|
Pilot Career -
Becoming a Pilot
|
|
Monday, 25 June 2012 18:12 |
Dear Captain Lim,
On behalf of all pilots and pilot-wannabes, I just want to say thank you for running such an informative website. I understand you have retired but you are still doing your best to help others instead of relaxing and laying back. You are truly an aviation enthusiast.
I will be sitting for my Air Asia DEFO exam. And I am pretty sure there are a lot of pilot graduates out there going to sit for the exam sooner or later. So it would be really helpful if you could tell us what kind of questions we should expect and what should we concentrate on.
Is reading 'Ace the Pilot Technical Interview' enough? I have been trying to search the Internet for any info regarding the exam but I haven't got much. From what I have been told, it is really a hard exam and only a few have managed to pass it.
It also would be helpful if you could let us know about the other stages too; Stage 2 (interview), Stage 3 (simulator)
I apologize if I am asking too much. I did not want to burden you with such questions, but I did not know where to ask.
Thank you very much and have a good day.
Naim
Hi Naim,
Let me briefly summarize the Air Asia’s DEFO pilot recruitment process as I get a lot of requests on this topic from other readers as well.
As you know Air Asia appears to be the only airline recruiting pilots in this region at the moment, so the competition is therefore very tough for all aspiring airline pilots.
The process consists of the following stages:-
1. Exam
2. Interview
3. CRM (Crew Resources Management) exercise.
4. Simulator Check Ride (For Ab-initio pilot entry – they have to go through the Pilot Assessment Screening by ADAPT - see here )
Examination
The level of knowledge required is ATPL standard. Reading Ace the Pilot Technical Interview is of course a help but not necessary sufficient unless you also know the basic concept about flying a plane. There are about 40 questions (they are not repeated for every batch). The passing mark is around 75 %..
Interview
This will be based generally on the candidate’s character and interest (eg Why you want to be an airline pilot? etc.), aviation knowledge and a wide ranging topic especially on current affairs pertaining to aviation.
CRM Exercise
This Crew Resources Management exercise is all about team work – are you a loner or team player?
Simulator Check
You will be checked on 3 levels of your flying skills inside an Airbus A320 simulator.
Level 1 - basic flying with the use of the Flight Director
Level 2 - test your ability to fly, e.g. climb and descent in the landing configuration with the Flight Director and Auto Thrust
Level 3 – test your ability to fly the basic flying manoeuvres without Auto Pilot and Auto Thrust.
If you can get through all these hurdles, then you would be recruited. For your information, only 20 candidates were successful in a group of 250 in the last batch of the recruitment
To all aspiring airline pilots, I wish you all the best! 
PS. To check for any latest updates or postings, you can follow my new Twitter at @CaptKHLim
The making of Air Asia’s 100th Dragon
|
