Why this matters:
The health and safety of a pilot has a direct impact on the health and safety of their passengers and crew. Along those lines, every pilot should have an understanding of the national and international flight time regulations that regulate their work schedule and promote safe and secure travel for all.
What to listen for:
- Understanding of regulations in detail
- Respectfully monitoring rest of crew to ensure compliance
- Experience handling fatigue responsibly
Why this matters:
Stalls are a hazard for planes in the period shortly after takeoff, as shown by the number of accidents that happen every year just as planes are leaving the tarmac. Knowing what causes a stall, and how to react, demonstrates that a pilot is prepared to confront and mitigate any engine issues to prevent disaster.
What to listen for:
- Describes warning signs, like low speed, high nose position, and descending altitude
- Correctly describes necessary countermeasures, including accelerating and reducing angle of attack
- Distinguishing stall from other failures with mechanical origins
Why this matters:
Navigating adverse weather conditions is a crucial part of being a successful pilot — it’s impossible to arrange a flight schedule to ensure that pilots never have to confront bad weather. An ideal candidate will be able to offer a multidimensional response to issues that arise, and even deal competently with situations that they’ve never encountered before.
What to listen for:
- Knowledge of minimum distance requirements as well as the recommended distance
- Correct FAA (or applicable regulatory body) guidelines for pilot response to sudden weather changes
- Ability to keep passengers informed but calm during hazardous situations
Why this matters:
When in the air, crucial decisions often have to be made in order to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew. A candidate who can point to a time they made such a decision shows that they are able to deal with high-pressure situations with a level head and know what to do to ensure the best outcome.
What to listen for:
- Acting decisively and effectively in moments of crisis
- Fair and objective self-assessment postmortem
- Ability to learn from past decision points
Why this matters:
Safety is an absolute number-one priority for airline pilots and flight crew, whether in the air or on the runway, and whatever the source of the issue. Pilots need to be able to spot and address these issues as they arise. This requires both a strong attention to detail as well as leadership abilities in coordinating a response to the issue.
What to listen for:
- Level-headed assessment of the situation
- Swift and effective action taken to remedy the issue
- Clear communication with the rest of the crew
Why this matters:
A flight crew needs to be in sync to ensure a smooth trip for passengers and to address any situations that arise. Conflict within the crew has to be taken care of as quickly as possible in order to ensure that any serious issues can be addressed without problems. A pilot should show that they can deal with conflict in a mature manner.
What to listen for:
- Resolving issue effectively and productively
- Willingness to admit fault when appropriate
- Positive development from conflict
Why this matters:
Being a pilot means facing constant stress: flying an aircraft is not easy, and there are many considerations involved beyond what the pilot has immediate control over. A prospective candidate needs a comprehensive and effective strategy for managing stress to ensure that difficult situations don’t lead to dangerous behavior.
What to listen for:
- Specific strategies to cope with stress and situations where these strategies worked
- Understanding hazards of stress specific to airline industry
- Ability to recognize when stress is affecting actions and taking steps to address the issue
Why this matters:
A pilot has to assume a leadership role among the flight crew and present a dependable face to the passengers. The right professional demeanor is essential to ensuring the best experience for everyone aboard, and a strong candidate knows how to play to their strengths when acting as a leader and guide on board the aircraft.
What to listen for:
- Confidence in stepping up and displaying leadership
- Strong discretion in decision-making
- Willingness to delegate responsibilities when appropriate
Why this matters:
Clear communication is a key part of any pilot’s skill set, both with the flight crew inside the cabin and with teams on the ground. Many serious problems have arisen as a result of poor communication. A candidate with strong communication skills also displays the professionalism of the airline itself as its representative.
What to listen for:
- Asking for clarification when communication problems arise
- Not assuming one interpretation is correct without backing evidence
- Conferring with copilot to determine appropriate course of action
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