Need help with interview questions...

[tradersltd]

Hi guys, I am currently interviewing with a couple regionals and I keep seeing the same few kinds of questions that kinda stump me:

One: Your captain is drunk or breaks SOP's. What do you do? Honestly I have no 121 experience and I honestly don't know?

Two: Why XYZ airline? What kind of answer are they looking for? The planes are big and shiney?

Getting on with a regional means the world to me. I have wanted this since I was a kid, so I want to do well on the interview. Thanks for any help!!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

One: Your captain is drunk or breaks SOP's. What do you do? Honestly I have no 121 experience and I honestly don't know?

Two: Why XYZ airline? What kind of answer are they looking for? The planes are big and shiney?

Getting on with a regional means the world to me. I have wanted this since I was a kid, so I want to do well on the interview. Thanks for any help!!

One: Tell the Capt. you think he should call in sick. Raltionalize with him about safety, and not throwing away his career with a poor decision, etc.

If he says no, you call in sick, and put an end to the problem.

Two: Your final statement is a good start to this answer. I always wanted to fly since I was a kid, and it is a dream for some of us. Now just find some real and genuine positives about the airline you are applying with.

Good luck...any chance of you offering up the name of the company you are interviewing with? Maybe a couple of people can offer some positives on them...and the rest of the wolves on here can take potshots from the sidelines.

 

[tradersltd]

Have an interview with Pinnacle in a few weeks. The interview does not sound too bad (hard). I would really like to get on with them any feedback/thoughts??

 

[CatfishVT9]

First off, don't blow the test! It's a show stopper, with 70% (if I recall) to pass. Study the ATP questions, but skip performance and Part 121 &135 (unless it's changed in the last 3 months).

"Why XYX airline?" is to find out your interest level in the company. If you want to work there, find out some info that shows you've done your homework.

Good luck,

Catfish

 

[ace120]

Never Tell HR that you call in sick!!!!!!!!!!!! It is called abuse of sick time. The best answer is that you will not fly with a drunk captain under ant circumstances

 

[cptsesso]

If the Captain gets drunk while knowing he has a trip the next morning, he has a serious problem. If you " call in sick" as someone suggested, you are only perpetuating the Captains problem with alcohol. It is not your responsibility as co-pilot to take matters into your own hands in this situation. I would immediately get a hold of the chief pilot and advise him of the situation. He is the one who is responsible for the actions of all of his pilots.

 

[norskman2]

Two: Why XYZ airline? What kind of answer are they looking for? The planes are big and shiney?

B]

Know EVERYTHING about the airline. # of planes, employees, domiciles, MX bases, name of the CEO and the color of his underwear. Know the history of the company until you can recite it in your sleep. Sprinkle those facts that you just "happen" to know into your reasons why XYZ is the airline you really want to fly for.

 

[j328ernest]

If the Captain gets drunk while knowing he has a trip the next morning, he has a serious problem. If you " call in sick" as someone suggested, you are only perpetuating the Captains problem with alcohol. It is not your responsibility as co-pilot to take matters into your own hands in this situation. I would immediately get a hold of the chief pilot and advise him of the situation. He is the one who is responsible for the actions of all of his pilots.

And that, for all of you airline wannabee's, is the most tactfull and direct answer to that situation. Works for the alternative question of "...7 hrs before crew show you see the crewmember l in the bar with a partial glass right in front of them. Whatta 'ya do?" Never had to be there to do that thatnk goodness because I've working with responsible people. However, a little common sense, CRM skills, and of course companySOP's can come up with the solution.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Never Tell HR that you call in sick!!!!!!!!!!!! It is called abuse of sick time. The best answer is that you will not fly with a drunk captain under ant circumstances

Actually, I agree with your statement. In my attempt to keep my post as short as possible, I was only thinking of keeping the flight on the ground.

Save your sick time for what it's really for....an extra day added on to your vacation, a chance to play some golf on a great spring day, tickets to a Cubs day game...stuff like that.

 

[AnimalTale]

tradresaltd,

1) Be calm and dont be nervous.
2) Study or memorize the Gleim ATP, Commercial,Instrument writtens. It takes a week or so and it is a good refresher.
3) Go to aviationinterviews.com and register your self (free or FEE). It has the most current info. This is the most important step.

4) A drunk Captain scenario: Take a SAFETY approach first. Also a diplomatic approach toward the Captain. Question the Captain first. Then ask him/her to call in sick and get help from the companys "help program". Finally if these do not work, YOU DO NOT BOARD THE FLIGHT (SAFETY). Then CALL the Professional Pilots standards commitee (PCL ALPA). Thats it.

5) Why so and so airline? Give 3- 4 reasons. Look at the airlines web site and figure it out.
a) Growth--new rjs
b) lots of flying, cities
c) you have friends there that love it
d) great training and new equipment
e) carrier advancement--Capt soon

GOOD LUCK! Be confident, dont be nervous and dont be overly motivated. Give yourself a second or two to answer the questions. Do not yelp out an answer.

PM me if you want.

 

[TIS]

Everyone missed something important here

When you are dealing with on-duty intoxicated flight crewmembers you are dealing with a criminal matter. As such, when you act you will be making a CRIMINAL accusation - an accusation you CAN'T prove without clinical analysis.

You need to be EXTREMELY careful in making criminal accusations because if you're wrong and the smell you thought was on his breath turns out to have been coming from a bunch of busted mini-bar drinks in the galley you and your employer can be sued.

The most important thing you must do if you believe that the Captian is intoxicated is prevent the airplane from flying. That WILL result if YOU refuse to climb aboard.

Diplomatically speaking you can raise the issue of something that you smell not being a good thing to expose passengers to since they might get the wrong idea. Suggest that both of you get off the plane and then make your move to get the souse of the flight if you still feel it's warranted after moving to fresher air.

As for calling in sick - tell him he has five minutes to call in sick for the flight. Explain that if he does not that you will call in and refuse to fly with a FULL explanation as to why. If you gain compliance you can consider insisting further that he check himself into a program and provide YOU with proof that he has done so. Failure to do so will also result in a report to the company.

Consider union avenues in the aftermath also. There's always some sort of professional standards committee you can talk to. You can also talk to your status rep and get their take. After all, you have to consider that you're not the only person this has happened to.

Scenario-based interview questions are never what they seem. The reason is that they do not contain enough information to answer the question. You have to get more info before you start tlaking.

In this case all you are told is that the Captain is drunk. What you don't know is on what basis you have made this assessment. The fact is that it's not an assessment you can make wihout clinical equipment so there may be other potential explanations for whatever it is that's triggered your alert level. Diabetics, for example, can smell and act drunk. Now, pilots are not usually diabetic - at least not until their next medical - but medical anomalies can and do affect everyone at one time or another. And remember, it's a CRIMINAL accusation that you may not be able to prove.

Hope this helps!

TIS