Tech Interview Question?
 

I have a question on my tech interview on this

If I am the approach controller, four aircrafts arrive at the same time to land.

Two light aircraft (pilot trainning)
One medium aricrfat
A jumbo jet.

At first I answer to land the two small aircraft then medium and jumbo last as it would safe time. The interviewer then said the jumbo flew from singapore and has been in air for over 12hrs. This didnt change my mind and said I am not going to chnage my mind.

Can anyone tell me was I wrong? should I let the jumbo go first??

Thanks

Hi,
I'm at the college more or less just started, (last year) having done the basics i would say you were correct in ur initial answer. (but PLEASE dont take my answer as gospel :} ) As long as the Heavy(jumbo) had not declared a fuel emergency then they do not have priority over other aircraft. If the situation was such that all aircraft could be landed without serious delay to the others then in BASIC theory the order u stated (with reference to vortex wake) was spot on for the most efficient use of airspace timings.

Please correct me if i am wrong....
81

But...... if the pilot(s) of the light aircraft are training, they have less priority than a 'normal' flight. medium then heavy is the correct order with all training flights at the back.

Don't cut yourself up too much though as your answer was still pretty good, just not one hundred percent correct.

Good for you that you stuck to your guns. I'm guessing the interviewer may have like that you have the conviction to make your plans work. And that's all part of the job. :ok:

Hi Inverted81,
In the UK there is no such thing as a' fuel emergency'.

As Jerricho said (but please don't think I am agreeing with you mate!) the interviewer is looking to see your reaction, and if you are flexible/inflexible etc... Interviews are as much about thought processes as correct answers...

Over & Out..
Cheers for that... haven't (Yet) had the formal training on that kinda thing, now i know not to make an ar$e of myself! :t

Questions
 

Sorry to the guys in nats who must get so fed up with wannabees asking these questions but i am through to the Interview stage as well and wanted to ask does anybody know of any other scenarios you could get?

Ive got the Aircraft heading towards each other on an airway, Atco smelling of booze each day (who do you tell that sort of thing), You think you heard an aircraft call back the wrong level but atco has missed it- what do you say, the 4 aircraft on approach and one with the runway is blocked at one end,,,, can anybody think of any others?

Many thanks DBB:ok:

The two training aircraft are commercial flights as well as the jumbo. Does the jumbo technically have priority ?

No expert myself but I'd say lightest first due to wake turbulence.

1) Metal/wheel found on runway?

2) Fire or power cut in tower?

Radar room at a certain airport in London becoming flooded :E

This scenario is complex but easy to handle. There are so many variables to take into consideration, speed, time of arrival, a/c type, airspace, direction of arrival, runway in use, IFR or VFR, can a/c accept visual approaches, weather conditions. Unfortunately experience is the only answer, the controllers decision is final. It is always safe but not always expeditious and orderly. For someone to answer this question with no experience would be difficult. However, some sort of logic being applied, with basic reasoning would help.
I think your answer is fine, however the Jumbo could be first, the medium second, and the 2 light a/c third/fourth. Any of the larger a/c could go visual and not carry out an ILS. The light a/c may go visual and orbit.
Two many variables, not one answer.

RIP 119.9:ouch:

I was asked exactly the same question years ago and, as Jerricho said, the interviewer was looking for a logical and reasoned answer and whether you were easily swayed from your plan.

Your answer and subsequent decision to stick to your guns suggest you have probably done ok on this one!:ok:

Over and out.

Just to clarify however, there may be no such thing as a 'fuel emergency' but pilots who announce their aircraft is short of fuel are to confirm that they are declaring an emergency before being given priority over other flights. MATS Pt 1 refers.

You came up with a logical plan, based on your current knowledge. Interviewer tried to make you dit about and change your plan, but you stuck to known information and logic. If you'd started to feel sorry for the Jumbo pilot 'cos he was tired, you would start to doubt your plan, and dig yourself a big hole [trust me, the interviewer would have lent you a spade]. You didn't so don't sweat it.:cool:

Of course, the jumbo was paying your wages. The two trainers would just about buy a jar of coffee for the company. We try not to kill the golden-egg laying domestic fowl when at all possible.:rolleyes:

Oh and "fuel emergency" = queue jumper. You want a priority service, you have to declare an emergency. This entails Mr Pilot having to fill in a lot of boring paperwork. Mr Pilot doesn't like paperwork.