Interview Question for TIS and others...

[Concierj]

Have you ever violated a FAR?

My gut is telling me no. But honestly, we are ALL guilty of violating a FAR in some manner. What is the puropse of this question? Do they want brutal honesty, or a solid NO. The answer that I'm thinking of is.... No, I've never puropsefully violated a FAR, however, while in training.... and I do have a story to tell.

What if a HR rep asks you this question as well as a pilot rep? I believe consistency is crucial.


Anyone feel free to comment... Thanks for your help!

 

[mozzer]

FAR

Sure we all have AND they have AND they know it. 250 below 10 is a common one. If your instructing......xponder within 3o is also common.

later.

 

[Typhoon1244]

CoEx asked me this question when I interviewed there. "Have you ever violated the FAR's?" The short version is probably, but never intentionally...I make every effort to conform to the FAR's blah blah blah.

Then he gives me a hypothetical situation: you're ten knots under V1 and realize that you never fastened your shoulder harness. (Don't remember the reg, but there's one that says you've got to have it on for T/O.) Are you going to abort so that you don't violate the reg? You just said you wouldn't intentionally violate a reg, right?

See, they're trying to get you to waffle, to say something contradictory and unsound...like, "of course I'd abort. It'd be illegal to takeoff without my shoulder harness," etc., etc.

To be honest, they caught me off-guard with that question, and my interview went downhill from there because I was rattled.

So after brushing up on my interview techniques, now I'm at ASA...and probably better off. (I hope!)

 

[350DRIVER]

Most will bust a regulation at some point probably during the persons earlier days when they are more nieve and inexperienced. Most people will bust something very minor and they probably didn't think that is was a bust at the time. Most people on any interview board will see right through you if you try and say "NO", "I am holier than thou and I have never busted a regulation ever" . Be honest and tell the people the truth.


3 5 0

 

[AZaviator]

Here's what I belive interviewers are looking for. I got this info from a friend of mine who is on the interview board for a regional.
They are looking for you to say yes but would prefer for it not to be something major. Good examples, some of which were already mentioned are: forgetting to turn the transponder on ALT, busting altitude by more than 200ft, etc, etc. They don't want to hear about you landing on the wrong runway or something major like that.

The answer you give them should have been something you did a while ago and should be followed up with what you learned from it. It shouldn't be something you recently did. If you tell them you haven't broken an FAR, they will be sure to give you a scenario (similar to the one Typhoon mentioned) in which you might need to break a FAR due to a safety of flight issue. After answering that question, you'll see how you can dig yourself into a hole.

To sum it up, if I were asked if I've ever broken an FAR, my answer would be yes, it would be something minor that happened a while back, and I'd tell them what I learned from it. End of story!

Hope this helps.

 

[bobbysamd]

FAR

I agree with the primary sentiment of above. The tower could yell at you for taxiing too fast, so that could consitute "careless and reckless." So, at that point in time, you busted a reg.

Typhoon gave a good response. His CO interview question was indeed BS and he probably is better off where he is for that reason alone.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Re: FAR

Typhoon gave a good response.

I'm glad to hear you say that...because at the time I felt like an idiot!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Re: FAR

Typhoon gave a good response. His CO interview question was indeed BS and he probably is better off where he is for that reason alone.

While I agree the question is BS, it's typical of most airline interview questions. The common "no right/wrong answer". It's not what your decision is, it's how you support it and whether or not you get rattled that matters.

If Typhoon would have said "I'd abort because me flying without a shoulder harness could create a hazard to flight and the taxi checklist was not complete. I'd taxi back, complete appropriate checklists and when we were sure all was good to go, depart."

OR

"I would wait until we were above (pick an altitude, at my company 1500 feet would be the right answer) feet, then transfer control to the copilot and ensure I was correctly strapped in. I wouldn't abort because I believe, in the case described, aborting would pose a greater threat to safety than continuing and fastening my belt once safely airborne".

In either case, a follow-up question is unlikely if you are decisive. If you get one, just hold your ground unless information that changes the situation is presented.

Now, to bring it back to the original question. The first one that always comes to mind for me is exceeding 250 knots below 10k feet. Why? I had smoke in the cockpit. This one can also be answered in case they throw in the twist: "have you ever INTENTIONALLY violated a FAR?".

Hope this is a little helpful.