SkyWest Airlines

All Companies

FREE Pilot interview information and gouge

We've Aviation Professionals Prepare for their Interviews!

Interview Experiences From SkyWest Airlines Pilot Interviews :

  1. 1.  (Sep 25, 2025) Started off with HR questions about flight time totals, then did introductions and went straight into the technical with a scenario that we were going to be using for the whole interview. I was captain flying. Went over NWKRAFT, and specifically the weather section with a basic METAR and TAF, but on the TAF, he was looking to identify that a cold front was coming in, which would bring a wind shift. Talked about my specific airplane engine and constant speed prop. And the electrical system... Continue reading this interview experience..

  2. 2.  (Sep 02, 2025) The interview was a very pleasant experience, and the interviewer created a relaxed and professional atmosphere. We began with introductions, which helped break the ice, and then moved into a discussion of my flight experience. I recommend having your flight totals readily available for the last 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, and one year, since those numbers came up early in the conversation. From there, the interviewer transitioned into technical and scenario-based questions. We began with... Continue reading this interview experience..

Read 2,771 SkyWest Airlines pilot interviews...

Study Guide Questions for Your SkyWest Airlines Interview:

  1. 1. (Jan 27, 2025) What is bleed air and when do we turn it off?
    • Bleed air is produced from the APU to: start engines, produce electricity and make power for air-conditioning. It is also produced from the engines when they are running to continuously produce power for the electricity in the airplane and the air conditioning.
    • The general answer is, the engine bleeds stay on almost all the time. The times they're turned off: For a bleeds-off takeoff to get more power from the engines. During deicing on the ground, so that deicing fluid doesn't get in the bleed air system That's the answer I found but if anyone knows a better answer please add
    • is compressed air taken from a jet engine's compressor that has many uses in an aircraft, including: Heating: Bleed air can be used to heat the engine inlets and wing leading edges to prevent ice buildup. Pressurization: Bleed air is used to pressurize the aircraft's cabin, water reservoirs, and hydraulic reservoirs. Air conditioning: Bleed air is used to provide air conditioning for the aircraft's cabin. Engine starting: Bleed air can sometimes be used to start one of the aircraft's engines. Is turned it off When an air leak is detected
  2. 2. (Oct 17, 2025) When is a takeoff alternate required?
    • When the weather at the departing airport does not the meet the minimums on an approach to land at departing airport.
    • 121.617 - Alternate departure airport is required if the current weather is below landing minimums. In that case an alternate departure airport is required to be filed. If the aircraft as two engines the alternate airport needs to be within 1 hour at normal cruise speed in still air with one engine inop. If the aircraft as three or more engines the alternate airport needs to be within 2 hours at normal cruise speed in still air with one engine inop.
  3. 3. (Oct 20, 2025) What are holding speed restrictions?
    • 0-6000: 200kts 6001-14000: 230kts 14,001 and above 265kts
  4. 4. (Oct 17, 2025) What is your preferred airplane?
    • Embraer ERJ-175
    • 175
    • All of them, but prefer more west coast options - so ERJ.
  5. 5. (Oct 12, 2025) What is an ILS critical area?
    • Defined by the ladder like markings on the field, the area that the ILS signals are sent out on the approach. Aircraft in the critical area could reflect these signals
    • An area when instructed by atc, you hold short when someone is inbound on the ILS approach.
    • The area through which the Localizer signal is being broadcast close to the ground. Listen for an ATC clearance to include to hold short
    • An Instrument Landing System (ILS) critical area is a designated zone on an airport where vehicle and aircraft movement is controlled to prevent interference with the signals of the ILS. These signals are crucial for guiding aircraft during instrument approaches, especially in poor weather conditions. The critical areas protect the localizer and glideslope signals from distortions caused by aircraft or vehicles moving near the antennas.
  6. 6. (Oct 19, 2025) What is the speed limit below 10,000ft?
    • 250 KIAS
  7. 7. (Oct 03, 2025) Why can a swept wing aircraft go faster?
    • As air accelerates about the surface of an aircraft [typically (but not limited to) over the top of the wing] local velocities can reach Mach 1, while the rest of the aircraft is still sub sonic. This super sonic flow builds up against pressure waves of subsonic air behind (think subsonic air downstream traffic jamming the supersonic air) and forms a shockwave. Shockwaves create a huge amount of drag, loss of lift, and often an alteration of stability and control characteristics (pitching moment). The speed at which shockwaves begin to form is known as Critical Mach or M subscript Crit. Air is only accelerated about a wing across the CHORDWISE component. Wingsweep divides the total flow over the wing into chordwise and span wise components. Picture a right triangle, with the hypotenuse being the total flow, and the shorter sides as span wise and chord wise flow. By dividing the flow into smaller components, shockwave formation is delayed and Critical Mach is increased. Meaning the airplane can fly faster before a shockwave develops.
    • A swept wing will stall at a higher indicated airspeed as a result of less chordwise airflow and therefore less lift developed by the wing. The wing will delay the onset of mach buffet and mach tuck, not a stall.
  8. 8. (Jul 12, 2025) When would I want to start?
    • Immediately.
  9. 9. (Oct 17, 2025) How did you get into aviation?
    • Tell you story- practice with someone first so you can work out any problems
    • I grew up in a small village in vietnam where aviation was pretty much non-existent which sparks my curiosity about aviation at very young age every time I heard airplane flying over my house. Fastforward, I went to a Aviation camp in Boise Idaho and talked to lots of people. one thing lead to another thing, I was convinced that I really wanted to learn how to fly. and here I am 6 years later.
    • Always wanted to be involved in aviation as a kid but did not get a chance till later in life. Was nice to fulfill that dream at age 51. Started as a paraglider pilot and then bought an airplane. Then bought a house on an airport and finished up my PP cert.
    • When I was young, I always thought aviation would be a cool career option, but felt that it was out of my reach because I believed only military pilots became airline pilots and I felt that was too competitive to even have a shot. So after high school I went to college and worked odd jobs, but couldn't find what I wanted to do for my career for the life of me. I started selling cars in 2016 and enjoyed it, but two years in, realized it wasn't something I wanted to do for the rest of my career. So I began looking again. One of my best friends had just received his CFI and I reached out to him to get the low down. We went to lunch and he took me through the process of becoming an airline pilot and invited me to take a discovery flight. That is all I needed to know that I wanted to spend the rest of my career and beyond flying airplanes. Its one of the best things I have ever done and I am astounded that I have the opportunity to do it every time I takeoff.
    • Growing up my mother worked as the manager of the aero club on an Air Force base as a civilian and she always talked about how great it would be to one day fly an airplane. So after graduating High school there was a huge pilot shortage that encouraged me to become a pilot. Not to mention the college I was already attending had an aviation program that was due to be approved for a 141 R-ATP of 1000 hours which I wanted to be apart of.
    • I grew up with a single mom who worked in healthcare. She traveled a ton for work and from a very young age she took me with her. I fell in love with sitting over the wing watching the flight controls, spoilers, and flaps move. I loved watching the line personnel prepare the aircraft for flight. I joined the Air Force out of high school and maintained heavy bombers. I loved the old machines and keeping them flying, but I knew that my ultimate dream was to be behind the controls myself.
  10. 10. (Oct 09, 2025) Why do you want to work for Sky West?
    • It's the only regional out West.
    • Great company with a great reputation and plenty of opportunities to grow and achieve.
    • SkyWest has the best reputation for integrity, financial security and great people at all levels within the company.
    • I needed to apply variation to my career and as we all know... east is least and west is best!
    • Know several Skywest pilots. All love the company and the job. I want to be based in San Diego so Skywest is the regional of choice for me.
    • I heard a lot about how First Officers are captains in training; This is the mentality that I want to especially adopt going through training and out into the flight line, because the learning never stops.
    • They have the best reputation for excellent training. I want to fly the E175 and work for a company with a great culture and SW is the one.
    • SkyWest has proven itself over the last several years as the most culturally and financially stable regional airline in the United States. SkyWest's pilot training program has been acclaimed by major airline pilots as professional, rigorous, and highly effective. Lastly, SkyWest's contracts with 4 of America's largest carriers provides a level of job security that is unmatched by any other regional airline in the U.S.
    • I recently flew on a Skywest flight between EWR and MSP and was impressed by how professional and friendly the crew was on board. I was able to speak with the captain who happened to be a line check airman for the company and has worked with company for 11 years.
    • 1. Skywest is a non union company. 2. The pilot's I have talked to who commute and work for Skywest praise the quality of life as a Skywest Pilot 3. Skywest allows me to keep living where I'd like and allows me to commute from home.
    • I like how they are based out west and they have the best reputation for integrity, financial security and have a great employee culture. I am also very impressed with there training program and there safety record. Many of my friends currently work for SkyWest and they only have positive things to say about the company which shows me there dedication to quality of life for there employees.
Read 812 SkyWest Airlines study guide questions..

What types of things will be asked in a Simulator or Scenario exercise?

  1. (Feb 23, 2025)  Flying from 'A' to 'Z', I'm the Captain and PF while the interviewer is the FO. About half way through ATC advised that our destination airport is closed due to an incident, we're put in a hold… copy down hold instructions and take it from there, act it out. Use your 2-in-2-out. Passed the controls over to FO, calculated available fuel to remain in hold. Asked ATC for EFC, was given 45min. Called the FA and Dispatch to advise of status...Continue reading simulator / scenario information..

  2. (Nov 18, 2024)  CRM scenario I was the captain and PF on a flight from KSEA to KSAN at FL360, while flying the master caution came on for a overpressurization warning. First action I took was pass control of the aircraft to the first officer and then I used my resources 2 in and 2 out. After completing the checks the interviewer said I can only fly at a MAX ALT of FL300 and...Continue reading simulator / scenario information..

Read 174 SkyWest Airlines Simulator / Scenario exercises...

Pilot interviewing trend at SkyWest Airlines

See more interview data