Flight Operations interview prep.

Behavioural questions to expect

1. Walk me through your aviation career + flight operations experience.
2. Tell me about a flight or operational situation you've handled.
3. Why passenger aviation vs other flying paths (cargo / corporate / military / GA)?
4. Why this operation type - legacy long-haul / low-cost / regional / ULCC?
5. Why the firm?
6. What's your read on our network + fleet + recent operational events?
7. Tell me what you understand about our safety + SMS posture.
8. Walk me through an abnormal or emergency situation you've handled.

Technical concepts to master

• Dispatch + flight planning + joint responsibility

  Joint responsibility (PIC + dispatcher) · Flight release + dispatch release · MEL + CDL · ETOPS / EDTO · Fuel planning + tankering

• CRM + TEM + just culture

  CRM (Crew Resource Management) · TEM (Threat + Error Management) · Authority gradient + assertion models · Just culture · Startle + surprise effect

• SMS + FOQA + ASAP + IOSA - safety programme stack

  SMS (Safety Management System) · FOQA (Flight Operations Quality Assurance) · ASAP (Aviation Safety Action Program) · LOSA (Line Operations Safety Audit) · IOSA + ICAO USOAP

• Abnormal + emergency procedures + QRH discipline

  Aviate / Navigate / Communicate · Memory items + QRH NNC · PF / PM division of duties · Divert / return decision · Post-event reporting + debrief

Practical drills

• You are PIC cruising at FL310 over mountainous terrain. You receive an engine fire warning on one engine. Aircraft is twin-engine. Walk through your response and decision-making.
• You are dispatching a domestic Part 121 flight. Destination forecast is 1500 ft ceiling / 2 SM vis from ETA -30 to +90. Aircraft has an MEL item limiting one of two packs. Walk through fuel + alternate + go / no-go reasoning.
• You are Captain on approach in marginal WX. Your FO (PM) calls 'unstable, go around' at 800 ft. You believe approach can still be salvaged. Walk through your response + decision rhythm.

Smart-question anchors

• Network + fleet + base structure - hub / spoke, fleet mix, base assignment
• Safety + SMS posture - FOQA / ASAP / LOSA programme maturity, IOSA cycle, just-culture rhythm
• Training programme - AQP vs Part 121 N / O, evidence-based training adoption, sim footprint
• OCC + dispatch sophistication - integrated ops control, IROPS playbooks, joint-responsibility rhythm
• Crew + duty / rest - Part 117 / EASA FTL margin, fatigue programme, FRMS

Sourced from

FAA 14 CFR Part 121 + Part 117 + Part 91 + FAA Advisory Circulars (AC 120 series) · ICAO Annexes 6 + 19 + Doc 9859 SMS Manual + Doc 9683 Human Factors Training Manual · EASA Part-ORO + Part-CAT + Easy Access Rules · IATA IOSA Standards Manual + IATA Safety Reports · NTSB accident reports + AAIB / BEA / TSB equivalents + Flight Safety Foundation materials