Alaska Airlines — questions reported by pilots

What do you know about Alaska's merger with Virgin America and what did it mean for the operation?

What is your greatest professional strength and how does it make you a better pilot?

Tell us why Alaska Airlines specifically and what you know about our culture.

Describe your approach to continuous professional development as a pilot.

How do you balance assertiveness with humility in the cockpit?

Professional accomplishment?

How do you build a culture of psychological safety in the cockpit so your FO will always speak up?

How do you manage your personal minimums as a captain at Alaska when OpSpecs allow conditions you find personally uncomfortable?

You are operating into SEA in typical Pacific Northwest low IFR conditions. Your CAT II ILS equipment shows a flag. Walk me through your decision.

What are the requirements for filing an IFR alternate under Part 121?

Describe the 737 hydraulic system architecture and what is affected by a hydraulic system A failure.

Explain the A320 normal law protections and what protections are lost in direct law.

Explain the A320 ECAM logic and the difference between warnings and cautions.

What are the key considerations for fuel planning on a flight from SEA to ANC in winter with a SIGMET active over the route?

Explain the requirements and limitations for conducting RNP AR (RNAV with Authorization Required) approaches at Alaska Airlines.

Steep turn explanation?

You are on approach and ATC issues a speed restriction that will put you significantly below Vref + additive at a critical point. What do you do?

Your CA begins a non-essential conversation with a flight attendant who has entered the cockpit below 10,000 ft. What do you do?

On an approach to PDX you observe your CA is consistently high and fast. They are not responding to your callouts. What is your next step?

Building crew relationships?

You are the CA and your FO calls "unstable" on short final. You believe you are stabilized. What happens next?

Your FO, who is also a union rep, is attempting to engage you in a labor grievance discussion during the approach brief. How do you handle this?

Your CA makes an announcement to passengers that contains incorrect information about the flight. What do you do?

Maintenance tells you a repair has been completed but there is no entry in the logbook. The CA wants to depart. What do you do?

Tell me about the most difficult command decision you have made and how you would evaluate it in retrospect.

Fatigue management on difficult schedule?

Tell me about a time you served a team goal at the expense of your personal preferences.

Tell me about a time you had to give constructive feedback that was uncomfortable to deliver.

Tell me about a time you were asked to take on a responsibility outside your normal role and how you handled it.

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a fellow pilot's technique and how you handled the disagreement.

Tell me about a time you built trust quickly with a new crew in a high-stakes environment.

Tell me about a time you had to take corrective action with a crew member during a flight and how you balanced authority with respect.

You are departing FAI in winter conditions at the performance limits of the aircraft. After rotation you receive a master caution. What is your priority?

You are at cruise altitude when a fire warning activates in the forward cargo compartment. Walk me through your response.

During a nighttime approach to ANC in IFR conditions you lose your glideslope indication at the final approach fix. What do you do?

Departing SEA in winter with ice on the taxiways, you observe brake effectiveness is significantly reduced. What do you do?

On a winter night departure from PDX you receive a runway incursion alert after takeoff. ATC issues a low altitude alert on guard. What are your immediate actions?

Your 737 loses thrust on both engines at FL350 over the Pacific. Walk me through your actions in priority order.

You are the CA on a visual approach to a challenging terrain-surrounded airport (e.g., Juneau). Visibility is good but you are above the recommended approach profile. What do you do?

You are on a 3-hour flight when you discover you were loaded with 1,200 lb less fuel than the release required. What do you do?

Why Alaska?