Part I General Questions

1. What changes have you experienced since you started working at your company?
2. What would you do if your company closed due to bankruptcy?
3. Why does flying satisfy you?
4. What was your biggest worry about taking flying lessons?
5. What has been the biggest surprise you have experienced since you started working as an
airline pilot?
6. What motivated you to pursue a flying career?
7. Would you be willing to reduce your salary in order to save the company from bankruptcy?
Why or why not?
8. How did you finance your flight training?
9. When considering a job, what is more important to you: the amount of money or the job
responsibilities?
10. Do you still intend to fly airplanes even after retirement? Why or why not?
11. If given the chance, would you like to try flying a fighter jet? Why or why not?
12. What do you think a world without aircraft would be like?
13. As an airline pilot, do you still find pleasure in flying small airplanes like the Cessna 150? Why
or why not?
14. How does it feel to be in charge of a multimillion dollar airplane with hundreds of passengers
flying at 39,000 feet?
15. How did you prepare for your interview for an airline pilot position?
16. What makes you different from your colleagues?
17. How did you become an airline pilot?
18. Are you willing to be trained to become a member of the flight crew of a Space Shuttle? Why
or why not?
19. Competition for a job as an airline pilot is fierce. How did you feel when you learned that you
were one of the successful applicants?
20. What do you think when you hear about an accident involving a passenger airplane?
21. What motivates you to do your job as best as you can?
22. As a pilot, what are your weak points, if any?
23. What are your expectations now in your career?
24. Please tell me, why did you become a pilot?
25. How was the interview for your present job conducted?
26. What do you like about your present job?
27. How did you feel when you earned your commercial pilot license?
28. How did your family react when you informed them that you wanted to be a pilot?
29. Do you feel proud about your job? Why?
30. Before becoming an airline pilot, what type of aircraft did you want to fly and why did you
want to fly that type of aircraft?
31. Do you consider your job important? Why?
32. What is so special about being a pilot?
33. How did you become interested in becoming a pilot?
34. As a pilot, what are the things that you still need to learn and why do you need to learn them?
35. When you were a student pilot, what was the most difficult subject for you? Why?
36. As an airline pilot, do you still enjoy flying small, two-seat conventional aircraft? Why or why
not?
37. When you were a student pilot, how did your first-ever solo flight turn out?
38. Now that you are a commercial pilot, what else do you need to get or learn in order to further
your career?
39. Who was the most supportive of your decision to become a pilot and how did he or she
express his or her support?
40. What was the most difficult part of becoming a pilot?
41. What were your expectations when you first started working as a pilot?
42. What was your impression when you first flew an aircraft?
43. How did you feel the first time you flew as a pilot of a passenger airplane?
44. What airline do you work for? What is your position?
45. Of all the cities you have visited as a pilot, which is your favorite?
46. As a pilot, what situation you encountered has scared you the most? Briefly describe what
happened.
47. What is the difference between actual flight training and simulator training?
48. As a pilot, what was the most difficult decision you have made so far?
49. What is the most unforgettable thing that has happened to you as a pilot?
50. What have you learned in actual flight training that you did not learn or experience during
flight simulator training? Why?
51. What challenges have you confronted as a pilot?
52. What is the biggest fear you have when flying?
53. What was the most exciting moment as a pilot?
54. Which route would you prefer to fly, domestic or international? Why?
55. Describe your most memorable flight.
56. How is bi-annual medical exam for pilots conducted?
57. Describe what happened during your last training in a simulator.
58. What are your privileges and responsibilities as an airline pilot?
59. Pilots need to have a clean bill of health to maintain their license. How do you keep yourself
healthy?
60. As a pilot, what’s the most difficult part of your job?
61. Aviation technology is changing at a fast rate, how do you keep yourself updated?
62. What do you do to improve your flying skills?
63. As a pilot, what’s the most difficult part of your job?
64. How do you develop a sound working relationship with your captain/co-pilot?
65. Describe your ordinary working day as a pilot.
66. As a pilot who is always away from your family, do you think it is necessary for you to make up
for important family occasions that you failed to attend? Why or why not?
67. If you were given the freedom to make your own work schedule, what would that schedule be
like?
68. How does maneuvering an aircraft on the ground differ from driving an automobile?
69. Describe your lifestyle as a pilot.
70. How do you balance your time between your family and your job?
71. How do you feel after safely completing a flight?
72. How do you keep yourself fit to fly?
73. What is the most interesting part of your job?
74. Which is harder, flying or navigating? Explain your answer.
75. Which is more enjoyable to you, daytime flying or night-time flying? Why?
76. Do you believe that constant training can really make you a better pilot? Why or why not?
77. Aircraft delays are unavoidable occurrences in fight operations. What do you usually do when
your flight is delayed?
78. Aircraft delays are unavoidable occurrences in flight operations. What usually causes these
delays?
79. Are pilots obliged to follow the air traffic controller’s instruction all the time? Why?
80. Before takeoff, what do you usually do to check if you are on the correct runway?
81. Describe your typical working day as a pilot.
82. How are your eating habits affected by traveling as a pilot?
83. How do you choose a flight route?
84. How do you conduct preflight inspections?
85. How do you hand over the control to other pilot while in flight?
86. How do you handle disorientation during a flight?
87. How do you perform the preflight inspection?
88. How do you prepare your aircraft to taxi to the terminal?
89. How do you usually deal with flight delays which cannot be avoided?
90. How does it feel to be responsible for the lives of hundreds of passengers aboard a million
dollar airplane?
91. How important is teamwork in the cockpit?
92. In what situations do you engage the autopilot and in what situation do you take direct
control of the airplane?
93. Many pilots find long haul flights boring. How do you cope with boredom on long flights?
94. Most radio communications are between pilots and Air Traffic Controllers. When does a pilot
of one aircraft need to communicate directly to a pilot of another aircraft over the radio?
95. Some delays are avoidable. What do you usually do to avoid flight delays?
96. Some passengers feel apprehensive at riding an airplane, especially the first-timers. As a
cockpit crew, what do you usually do to remove their fear or uneasiness?
97. Tell me about an activity that you always do before flying.
98. What activities are part of the regular line orientation flight training?
99. What airport is your favorite destination? Why?
100. What do you do to stay awake during a long haul flight?
101. What do you say to alleviate the frustration felt by passengers during a flight delay?
102. What do you usually discuss with the flight dispatcher before a flight?
103. What do you usually discuss with your flight and cabin crew in the preflight briefing?
104. What do you usually do during a brief stopover at an airport?
105. What do you usually do once the autopilot is engaged during a flight?
106. What do you usually say to your passengers when you are ready to depart but are delayed
for some reason?
107. What do you usually talk about in the cockpit during long flights?
108. What does the first officer usually do?
109. What is your typical routine at work?
110. What sports do you and your co-workers like to do together? Why?
111. What steps do you take to follow the noise abatement regulation during takeoff?
112. When taking off over a populated area, what do you do to minimize the noise made by your
aircraft?
113. When you land at a foreign airport, what do you usually do before the next flight?
114. When you’re off-duty, how do you spend your time?
115. Which phase or portion of the flight do you enjoy most and what do you usually do during
these occasions?
116. How is bi-annual medical exam for pilots conducted?
117. Describe what happened during your last training in a simulator.
118. What are your privileges and responsibilities as an airline pilot?
119. Pilots need to have a clean bill of health to maintain their license. How do you keep yourself
healthy?
120. As a pilot, what’s the most difficult part of your job?
121. Aviation technology is changing at a fast rate, how do you keep yourself updated?
122. What do you do to improve your flying skills?
123. As a pilot, what’s the most difficult part of your job?
124. How do you develop a sound working relationship with your captain/co-pilot?
125. Describe your ordinary working day as a pilot.
126. As a pilot who is always away from your family, do you think it is necessary for you to make
up for important family occasions that you failed to attend? Why or why not?
127. If you were given the freedom to make your own work schedule, what would that schedule
be like?
128. How does maneuvering an aircraft on the ground differ from driving an automobile?
129. Describe your lifestyle as a pilot.
130. How do you balance your time between your family and your job?
131. How do you feel after safely completing a flight?
132. How do you keep yourself fit to fly?
133. What is the most interesting part of your job?
134. Which is harder, flying or navigating? Explain your answer.
135. Which is more enjoyable to you, daytime flying or night-time flying? Why?
136. Do you believe that constant training can really make you a better pilot? Why or why not?
137. According to investigators, some aircraft accidents and incidents were caused by pilot error
due to stress. These findings are opposed by some groups who believe that pilot stress is
either a myth or would not have a significant effect on pilot’s performance. In your opinion is
there such a thing as pilot stress?
138. Airline passengers are always asking whether a particular airline is safe or not. Are some
airlines safer than others?
139. Do you think a female pilot can perform as well as a male pilot? Why or why not?
140. Do you think it is advisable for pilots to read reports about aircraft accidents? Why or why
not?
141. Do you think it would be better for the passengers aboard an airplane if flight attendants
possessed medical or nursing degrees? Why or why not?
142. Do you think it would be fair for airlines to implement a policy to hire only pilots who are
non-smokers? Why or why not?
143. Experts say that old airplanes are as safe as new ones. If this is the case, why do you think
airline companies like to replace old airplanes with new models?
144. Good health is required for a pilot to maintain his/her license. What do you do to keep stay
healthy?
145. How important is teamwork between flight crews?
146. I have a friend who wants to take up a career in flying. He is 40 years old. Do you think he
can still be an airline pilot? Why or why not?
147. In your opinion, what is the most important qualification that a pilot must possess?
148. Is it proper to inform the passengers about problems that the airplane encounters during the
flight? Why or why not?
149. It’s the policy of some airlines to prohibit the members of a flight crew from eating the same
food. What do you think is the reason for this policy?
150. Many people believe that modern equipment aboard airplanes perform many of the duties
of a pilot. Some even say that the equipment makes a pilot redundant and unnecessary.
What do you think?
151. Many people think pilot is dangerous job. What do you think?
152. Most people in the aviation industry believe that flying is the safest means of travel. Do you
share the same belief? Why?
153. Regulations and company policy require pilots to make a 360 degree inspection around the
aircraft. Do you think it would be better if mechanics make this walk-around inspection?
154. Some airline companies prohibit their employees from establishing romantic relationships
with their co-workers. Do you think this policy is reasonable? Why or why not?
155. Some airlines allow their senior pilots to remain in service until they reach their
70th birthday. Other airlines enforce compulsory retirement when their pilots turn 56 years
of age. At what age do you think pilots should retire? Why?
156. Some airlines totally prohibit their pilots from reading books or magazines while in flight,
even on long haul flights. When the autopilot is engaged, what do you think is the best way
for pilots to cope with boredom?
157. Some aspiring pilots are said to have a slim chance of landing a job at some airlines because
of their nationality. Do you think a pilot’s suitability can be determined by his nationality?
158. Some companies have a policy prohibiting pilots from drinking alcoholic beverages 12 hours
before a flight. Do you think 12 hours will give pilots enough time to recover?
159. Some experts believe that twin engine airplanes are safer than four-engine airplanes. Which
of the two do you think is safer?
160. Some passengers believe that some seat locations in the airplane are safer than other
locations. As a pilot, do you think there is such a safe seat location?
161. Some pilots are expected by the company to do non-flying duties such as supervising
refueling, keeping records, scheduling flights and other non-flying duties. Do you think it is
appropriate to assign such duties to the pilot?
162. Some say that choosing a career in aviation is a big gamble because the airline industry is
one of the most unstable businesses. Do you think this is a fair assessment?
163. Some states and airlines are strictly enforcing the “closed cockpit door” policy to counter
unlawful interference. This means that whatever happens in the passenger cabin the flight
crew should never open the cockpit door. Do you think this is an effective control
suppression to hijacking? Why?
164. The airplane has evolved into a comfortable, reliable and dependable means of travel. Some
people, however, are still uncomfortable about riding in it and try to avoid doing so. Do you
think their fear is unreasonable? Why?
165. There are many requirements in order to be a pilot. Which requirement do you think is the
most important?
166. What aircraft system do you think is the most vulnerable? Why?
167. What can be done to avoid miscommunication between air traffic controllers and pilots?
168. What should be the primary purpose of accident investigation? Why?
169. When flying, some passengers prefer one make or type of aircraft over others. Do you think
some aircraft are safer or better than others? Why or why not?
170. Why do you think many people regard flying as dangerous?
171. Why is it important for pilots to have very good English skills?
172. Would it be safer if passengers were provided with parachutes?