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Dear Capt Lim,
I recently attended a cadet pilot interview with SIA (Singapore Airlines). It was conducted by a human resource staff and a senior captain. I guess I shall not touch on the "soft" questions asked by the human resource interviewer as he didn*t expect a right or wrong answer - instead he expected an intelligent answer.
There were two questions asked by the captain that I couldn*t give a precise answer. Can you enlighten me on that?
First question, why the airplane has to bank towards the direction that they want to turn by using ailerons rather than the rudder?
Second question, what are the advantages of the airplane flying at a higher altitude (I told the captain that it reduces drag, he said it was a correct answer but he expected more that one advantage)?
For the benefit for those who are going for any cadet pilot interview, here are some points I wish to share with you all. Do your homework before the interview. Prepare answers to technical questions on airplane engines, how they work and the functions of their control surfaces.
Also, read up on your Geography because SIA won*t hire a pilot with no sense of directions. So good luck to you all guys...
Best Regards
Lynyrd Lim
Hi Lynyrd,
Yes, if you are on a motorboat, you use the rudder to turn to left of right. When you talk about flying, the function of the rudder is different. It is mainly used to keep the plane in a balanced flight - especially during an engine failure. If a plane is unbalanced, it will fly "sideway", like a crab and creating a lot of drag - becoming more inefficient and burning more fuel. Aerodynamically, we say, the main purpose of the rudder is to maintain lateral stability.
To turn in flight, the proper technique is to use the aileron {through the conventional control wheel of the Boeing planes or the side stick of the Airbuses (A320/330/340/380)}. In this way, the plane is turned as the aileron is banked or rolled to left or right. In smaller basic planes, you may have to use the combination of slight rudder pressure and the aileron to turn. This is to ensure that the plane turns smoothly and in well-balanced condition.
The advantages of plane flying higher are mainly that jet engines are more efficient, there is reduced drag (due to less dense air) and you, more often than not, fly above the bad weather. I have touched a bit on this in my answer in a previous FAQ "What limits a plane to fly higher than the normal cruising altitude?"
Hope you are successful in your interview!:-)
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