed as being negative.
2. “ My wife’s family were struggling financially with their
Focus on the positives of the company you are business and we had a lot of money tied up with it.”
interviewing for.
3. “ I accepted a new basing which came in conjunction with
NOTE: In the example above there was no mention of XYZ my upgrade to command on a new aircraft type. I had to
Airlines. move states, which involved renting out my own house,
looking for a new house in a new city that I was unfamiliar
with whilst studying for my command on a new aircraft

Q “What don’t you like about your

current job?”
type.
Try an example for yourself.

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.

A “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 unfortunately my
current company is unable to offer
me this.
“How did you recognize it?”
■■ I found I was lacking concentration.
■■ I became quite irritable, people commented on my
moods.
■■ I started to lose my appetite.
■■ I wasn’t sleeping very well.

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.

Q “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?”

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 16

“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
priority.
■■ I admitted fault and communicated this to the
appropriate people involved.
■■ I opened up the communication lines.

“How do you cope with stress in general?”

■■ I recognize the problem and make an effort to deal with
it.
■■ I spend time with my friends, go to BBQ’s and take time
out for myself.
■■ I take the family dog for a walk.
■■ I find that by going surfing and mountain bike riding I can
clear my mind.
■■ I go to the movies, read a book, meditate.
■■ I talk with my girlfriend/ wife/ colleagues about the
problem and ask for their advice, opinion.

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 17

Overcoming 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! Tips:
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 If you have had extended periods of unemployment highlight
feelings are exposed for the world to see. positively how you filled your time.
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.
A “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.”

If you were let go by your last employer state what you learnt
from the experience.

A “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 previous 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.
An acronym we encourage you to use is

SAS
SUMMERISE AND STOP

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 18

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.
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 your way.
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;

1. Example Based Questions ■■ Planning

■■ Teamwork
2. Negative or Difficult Questions
■■ Conflict
3. Open Ended Questions ■■ Communication
■■ 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.)

2. An occasion when you worked successfully in a team environment.

(Hint; A team can consist of yourself, ground staff, loaders and other crewmembers.)

3. A time you have had difficulty working with a colleague?

(Hint; Be honest, say what was difficult, don’t offer excuses, end on how you dealt with it.)

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 19

 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.)

5. When have you have not performed to your manager’s expectations?

(Hint; This should be early on in your career when mistakes are expected to be made).

Now that you have your examples, when structuring your The Action Taken
answers follow this three-part process using the acronym:

I silenced the warning horn by retracting

S. A. O. the flaps, which both calmed the
passengers and allowed me to focus
S = The Situation.
on the task at hand. I actioned the
A = The Action Taken. appropriate checklist which included
O = The Outcome.
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
“Give an example of a time you had to act quickly
I requested a fly by of the tower. After
on your feet?”
confirmation by the tower I extended
This is an example-based question. the landing flaps to ensure there was no
The Situation warning horn.

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 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.

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 20

Now use your examples to answer the following questions.
Describe a time you used logic to solve an unusual situation?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 21

Describe to us a time you led a team to a successful outcome?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 22

Tell us about a time you have had a personal conflict with a work colleague?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 23

When have you had to change your communication style to get your point across?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 24

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

Your Actions

The Outcome

FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK 25

More examples of behavioral question you should be prepared for.

■■ D
 escribe a situation in which you were able to use ■■ G
 ive me an example of when you showed initiative and
persuasion to successfully convince someone to see took the lead.
things your way.
■■ T
 ell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal
■■ Describe
 a time when you were faced with a stressful with a very upset customer or co-worker.
situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
■■ G
 ive me an example of a time when you motivated
■■ G
 ive me a specific example of a time when you used others.
good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you delegated a project
■■ G
 ive me an example of a time when you set a goal and effectively.
were able to meet or achieve it.
■■ G
 ive me an example of a time when you used your fact-
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you had to use your finding skills to solve a problem.
presentation skills to influence someone’s opinion.
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you missed an obvious
■■ G
 ive me a specific example of a time when you had to solution to a problem.
conform to a policy with which you did not agree with.
■■ D
 escribe a time when you anticipated potential problems
■■ P
 lease discuss an important written document you were and developed preventive measures.
required to complete.
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you were forced to make an
■■ T
 ell me about a time you had to do a monotonous task, unpopular decision.
how did you keep motivated.
■■ P
 lease tell me about a time you had to fire someone you
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you had to go above and were fond of.
beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
■■ D
 escribe a time when you set your sights too high (or too
■■ T
 ell me about a time when you had too many things to low).
do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.
■■ A
 time you had to complete a task that was well below
■■ G
 ive me an example of a time when you had to make a your skill level, how did you keep motivated?
split second decision.
■■ A
 problem on the aircraft for which there were no
■■ W
 hat is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me Standard Operating Procedures to follow.
an example.
■■ A
 time you had to deal with a change in your work
■■ T
 ell me about a time you were able to successfully deal environment
with another person even when that individual may not
have personally liked you (or vice versa). ■■ W
 hat is the longest duty you have had and how did you
prepare for it.
■■ T
 ell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last
year.
■■ G
 ive me an example of a time when something you tried
to accomplish had failed.

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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 When structuring your answers be sure to keep your
found in your own notes and manuals as well as forums or response short and to the point. Don’t allow yourself
pilot chat websites. As the range of technical questions is the opportunity to get confused and tangled up. If the
vast it is not the intention of this work booklet to provide interviewer requires more detail let them ask for it.
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.

This is an open-ended question.

Q “Describe to us what TCAS is?”

A “TCAS is an acronym for Traffic Collision Avoidance System. It provides

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.

Another example.

Q Why do some aircraft have winglets?

A “Winglets reduce drag by preventing the mixing of the upper and lower airflow”

Q What type of drag does it reduce?

A “Induced Drag”

Q OK, When is induced drag at its greatest?

A “During Take Off & Landing”

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 This is a far better way to structure your answer and avoid confusion than,

A “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. 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 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 depth
to them that 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;

Q “What is GPWS?

A “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”.

Q How many alert modes are there?

A “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’.”

Q Ok, What is enhanced GPWS?

A “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 corioles effect?”
“What do you know about typhoons in the Asia Pacific region?”
“What is ETOPS?”

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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” style of question. They want to see how you handle the
stress and whether or not you dig yourself a hole and if so how you handle it?

Q “Your Captain breaks a rule in flight,

what do you do about it?”
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.

A “I would bring it to his attention, maybe Always give someone the opportunity to own up to an
incident before you go and report it to the chief pilot, always
he didn’t realize he made the error.” inform the person you are going to report him or her.

Q “Ok now that you have brought it to

his attention, he tells you he is a senior
Q “You smell alcohol on the Captains
breath, what are you going to do about
it?”
check Captain and to mind your own
business, what will you do now?”
A “I would take the Captain aside. I would
explain that I can smell alcohol on his

A “ I would say that I was new in this

position and that my understanding of
the Standard Operating Procedures was
breath and that I was concerned. I would
strongly advise him to report unfit for
duty”
... 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 Q “And if he refused or denied it?”

we fly together do you mind if WE stick

to the normal procedures.”
A “I would ask him not to put me into a
position where I would have to report
him”

Q “How far would you take the matter?”

Explain the facts, the consequences and offer a solution.

A “If it become a flight safety risk such as

an unstable approach and no corrective
action was taken I would firmly call “Go
Around”, if there was still no action 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”

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8. TOP 50 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
■■ Tell us about your career to date?
■■ Why did you want to be a pilot?
■■ What do your parents think of your chosen career?
■■ What motivates you?
■■ How do you motivate others?
■■ What goal are you yet to achieve?
■■ Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years?
■■ H
 ow have you furthered your education, do you think
it has helped your career?
■■ Name a highlight of your career.
■■ What was the lowest point in your career?
■■ H
 ave you ever failed any aviation tests? Flight test,
written test? What did you do to pass it in the end?
■■ What is a weakness of yours?
■■ How would your best friend describe you?
■■ How would your Chief Pilot describe you?
■■ D
 oes your Chief Pilot know you are here today? Do
they support you being here?
■■ What don’t you like about your current position?
■■ H
 ow would you change the company you work for
now?
■■ W
 hat do you admire most about your immediate
superiors and why?
■■ Who do you admire most in your family, why?
■■ W
 ho has been your biggest support? What sort of
reference would they give you?
■■ W
 hat was your toughest subject at school/university/
aviation? Why?
■■ What was your favourite subject, why?
■■ W
 hat attributes do you possess that you believe will
help our organisation.
■■ Any accidents or incidents, tell us about them?
■■ T
 ell me about a difficult decision you had to make in
the last year?
FLIGHTDECK - AIRLINE PILOT WORKBOOK
■■ W
 hat attributes do you believe a good airline captain
possess?
■■ Why do you want to work for us?
■■ How do you see yourself helping our organisation?
■■ H
 ow important do you think on time performance is
for our company?
■■ W
 ho is the CEO, Chairman, Chief Pilot of our
company?
■■ H
 ow many aircraft do we have, types, how many on
order, types?
■■ What is our share price?
■■ What was our profit last year?
■■ D
 o you know what bases we have on offer to our
pilot’s?
■■ Are you willing to live anywhere?
■■ What are our destinations?
■■ Do you know anyone who works here?
■■ W
 hat would you say has been a challenge for our
company in the last year?
■■ W
 hat do you think will be a challenge for our
company in the near future?
■■ In our companies history what do you consider is the
lowest point? The highest point?
■■ What is the role of a First Officer?
■■ D
 o you know how long you can expect be in our
company before you can upgrade to Captain?
■■ W
 e have a lot of young Captains in this company,
how will you handle that?
■■ Do you think you will be happy living in this country?
■■ What will you do during your time off?
■■ Why don’t you want to live in your own country?
■■ W
 hat do you see is the biggest personal challenge
about joining our company?
■■ W
 hat do your family think of you working for our
company and moving to this country?
■■ What will you do if you don’t get this position?
30
9. GROUP EXERCISES
During the group exercises you will be separated into groups of 8-10 and assigned identical tasks to the
other groups. There is normally a time limit and 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 the facilitators. They The facilitators on the day are looking for an overall behavior
will observe how you behave in a team environment. that will suit their airlines own aircrew profile. Always be
upbeat and positive. Don’t be afraid to speak up if required,
The facilitators are looking for a variety of characteristics. however remember to follow instructions and respect others
These can be summarized below. in the group. Balance is the key.
■■ Team interaction and participation. An example of a typical group exercise can be found in the
■■ A
 bility to speak up and voice your own opinion in front of online program.
the group.
■■ Leadership skills without being overbearing.
■■ Ability to follow orders.
■■ Friendliness and respect towards your work colleagues.
■■ Your overall personality.

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10. HELP DESK
Should you require any further help with your interview
preparation please do not hesitate to contact us at
info@flightdeckconsulting.com

We also offer one on one coaching sessions. Please contact

us for further details.

Best of luck with your airline interview.

From the team at FLIGHTDECK CONSULTING.

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 Notes

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