Ryanair interview preparation

Hi fellow aviators,

Below you will read about my first officer (cadet) interview with Ryanair. I hope this will help you to get your first first officer job on the right seat.

Application Process:

I sent my application 16th of January Through this page: CAE RYANAIR

For around 2 weeks, I didn’t have any news from Ryanair nor CAE. Just the confirmation e-mail that my application was correctly received.

After 2 weeks, I got the invitation for the online assessment.

The e-mail was saying that I had 3 days for paying the fee to Cut-e (55 EUROS) and then, after receiving the link from this company to do the assessment, I would have another 3 days for doing it.

I paid for 1-month access to the LatestPilotJobs website to get myself prepared (the preparation is called Irish Low Cost carrier). I think it’s worth the money. The more prepared and used to the exercises you are, the less “stressed” you’ll be during that 1:45h that the online assessment lasts.

Online Tests:

Attached you will see few of the online tests that I did

1 – monitoring test

During this test you have to concentrate and find out how many white balls you see. You will have few seconds to figure that out. I found this test very difficult and my advice to all you is to concentrate.

2 – Reaktion test

I found this test very easy, every time you see two identical images you have to click on equal button. This test is to measure your reaktion.

3 – Orientation

This test measures your orientation and if you are an instrument rated pilots you should not have problem figuring this out. I found it very easy.

4 – Flying through a tunnel

With your computer mouse you have to fly in this tunnel and during your path there will be opening on each obstacle and your goal is to fly through them. You can adjust your speed and the speed increases with time also. I found this test very difficult.

5 – Deductive Logical Thinking

During this test you have to figure out which object has to be displayed in the cell marked with the question mark. I found this test to be very challenging.

6 – ATPL Test

You have to answer 30 questions in 10 minutes, that is around 30 seconds for each question. The subjects were a mix of Meteorology, Performance, Principles of Flight, Air Law, Human Performances and Operational Procedures.

7 – Video Interview

I found this part very strange, I had to talk to my computer and answer 3 questions. The questions that I had was:

• Why Ryanair?
• How would you act in an emergency?
• What is your strengths and weaknesses?

After 3 days I received an e-mail informing me that my online assessment was successful and I would receive a phone call within 14 days. Within few days I received a phone call from CAE, a very friendly woman checking some info about my application. She also offered me 1 date for the sim assessment and interview in Dublin. She said if I could attend an assessment next week and I told her yes.

Ryanair Assessment Dublin:

The assessment was starting the next morning at 8 am local time. It’s obvious, but please, be sure that your alarm is switched to the local time. You don’t want to be late this day. As soon as we arrived we were told to go to the cantine and wait there. For your information, we were 10 applicants that day. After some minutes an old guy came to guide us to a room next to the simulator. That would be our place to stay during all day. The simulator was just behind a transparent door and the interviews were done in a room next to ours.

After 30 minutes telling us what we were going to do that day and collecting all the documentation required, we were paired with our respective sim mates. We were also given the charts that we would be flying that day: Liverpool. Then we were left alone in that room so we could prepare the sim with our mate. From time to time, another guy was coming to the room to call one of us for the interview.

Technical and Human Resource Questions: (below you will find a list of questions that was asked by me and my sim partner)

NOTE: I have included additional questions to this blog that I gathered from friends and coworker that has been asked during Ryanair pilot assessments.

First they started askin me some questions about my CV then they asked more technical questions.

Technical Questions:

• Tell me about the multi engine aircraft you flew during your training? (DA42)
• What kind of engine it has?
• Tell me about the electrical system?
• Tell me about anti / deicing system?
• What is the maximum ceiling?
• How many seats in the 737-800?
• How many cabin crew?
• What is the clearway?
• What’s screen-height?
• Explain lift to someone who knows nothing about flying?
• What is dutch roll?
• What is mach trimmer?
• What is critical angle of Attack?
• What is mach buffet?
• What is load factor?
• What is VMCG / VMCA?
• What is the difference between IAS/CAS/EAS/TAS?
• What does the zero fuel weight include?
• What errors do NDB suffer from?
• What is Radiation/Advection fog?

Principle of Flight and Aircraft General Knowledge

• High lift devices?
• Spoilers?
• Use of spoilers during roll?
• Advantages/Disadvantages of High tails?
• What is Critical engine.
• Describe the hydraulics system Principle?
• Anti-Ice/ De-icing and how it works?
• What kind of de-icing liquids are there? How do you determine which one to use?
• On a flap 5 departure, do you set the flaps before taxiing or wait until after de-icing?
• What happens to the airspeed indicator if the pitot tube becomes blocked in a climb/descent?
• What is Yaw Damper?
• MCAS?
• How is Vref calculated?
• In what circumstances is Vref higher?
• Why can we not fly way above or below Vref?
• What is the exact definition of Vl?
• What is screen height? When does screen height become 15ft?
• What is the difference between ASDA and TODA?
• What is the formula for Mach No?
• What happens to LSS with an increase in height?
• What happens to the Mach No if you climb at a constant IAS?
• On a P2006T which engine is the critical engine and why?
• What does To feather an engine mean?
• What happens if you go full power on a Cessna without touching the rudder and why?
• What is P-Factor, Slipstream?
• What do you have to take into consideration when you can’t extend the flaps?
• What is aquaplaning?
• What is the formula for the speed of aquaplaning?

Meteorology

• What is warm front?
• What is cold fronts?
• What clouds are associated with a warm/cold fronts?
• Explain how fog is formed?
• What is Fohn wind in the Alps?
• Referring to picture on the wall of a B737 navigation display showing a cell in the top right-hand comer;
• Which heading would you choose to avoid the thunderstorm?
• Are you going to fly through it?
• Does the weather radar always tell the truth?
• Why is it dangerous?
• What do the different colours displayed on the weather radar represent?
• If you don’t have weather radar what are other signs of bad weather and where do you find the information?
• Wind 180/20kt; Do you use Runway 27 or 09?
• What is the turbulent layer?
• Thermal inversion and associated weather.
• What weather and hazards are associated with an inversion?
• What is a temperature inversion?
• Jetstreams and associated weather?
• In a metar what dos SN, BR, GR mean?
• Flying from warm air to cold air, what do you need to be careful of?
• What is pressure altitude?

Flight Planning

• At what point in the go around does the alternate fuel begin for planning purposes?
• Describe the components that make up the block fuel?
• What is a PLOG?

Communication

• What is the squawk or loss of communications?
• How can we Prevent a loss of communications?
• In the case of loss of communications, what is your decision-making process?
• You encounter radio failure in flight, what would you do before setting squawk 7600
• What are the 3 main emergency transponder codes?
• What is the emergency radio frequency?

Instrumentation

• How does weather radar work?
• What is the doppler effect?
• What is TCAS?
• What are the features of a Mode C transponder?
• What is the di1Terence between EGPWS and GPWS?
• Where is the radio altimeter located?

Air Law / Miscellaneous

• Describe a standard traffic pattern?
• Describe a standard holding pattern?
• What is the difference between MDA and DA?
• Can you descend below MDA?
• What is displaced threshold?

Boeing 737 Questions

• Difference between B737-800 V B737 MAX?
• Facts and figures that makes the MAX more advantageous to B737 – 800?
• Difference between B737 and A320?
• Difference between B737 – 800 and B737 – MAX during walkaround?
• Where are the 8200 numbers located on the fuselage?
• In relation to the CFM LEAP-1B, is there an A, C,D?
• Is it a twin spool engine or triple spoon? ‘ ‘
• Explain what a twin spool engine is?
• Why iS the 737-8200 less noisy?
• What are chevrons? By how much percentage do they reduce noise?
• What is Bypass ratio?
• ls it worth Ryanair buying the 210 MAX? How will it affect fares?
• Why will the new B737 game changer be good for the company?
• Do you think we can lower fares even further with this new aircraft? And Why?
• If the tiller is inop, how much can you steer with the rudder pedals?
• Fly by wire?
• Tell me about the hydraulic system on the B737.
• How many Hydraulic systems does B737 have?
• What is an accumulator?
• What kind of back up is there for the landing gear system?
• Tell me about the electrical system in the 8737.
• What are the main sources of electrical power?
• Does B737 use mainly AC or DC?
• What systems can provide AC?
• How many batteries are on the 8737?
• All engines and APU lost in flight; how many back up batteries exist?
• What does the APU also provide apart from electrical power?
• How should a B737 pilot adjust their seat position?
• What should your eyes see when you are correctly seated?
• What can set of the T.O. configuration warning?
• Where can you see if the gear is up/down besides the landing gear lights near the lever?

Human Resource Questions: (I only got few HR questions)

• Tell us about yourself?
• Why do you want to work for Ryanair?
• Why did you do your training in the UK?
• Have you applied to other airlines also?
• How do you see yourself in 5 years?

My advice to you is to be honest and don’t try to lie. Don’t try to invent things. If you don’t know the answer to some questions just say “I’m sorry, I don’t know”

Simulator Assessment:

The simulator session, as you must already know, is with your sim partner. The instructor is just there as ATC, flight attendant… depending on the stage of the flight. What are they looking for? (My guessing). A safe, well instructed and friendly pilot. That’s it. They aren’t looking for a B737 master. They don’t expect you to not deviate some ft from the assigned altitude. They are just looking, basically, for your CRM skills: the ability to share tasks, ask for things, help your mate, accept his help, etc. Long story short, what you should have learned in your MCC course.

So, don’t forget any briefing, checklist, callouts, nor your smile, and you will be on the correct path to success. Again, let me remind you that you are not supposed to know anything about the Boeing. Just call for the checklists when you think it’s the correct moment and the assessor will complete them.

We performed the WAL2T SID. Flight director ON until established on R117 inbound to Wallasey.

At that moment, already without Flight Director, we were told to make some turns, some climbs and descents, as well as some speed changes. After that we got a call from RYR ops informing us about an ATC strike, that would not allow us to land at our destination. It’s time for showing your best CRM skills with the DODAR-NITS (or similar). By the way, as soon as I gave the controls to my first officer (remember that when you are acting as the pilot flying, you are supposed to be the captain) before proceeding with the decision-making process, the assessor froze the sim. Just keep an eye on the instruments from time to time when you are talking, even if you think it’s frozen. At that moment we were also asked about our position in the chart. Just read your ADF.

After the DODAR-NITS and approach briefing, we got the aeroplane control again. We did not enter the holding pattern, but we were asked about which type of entry we should be making in case of getting that instruction. At this stage, it’s supposed that you know how to do it.

Do your best when flying the approach,

but remember, you are supposed to know what has to be done, but not to do it perfectly on this plane. In case of unstabilised approach or more than half-deflection on the ILS: Go-Around. Don’t doubt it. It’s what has to be done. Don’t try to recover something that is not safe to recover. If you think that you should go-around: Go-around. If, at any moment, your first officer tells you to go-around: Go-around. Don’t ask anything, don’t doubt it: just Go-around. Then, once in a safe position, assess the reason for the go-around.

I guess I can’t say it more clearly.

Probably you are now asking yourself “Did this guy make a go-around?“. Yep, I did it. When I was already around 700 ft AGL the glideslope went down. “Go-around, flap 15“. TOGA and leave the throttle to you first officer. Once we were climbing after the go-around, the assessor relocated us 3nm on final and, after telling me that was a very good decision, told me to try the landing again. This time I followed correctly the ILS and landed softly on runway 27. I’m joking, it was a pretty hard landing. But don’t’ worry, the landing is not part of the assessment. Just have fun at that moment and try your best with that 60 tons monster. You will repeat the same scenario but as pilot monitoring. Try to help your sim partner as much as you can. That was the end of my adventure in Dublin.

2 days later I received the e-mail telling that I was successful and were offered a place for the Boeing 737 Type Rating.

How to prepare for ryanair interview!

This is how I prepared for my interview and was successful.

1 – PPRUNE has a thread about ryanair called Ryanair interview and assessment (this is the link) I strongly recommend you read through this and take notes of what many cadets have written about their experience. Even me myself has posted some good information on pprune!!

2 – latestpilotjobs.com has a interview preparation for ryanair called Irish low cost carrier interview preparation and through this subscription you can practice Cut-e online test and the ATPL test. I strongly recommend this (worth the money)

3 – Ace the technical pilot interview is a great source for preparation of technical part of the interview. Many technical questions that I was asked during the interview was take from this book. This book can even be used for future airline interviews.

4 – If you want to prepare for the simulator session I recommend uPilot in Dublin, they know very well how to prepare you for Ryanair’s simulator session.