Top 21 Airline Pilot Interview Questions In 2024 [With Answers]

It was only in December 1903 when the great Wright brothers invented the first controlled and powered aircraft which found its wings in the North of Carolina, known as Wright Flyer. This was the start of the aviation industry and no wonder our world has certainly come a long way. Nowadays, air travel is the most preferred way of transportation and commutation due to its various benefits of affordability as well as substantial savings in time. An aircraft is run and operated by an airline pilot, a designation which is divided into various ranks, such as cadet, first officer, and captain.

Becoming an airplane pilot involves a huge amount of investment due to its expensive nature and lengthy curriculum. Post-qualification, the job openings or vacancies are also limited with a rising number of pilots and applications. Hence, it is necessary that a person prepares sincerely for the interview process and studies the important as well as frequently asked interview questions.

21 Best Interview Questions To Study

1. Explain The Terms V1 and V2 In the Context Of Airplane Flying?

This question tests your core principles and fundamentals of airplane flying.

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, V1 refers to the speed, within which a pilot has to make a decision whether or not to continue the flight operations, in cases of engine failures and defects. It can be considered as the speed which is committed to flying. On the other hand, V2 refers to the speed at which an airplane would climb or takeoff, in extreme cases of engine failure.

2. Name The Several Determinants Of V1 Speed.

This question tests your core principles and fundamentals of airplane flying.

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, these are:

• The length of the runway which is designated for a take off
• The various possible obstacles
• The temperature prevailing at the time of take-off
• The slope of the runway earmarked for a takeoff
• Composite weight of the aircraft which is to be flown

3. What Do You Mean By A Stopway?

This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various flying terminologies.

Sample Answer

Sir, a stop way simply refers to an area that is not designated for take-off, or an area that is restricted and is simply prohibited for an airplane to move at.

4. How Do You Plan To Save Fuel?

This is a job-specific interview question that tests your operating knowledge and principles of flying.

Sample Answer

Sir, Aviation Turbine Fuel is quite expensive and I completely understand the relevance of this interview question. I always plan to save fuel by using the following steps:

• During the instances of both taxi in and taxi out, I always prefer to shut one engine down, this not only saves fuel but also helps in reducing the associated maintenance cost.
• I always prepare for my flight operations diligently, and I always keep my additional fuel requirements to bare minumum, after considering all the safety guidelines and protocols.
• I am against the usage of full reverse thrust

5. What Is The Most Common Reason For Fuel Exhaustion Accidents?

This is a practical question that tests your knowledge and understanding of the various flying accidents caused due to exhaustion of fuel.

Sample Answer

Sir, In my humble opinion, the most common reason for such accidents is that pilots prefer to stay load partial fuel, so as to carry maximum weight during takeoff.

6. Why Do Aircraft Maintain Ballast Fuel?

This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various flying terminologies.

Sample Answer

Sir, it is common for aircraft to maintain ballast fuel, as it keeps the overall center of gravity of an aircraft within the specified limits. This type of fuel is carried in both wings, to prevent instances of excessive bending or decline.

7. Name At Least Three Types Of Wings Found In Monoplanes?

This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various flying techniques.

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, these are:

• Parasol Wing
• Shoulder Wing
• High Wing

8. Explain The Functioning Of A Jet Engine In Brief?

This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the functioning of the jet engine.

Sample Answer

Jet engines are also known as gas turbines and help a plane to move forward. Initially, the engine of the plane attracts the air towards it, and a compressor raises the temperature of the air sucked. This leads to the creation of compressed air, which burns the gas and lets it out at full thrust. This gas is thrust backward, enabling an aircraft to move forward. With the up and down movement of the wings attached to an airplane, it is able to take off.

9. Name All The Parts Of A Jet Engine.

Being a pilot, though you are not required to repair an aircraft engine, you are expected to have at least the basic knowledge of its parts and basic functioning.

Sample Answer

Sure, sir, These parts are:

• Fan
• Compressor
• Combustor
• Turbine
• Nozzle

10. What Is The Role Of Empennage In An Aircraft?

This question tests your knowledge and understanding of the various parts of an airplane.

Sample Answer

Sir, Empennage simply means the tail of an aircraft. The only purpose of an empennage is to maintain the balance of an aircraft and provide some stability to it. It works on the similar principle of feathers on the rear end of an arrow.

11. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

Usually, interviewers prefer to get a quote of your salary expectations during the interview session itself. There is high importance of conducting serious researches in order to get a fair idea of the average salary offered to a similar professional in a similar industry. Prepmycareer advises never to share or respond with any random figure, as this can seriously deplete your chances of selection. Salary is an important part of an interviews session and you can gain in-depth knowledge in regards the same, by studying our famous article, How To Discuss Salary?

12. When Can You Start With Us?

Through this question, an interviewer simply wants to get a quote of your availability. This question in no way guarantees your selection and hence you must refrain from getting over-excited or too much optimistic. It is true that interviewers prefer to choose a candidate who is able to start immediately, but we recommend you to share only a genuine quote. Prepare exhaustively for this question, using this link.

13. Regular or Frequent Flying Is A Stressful Activity. How Do You Handle Stress?

It is common for interviewers nowadays to understand your approach and mindset towards working in a hectic and stressful operating environment. This is a usual requirement and expectation from the candidate, hence always answer this question in a positive manner. Considering its relevance and importance in an interview session, read our ten high-quality sample answers, by clicking on this link.

14. What Is Your Major Weakness?

An interview session is almost incomplete without a strength/weakness related interview question. This question is widely asked and followed in almost all the interview sessions held across the world enabling interviewers to have a good understanding of the personality as well as overall approach and attitude. Prepare exhaustively for this interview question and create a positive opinion of yourself, through our exclusive post, What Are Your Weaknesses?

15. Can You Work Under Minimum Supervision?

This is a common interview question wherein an interviewer wants to know about your preferred mode of working. Whether you want to work in a team setting or maybe you want to work individually, just share everything with complete logic and rationales. Being a pilot, you will be accompanied by a co-pilot or a first officer. Hence, choosing the team option is more preferable and advised. You can prepare for this question in-depth, using our exclusive post covering this interview question exhaustively.

16. What Does Your Best Friend Say About You?

This is a master personality evaluating question that has the ability to judge as well as evaluate your complete attitude and approach towards different aspects of life. It is always better to share any of your strengths in this question but limiting your answer only to it, is not advisable. Finish your answer with any of your non-relatable weaknesses, which would completely balance your answer.

Sample Answer

Sir, my best friend says a lot of things about me. However, I would like to share the thing he says the most. He always considers me to be a person of high patience and focus who has the ability to solve and eke out an efficient solution to almost every adverse situation in life. Further, he also denounces me by saying that, I am not at all serious about my physical health in life, and always treats it as a secondary.

17. What Motivates You To Fly Airplanes?

Through this question, an interviewer wants to know about the primary reasons or factors that motivate you to work hard at your workplace. An ideal answer to this question is highly subjective and will depend entirely upon your own desires, circumstances, and achievements. Hence, try to avoid all the genric answers and give a unique and original response. For further help and specialized preparation, please refer to our article, What Motivates You?

18. If You Were An Animal, What Would You Be?

This is a master personality evaluating question, that has the ability to not only examine your current commitments but also your future aspirations. Whatever animal you prefer to choose, must be corporate-friendly, that is must be ambitious, have high concentration levels, or be hard-working at its best. Have complete information about this interview question and improve your selection chances, by reading our exclusive post, covering this interview question exhaustively.

19. Considering We Will Give You More Than A Single Business Task To Complete, How Will You Prioritize?

This is a trending interview question and is frequently asked in several interview sessions held across the world. Through this question interviewer wants to know about your own prioritization strategy, using which you are able to execute all your tasks and duties on time and before the assigned deadline. To get some more idea about this interview question, read our exclusive post, How Do You Prioritize?

20. Why You Chose Us?

This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to know about your level of commitment as well as seriousness about the organization you sought to work with. The best way to prepare for this question is by using and browsing the official website of the organization. Note some of the unique achievements and historical facts of the company on a written paper and memorize them. This would be enough for this interview question, however, you can refer to our exclusive article for an exhaustive preparation.

21. Do You Have Any Questions For Us?

If you ever encounter this question be assured that, your interview session has been concluded. This question requires you to ask a few questions from your interviewer in regards to the organization, its ethics, working culture, etc. In case you are planning to skip this question, be ready to face the wrath of rejection. Hence, attempt all the interview questions sincerely, and for this question, prepare from the model questions mentioned below:

Model Questions

• Is the organization’s policy to provide adequate lay overs and rest room facilities to its pilots?
• What are the various additional flying allowances offered, if a pilot crosses the mandatory flying hours’ limit?
• Is it the organization’s policy to extend paid paternity/maternity leaves to its employees?

Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (for Airline Pilot interviews):

References

1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-85610-6_24
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=1ksiEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Top+21+Airline+Pilot+Interview+Questions+in+2021+%5Bwith+Answers%5D+&ots=6SuxPY13YZ&sig=RiroVPxCx997fzM3a1UC4nAhoDg