Airline interview question

flyboy04

flyboy04

Well-Known Member
Hello again everyone, im looking over some airline interview questions ive came up a sceniario that im just not sure of what id do. So here it is:

Captain goes below MDA, (no tower) breaks out and lands. 15 min turn around at the airport, do you continue flying with the captain? You cant get the chief pilot on the phone.

Not sure there is a right answer, but let hear everyones anyway!
 
"I don't know right now, I haven't been through your training department, but I would be eager to learn something like this from you guys if you would grant me employment with your airline"

I'm thinking the answer would be no, since that Captain just broke a serious regulation, and should not be flying at all. Then again, it is your word against his right?
 
This is why we need 300 pound airline pilots. We can balance out the Captain who wants to subject us to his anti-authority behavior by calmly suggesting a 300 pound man can snap a captain... I mean 180 pound guys arm with little effort. Chances are your Captain will not go below MDA.

Of course this is not the answer you want to say in the interview and what I wrote is in jest. Speaking of in jest, I have to make breakfast now.
 
I like it when we do control checks and the captain has to roll his seat back! :)
 
When we asked that question it was prior to going below.

The question was you say "minimums" and get no response.

First, there really is no "right" answer, but what I looked for was for the candidate to tell me he would look to his or her left and make sure the captain was still ok, and not slumped over the yoke having a heart attack or something.
 
But to answer the question, it's time for a 'heart to heart' chat with the captain.

I wouldn't instantly go to the chief pilot or walk off the aircraft but I'd work it out pilot-to-pilot. If he wasn't responsive to your concerns, then it's time for the next level.
 
I think the real question is what you did when he went below DA for the approach in. My answer would be No because he ignored my command to go-around on the approach in. Since he ignored my concern for safety and broke a regulation I will pull myself off and get a third party involved since he is obviously not safe.

Whatever your answer may be, just make sure you have a reasonable explanation.
 
Doug Taylor said:
But to answer the question, it's time for a 'heart to heart' chat with the captain.

I wouldn't instantly go to the chief pilot or walk off the aircraft but I'd work it out pilot-to-pilot. If he wasn't responsive to your concerns, then it's time for the next level.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat:

I agree with Doug. The "preferred" method of problem resolution is very similar to what The Big Guy (Jesus) said in Matthew 18:15

Speak to the person first. If he doesn't hear you, take a brother (pro stds committee member) with you. If he still doesn't hear you, take him to the church (chief pilot's office for a carpet dance.) If he won't hear you then, treat him as a tax collector or pharisee (call the Feds!)
 
O yeah and like Doug said, before you go running to the chief try and settle it between you and the Captain. I don't know how many times I saw a crew go to the Chief with a problem when it was something that they could have worked out together.
 
If you still have a problem with the Captain. Send him on a hunting trip with Dick Chaney.
 
flyboy04 said:
Hello again everyone, im looking over some airline interview questions ive came up a sceniario that im just not sure of what id do. So here it is:

Captain goes below MDA, (no tower) breaks out and lands. 15 min turn around at the airport, do you continue flying with the captain? You cant get the chief pilot on the phone.

Not sure there is a right answer, but let hear everyones anyway!
Click to expand...
I'd call BS on their story :) - we get paid block or better :rawk:.

J/K. I definately wouldn't approach the CA aggressively. There's a chance their altimeter was mis-set, the air data computer was interpreting a different altitude (I've seen it off by as much as 50' between sides at cruise before), etc. He/she may of had the volume on the intercom turned down so they didn't hear your "minimums" call. So many things could have happened. But a talk is definately warranted. The fact that there is a 15 minute turn is just their way of giving urgency to the situation - just ignore it. Being on time means nothing if you're dead.

Something like this just happened to me actually. We were doing a visual to an airport at night, however it was up in PA where there are some hills around it. The CA was flying, and set in the ILS freq as a backup. Well, he was following the GS from a base leg (treating it like a white needle/FMS visual approach) and it led him down way too early. Litterally about 3 seconds after I said "hey, we're looking a little low here, do you have the runway?" and hit my Radar/Terrain button, the approach controller says "flight XXXX I'm getting a low altitude alert!" in a panicy voice. The CA's response? "ehh, we're not gonna hit anything...". This is a 7 year CA at this company. :confused:
 
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