HR Flashcards
(22 cards)
What should you do if you see ice on the cowling but not on the wing?
Immediately disengage autopilot and hand-fly the aircraft. Advise air traffic control of the situation and exit the icing condition by changing heading, altitude, or both.
Have you ever failed a checkride?
No
What is one thing you would change about commercial aviation?
Increase the retirement age to 67.
What is your instrument status?
Yes, I am instrument current.
What is your role as a chief pilot?
Oversee compliance with FAA rules, act as a role model, and guide students and instructors.
Why do you want to work at Republic Airways?
It’s a strong next step in my aviation career with support for instructors transitioning to airlines.
What makes Republic Airways appealing for your flying background?
Experience with VFR-only steam gauge aircraft to advanced avionics platforms, excited about the Embraer 170/175 fleet.
What do you seek in a company as a father of two?
Predictability and stability to balance family life with career growth.
What are your thoughts on long-term career development at Republic?
Republic’s partnerships with major carriers make it a smart place to build seniority and develop as a professional pilot while keeping doors open for the future.
For me, this isn’t just about logging turbine time—it’s about joining a company where I can contribute, grow, and stay aligned with the values that matter to me.
Have you ever been scared in an airplane?
Yes, every pilot experiences uncomfortable situations.
Any accidents, incidents, or FAA violations we should be aware of?
No
How did you get into flying?
Grew up around aviation and pursued flight training after learning I had a son on the way.
What makes you a good candidate for Republic?
Company Motto: safe, Clean, and reliable flying experience. This aligns with my own code of conduct of professionalism, integrity, and excellence.
What is your personal definition of CRM?
Leveraging full resources in the cockpit for the safest and most effective outcome.
How do you implement CRM daily?
Foster open communication, brief clearly, and encourage a shared mental model of the flight.
What does being a First Officer mean to you?
Being a positive member of the flight crew and assisting the captain.
Why should we hire you?
Unique combination of experience, mindset, and values aligned with Republic’s mission.
Can you walk me through your resume?
Commercial pilot with 1,700 flight hours, CFI, CFII, MEI certificates, and experience at multiple flight schools.
What would you do if the captain wanted to descend below DA?
Call for a go-around if the approach lights are not visible.
Describe a time you had to fly with someone you didn’t get along with.
🟠 Situation:
“I was paired with a student who had transferred from another school. From day one, he had a very dismissive attitude toward instruction. He often interrupted me during briefings, challenged procedures I introduced, and even ignored direct feedback in the cockpit. It quickly became clear that we didn’t see eye to eye on communication or cockpit culture.”
🟡 Task:
“My goal was to maintain a professional learning environment, ensure the student made safe and measurable progress, and avoid letting our personality differences affect safety or training outcomes. I also knew I needed to build some form of mutual respect if I wanted him to stay engaged and succeed.”
🟢 Action:
“I stepped back and asked myself how I could connect with him rather than control him. So I changed my approach: instead of pushing back when he was resistant, I asked more open-ended questions to understand his perspective. I started incorporating his preferred learning style into our ground sessions—more scenario-based discussions and fewer rigid lectures. I also made it clear during preflights that while I respected his previous training, he was under my safety authority in the airplane and we needed to follow a unified SOP.”
🔵 Result:
“Over time, his attitude shifted. He started showing up better prepared, began asking thoughtful questions, and even apologized for the rocky start. By the end of our training together, he passed his checkride and personally thanked me for being patient but firm. It reminded me that even when personalities clash, clear boundaries, empathy, and professionalism can turn the relationship around—and ultimately improve safety and performance in the cockpit.
Describe a situation when a student scared you during a flight.
🟠 Situation:
“One of my first students was a brand new private pilot applicant. We were working on power-on stalls, and this was his second flight since leaving initial sim training on these basic maneuvers. I had briefed the maneuver thoroughly and emphasized the importance of applying right rudder to counteract torque and P-factor during the stall entry.”
🟡 Task:
“My job was to teach the maneuver safely, monitor for signs of instability, and ensure the student understood how to control the aircraft through proper coordination. I needed to keep the lesson safe while still giving him the hands-on experience required for the maneuver.”
🟢 Action:
“As he began the stall entry, I reminded him, ‘a little more right rudder,’ to help with coordination. Instead of a smooth input, he stomped on the rudder pedal—hard. The aircraft yawed aggressively and began entering a spin. I immediately called ‘I have the controls,’ took full control and recovered the aircraft safely before it developed into a full spin.
🔵 Result:
“Once we stabilized, I turned it into a teaching moment. I calmly explained what had just happened, broke down why we entered the incipient spin, and emphasized the difference between coordinated rudder input and overcontrol. On the ground, we debriefed with a whiteboard session, and focused on how to apply smoother, more measured corrections.
“From that point on, I changed how I coached rudder inputs—especially with new or aggressive students. I learned that specific, calibrated language in the cockpit is essential, and that even simple instructions can be misinterpreted under pressure. It was a scary moment, but it helped me grow into a more precise and thoughtful instructor.
Have you ever had a mechanical malfunction?
🟠 Situation:
I was tasked with flying a brand new Piper Archer from Vero Beach, FL, to Addison, Texas, with a stage 2 instrument student and a media professional documenting the trip. Due to weather, we were stuck in Foley, FL—a very small town—for an extended period. Late one evening, the weather cleared, and we decided to continue to get closer to our destination.
🟡 Task:
My responsibility was to safely operate the aircraft and ensure the student’s learning experience while managing the flight through changing conditions.
🟢 Action:
After lining up on the runway and applying takeoff power, I was closely scanning and double-checking the student’s instruments when I noticed the airspeed indicator appeared to fail. I took control immediately and called for an aborted takeoff. We successfully stopped and cleared the runway. I then spent the night and much of the next day troubleshooting the issue, staying in constant communication with my Chief Pilot and the flight school owner. We determined it was a pitot-static line leak. I arranged for an A&P mechanic to come out and repair the problem.
🔵 Result:
The mechanic found that the manufacturer had improperly seated the pitot-static line, causing air pressure to leak before reaching the air data computer. It was a miracle the instrument had worked well enough to get us to Foley in the first place. Most importantly, we caught the issue safely on the ground, avoiding a dangerous situation in actual IMC. The experience highlighted the critical importance of instrument monitoring and decisive action during flight.
