Interview stuff
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Be careful with the book you have bought. Some of the answers/explanations given are not correct or will be at odds with the JAR answer to the same question. It's a useful tool to swot up quickly and highlight the areas you are most rusty in, which is when you should dust off the ATPL manuals and get stuck back into the problem area.
Each airline has it's own pet subject, so look at the a/c type and routes and make an educated guess as to what they may ask. I would suggest the vast majority of questions will be met, POF and performance related, with some systems (although as this can be too type specific it might be less likely).
Each airline has it's own pet subject, so look at the a/c type and routes and make an educated guess as to what they may ask. I would suggest the vast majority of questions will be met, POF and performance related, with some systems (although as this can be too type specific it might be less likely).
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Interview question threads
Hi guys
I've been looking on the forums for an good interview Q+A thread, but can't seem to find much. I've been told there are some very good ones. Does anyone know where i can find them?
Cheers
I've been looking on the forums for an good interview Q+A thread, but can't seem to find much. I've been told there are some very good ones. Does anyone know where i can find them?
Cheers
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Was asked at a well known Midlands freight airline interview 'what makes you want to hang around the dirtiest part of the airport at 3 am and then fly an ancient cargo aircraft?'.
mmmmm... you got me, I'll get my coat.
Cat.
mmmmm... you got me, I'll get my coat.
Cat.
Join Date: Jan 2000
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south coast assuming it was a woman, I'd say "mines a pint, lets go". If on the other hand it was a bloke spammed up like a tart, I'd close the door quietly and hope he went away 
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Captains Dress
The "Captain in a nice dress" question is actually used to test your pre-disposition to sexism and underlying attitude to female pilots
the rationale is that if your instinctive reaction to a "captain wearing a dress" is that it is a bloke wearing a dress
,......... and the alternative thought that the captain could be female and thus normally "wearing a 'nice' dress" does not cross your mind,........ your name might contain the words sid and sexist 
Here are a couple of BA favourites;
HAve you ever flown with a Captain with Conservative / Liberal attitudes? How did you deal with it?
A guy I know spent so long trying to work out what they meant by conservative attitudes, he did not even hear the rest of the interview questions they asked. Lets just say, he is not working at BA at the moment!!!
the rationale is that if your instinctive reaction to a "captain wearing a dress" is that it is a bloke wearing a dress
,......... and the alternative thought that the captain could be female and thus normally "wearing a 'nice' dress" does not cross your mind,........ your name might contain the words sid and sexist Here are a couple of BA favourites;
HAve you ever flown with a Captain with Conservative / Liberal attitudes? How did you deal with it?
A guy I know spent so long trying to work out what they meant by conservative attitudes, he did not even hear the rest of the interview questions they asked. Lets just say, he is not working at BA at the moment!!!
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Two years ago I had my first flying job interview with Air Southwest just as they had started operations. The pay was 20K and they only had two aircraft, one was flying and the other was a spare! I was asked where I would like to be in 5 years time with respect to my career. Hmmm, I think it would be safe to say everyone going for that job knew it was the first rung on a high ladder so what do you do? Do you describe a long and illustrious career with them on the Dash8 or do you admit that in a few years you'll be out of there?! Tricky cause they know and you know (and they know that you know they know you know) that its most likely the latter!
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Ans:
tricky: are they looking for integrity (I'm pretty sure they will assume you have but are you going to lie about it and if you do, what else are you lying about?) or just to follow with: "well we have established that you are willing to break the law - but how far will you go?"
Ans: NEVER comprimise safety
Another on the same lines:
Airline CEO is on board with v. important pax etc (basically a/c WILL depart on time or else huge consequences) and with 10 mins to push you realise you have forotten yout licence/passport. What do you do?
Ans: personally would bend rules to avoid airline losing huge amounts of money as long as SAFETY IS NOT AFFECTED (see a pattern?). Get company to fax copy of lic to far end in case of ramp check - play dumb if caught at destination etc.
I'm sure many would have different opinions but IMHO this is to see if you are willing to stick your neck out for the company.
Q: Biggest mistake you have ever made
A: Don't talk about the time you bust minima and realised that the lights you were aiming for were on the apron - you could talk yoursef out of a job with this qu alone! Try and avoid flying - Ieg bought a dodgy car without getting it inspected. Likely to be followed with now give me an example from your flying career! Make sure it was not stupidity and also that you learned something from it and won't do it again!
Q: A time you had conflict in the cockpit
A: Make sure you acted calmly and discussed the problem then you both had a pint after!
Q: Tell me a joke
A: Have one up your sleeve! Make sure it does not put ANY group down! (Essex girls/Irish/Blond(e)s etc). Also make it short- helps if it is funny too, but probably the least important attribute of those listed here.
I was asked if i managed to find the interview building ok. Then asked how the traffic was, what route I took, then once lured into taking this as exchanging pleasntries was asked if at any time on the 200 mile journey I broke the speed limit!
Ans: NEVER comprimise safety
Another on the same lines:
Airline CEO is on board with v. important pax etc (basically a/c WILL depart on time or else huge consequences) and with 10 mins to push you realise you have forotten yout licence/passport. What do you do?
Ans: personally would bend rules to avoid airline losing huge amounts of money as long as SAFETY IS NOT AFFECTED (see a pattern?). Get company to fax copy of lic to far end in case of ramp check - play dumb if caught at destination etc.
I'm sure many would have different opinions but IMHO this is to see if you are willing to stick your neck out for the company.
Q: Biggest mistake you have ever made
A: Don't talk about the time you bust minima and realised that the lights you were aiming for were on the apron - you could talk yoursef out of a job with this qu alone! Try and avoid flying - Ieg bought a dodgy car without getting it inspected. Likely to be followed with now give me an example from your flying career! Make sure it was not stupidity and also that you learned something from it and won't do it again!
Q: A time you had conflict in the cockpit
A: Make sure you acted calmly and discussed the problem then you both had a pint after!
Q: Tell me a joke
A: Have one up your sleeve! Make sure it does not put ANY group down! (Essex girls/Irish/Blond(e)s etc). Also make it short- helps if it is funny too, but probably the least important attribute of those listed here.
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I got asked the one about the capt in the skirt at an interview for GIll Air years back, fortunately I'd heard it off a mate, so I played dumb a bit (not too difficult for me), I paused for a moment or three and blurted out the right answer, ie ask her what she wants to drink.
One of the worst on that I came across, and it's a common one is to give an example of your weakness. I just patted my stomach (which is larger than it should be) and said chocolate.
One of the worst on that I came across, and it's a common one is to give an example of your weakness. I just patted my stomach (which is larger than it should be) and said chocolate.
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As sick as this may sound I've heard this being asked....
You look at the cockpit CCTV screen to see the hyjacker with a loved one held hostage asking you to open the door. what do you do?
You look at the cockpit CCTV screen to see the hyjacker with a loved one held hostage asking you to open the door. what do you do?
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Around 20 years ago when working as a Virgin F/O I was asked at a Cathay interview, what would Virgin's chief pilot have to say tonight when I have dinner with him, as to why he wants to keep you in Virgin. The then VS chief pilot was an ex Cathay trainer. Realised then that I was completely bu****ed!
As to the loved one/hijacker scenario, my family have not flown with me since 9/11, the thought of that question is too horrible to contemplate.
Hopefully have had my eigth and last interview now, good luck to those who have the hoops to jump through.
As to the loved one/hijacker scenario, my family have not flown with me since 9/11, the thought of that question is too horrible to contemplate.
Hopefully have had my eigth and last interview now, good luck to those who have the hoops to jump through.
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You look at the cockpit CCTV screen to see the hyjacker with a loved one held hostage asking you to open the door. what do you do?
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Turned down at interviews: what did U do wrong?
Hello gents!
Just got a mail from a friend turned down on Phase 2 after aptitude test with an EU reginal: the doc told him that because of his variety of life experiences he was unfit to become a pilot showing a too competitive attitude. I have spent weeks to put my CV to highlight my career steps in different environments in a way that could appear useful for the pilot job: different life experiences, international travelling, multicultural job experiences an so on.The thruth but not the whole thruth, of course! Nothing strange I belive. Now I start to feel a bit worried: am I a wannabe-kamikaze? If anyone could just give his/her impression and (bad) experience....I think it's for a good cause useful to better face the (maybe only) chance to get your dreamjob.
Thank to anyone who will help.
PZ
Just got a mail from a friend turned down on Phase 2 after aptitude test with an EU reginal: the doc told him that because of his variety of life experiences he was unfit to become a pilot showing a too competitive attitude. I have spent weeks to put my CV to highlight my career steps in different environments in a way that could appear useful for the pilot job: different life experiences, international travelling, multicultural job experiences an so on.The thruth but not the whole thruth, of course! Nothing strange I belive. Now I start to feel a bit worried: am I a wannabe-kamikaze? If anyone could just give his/her impression and (bad) experience....I think it's for a good cause useful to better face the (maybe only) chance to get your dreamjob.
Thank to anyone who will help.
PZ
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Hello.
A couple of years ago, when I was a young lad, I applied for sponsorship. I went into the interview thinking that honesty would be the best policy. I didn't get any feedback, but I think the biggest mistake of the 20 mins in front of the panel went something like this...
HR: "So, why do you want to fly for the airlines?"
T1000: "I think it is the pinacle of aviation."
HR: " I think the boys flying round in their Tornadoes would disagree with you there. I see you were awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship, why didn't you join up?"
T1000: " I had Asthma when I was very young."
HR: " So, if you didn't have that holding you back, would you have joined the RAF?"
T1000: "Yes."
Cue much exhalation of breath from the panel and frantic scribbling. Bad call?
Call to John
A couple of years ago, when I was a young lad, I applied for sponsorship. I went into the interview thinking that honesty would be the best policy. I didn't get any feedback, but I think the biggest mistake of the 20 mins in front of the panel went something like this...
HR: "So, why do you want to fly for the airlines?"
T1000: "I think it is the pinacle of aviation."
HR: " I think the boys flying round in their Tornadoes would disagree with you there. I see you were awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship, why didn't you join up?"
T1000: " I had Asthma when I was very young."
HR: " So, if you didn't have that holding you back, would you have joined the RAF?"
T1000: "Yes."
Cue much exhalation of breath from the panel and frantic scribbling. Bad call?
Call to John