Careers for pilots
The road to an airline job: airline selection, interviews, simulator assessments, the pilot CV and the first years on the line.
CPL · ATPL
Airline Pilot Ranks, Seniority and Scheduling
Explains flight crew ranks and the command upgrade, how seniority drives upgrades, bases and bidding, and the realities of reserve, commuting and furlough.
CPL · ATPL
Airline Pilot Recruitment and Selection
Walks through the airline hiring process, from application to competency-based interviews, simulator and personality assessments, conditional offers and pre-employment background checks.
ATPL
Command Upgrade: From First Officer to Captain
What it takes to move to the left seat, from license and experience requirements to the operator's command course, line training and checks as commander, and the non-technical skills a captain is assessed on.
CPL · ATPL
Competency-Based Pilot Interviews
How airline interviews test the pilot competencies through behavioral questions, how the STAR structure works, what technical and motivation questions look like, and common pitfalls.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Pilot Aptitude Tests
What the aptitude tests of airlines and cadet schemes measure, from numerical reasoning and spatial orientation to multitasking, psychomotor skills and personality, and how candidates prepare.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Pilot Career Pathways
Covers the routes from a first flight to an airline seat, including cadet programs, time building, flow agreements and the types of airline a pilot can join.
CPL · ATPL
Pilot Interviews at US Airlines
How US regional and major airlines hire pilots: applications and logbook review, the HR and technical interview, typical questions and what happens after an offer.
CPL · ATPL
Pilot Unions and Professional Bodies
Covers the pilot unions and professional bodies, collective bargaining agreements, US airline labor law and union professional standards work.
CPL · ATPL · Type rating
Technical Questions in Airline Pilot Interviews
The technical questions airlines ask pilots at interview, on systems, performance, operations and the aircraft they will fly, with how to prepare and answer them.
CPL · ATPL
The Airline Simulator Assessment
How airlines run the simulator check in pilot selection: the typical profile, raw-data flying, the maneuvers often asked, how examiners grade against the pilot competencies, and how to prepare.
CPL · ATPL
Writing a Pilot CV and Application
How to present licenses, ratings and flight hours on a pilot CV, what airlines look for in an application and cover letter, common mistakes and how to keep the CV consistent with the logbook.
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