Pilot Interview Questions

1.1The commercial pilot role - operating aircraft safely, navigating, and managing the flight deck

1.2Aviation regulatory framework - EASA, CAA, and the certification standards that govern commercial aviation

1.3Pilot licensing - ATPL, CPL, type ratings, and the qualification pathway for commercial pilots

1.4CRM and human factors - the non-technical skills that are as important as technical flying ability

2.1Aerodynamics - lift, drag, thrust, weight, and how the atmosphere affects aircraft performance

2.2Aircraft systems - hydraulics, pneumatics, electrics, fuel, and how commercial aircraft systems work

2.3Engines - jet engine types, engine management, and the pilot monitoring role for powerplant systems

2.4Flight controls - fly-by-wire, control surfaces, and how modern aircraft translate pilot inputs into movement

3.1Navigation fundamentals - the methods, tools, and calculations used to navigate an aircraft

3.2Flight planning - route planning, fuel calculations, alternate airports, and NOTAMs

3.3Performance calculations - take-off, landing, cruise, and ensuring the aircraft operates within its limits

3.4Weather analysis - reading the weather picture, interpreting forecasts, and making go or no-go decisions

4.1Instrument flight rules - flying solely by reference to instruments in IMC

4.2Instrument approaches - ILS, RNAV, NDB, and the procedures for landing in low visibility

4.3Standard instrument departures and arrivals - SIDs, STARs, and the structured airspace procedures

4.4CAT II and CAT III operations - low visibility operations and the specific crew qualification requirements

5.1Weather systems - fronts, pressure systems, and the weather patterns that affect commercial aviation

5.2Hazardous weather - thunderstorms, icing, wind shear, and the threats that pilots must understand and avoid

5.3TAFs, METARs, and SIGMET - how pilots read and use weather information in pre-flight planning and in flight

5.4Weather decision-making - the pilot responsibility for the weather go or no-go decision

6.1Chicago Convention and ICAO - the international legal framework that governs aviation

6.2EASA and national regulations - the regulations that pilots in European-regulated aviation must comply with

6.3Rules of the air - separation, right of way, and the rules that govern aircraft operations

6.4Flight time limitations - rest requirements, duty hours, and the fatigue management that protects safety

7.1Crew Resource Management - communication, decision-making, situational awareness, and workload management

7.2Threat and Error Management - TEM as the modern safety framework and how crews manage threats proactively

7.3Standard operating procedures - the importance of SOPs and how crews use them to standardise operations

7.4Assertiveness and authority gradient - how crews challenge each other safely and maintain a healthy cockpit culture

8.1Automation philosophy - the levels of automation in modern aircraft and when to use each

8.2FMGS and FMS - the flight management system and how pilots use it to manage the flight

8.3Autoflight systems - autopilot, autothrust, and the pilot role in managing automated systems

8.4Manual flying skills - maintaining hand-flying proficiency in an increasingly automated environment

9.1Emergency drills - the procedures pilots train for and execute in response to abnormal and emergency situations

9.2Engine failure - the procedures, the decision-making, and the handling for engine-out operations

9.3Pressurisation loss - the recognition, the response, and the emergency descent procedure

9.4Fuel emergencies, medical emergencies, and security threats - the pilot response to diverse emergency scenarios

10.1Technical questions - aerodynamics, aircraft systems, navigation, meteorology, and air law

10.2Simulator assessment preparation - how to prepare for the sim-based element of airline selection

10.3HR and competency-based interview preparation - CRM behaviours, decision-making, and resilience

10.4Salary expectations for first officer and captain roles, type rating cost recovery, and questions to ask the airline about training, fleet, and career development