Technical Interview Prep
for Airline Screening
A structured preparation course built from real Day 2 technical interview material. Learn how to answer clearly, stay concise, and show the operational thinking assessors look for.
How to Answer Like an Airline Pilot
The technical interview is not a memory contest. Assessors want to hear how you think. Use this structure to stay calm, concise, and operational.
1) Clarify the scenario
Ask one short clarifying question if needed (aircraft type, phase of flight, weather, MEL/CDL).
State your assumptions out loud if information is missing.
2) Safety-first priorities
Aviate - Navigate - Communicate.
Threats: terrain, weather, fuel, performance, time pressure.
Use SOPs and checklists - show discipline.
3) Structured answer
Give the headline first (your decision).
Then give 3-5 supporting reasons (not 12).
Close with what you would monitor next.
4) Show operational thinking
Performance: runway, obstacles, braking action, wind, contamination.
Fuel: final reserve, alternates, holding, diversion plan.
CRM: task sharing, callouts, cross-checking.
The 20-second rule
If you can't explain your decision in 20 seconds, you probably don't have a clear decision yet. Lead with the decision, then support it.
What You'll Be Asked About
Day 2 technical interviews typically mix flight planning, IFR, operational decision-making, and system understanding. Use these topic checklists to spot gaps fast.
Flight Planning & Performance
Fuel planning: taxi, trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve
Takeoff performance: runway, wind, contamination, obstacles
Landing performance: braking action, reversers, autobrake strategy
Mass & balance: ZFW/TOW/LW logic, CG awareness
IFR Procedures
SIDs/STARs: constraints, speed control, energy management
Approach brief: minima, missed approach, threats
Holding: entry types, timing, wind correction
Alternate planning and diversion decision-making
Systems (Interview Style)
Explain a system with: purpose - components - normal operation - protections - failures
ECAM philosophy: what you do first, what you monitor
Electrical: sources, buses, emergency configuration concept
Hydraulics: redundancy concept and priority logic
Abnormals & Decision Making
Engine failure: immediate priorities and plan
Smoke/fumes: oxygen, communication, diversion mindset
Unreliable airspeed: pitch/power concept and workload control
Go-around: when and why, stabilized approach discipline
CRM & Threat Management
Workload management: delegate, brief, verify
Communication: concise, standard phraseology
TEM: identify threats early and build margins
Error management: trap, mitigate, recover
How to use this list
For each bullet, practice a 60-second answer. If you can't keep it under 60 seconds, you're going too deep. If you can't explain it at all, that's your study target.
Train Your Answers
Use these drills to build speed and structure. The goal is simple: clear answers, under time pressure.
60-second briefing
You're given a short scenario (route + weather + runway). Give a 60-second plan: threats, decision points, and what you'll monitor.
What good looks like
Starts with the decision/plan
Names 2-3 key threats
Mentions performance/fuel margin
Ends with monitoring items
Tip: record yourself. If you ramble, restart and force a headline-first answer.
Want a mock technical interview?
Book an online consultation and we'll run a realistic technical interview session: structured questions, follow-ups, and feedback on clarity, depth, and decision-making.