THE COMPLETE

AIRLINE PILOT
INTERVIEW WORK BOOK

Contents
1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. THE PHONE INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. SKYPE OR VIDEO INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. THE PANEL INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
First Impressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The format of a typical panel interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
What the interviews are looking for. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The three most important questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
QUESTION 1. Can you tell us about yourself?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
QUESTION 2. What attributes will you bring to this company? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
QUESTION 3. Why do you want to work for our airline? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. OTHER POWERFUL QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Negative style questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Weaknesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Overcoming Negatives and the ‘F’ Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Tell us about a time ...? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
How to answer open ended technical questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Scenario style technical questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Sample technical questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
9. SCENARIO BASED QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
10. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
11. TOP 50 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
12. GROUP EXERCISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
13. RESUME AND COVER LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
14. HELP DESK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 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

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 indicative 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 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 One on One Interview Coaching as well as our
Online 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.

Best of luck!

The Team At Flightdeck Consulting

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 3
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.

in getting that dream job it must be treated seriously and not dismissed as just a friendly chat with someone from the

Tips!
■ Make 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.
■ Refer to your notes but don’t read from them, use bullet points for reference.
■ Stay upbeat, positive and passionate.
■ Smile when you talk, this will alter the tone of your voice conveying a friendly, positive demeanor.
■ Use short, clear and concise answers.
■ Turn Call Waiting OFF!
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.
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.

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?
■
■
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.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 4
3. SKYPE OR VIDEO INTERVIEW

Here are some pointers to help you make the most out of your Video interview.

or drunkpants12 is not going to help you.

3. Arrange the setting you want to be seen against. It should be a clear and blank background with no movement

from home, make your family and pets scarce. Barking dogs or crying children will do you no favours.
5. Try to make eye contact with the camera and not just at your own picture. Gazing at the computer screen
instead of the camera while you’re talking will put the interviewer off.
6. Dress for the occasion, as if for a panel interview in person.
7. Try to have your point forms near the camera so it doesn’t look like you are referring to notes, these can help
jog your memory but don’t over do it.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 5
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 6
4. THE PANEL INTERVIEW

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
From the moment you walk into the building your interview has begun. Everybody from the doorman to the receptionist

walk in the door until you’re safely out of the building.

few minutes of meeting the interviewers, your greeting, handshake, smile and body language will determine how your
interviewer will perceive you and the tone for the day will be set. If their opinion of you is positive then throughout the

Much of what is required to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation,

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.
■
■ Have a pleasant and warm smile.
■ Make positive small talk, this will help to settle your nerves.
■ Be courteous and attentive.
■
■

■ Use common sense

■ Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself possible. We all like to work with people we like and who like us.
■
■
■

Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 7
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;
■ About your career
■ About yourself
■ About the company
■ Behavioral questions
■ Scenario based questions
■ Technical questions
■

WHAT THE INTERVIEWS ARE LOOKING FOR

There are several criteria the interviewers will test and quiz you on and will need to observe during the actual interview
process.

1. Overall personality, will you fit in, are you what we are looking for?

2. How you cope under stress, particularly when you have made an error or mistake.

3. Can you be trained, i.e. are you able to take direction?

4. Your ability to use reasoning and logic

5. Your command potential

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1. OVERALL PERSONALITY and DEMEANOUR

Having already done your homework on the style of person your company employs, bring to the table and highlight

in their ability and personality.

competent and at the end of the day’s duty will enjoy a beer with.

2. YOUR ABILITY TO COPE UNDER STRESS

Most airline interviews will lead to a point where the recruiters will test you under pressure, so it is best to be prepared
when this inevitably happens.

handle this moment will most likely determine the outcome of your interview.
The Scenario

unsure of the answer, a little confused and wondering how you might dig yourself out of this hole you’ve dug for
yourself.
Don’t Panic! This is a planned and expected part of the interview

Here’s how to proceed.

■ Structuring your answers as described in chapter 7 will assist you in avoiding this situation.
■ Don’t be afraid to admit your not entirely sure, be prepared to cut your losses.
■ There’s nothing wrong with giving your best guess, but be sure to explain your reasoning.
■ Stay positive, remain in the interview.

Do Not:
■ Make excuses
■ Become defensive
■ Continue to try and justify your answer
■ Act dejected
■ Continue to dwell on it to the point where you lose your concentration.

There is a point to all of this, it is essential to demonstrate to the panel how you perform under pressure. In the Human
Resources world there is a theory on behavioural patterns. The theory is that how you have behaved in the past is
indicative of how you will perform in the future. i.e. when your backed into a corner do you problem solve using logic,
experience etc and how well do you recover from errors.

3. ARE YOU TRAINABLE, CAN YOU TAKE DIRECTIONS

During this stage of the interview the panel will be looking at your ability to be trained and take direction. The questions
will generally lead you into an area of technical study you may not be familiar with..

Do:
■ Work with them and follow their guidance, take the new information with enthusiasm and a positive approach.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 9
Do Not:
■ Allow yourself to be put into a position where you might be seen as argumentative
■ Become disagreeable or show lack of interest.
■ Justify your lack of knowledge in the area.

4. YOUR ABILITY TO USE REASONING AND LOGIC

The panel will throw a question at you such as

Now, they know you probably have no idea how the 744 fuel system works, they want to see you have a go, use logic
and reasoning to provide a well thought out response.

Tips!
■ Remain positive
■ Take your time
■ Apply your knowledge of your current aircraft type and apply it to your answer.
■ Break your answer down, keep it simple.
■ Use reasoning and logic in constructing your answer.

Example:
“Describe to us the new Airbus A370 fuel system”

Do Not:
■ Justify your lack of knowledge of the aircraft or systems
■ Be embarrassed to have a go.

5. YOUR COMMAND POTENTIAL

Here they are looking for your command potential and your overall thought process.
For more information refer to Chapter 9, Scenario Base Questions.

Notes

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NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 11
5. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1. “Can you 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.

QUESTION 1. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

■
■
■

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?”

keep it aviation related.

Structure your answer using the following guidelines;

■ Start off with a quick introduction of yourself, your interests and the current position you hold.
■ Then go all the way back to the beginning of your interest in aviation, how you went about achieving your licences

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 12
■ When you mention each position and job, talk about what you learnt and your experiences there. Try to keep it brief
avoiding long, drawn out stories. Accentuate the positives of your time at the company.
■ Bring your story to a close with a brief but strong summary of your current position and employment.. This is referred

A “My name is Jason Stevens, 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 backyard.
I am currently employed as a Dash 8 First Officer with Central Plains Airlines. I remember from a
very young age I always wanted to be a pilot. So when I graduated, I worked full time in a factory
to save up enough money to start my Commercial Licence. I also took out a personal loan, which
I have almost paid off. This enabled me to enroll in a full time course. I completed my commercial
license in 2002 at Proflite Flying School in California and was immediately employed as a flight
instructor. I really enjoyed instructing, not only did I get to hone my skills but it was such a pleasure
to see my students evolve into pilots, the highlight was always sending them first solo. In late 2004,
after 2 years of instructing I had just over 1000hrs, so I decided it was time to look at expanding
my experience. Fortunately enough I was offered a fantastic position with Phoenix Air Charter. This
involved relocating to Phoenix to take up a First Officer position on a Brasilia. Unfortunately shortly
after my initial line check the company went into liquidation. I found myself out of work, so in order to
support my family I undertook casual waiting jobs at night whilst job hunting by day. Throughout this
time I maintained my motivation and never gave up. 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. I have been with Central Plains Airlines for just over 4
years now, throughout this time I have enjoyed learning the airline way and specifically the multi crew
operations. I now have just over 4000hrs total with 2600 hrs on turbo props. I feel I am ready for the
next challenge in my career and am very excited to have this opportunity today with your airline.”

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.

scripted, perfectly worded answer that is impersonal.

Try an example for yourself

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 13
Try to create a hook in your answer. This is something the interviewers will remember you by. Unfortunately most
candidates tend to blend into one another after long days of interviewing. If you can add in an interesting story or fact

memorable and create an anchor for the interviewers to fall back on.

”
If for some reason you left a company on unhappy terms, there is no need to go into to much detail , in fact there is no
need to mention why you left.

on the positives of how you moved forward with your career.

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.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 14
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!

■ Talk slowly and emphasis the important information.

■ Be sincere, passionate and positive!
■
■ 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
■ Remember your posture, it’s not just what you say but how you say it.
■ Be familiar with yourself, your work experience and the skills you bring to the table. Match these with the position
and organisation you are interviewing for.
■
■ Use positive body language, don’t shift in your seat, or cross your arms, it states nervousness and disinterest.
■ Be focused and pay attention to what is going on, having a good response to the questions being asked is crucial.

QUESTION 2. WHAT ATTRIBUTES WILL YOU BRING TO THIS

COMPANY?
Other variations of this question can be:

■ What attributes will you be bringing with you?

■ Why should we hire you?
■ How do you stand out amongst the other candidates?
■ How would your current manager describe you?
■ What are your strengths?
■ How would your best friend describe you?
■ How do you see yourself helping our organization?
■ What do you have to offer over and above the other candidates we are interviewing today?

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 15
This question is all about you and this is your moment to ...

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.

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

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 16
Q What do you have to offer our company?
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 the metroliner.
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. This is what I have to offer Virtual Airlines.”

DESCRIPTION PLUS EVIDENCE GIVES CREDIBILITY

Now that you have your 5 descriptive words and your examples, lets have a look at the method we use to answer the
various questions you can be faced with. We want to make this easy for you, we want you to be able to use this one
answer and mold it to suit the different questions that you may be faced with.
There can be over 10 questions asked where you can utilize this one answer. How we do this? We use the Question to
our advantage, we take key words from the question and add them into our answer and adjust our answer to suit.
Have a look at the examples below.

Q “How would your current manager describe you?”

“My current manager

Mr Smith would also describe me as reliable, he

He would also say that I am very passionate about aviation, he

He
“This is how I believe Mr Smith would describe me.”
See how I used the question to open and close my answer as well as using key words in the question throughout my
answer.

Q What would you say are 3 of your strengths.

“I would say my first strength
My second strength
And my final strength

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 17
Q “How do you see yourself contributing to our organization?”
“I see myself contributing to your organization

I also see myself contributing

contribute

Know your opening and closing statements by heart and make them powerful!

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.

■
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.
After having researched the company you then need to build your answer. A simple way to structure your answer is to
create 3 points.
1. About the company; How you personally view the company, anything that links you personally to the

the company operation. Be honest here.

future.
3. The people they employ, the lifestyle and the opportunity for you as a pilot.
Simplifying it to 3 points and then personalising it by stating why these facts are important to you is the key.
Let’s have a look at an example below.

(4) The type of people you employ are friendly, young, professional and from all ends of the globe, a true international
company. I know I will enjoy going to work everyday. Cathay will also offer me a lifestyle change that I will embrace, the

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 18
‘

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Make notes on the following.

Company headquarters and key personnel

Brief History

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 19
Financial situation, business outlook and management style

Alliances

Aircraft type, numbers and orders

Destinations, frequency and future destinations

Key markets i.e. business, leisure etc

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 20
The type of people they employ

And most importantly, what makes the company unique

Having now done your research combine your information into a unique answer.

Example: Virgin Australia

A “ Virgin Australia has an innovative approach to business with a very dynamic and forward way of
thinking. They have adjusted their brand and are expanding into the professional business side
of the market The company has a secure financial position with recent expansions internationally
into the Asia Pacific region along with the aqisition of Skywest, 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 Australia 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 answer shows:

■
■
■
■

use this as the basis to your answer backing it up with the facts you found during your homework. This way your answer
will be genuine and passionate. Now create your unigqu answer.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 21
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 22
6. 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?”

see your future unfolding with them.

Example

A “I hope to gain a long-term stable career with a company that offers a variety of flying, both domestic
and international with 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, friendly and professional.”

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 23
NEGATIVE STYLE QUESTIONS

been discussed in the interview.

Tips!
■
■ Be brief.
■ Don’t justify, just state the facts.
■ Only mention one point.
■ Mention only positives about the company.
■ Don’t act dejected.
■ Short, to the point and move on.
■ Just answer the question.

EXAMPLE

Q “What don’t you like about your current job?”

“ I am currently flying the largest aircraft in the company. I have achieved all I have set out to achieve within
the company. As much as I love the company and the position, I feel now is an ideal time to move on in
order to satisfy my career objectives and goals.”

Q “What would you change about the company you currently work for if you had the chance?”

and improve their bottom line.

1. “I would implement a more structured rostering system, possibly a rolling four week roster, including a
rotating standby system. Not only would this improve pilot morale and even out the work load, it would
also increase productivity thereby creating a more efficient and effective company.”

2. “ I would consider introducing basings at two of our busiest ports. Currently we have several pilots
and crew that overnight in A and B cities with the added expense of hotels, meals and transport. If we
introduced basing, which I know would be a popular decision among the crew, I believe the company
could make significantly savings.

Q “If you had a job offer from both us and XXX 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 positions with both companies I will stick to my original goal 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”

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 24
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 you are interviewing for.

Did you notice in the example above there was NO mention of XXX Airlines. There is no need to mention them at all.
Short, to the point and move on.

Q “This position involves you moving country, you will be based in Hong Kong, why don’t you want
to live in your own country?”

“Well it’s got nothing to do with not wanting to live in my own country, I love my own country,
however if the opportunities for me to advance my career and fly for the company I have always
dreamed of involve living in Hong Kong, I am very excited about that too.”

Again, short to the point, positive and nothing said about what you DON’T WANT, everthing is about what you DO want.
Another style of question:

Q “Why don’t you want to work for one of your own carriers, there is nothing wrong with them?”

Now you have a go at answering this one:

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?”

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. Don’t forget they are looking for how you
recognised the stress and how you coped and then how you solved the problem. They don’t care what the stressor was
so you can be honest here.

Q “A time recently when you found yourself to be stressed?”

1.

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 type
.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 25
Try an example for yourself.

“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.
■ I felt like I was operating on autopilot - not really thinking.

“How did you deal with it?”

■ I confronted the problem head on.
■ I organized a plan of attack to solve the problem.
■
■ 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 go to the movies, read a book, meditate.
■ I talk with my girlfriend/ wife/ colleagues about the problem and ask for their advice, opinion.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 26
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 27
WEAKNESSES
What is a weakness of yours?
Name three of your weaknesses?
What would you say is your biggest weakness?
What would your superior say is something you could improve on?

should structure your answer to include the following;

■ What it is
■ Why you believe it is a weakness
■ That you are aware of it
■ How you cope with it
■ What you are doing about it

days off, always extend duty when required and rarely call in sick etc. Then you can use this as a weakness.

For Example;
What it is

Why it’s a weakness

completing the task to the manner in which I would have liked because I didn’t have the time/ or say yes to work when

What you are doing about it

Other ideas for weaknesses

guys take about half that time, that is just me, I am aware of it and when I take on a task like that I just make sure I

and I know this can annoy those close to me. I am aware of it, so I do try to make an effort to limit my talk of aviation,

across as rude or insensitive, when I certainly never intended it to be so. I am known for calling a spade a spade. I

either work or friends that when I leave a place I just simply forget things like my keys, or mobile phone. Gosh, the
number of phones I have left in taxi’s!! I am certainly aware of it and I now make a conscious effort to check that I

after a certain amount of time. What I now do is keep my study up every 6 months and make sure I review certain

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 28
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 29
OVERCOMING NEGATIVES AND THE ‘F’ WORD

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. It is essential that you deal with the issue before the interview, you need to
turn the negative incident into a positive outcome.

1. Periods of unemployment.

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.”

2. Leaving on unhappy terms or being asked to resign.

There are two ways you can approach this and that depends on the job you secure after this event.
a) If there was a backwards step from this position or you are actually in this position then you will have to approach it in
this manner.
“I found myself in a position where I simply did not see eye to eye with the Chief Pilot and the style of operation the

b) If it was some time ago in your career and you actually went to a job that was a step up, then you can approach it in
this manner when talking about why you left this particular company and position.

Now you haven’t lied, you just haven’t offered up or gone into the detail of exactly what happened and there really is
no need to either. However if for any reason they question you directly about this or ask for further detail, DO NOT LIE
about what happened. Explain it as in the above example.
When addressing negative questions it is best to keep the information to a minimum, short and to the point. Don’t labour
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.

SAS
SUMMARISE AND STOP

3. Being Fired.
COPING WITH THE “F” WORD IN AN INTERVIEW.

including, most probably one or two of those sitting on the interview panel.
The problem is of course, you are the one being interviewed so how are you going to deal with it?

there is light at the end of the tunnel if you follow a few simple tips.
First of all the emotions will probably involve;

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 30
Disbelief and Blame

Or maybe it was your fault but you feel that all the hard work previous to the incident will prove it was just out of
character for you and you have been harshly dealt with or made an example of.

Realisation and Shame

This has really happened, how am I going to tell my family and friends, I just want to hide under a rock and never come
out.

Now What?

It is all up to you now, the key is knowing how to turn this negative event in your career into a positive event.

Tell It How It Is.

Don’t even think about telling half truths either, simply tell the truth, without emotion or too much detail, just the facts and
then STOP.
This way you display credibility, integrity and responsibility.

Tell Them On Your Terms

Blame.
It wasn’t your boss, the aircraft, the operation etc.
This may take a while to get your head around but the reality is, you are the only one to blame here. The sooner you
realise this, the sooner you can get back into the workforce. Try to look at it objectively and avoid emotion here, again
stick to facts and keep emotions at bay.

Be Accountable
OK, so you have accepted the blame now it is time to take responsibility and look back at how and why things went
wrong. Accepting and learning from this is the key. However you can achieve this, be it through talking to close friends,

with it will determine whether or not you get through the interview. Again, if it is not a problem for you, it won’t be a

The Story
What exactly do you say, how much detail do I go into, how do I explain what happened?
Be concise and to the point, leave emotions behind. They will not expect a detailed account of what happened and you
should not offer them one.

SUMMARISE AND STOP

Moving Forward
may include what you learnt about yourself as well as how you would behave should the situation arise in the future.

ensure I communicate more effectively in the future”

Notice how I have explained this in a positive way, taken responsibility, learnt and moved on.
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 31
Practice
It is essential to practice and rehearse your answer, to anyone who will listen and ask them to be objective.

the respect of the panel.

Now for an example;

Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 32
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 33
7. 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 Questions

2. Negative or Difficult Questions
3. Open Ended Questions

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 COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 34
The following areas must be covered;

■ Planning, working to a deadline

■ Teamwork
■
■ Communication
■ Error making and recovery
■ Bending or breaking rules
■ Thinking on the spot
■ Being assertive

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?

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 35
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 answers follow this three-part process using the acronym:

S. A. O

S = The situation. You must explain the situation in detail. When (time frame),
What (you were flying) Where (you were flying) and Who you were with. The
more detail you give the better for them to understand the Actions you took.

A = The Actions. The actions and options you come up with are the key. The
really don’t care about the situation, how bad it was, what they care about
are the actions you took and the options you came up with in order to get
yourself out of the situation.

O = The Outcome. This can include a basic summary of what happened in the
end, however it may also include what you learnt in the process that has
now built you to be the person and pilot that you are today.

This may seem easy, but it’s not! What can tend to happen here is we get so caught up in telling our story, by the end
of it we have completely forgotten what the question is and the interviewers are wondering if you even answered the
question!
So to avoid this happening to you in the interview we have a simple method use to answer these style of questions.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 36
USE THE QUESTION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

It’s that simple.

Open with the question, repeat the question throughout your answer and end with the question.
This helps you in two ways, it helps keep you on track and makes sure you answer the question as well as highlighting
to the interviewers that you are actually answering the question.
If the question is quite long, then just use key words.
One thing to note, at anytime when answering questions and you get to the end of your answer and you are not sure

At the end of your examples and when practicing make sure at the end of it all that you check you have actually
answered the question and not just told a great story! Did you even remember what the question was?
Sometimes you may have to make a brief introduction to your story before you dive straight into the Situation.

“Give an example of a time you had to act quickly on your feet?”

The Situation

A time I had to act quickly on my feet was about 3 months ago when 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 had to act quickly on my feet so 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 decided to hold 5nm away
from the circuit to give me more time to go through the checklist. 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. So
that would be a time I can say that I had to act quickly on my feet.

Got it? Great, now try for yourself.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 37
Describe a time you used logic to solve an unusual situation?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 38
Describe to us a time you led a team to a successful outcome?

The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 39
The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 40
The Situation

Your Actions

The Outcome

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 41
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

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 42
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 an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
■
■
■
■ 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.
■
■ 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).
■
■ Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish had failed.
■ Give me an example of when you showed initiative.
■ 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 lost situation awareness.
■
■ 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.
■
■ 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. (Think of seasonal weather, change of basing,
change of management or SOPS;
■ What is the longest duty you have had and how did you prepare for it.
■
■ Tell me about a situation you were faced with that had multiple solutions, which one would you choose and why?
(Think of needing to divert, hold or return to base due weather at destination or return to the bay for technical

solving the problem).

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 43
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 44
8. 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 and 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 and what the interviewers are
looking for.

these items.

when you are applying for a local company will these questions be applicable.
For straight forward technical questions make sure you respect the interviewer and just answer the question.

For example:

Q “what is the missed approach climb gradient?

A “2.5%”

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 45
HOW TO ANSWER OPEN ENDED TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
For Open Ended questions be mindful not to talk too much, try to get the interview to guide you through your answer by
their questions. If you are asked to explain something, give a brief description and then STOP, wait for the interviewer to

on.
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.

This is an open-ended question (those that ask you to explain something).

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 usually within high
density airports”.

Now wait for the interviewer to ask further questions.

Q What would your action be if you had an Resolution Advisory?

Q What would you say to ATC?

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”

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”

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 46
 GET THE IDEA?

When answering open ended questions we can’t stress enough that you 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.

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.”

Q Explain the fuel system of an Airbus 340?

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 47
 .,

OUTR TK
..,_-
1
•VALVEI
LP

..... ENGINES
I

INR TK

TRIM TK ISOL VALVE

_!_ ___ _
CTR TK

INLET
VALVE
VALVE r
I
APU
LP
INR TK

PlJIP
AFT
APU
----
I VALVE•
LP

1)
_,

'R I

Rl
(
As stated in Chapter 4 (tbc) use your knowledge from your ATPL study along with information from your current aircraft
and apply it here. If you think about it, your aircraft fuel system isn’t that different to the B777, its probably just smaller
with less parts. However, I am sure it would still have tanks, pumps, vents, crossfeed, indications, warnings and
possibly transfer etc.
So don’t be turned off by what initially may seem like and impossible question, take your time and have a go by
applying what you do know to the situation and question at hand.
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 48
Example:

Q “Describe to us the new Airbus A370 fuel system”

A “OK, I haven’t had the opportunity as yet to fly the A370 but I will give it a go. Being that the A370 is an
ultra long range twin engine aircraft capable of flying up to 19 hours I would imagine it would have a fuel
capacity in the vicinity of 160 tonnes (nineteen hours plus one hour of reserve at say eight tonnes an
hour), two wing tanks plus a centre wing tank minimum, at least one stage of fuel/ oil heat exchanger and
would be delivered pressurized to the engines, I would think it would have crossfeed and possibly transfer
between tanks.”

Q “OK, anything else”

A “Yes, there may be a jettison system and I’m sure there would be a fuel management system”

Do Not:
■ Justify your lack of knowledge of the aircraft or systems
■ Be embarrassed to have a go.

SCENARIO STYLE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Q “You have a tyre blow out just before V1, what are your actions?”
Here they are looking for your command potential and your overall thought process.
DO you take it into the air or abort on the ground and why? Then what are your actions? How do you prioritise.

and look at the overall problem and prioritise. There is no right or wrong for someone with little experience when faced
with this question, it is a matter of systematically working through it.
Q “ You are flying your current aircraft our of your home base, after take off you suffer and engine failure.
You are unable to return to the field do to poor weather, what will you do, where will you go and why?”

Again they are looking for your command potential and your overall thought process.

AVIATE
NAVIGATE
COMMUNICATE

■ Secure the aircraft, running through your normal emergency procedures

■ Navigate the aircraft to your selected airport. Explain your logic in the airport selection.
■ Terrain en-route and in the area, should you suffer further emergencies.
■ Familiarity with the airport, have you been there before.
■ Aids at the airport considering weather, ILS or VOR approach, are you sure you will get in and avoid a missed
approach situation.
■ Passenger facilities on the ground, is it a port used by your company, will you have ground support.
■
■ Communicate to ATC, your company if possible and your passengers.
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 49
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 50
 SAMPLE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

■ Why do aircraft have swept wings, what are the advantages?

■ What is induced drag?
■ How can we reduce induced drag?
■ Why do aircraft have winglets?
■ Why doesn’t’ the B777 have winglets?
■ What happens to the stall speed as load factor increases?
■ How is Dutch Roll prevented on the B777?
■ Is the yaw damper in parallel or series?
■ What type of reversers does the B747 have?
■ Does the core of the engine still produce Fwd thrust during reverse?
■ What happens to your Mach No as you climb at a constant IAS?
■
■ Draw the Lift curve for us? Why did you stop the curve there?
■ What is the lift formula?
■ What changes rho (air density)?
■ How does weight effect the stalling angle?
■ How is Mach No calculated?
■ How does temperature effect Mach No?
■ In regards to Auto-Land, what is the difference between fail operational and fail passive?
■ Explain what you know about the B747 fuel system?
■ Why does it have fuel in the tail, what is the tank called?
■ What is the fuel tank in the tail of the A330/A340 called and why is it called that?
■ What is the difference between carbon and steel brakes?
■ How does a typhoon form?
■ What is the main difference between a typhoon and a cyclone?
■ Does sea depth effect the formation of a typhoon?
■ If we were in Singapore would a typhoon form there?
■ Describe a cold front?
■
■ What is the transponder code for a radio failure?
■ What anti ice and de icing equipment do you have on your aircraft?
■ What anti-icing, de-icing equipment does the B747 have?
■ Can you take off with frost on the wings?
■
■ How does ant-skid work on your aircraft?
■ What is TCAS, ETOPS, RVSM, EGPWS?
■ What do you know about PRM?
■ What is RNP?
■ What are the 4 Climb out segments and what are the gradients required for a 2 engine aircraft?
■ If you have a tire blow out at V1 what are you actions?
■ Why do aircraft have both AC and DC power?
■
■
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 51
■ What is the Cat C circling area, how is it calculated?
■ Describe Circadian Rhythm?
■ What is the Validity of the QNH on an ATIS?
■ Is the wind direction given on an ATIS true or magnetic?
■ What is the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone)?
■ What does TSGR mean on a TAF?
■ What is the holding speed, timing and direction when below FL140?
■
whole pattern?
■ When the runway centre lights turn red what does that mean?
■ What is the spacing between the runway lights?
■ Explain how PAPI works?
■
■
■ What factors affect Vmcg, V1, Vmca?
■ Why is the windshield heated on larger aircraft?
■ Tell us about weather radar?
■ Explain how a GPS works?
■ What is RAIM?
■ What is windshear?
■ Windshear warning on ATIS, what are your considerations?
■ When can you descend below MDA?
■ What is the difference between DA and MDA?
■ When can you descend below LSALT at night?
■ What is ADS-B what does it depend on?
■ What is the climb gradient and obstacle clearance height for a missed approach?
■ What engines does your aircraft have?
■ Explain how the Turbo Charger works on your aircraft? Where is it located?
■ Does your aircraft have a critical engine? Why is it critical?
■ What are high bypass engines?
■ Do you know what by pass ratio the B777 has?
■ What does the Blue line indicate on the ASI?
■
■
■ What is the tropopause and why do we need to know where it is?
■ What rate does the temperature decrease with altitude?
■ If you are at FL360 and the ISA deviation is ISA minus 10, what is the OAT?
■ If you are at FL330 and descending at 1500fpm, how long will it take you to get to sea level?
■ If you had a choice, max weight and had a problem, abort at 10 kts after V1, or continue 10 kts prior to V1, what
would you do and why?

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 52
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 53
9. 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?”

A “I would bring it to his attention, maybe he didn’t realize he made the error.”

Q “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?”

A “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 if WE stick to the normal procedures.”

Q “How far would you take the matter?”

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”

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.

Q “You smell alcohol on the Captains breath, what are you going to do about it?”

A “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, emphasising that if I can smell
the alcohol then someone else will too, a member of our cabin crew, an airport security officer, a
passenger. I would also ask him if his career was worth risking or would it actually be better to call in
sick explaining how I would easily handle the situation while the standby pilot was called out”.”

Q “And if he refused or denied it?” Güzel cümle

A “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.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 54
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 55
10. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
US?
There are several ways to approach this.

Usually at the end of the interview they will discuss with you the process from here on.
Now if this is the case in your interview then you could easily end by saying;

Or should they not end on that note then you can ask,

Other good examples are

What

positive note as the interviewer will normally smile, sit up and start talking the virtues of the company.
It also shows you are genuine in wanting to be happy within the organization and are looking at a long term career.
If, during the interview you felt you haven’t fully sold yourself here is your opportunity.

Bitirişteki cumleyi kes

Don’t ask any Questions that can be turned around and used against you.

Q “Where do you see the A350’s fitting into the organization?”

A “Why don’t you tell us?”

Q “I have done some study on the A330 and I was wondering how the flight controls work in
Alternate Law?”

A “Why don’t you tell us what you do know about the flight controls of the A330 and we can go from
there?”

Get the idea?, Don’t allow yourself to be opened up to further critique.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 56
Notes

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 57
11. 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?
■ Name a highlight of your career.
■ What was the lowest point in your career?
■ Have 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?
■ Does your Chief Pilot know you are here today? Do they support you being here?
■ What don’t you like about your current position?
■ How would you change the company you work for now?
■ When have you worked with someone different from you?
■ What do you admire most about your immediate superiors and why?
■ Who do you admire most in your family, why?
■ What was your toughest subject at school/university/aviation? Why?
■ What was your favourite subject, why?
■ Any accidents or incidents, tell us about them?
■
■
■ What 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?
■ How important do you think on time performance is for our company?
■ Who is the CEO, Chairman, Chief Pilot of our company?
■ How many aircraft do we have, types, how many on order, types?
■ What is our share price?
■
■ Do 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?
■ What would you say has been a challenge for our company in the last year?
■ What 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?
■
■ Do you know how long you can expect be in our company before you can upgrade to Captain?
■ When have you had to think quickly & on the spot?

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 58
■ 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?
■ What do you see is the biggest personal challenge about joining our company?
■ Tell me about a moment when you would have preferred to have been on the ground?
■ What will you do if you don’t get this position?
■ Do you have any questions for us?Notes

NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 59
NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 60
12. GROUP EXERCISES

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

task. Use whatever facilities or equipment you have available to you in the classroom. A
whiteboard/ chairs/ tables/ clock etc. Try to be as collaborative, organised and professional
as possible.”

The facilitators are looking for 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.
■

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.

so to avoid getting the wrong type of attention

Sit down and rejoin the group as much as possible, but from a leadership point of view. Avoid lingering around a white
board longer than you have to, and once again, wherever possible sit back down and rejoin the group.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 61
By doing this your displaying to the observers your ability to lead the team from within, discussing issues in a group
environment rather than simply standing up and writing on a white board.
It also has the effect of moving the attention from yourself back to the group. Offer up the discussion to all in the group
exercise and share responsibilities.

Beware of making assumptions i.e. in group exercises sometimes you are given a list of potential job seekers CV’s to
chose from. Don’t assume the gender of someone purely based on their name, many names can be used for either
male or female.

Tips!
■ Remember your manners
■ Pay attention, follow the directions and get involved.
■ DO build on something someone else has said.
■ Do include others in the conversation, be collaborative.
■ DO make your points and if criticised, be prepared to stand up for yourself and diplomatically point out why you
believe your opinions are valid.
■ DO NOT interrupt someone when they are expressing their ideas.
■ DO NOT reject someone else’s idea without a good reason.
■ DO NOT be overbearing.
■ DO NOT sit quietly while other candidates make their points without making your own.
■ DO help the group reach a conclusion in the time allocated.

EXAMPLES
1. Complete a jigsaw puzzle where other groups may have some of your pieces. Thereby looking at group to group
interaction.
2. Emergency situation problem solving, like being stranded in the south pole, what equipment would you take to walk
to base camp, choose only 20 items from the 40 items available?
3. Stranded in the desert, what equipment would you like to have if you could have 10 items, list them in order or
importance.
4. Job candidates and a position sought. Work out the best candidate for the position. Different information given on
different cards and you are not informed of these differences.

Group Exercise Detailed Example 1

minor injuries but the plane has broken into pieces and the communication equipment has been destroyed in the
impact.
Before the plane crashed the pilot had reported a problem with one of the engines, so there is a good chance that the
authorities will start looking for you when you fail to arrive at your destination. However, the forest is very dense and it
will take days to reach the edge of it on foot.

A guide to South American plant species

3 elasticated luggage straps
6 frozen airline meals
4 blankets from the plane

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 62
A 3 metre square piece of opaque plastic sheeting
Tourist map of Brazil
2 large bottles of factor 12 sunscreen
Mobile phone with GPS, fully charged
1 litre bottle of the local alcoholic spirit

4 current paperback novels

A Swiss Army knife

A book of matches from the hotel

This is an example of one kind of group exercise that you may encounter at an assessment centre:
■
long list of items that you can use to aid your survival, but you can only take a small number of these items with you

■
items.
■
They will play no part in the exercise and you will normally forget they are there.
■
a team and the process through which you come to a group consensus. Group members will be scored on their
individual input, rather than the overall result for the group, so someone may still do very well in a team that has
failed to reach a conclusion.
■ The exercise will usually last 15 to 20 minutes. At the end of the exercise, a member of the group will be asked to

Read through the attached exercise, and if possible, try it out with some friends.

Group Exercise Detailed Example 2 with answers

Included is information from the facilitators point of view and handy tips.

crash. It is mid-January, and you are in Northern Canada. The daily temperature is 25 below zero, and the nighttime
temperature is 40 below zero. There is snow on the ground, and the countryside is wooded with several creeks

A ball of steel wool

A small ax
A loaded .45-caliber pistol
Can of Crisco shortening
Newspapers (one per person)
Cigarette lighter (without fluid)
Extra shirt and pants for each survivor
20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas
A sectional air map made of plastic
One quart of 100-proof whiskey
A compass
Family-size chocolate bars (one per person)
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 63
MUST come to agreement as a group.

MUST come to agreement as a group.

EXPLANATION

exertion, using as much insulation as possible, and constructing a shelter.

The participants have just crash-landed. Many individuals tend to overlook the enormous shock reaction this has on the
human body, and the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot increases the shock. Decision-making under such circumstances

reducing fear and panic. Shock would be shown in the survivors by feelings of helplessness, loneliness, hopelessness,
and fear. These feelings have brought about more fatalities than perhaps any other cause in survival situations.
Certainly the state of shock means the movement of the survivors should be at a minimum, and that an attempt to calm
them should be made.

time of arrival, type of aircraft, and number of passengers. Search-and-rescue operations begin shortly after the failure
of a plane to appear at its destination at the estimated time of arrival.
The 20 miles to the nearest town is a long walk under even ideal conditions, particularly if one is not used to walking

mean almost certain death from freezing and exhaustion. At temperatures of minus 25 to minus 40, the loss of body
heat through exertion is a very serious matter.
Once the survivors have found ways to keep warm, their next task is to attract the attention of search planes. Thus, all
the items the group has salvaged must be assessed for their value in signaling the group’s whereabouts.
The ranking of the survivors items was made by Mark Wanvig, a former instructor in survival training for the
Reconnaissance School of the 101st Division of the U.S. Army. Mr. Wanvig currently conducts wilderness survival
training programs in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. This survival simulation game is used in military training
classrooms.

RANKINGS

1. Cigarette lighter (without fluid)

The gravest danger facing the group is exposure to cold. The greatest need is for a source of warmth and the second

2. Ball of steel wool

3. Extra shirt and pants for each survivor

Besides adding warmth to the body, clothes can also be used for shelter, signaling, bedding, bandages, string (when

4. Can of Crisco shortening

This has many uses. A mirror-like signaling device can be made from the lid. After shining the lid with steel wool, it will

could be limited somewhat by the trees, a member of the group could climb a tree and use the mirrored lid to signal

There are other uses for this item. It can be rubbed on exposed skin for protection against the cold. When melted into
an oil, the shortening is helpful as fuel. When soaked into a piece of cloth, melted shortening will act like a candle. The
empty can is useful in melting snow for drinking water. It is much safer to drink warmed water than to eat snow, since
warm water will help retain body heat. Water is important because dehydration will affect decision-making. The can is
also useful as a cup.
5. 20 x 20 foot piece of canvas
The cold makes shelter necessary, and canvas would protect against wind and snow (canvas is used in making tents).
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 64
Spread on a frame made of trees, it could be used as a tent or a wind screen. It might also be used as a ground cover
to keep the survivors dry. It’s shape, when contrasted with the surrounding terrain, makes it a signaling device.
6. Small ax

clearing a sheltered campsite, cutting tree branches for ground insulation, and constructing a frame for the canvas tent.

7. Family size chocolate bars (one per person)

Chocolate will provide some food energy. Since it contains mostly carbohydrates, it supplies the energy without making
digestive demands on the body.
8. Newspapers (one per person)

a person’s arms and legs. A newspaper can also be used as a verbal signaling device when rolled up in a megaphone-
shape. It could also provide reading material for recreation.
9. Loaded .45-caliber pistol

There have been numerous cases of survivors going undetected because they were too weak to make a loud enough
noise to attract attention. The butt of the pistol could be used as a hammer, and the powder from the shells will assist

at dry wood on the ground. The pistol also has some serious disadvantages. Anger, frustration, impatience, irritability,
and lapses of rationality may increase as the group awaits rescue. The availability of a lethal weapon is a danger to the
group under these conditions. Although a pistol could be used in hunting, it would take an expert marksman to kill an

depending on its size.

10. Quart of 100 proof whiskey

the whiskey and attaching it to a tree branch). The empty bottle could be used for storing water. The danger of whiskey
is that someone might drink it, thinking it would bring warmth. Alcohol takes on the temperature it is exposed to, and a
drink of minus 30 degrees ahrenheit whiskey would freeze a person’s esophagus and stomach. Alcohol also dilates the
blood vessels in the skin, resulting in chilled blood belong carried back to the heart, resulting in a rapid loss of body
heat. Thus, a drunk person is more likely to get hypothermia than a sober person is.
11. Compass
Because a compass might encourage someone to try to walk to the nearest town, it is a dangerous item. It’s only

12. Sectional air map made of plastic

This is also among the least desirable of the items because it will encourage individuals to try to walk to the nearest
town. It’s only useful feature is as a ground cover to keep someone dry.

How to score
Each team should list its top 5 choices in order prior to seeing the answer sheet. To award points, look at the ranking
numbers on this answer sheet. Award points to each team’s top choices according to the numbers here. For example,
the map would earn 12 points, while the steel wool would earn 2 points. Lowest score wins (and survives).

NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 65
THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 66
13. RESUME AND COVER LETTERS

1. Addressing the letter.

It should be written like any formal letter.

If you are more comfortable putting your name and address Right alignment then this is still acceptable.

2. To whom it may concern.

address to whom it may concern, this will only speak laziness to your future employer.

3. The opening sentence.

If the position was advertised then write a response to the advertisement. If not then write your expression of interest to
a certain position in the company.

4. The Second Paragraph.

This is where you tell them about your experiences and a brief rundown of what you have been doing and how it would

If you have been out of the industry and trying to get back in, explain your love and passion for aviation, when you
gained your CPL and any kind of experience you did gain. Keep it clear and concise.

5. Your attributes;
Explain what you have to offer the company and the position you are going for. Here you must do your homework on the

industry.
For example if it is for a VIP role on a private Jet, you would highlight your professionalism, maturity, respect for privacy
etc.
Or/ If it was for a remote pilot basing for Single Engine charter and mail runs, you would have to highlight your ability to
make command decisions, work independently, responsible, reliable etc.

skills in customer relations.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 67
Finish the sentence strongly;

Finally

6. The Closing

Leave a gap for your signature and then your name printed below. Sign in blue if possible.

NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 68
SAMPLE LETTER

John Doe
30/28 Woods St
Darwin
N.T. 0800

07 March 2013

Captain Joe Bloggs

Pilot Recruitment Manager
Faraway Airlines
Levell, 473 Burke St
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Dear Captain Bloggs,

In support of my online application I have enclosed my resume with the aim of being
considered for the position of :flight crew with Jetstar Airways.

I am currently employed with Hardy Aviation as a line pilot flying charter and freight
throughout the Northern Territory region.

During my career I have always been well respected by both my colleagues and
management, I have shown passion, loyalty and take pride in my professionalism.
My current position has allowed me to hone and develop good interpersonal
communication skills and it is these characteristics, which if successful, I will bring to
Jetstar.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and consider my application and
please don't hesitate to contact me should you require further information.

Yours Sincerely

John Doe

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 69
AVIATION CURRICULUM VITEA

Your CV should be one page in length and contain certain critical information.

2. List all of your licences and ratings with expiry dates, include your passport if you are applying for an airline that
operates internationally.
3. Flight time should be accurate and rounded to the nearest 10 hrs not the nearest 100 hrs.
4. Aircraft endorsements, you should highlight the endorsements you have that are applicable to the company you are
applying for
5. Employment should include a paragraph explaining what your position was within the company and the experience
gained. The last 10 yrs of employment only.

date and relevant referees.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 70
SAMPLE CV

Ally Gregory
56 Fish Rd, Whale
NSW 2090 Australia
Ph: 61 450438682
Email: [email protected]

LICENCES and RATINGS

CPL No.594200
ATPL Frozen
M.E.C.I.R Exp June 2014
Class 1 Medical Exp Aug 2014
Australian Passport No E7594234
ASIC Exp June 2014

FLIGHT TIME TOTAL: 373

PIC 271
DUAL 102
NIGHT 13
IFR In-flight 26

ENDORSEMENTS and CERTIFICATES

C310 C402
BE-76 csu
PN-68 Tailwheel
C210 C180
SE < 5700kg
• Dangerous Goods Certificate
• Multi Crew Qualification
• First Aid Certificate

EMPLOYMENT
Feb 2011-Current
Skywards Aviation, Sydney
Baggage Handler, Ground based position
201 0-Current
Flight Experience, Sydney
8737 Replica Simulator Pilot, Ground based position

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Commerce, 2008
Australian National Uni , Canberra
Higher School Certificate, 2005
Sydney Public School

REFERENCES
On Request

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 71
14. HELP DESK
Should you require any further help with your interview preparation please do not hesitate to contact us at

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.

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 72
NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 73
NOTES

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NOTES

THE COMPLETE AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW WORK BOOK © Flightdeck Consulting 2013 - 75