Interview scorecard template

Pilot interview scorecard

Evaluate Pilot candidates across 4 weighted areas: ratings and technical competence, situational awareness under load, decisions under pressure, and communication discipline. Ratings and technical competence leads at 30%, so verify licence class (ATPL, CPL), type ratings, current medical, total and PIC hours, night and instrument time, plus recency in the specific aircraft. Use the rubric to compare role-specific evidence consistently.

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TL;DR
For ratings and technical competence, look for evidence the candidate holds current ratings with logbook hours that match the fleet, recent line checks passed, and no lapsed medical or recency gaps. For situational awareness under load, look for evidence the candidate describes concrete flights where task shedding, briefings, and cross-checks kept them ahead of the aircraft rather than reacting late. Apply the written 1–5 anchors to every answer, record the evidence behind each rating, and use the factor weights to reach a consistent overall assessment.
Complete evaluation framework

What to assess and how to score it

Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.

01
Evaluation factor

Ratings and technical competence

30% weight

Verify licence class (ATPL, CPL), type ratings, current medical, total and PIC hours, night and instrument time, plus recency in the specific aircraft and simulator check dates.

Evidence to listen for

  • Holds the current ratings, licences, or endorsements the position requires
  • Knows the rules, minima, and standards cold, not approximately
  • Familiar with the equipment and airspace, network, or plant in question
  • Clear on the boundary of their own authority

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Lacks required ratings, or shaky on the standards that keep people alive.

2
Needs Improvement

Holds the ticket but hesitant on rules and minima.

3
Satisfactory

Competent and current; slower on unfamiliar configurations.

4
Very Good

Rules and minima are second nature; strong on the specific environment.

5
Excellent

Holds current ratings with logbook hours that match the fleet, recent line checks passed, and no lapsed medical or recency gaps.

02
Evaluation factor

Situational awareness under load

30% weight

Probe how they manage workload in busy terminal airspace: scan flow, monitoring the pilot flying, handling reroutes, weather deviations, and configuration changes during descent.

Evidence to listen for

  • Keeps the whole picture while handling one problem
  • Describes how they shed or reprioritise tasks when volume spikes
  • Notices the thing that has gone quiet, not just the thing that is loud
  • Knows their own saturation point and says so before reaching it

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Tunnel vision under load; loses the wider picture entirely.

2
Needs Improvement

Copes at normal volume; degrades badly when it spikes.

3
Satisfactory

Holds the picture in most conditions; occasional fixation.

4
Very Good

Maintains awareness under high load and reprioritises deliberately.

5
Excellent

Describes concrete flights where task shedding, briefings, and cross-checks kept them ahead of the aircraft rather than reacting late.

03
Evaluation factor

Decisions under pressure

25% weight

Assess handling of real abnormals: engine failure, hydraulic loss, diversion for fuel or medical, windshear go-around. Look for QRH discipline and go or no-go calls.

Evidence to listen for

  • Decides on incomplete information rather than freezing
  • Chooses the safe option when uncertain, and can say why
  • Recovers from their own error without concealing it
  • Can describe a real event where they made the call

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Freezes, or gambles when the safe option was available.

2
Needs Improvement

Slow to commit; defers decisions that were theirs to make.

3
Satisfactory

Decides adequately in familiar situations.

4
Very Good

Decides quickly and safely, and owns errors openly.

5
Excellent

Recounts specific events with QRH sequence, diversion rationale, fuel figures, and an owned decision including one they would change.

04
Evaluation factor

Communication discipline

15% weight

Test standard phraseology, readback discipline, callouts, and CRM with first officers, cabin crew and ATC; ask about a time they challenged a captain or accepted challenge.

Evidence to listen for

  • Uses standard phraseology and readback discipline without shortcuts
  • Hands over completely, including what is unresolved
  • Speaks up to someone senior when safety requires it
  • Stays measured on the loop when the situation is not

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Sloppy phraseology; incomplete handovers.

2
Needs Improvement

Drifts from standard phrasing under pressure.

3
Satisfactory

Disciplined communication; handovers occasionally thin.

4
Very Good

Precise phraseology and complete handovers, and will challenge seniority on safety.

5
Excellent

Uses precise standard calls, gives clear briefings, and gives examples of raising or receiving concerns without eroding cockpit authority gradient.

Evidence-led prompts

Interview questions for a Pilot

Use these prompts to surface evidence for the weighted factors above and compare candidates against the same role-specific criteria.

  1. 01

    What is your total flight time, and how much of it was as pilot in command?

  2. 02

    What types of aircraft are you certified and current on?

  3. 03

    Do you hold all the licences and certifications required for this operation?

  4. 04

    Do you have experience operating under instrument flight rules?

  5. 05

    Are you comfortable operating at night or in challenging weather?

See the complete Pilot question set
Put this rubric to work

Score every candidate against the same standard

Add these weighted factors to Hirevire and let AI evaluate recorded answers against your rubric.

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