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Interview Profile

• Submit paperwork
• Panel Interview
  • Three pilots- Chief pilot, Line pilots, Retired pilots, Training pilots
  • Expect follow up questions
  • "Are you sure?" after tech questions is common
• Simulator
  • Boeing 737
  • Could be round dial or glass
  • Given brief sheet w/15-30minute sot look over it
• Drug test, finger print
  • Same day as sim evaluation

Interview Question Bank

Human Resource Questions

• How did you get involved in flying?
• Tell us your history
• Describe your flying career up until this point.
• How will your college degree help here?
• What was your best day flying?
• Sell yourself to us in three minutes or less.
• Why Continental?
• What are CALs business challenges in the future?
• What do you know about CAL?
• Where are our bases?
• Which base would you like?
• What if you couldn't get your base of choice?
• Will you commute?
• How will you handle the low first year pay?
• How will you handle being on reserve?
• What would you change about your current employer?
• How does your current airline rank compared to its peers?
• What do you bring to CAL?
• What is the most challenging thing about being an airline pilot?
• What things do you do to help new F/Os?
• What makes a good Captain, do you possess these qualities?
• Define professional
• Define CRM.
• How do you operate differently with a check airman in the jump-seat?
• Tell me about a time...
  • You made a good decision
  • You made a bad decision in the cockpit, or one you wish you could do over
  • You made a quick decision
  • You had a flight which you wished had turned out differently
  • You had a disagreement with another department.
  • You disagreed with a company policy, what you did about it.
  • You were counseled at work
  • You broke a regulation
  • You turned yourself in, when you could have gotten away with something
  • You had to sacrifice for work
  • You disagreed with a superior
  • You disagreed with a Captain
  • You had a conflict in the cockpit
  • You resolved a conflict between co-workers (inside and outside the cockpit)
  • You could not help a customer
  • You dealt with an angry customer
  • You went above and beyond to help a customer
  • You failed to provide good customer service?
  • Your quick thinking helped a customer?
  • You made a mistake in the cockpit
  • You had an emergency in an airplane
• What would you do if Captain refused to follow SOP?
• What would you do if you caught a flight attendant stealing form the liquor cart?
• What would you do if a gate agent wants you to release the brake early?
• Rate these in order of importance: Customer Service, Safety, Reliability, Employee Morale
• Given choice would you hire a good pilot or a good employee
• Do you have any issues with female pilots
• Have you ever seen sexual harassment at work?
• Have you seen anything unethical recently?
• How do you feel about pilots using sick leave when they are not sick
• Explain any past problems on your paperwork
• How do you know the persons who wrote your recommendations
• Do you have any questions for us?
• Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Technical Questions

• What is VPD?
• How do you determine a VDP?
• If the VDP is published can you descend below MDA before the VDP?
• If the VDP is published can you descend below MDA after the VDP?
• When can you descend below Decision Altitude?
• When would you start a decent from FL300 to cross a fix at 12,000ft?
• How do winglets conserve fuel?
• What is the most important factor in fuel conservation for a jet aircraft?
• How do you avoid wake turbulence on takeoff, on landing?
• What is the difference between low speed and high speed buffet?
• Define Grid MORA
• Given approach plate
  • Brief circling minimums
  • What are the CAT 1 minimums
  • How would you fly approach in non-radar environment
• What is required to enter Class B airspace?
• What is the maximum speed below Class B airspace?
• What is the leg timing of a hold above 14,000ft?
• What is the oxygen mask requirement when one pilot leaves the seat?
• What's the most important thing to do in an emergency?
• What does it mean when you declare minimum fuel, what can you expect from ATC?
• What does it mean when you declare emergency fuel, what can you expect from ATC?
• Describe your thought process for takeoff if your anti-skid is inop, on a poor weather day, with a short runway
• Describe your thought process if you were low on fuel, holding on a STAR?

Simulator

• Choose which seat you want to fly form
• Other seat will be a check airman fill-in
• Houston (IAH)
• Takeoff from runway 26L
• Climb to 4000ft
• Accelerate to 250 passing 3000ft
• Climbing turns have you rolling out just as you level
• Direct VOR, or intercept radial
• Given holding instructions
• Brief holding entry
• Vectors to ILS
• ILS to a full stop
• Hints
  • Looking for basic instrument flying skills
  • They will ask if you have done a prep, be honest
  • Non Flying pilot will set up flight director for you
  • Call for checklists (they will tell you if complete)
  • Slow for holding
  • You may or may not hold, just because you hold doesn't mean you briefed incorrectly
  • Instructor calls out your speeds on approach

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