do you read in the cockpit?

[eglpilot]

If someone asked you this on an interview, how would you reply? Serious answers only please.

 

[Al Coholic]

I would only read materials authorized by the operations manual.

 

[Rythm3]

I don't know what the exact answer should be, but if someone asked me this at an interview, I would say no. I assume you are referring to pleasure reading (magazine, novel, etc.) The reason being if it is not related to the flight, it is not appropriate.

 

[semperfido]

...no

 

[XR650R]

Well, comming from an airline that does not allow pleasure reading in the cockpit it is common practice to read anyway. I have a feeling that this is the case for most airlines and most individuals. That being said, if I was interviewing a pilot candidate and they indicated that they never read in the cockpit, I would question their honosty. As a Chief Pilot once told me "We can deal with almost anything except dishonesty." This question might be designed to see how honest your are. You might consider phrasing your response something like " Honestly, it's not something I normally would consider but I have done it in the past." To me, it shows you're human and upfront with the interviewer who more than likely is a pilot him/herself.

 

[miles otoole]

This question might be designed to see how honest your are. You might consider phrasing your response something like " Honestly, it's not something I normally would consider but I have done it in the past." To me, it shows you're human and upfront with the interviewer who more than likely is a pilot him/herself.

It shows me that you have canned answers as they have probably heard the exact same thing before. A response might be "So, I guess I can assume the same answer about drinking during duty?"

 

[cheater1239]

reading for pleasure in flight makes for a safer flight.
just like pleasant conversation does.
or doing crossword puzzles.
or soduko.
it alleviates bordom
what is to be avoided is newspapers obscuring the flight instruments.
as far as an interview question, " if it is permitted, then fine if done right, if it is not permitted, you can count on me to follow the fom/gom/sop, on this or any other matter"

 

[semperfido]

reading for pleasure in flight makes for a safer flight.
just like pleasant conversation does.
or doing crossword puzzles.
or soduko.
it alleviates bordom

...yeah right.

 

[Captain Overs]

Answer truthfully. If you say "No", I'm sure they know you're a liar. I can't think of one person who at one point, even for a minute or two, didn't read something that was non company material (Newspaper, magazine, ect)

 

[Pilotbob3]

why do some consider "company material" ok to read and not People Magazine? reading is reading.

 

[AMRCostUnit]

LNAV, VNAV, USA Today...they'll love that answer!

Unit
"You done with the Money Section?"

 

[Al Coholic]

why do some consider "company material" ok to read and not People Magazine? reading is reading.

Some being pilots or companies?

Some company manuals specify that reading "company material" is allowed.

 

[elag777]

...no

No check list to read?

 

[capt. megadeth]

It shows me that you have canned answers as they have probably heard the exact same thing before. A response might be "So, I guess I can assume the same answer about drinking during duty?"

I agree....I would answer like Al Coholic

 

[CRAZY LEGS]

do you read in the cockpit?
If someone asked you this on an interview, how would you reply?





As long as its outside the marker I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Laughing_Jakal]

Actually, I don't read the magazine. Since I was 13, I only looked at the pictures.....be careful though the center foldout could obstruct your vision.....and continued abuse could lead to going blind and eventually hairy palms.

 

[FlyAuburn]

You gotta go with your SOPs! If it's not allowed, then you say just that. Pretty simple. Who asks that anyway? Just wondering.

 

[fletch717]

Not as far as you know

 

[Captain Overs]

You gotta go with your SOPs! If it's not allowed, then you say just that. Pretty simple. Who asks that anyway? Just wondering.

AWA, I

 

[Captain Overs]

You gotta go with your SOPs! If it's not allowed, then you say just that. Pretty simple. Who asks that anyway? Just wondering.

AWA when they were hiring.

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

LNAV, VNAV, USA Today...they'll love that answer!

Those three items should be on the checklist, actually. Standard procedure, if you ask me.

 

[xjlifer]

A better interview question would be..."during cruise would you share your USA today" ....With a follow up make or break question..."did you buy that paper"?

 

[1IDBLKJEW]

HAVE YOU EVER READ IN THE COCKPIT????

YES!!!!

or if you want to be politically correct

NOT INTENTIONALLY

I think if you said NO they would just mark down "this guy lies and dont trust him"

 

[ackattacker]

A better interview question would be..."during cruise would you share your USA today" ....With a follow up make or break question..."did you buy that paper"?

And if you answer 'yes' and 'yes' then they will know you're not airline pilot material.

 

[MDP727]

You should say---- Yes, only material that is related to the safety of the flight though.

 

[pilotyip]

Is this like the question to an on-demand freightdog, "Have you ever slept in the cockpit?" Answer "Not on purpose"

 

[michael707767]

reading for pleasure in flight makes for a safer flight.
just like pleasant conversation does.
or doing crossword puzzles.
or soduko.
it alleviates bordom

I agree. I am much more aware of whats going on if I keep my mind engaged in something.

 

[saltyswede]

Only the APLA rag

That should get you hired

 

[xjlifer]

"And if you answer 'yes' and 'yes' then they will know you're not airline pilot material."

Kinda wonder exactly what "airline pilot material" is these days? He/She can't be a sane rational human being to want to get in or stay in this bidness!

 

[DrewBlows]

A question like that is asked not to find out if you read in the cockpit, but to find out to what degree you follow company policy, FAR's, etc. In an adversarial interview a follow up question to "yes" might be, assuming that your company has a policy against reading, "So, you don't think that all company policies are important. Tell me what other company policies you don't follow." If they asked "Do you do all checklists", even the crusty old captain who hasn't done a checklist since the fist Bush administration know that he'd better answer "yes", but a subtle qustion like the aforementioned reading questions can help to distinuish between the rule followers and the rule breakers, so-to-speak.

As with most interview questions there is no "right" answer. I think that you could answer the question "Do you read in the cockpit?" several ways, and still be correct. For instance.

Bad answer: "Yes."
Really bad answer: "Yes, my company has a policy against reading in the cockpit, but everyone does it. I really don't see a problem with it."

Good answer: "No, my company has a policy against reading in the cockpit, as it diverts your attention from the task of flying the airplane."

Really good answer: "I sometimes use my company manuals to clarify a policy or procedure. For instance, just the other day I knew that we would have to do a cross-bleed start in SBN, and it had been a long time since I have done one and knew that we would have very little time on the ground, so I looked up the procedure for a cross-bleed start, to refresh my memory, while en-route."

You'll notice that the last answer never addressed reading the "USA today" but still answered the question. Personally, I would throw something in about not reading non-company material, but if you really have that big of an issue with streaching the truth you don't have to, I guess.