You are on page 1of 25

Wizz Air Pilot Recruitment

Flight Operations Department


Revision #7, June 2015

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Content of the guide


- Introduction
- General knowledge about the assessment, schedule of programme
- Logistic regarding your participation, travelling, accommodation
- Appendix 1: Relevant documents
- Appendix 2: Simulator emergency briefing
- Appendix 3: Brief intro A320

Introduction
Dear candidate,
Congratulations on your positive-evaluated application. You have taken the first, important
step in the process of joining Wizz Air as a pilot.
However, your application is just the start of the assessment process. Over the next few
weeks, you will participate in the more thorough, detailed part, also referred to as the
Interview & Simulator Assessment.
Wizz Air wants its candidate-pilots to be well prepared for this assessment, and so this
Guide for Candidates has been put together. This guide is an aid to the assessment-days,
as well as Wizz Airs expectations from you at this stage, in becoming a future member of
the Wizz Air pilot community.
This guide will give you all the information we consider important for you to be best
prepared. In case you are left with unanswered questions, the recruitment team will answer
your questions during the initial briefing on day 1 of the Interview & Simulator Assessment.
For the latest, detailed logistic issues (location, reporting time, etc) regarding the Interview
& Simulator Assessment, we would like to refer to the email you will receive from your Wizz
Air contact person.
The Wizz Air Recruitment Team wishes to emphasise that every candidate will be assessed in
an equal way. Therefore, the outcome of your assessment will be the result of an object
process.
We are looking forward meeting you,
Your Recruitment Team
2/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Pilot Assessment - general


The Pilot Assessment in Wizz Air is a face-to-face evaluation of you as a candidate-pilot. To
practically coordinate this evaluation, there is a 2-day plan.
DAY 1: Welcome introduction, HR group exercises
Location: Wizz Air Simulator and Training Centre (see page 7 for map)
Arrival time: 08:15-08:45LT
Meeting time: 09:00LT
Please report to Wizz Air HQ building reception and collect a temporary visitor pass before
meeting time. This pass must be returned at the end of the day. Then, proceed to the
Simulator and Training Centre to meet your recruitment team in the lounge area next to the
entrance.
Planning for the first day:
09:00LT:
Welcome introduction
Presentation about Terms and Conditions of Wizz Air employment. Details of
operations, working schedule, salaries, differences between bases, etc. During
or after the presentation, you will be invited to ask questions or clarify
uncertainty you may have.
10:00LT:

HR Interviews
HR interview: Planned per candidate, face-to-face meeting with a HR
recruitment member.
Duration: 20-25 minutes for each candidate.
Areas of assessment:
-Education
-Interest in Wizz Air
-Personal goals
-Aspects of work experience
-Career expectations
-Career aspirations
-Evaluation of success
-Examples of team work
-Examples of conflict and conflict resolution

12:30LT:

Break

13:30LT:

HR Group Exercises
All candidates will take in HR group exercises. Here we are looking at you as a
person, your attitude, character, interaction will all be assessed.

16:00LT:

You should finish around this time at the latest.

3/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


Result of DAY 1
At the end of DAY 1, the overall outcome of the interview assessments will be made, and
you will be contacted by email with the result. No feedback will be given. You should receive
the email by 20:30 LT at the latest. If you do not receive an email, please contact
pilotrecruitment@wizzair.com, and an email will be re-sent. Before sending an email, please
ensure your mail box has not filtered the email as junk, and sent it to your junk box.
When assessed positive:
If you are assessed positive in overall, you will be invited for the interviews on DAY 2. This email will include your individual schedule of DAY 2.
When assessed negative:
If you are evaluated negative, this will be the end of your assessment. There will be no
feedback of the assessments, and the Recruitment Team reserves the right not to share any
details about the examination and group exercises. You will not be invited for the interview
and simulator assessment. In case a candidate wishes to re-apply with Wizz Air, he/she will
receive an email, within a reasonable time after your assessment, with more details.

DAY 2: Interviews and Simulator Assessment


Location: Wizz Air Simulator and Training Centre (see page 7 for map)
Arrival time: 30 minutes before schedule
Meeting time: Individual schedule as stated in the e-mail at the end of DAY 1
Please report to Wizz Air HQ building reception and collect a temporary visitor pass before
meeting time. This pass must be returned at the end of the day. Then, proceed to the
Simulator and Training centre to meet your recruitment team in the lounge area next to the
entrance.
Planning for the second day:
Individual start:
Technical interview
Planned per candidate, face-to-face meeting with recruitment team
members.
Duration: 30-40 minutes for each candidate.
Areas of assessment include:
-ATPL theory subjects
-EU-OPS Flight and Fuel planning/monitoring
-ICAO PANS-OPS procedures
-Aircraft performance
-Abnormal/Emergency procedures Situation management
-Failure management
-Decision-making
-Resource and time management
-Aspects of CRM
-Aircraft type knowledge
-Low Visibility Operations
4/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


The level and contents of your assessment will be adjusted to your
experience and the position for which you are applying.
Individual start:

Simulator Assessment
For candidates without Airbus Fly-By-Wire experience: Assessment
includes general handling, energy management, pitch-thrust flying,
crew-cooperation, procedural flying skills and general problem solving
exercises.
If you are Non-Type Rated Commander candidate, see Appendix 2 for
further information.
Duration: 45 minutes.
Please read Simulator Emergency Procedures documentation
(Appendix 3)
For candidates with Airbus Fly-By-Wire experience: You will be
assessed to Licence Skill Test standards and this will include elements
of Abnormal and Emergency management, ECAM discipline, HumanHardware interfacing and solid crew cooperation built around Airbus
SOPs and philosophy.
Duration: 45 minutes.
Please read Simulator Emergency Procedures documentation
(Appendix 3)

Latest 16:30LT:

End of assessment
You should finish around this time at the latest on day 2. You are free
to leave.

Upon finishing your simulator assessment, you are released to return home or your hotel.
You will not be informed about the outcome of the assessment. Within reasonable time, you
will receive an email stating the outcome of the simulator assessment and how to continue.

5/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Logistic information
Participation
In case of you wish to join our assessment please send a confirmation letter to
pilotrecruitment@wizzair.com, 5 workdays before the assessment date at the latest.
Please be aware in case of you confirm your attendance in the last 5 days we are not able to
guarantee your participation.
When sending this e-mail you are required to attach the following files:
Your completed Pilot Data Sheet (.xls or .xlsx format)
Scan of your passport on photo page (.jpg or .pdf format)
Scan of your flight licence (.jpg or .pdf format)
Scan of your medical (.jpg or .pdf format)
-

Travelling request (see below)


Accommodation request (see below)

Please bring your all original documentation to the assessment (see details in Appendix 1).
Travel
We will be happy to provide you flight tickets to Budapest from anywhere in Europe at no
costs if you request. Our policy is to use our own network primarily.
Please check the route map and connectivity at www.wizzair.com
We also provide you flight tickets at no costs in case of you are not able to fly to Budapest
via Wizz Airs network.
In order to have your airplane ticket please mention your request when sending the
confirmation letter. You are required to select exact flights. Please send the dates, origin
airport, and destination airport and flight numbers.
Accommodation
We will be happy to provide your accommodation at Budapest as well. Our recruitment
coordinator is able to book you a room in Airport Hotel Budapest next to Budapest Liszt
Ferenc International Airport.
Airport Hotel Budapest provides transfer to Wizz Air HQ and back.
You can check the hotel on this website
http://www.airporthotel.hu/airport_hotel_budapest.html?nyelv=en
Please indicate in the confirmation letter if you would like to stay in this hotel at Wizz Airs
costs.
6/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


Transfer
Airport Hotel Budapest provides transfer to Wizz Air HQ. You need to ask for transfer at the
reception in the hotel.
On the way back to Airport Hotel Budapest you need to ask for transfer at the reception in
Wizz Air HQ.
Visitor card
You are required to report at the reception in Wizz Air HQ building and collect a temporary
pass when you arrived to your assessment. This pass must be returned at the end of the day.
Contact
Wizz Air Simulator and Training Centre
BUD International Airport 17/A
H-1185
Budapest
Hungary
E-mail: pilotrecruitment@wizzair.com
Phone: +36-1/398-6591
Mobile: +36-70/445-1590 (only in urgent cases!)
Map
Entrance Wizz HQ

Entrance Wizz Air Training Centre

7/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Appendix 1: Relevant documents


As you are invited for the upcoming Pilot Recruitment Interview session, we need to be sure
that you fulfil all requirements, including all necessary documentation.
When sending your confirmation e-mail you are required to attach the following files:
Your completed Pilot Data Sheet (.xls or .xlsx format)
Scan of your passport on photo page (.jpg or .pdf format)
Scan of your flight licence (.jpg or .pdf format)
Scan of your medical (.jpg or .pdf format)
You are required to bring all original relevant documents to the pilot assessment session:
Logbook (if you have more, bring all of them! If you use electronical logbook,
please either print out the entire log book or ensure you have the means to
display the full content at the interview)
Passport or ID card
Your flight licence
Your medical
If you consider other documents relevant, bring them as well.

8/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Appendix 2: Simulator emergency briefing


General safety
1) Wear your seat belts and shoulder harnesses at all times, if operating on motion.

2) A fire extinguisher is mounted on the side wall adjacent to the instructors seat!

9/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

3) Attention: A dummy fire extinguisher is located next to F/O seat, for training
purposes ONLY!

4) 2 emergency push buttons are located at the instructor station. When pushed one
will de-activate the motion system and the other will disconnect all electrical power.

5) There is also 1 emergency switch on the pedestal which allows the pilots to
disconnect the motion system.

10/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

6) It is not allowed to smoke inside the simulator nor to bring beverages or food into
the simulator.
7) The use of mobile telephones inside the simulator hall is not allowed
8) Please do not put anything on the glareshield as this may cause damage to the visual
system.
9) Lights may be hot please be careful when touching any
10) Please dispose of waste exclusively in the waste bin

11/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


Simulator emergency evacuation
1) The emergency procedure must be directed and controlled by the instructor.
2) If no danger exists the instructor will contact the operator for assistance by
telephone.
3) If danger exists the instructor will co-ordinate the evacuation of the simulator.
He/she will advise the crew when to leave the seats and when to leave the simulator.
4) If the access ramp should not lower in emergency, the escape ladder must be used.
5) When leaving the simulator an emergency escape ladder is found on the left. Pulling
the latch releases the ladder

6) Deploy the escape ladder and climb down sideways


7) The instructor will go first and will act as safety supervisor holding the escape ladder
straight.

12/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Building evacuation
1) In case of fire or another danger necessitating the evacuation of the building
trainees and other guests in the building will follow the instruction from the
instructor(s) and/or other FSC personnel
2) Escape routes in the simulator hall have been marked by means of luminous
emergency exits sign pointing towards the exit(s)

3) Main and emergency exit have been marked by means of lighted EXIT signs above
the doors.

4) After leaving the building, trainees, other guests and FSC personnel will assemble in
the parking area in front of the building. The instructor(s) will perform a headcount.
13/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

14/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

15/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment

Appendix 3: Brief intro A320


Candidates who never flew an Airbus Fly-By-Wire aircraft may get overwhelmed or
overloaded with visual/aural inputs during their simulator assessment, not focussing on the
aim of the assessment. To help these candidates become a little more familiar with the A320
cockpit environment, this appendix will:
- familiarize you with the cockpit environment and instrument displays
- explain step by step how to get safely airborne.
- explain how to fly pitch/thrust
- clarify the PF/PNF roles
A good familiarization will give you mental space to focus on the assessment instructions.
1. The A320 cockpit and instrument displays
1.1 Overall view
E/WD

FCU

PFD

L/G lever

Thrust levers

Flap lever

Parking Brake handle

16/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


1.2 Detailed view:
PFD (Primary Flight Display)

Altitude tape
Speedtape

actual altitude

actual speed
(yellow line)

actual (V/S:100)
actual pitch

V/S scale

(yellow/black square)

actual heading

Heading tape

(yellow line)

Each pilot has experience with flying analogue instruments where speed, alt, heading and
horizon instruments are configured in a T-model. The A320 PFD screen is similar, which helps
you screening your flight parameters.

FCU (Flight Control Display)


Target speed

Target heading

Target Alt/FL

Note:
-to select speed or heading: first pull the knob, then turn.
-to select Alt/FL: first turn the knob, then pull.

17/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


E/WD (Engine/Warning Display)
For the simulator assessment, you will be given pitch/thrust settings. The thrust setting will
be based on the N1 parameter of the engine.

Actual N1 indication
(in this example N1 is 7%)

L/G Lever

Parking Brake Handle

Handle needs to be pulled and turned.


OFF: parking brake is released.
ON: parking brake is set.

Lever needs to be pulled


towards you before
selecting UP/DOWN.

18/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


Thrust levers

TOGA Detent

FLX/MCT Detent

Auto-thrust disconnect
pushbutton
(red button)

Climb Detent

Forward thrust range


Levers

Forward Idle
Reverse thrust range

Flap lever

The flap lever has 2 parts: the upper part is vertically


fixed, the lower part can be pulled up towards the
fixed part. When the lower part is released, the flap
lever is locked in its present position. To unlock the
lever, the lower part has to be pulled, then another
lever position can be selected.

19/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


2. Take off
2.1 Vertical Take-off profile

4- 1000ft below
target altitude

5- Target
altitude

2- Rotate

1- Brake
release

3- Thrust reduction
/Acceleration altitude

2.2 PF/PNF actions and callouts


PF

PNF
1 - Brake release

-release parking brake


-set thrust levers in the FLX/MCT detent
NOTE: when setting/passing the levers in a detent,
youll hear a mechanical click. To set the levers in the
FLX/MCT detent, you need to hear 2 clicks; 1st click
when passing the CLB detent, 2nd click when setting
them in the FLX/MCT detent)
-announce Take off
-when passing 100kts, announce one hundred
-check the speed on your speed tape, when check is
positive, announce check
-when passing V1, announce V1
-when passing VR, announce rotate
2 - Rotate
-gently pull back the sidestick to pitch up the nose.
Aim for 17.5 pitch up.
NOTE: it should take approx. 6 seconds to pitch the
nose from 0 to 17.5 UP. Avoid the tendency to pitch
too fast.
-check that Alt and V/S are increasing, then announce
positive climb
-announce gear up
-when landing gear is retracted, announce gear up
-in the meantime, the speed has increased. The
target speed is V2+10kts. Adjust the pitch to maintain

20/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


this speed.

NOTE: V1, VR and V2 are indicated at the speed tape with specific symbols and colours.
During the rotation phase, the speed tape looks approximately as follows:
V2: magenta triangle
Vr: blue circle (donut)
V1: blue line and index.
Actual speed: yellow line

PF

PNF
3 Thrust reduction/Acceleration altitude
-THR RED/ACC alt is 1500ft AAL. When passing this
alt, lower the nose to 10 UP. When the speed starts
increasing, bring back the thrust levers to the CLB
detent. Youll hear 1 mechanical click.
-Due to the aircrafts philosophy, the auto thrust will
not activate.
-when actual speed becomes higher than the Sspeed, announce FLAPS ZERO
NOTE: The S-speed is indicated in the speed tape
with a green line and letter S
-select flaps zero.
-let the aircraft accelerate to 250kts. When reaching
250kts, adjust the pitch to maintain this speed.
4 - 1000ft below target altitude
-when reaching this altitude, slowly bring back the
thrust levers out of the CLB detent and reduce the
vertical speed. For the last 1000ft below target
altitude, fly 250kts and climb at about 1000ft/min.
When passing 1000ft below target alt, PF announces ONE THOUSAND to go. If he misses this call, PNF
announces ONE THOUSAND to go. Whoever calls this altitude, the other pilot checks the speed and
announces CHECK.
5 - Target altitude
-when approaching the target altitude, lower the
nose to 2.5 UP and reduce N1 to 54%. When flying
level and the speed it too high/low, make small thrust
adjustments and give time to the engines to spool up.
Accelerate/decelerate towards your target speed.

21/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


3. Flying an ILS
3.1 Lateral Profile
Below you find the lateral profile of a stabilized ILS. Here, the word stabilized means to be
fully configured before descending along the glide slope.
FAP

L/G down

Flaps 3 &
Flaps FULL

Flaps 2

Flaps 1
3.2

Pitch/Thrust

Configuring the aircraft should be planned at level flight. To control the aircrafts attitude and
speed, the table below summarizes the pitch/thrust to apply and fly the corresponding
speed. The pitch/thrust values give you roughly an idea what to aim for. However, you might
need to add/remove some or %.
Flaps

Minimum speed

0
1
2

Green dot
S-speed
F-speed

3
FULL

F-speed
Approach speed
(Vapp)

Symbol on the speed


tape
Green circle
Green letter S
Green letter F
L/G down
Green letter F
Magenta triangle

Pitch/Thrust N1
(level flight)
5,5/52%
7,5/54%
9/ 58%
7,5/63%
5/67%

Location
End of downwind
Begin of base leg
End of base leg
2 Nm before FAP
1 Nm before FAP

When approaching the glide slope (0.2 Nm before FAP) reduce the thrust to 53% and then
reduce the pitch to 2,5 UP. This should establish you on the glide slope with a V/S of 600700 ft/min.
3.3 PFD symbols.
G/S & LOC deviation bars
The ILS deviation bars can be selected on the PFD. On the drawing below, the bars are
indicated by the red squares: the one below the horizon is the LOC deviation bar, the one on
the right of the horizon is the G/S deviation bar. The LOC and G/S signals are the magenta
22/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


diamonds on their respective bars. The magenta diamonds indicate were the location of LOC
and G/S is relative to the aircrafts location. E.g., if the LOC magenta diamond start drifting to
the left of the bars centre, the aircrafts drifts away to the right of the LOC position.

Speed tape symbols


S-speed
Max speed current flap (Vfe)
Max speed for lower flap (Vfe
next). Actual speed has to be lower
than this speed before selecting a lower
flap setting.

F-speed
V app

Green dot speed

3.4 PF/PNF Actions and Callouts


PF
PNF
-apply pitch/thrust setting to obtain Green dot speed.
At Green dot speed
-at Green dot speed, announce FLAP 1
-select FLAP 1. After crosschecking the flap position
on the E/WD, announce FLAP 1
-apply pitch/thrust setting to obtain S-speed.
At S speed
-at S speed, announce FLAP 2

23/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


-select FLAP 2. After crosschecking the flap position
on the E/WD, announce FLAP 2
-apply pitch/thrust setting to obtain F-speed (Flap 2).

PF

PNF
At F speed
-when established on LOC and at 2Nm from FAP,
announce GEAR DOWN. Increase a bit of thrust to
counteract the L/G drag.
-select L/G down. When the L/G is fully extended,
announce GEAR DOWN.
- at 1 Nm from FAP, announce FLAP 3.
-select FLAP 3. After crosschecking the flap position
on the E/WD, announce FLAP 3
-apply pitch/thrust setting to obtain F-speed (Flap 3).
-when PNF announces FLAP 3, announce FLAP
FULL
-select FLAP FULL. After crosschecking the flap
position on the E/WD, announce FLAP FULL
-apply pitch/thrust setting to obtain Vapp (level
flight).
Upon G/S interception
-at 0.2 Nm from FAP, apply pitch/thrust setting to
obtain Vapp (G/S).

4. Flying an Airbus Fly-By-Wire aircraft.


Sidestick input.
To pitch and roll the A320, each pilot has a sidestick to control the manoeuvres. Each
sidestick can be moved independently from the other one. To control a manoeuvre e.g. 20
bank, a pilot banks the aircraft via its sidestick. Once the aircraft banks 20, the pilot releases
the sidestick. The aircraft will keep its set bank angle. The same applies for pitch settings.
This philosophy is valid up to a bank angle of 33 L/R. If, during the assessment, you are
asked to applied bank angles >33 L/R, you will need to keep the sidestick input. If your bank
angle is >33 L/R and you release the sidestick, the aircraft will decrease its bank angle to 33
L/R automatically. This is part of the envelope protection.
Rudder input.
When banking the A320, rudder input by the pilot is not required. To achieve a coordinated
turn, a computer will calculate and control the rudder.
Trim input.
The A320 is equipped with a stabilizer auto-trim function. There is no requirement for the
pilot to change the trim.

24/25

June 2015

Revision #7

Guide for First Officer / Cadet FO Pilot Recruitment


When a pilot wants to bank the aircraft e.g. to the left, he only needs push the sidestick to
the left. Pitch adjustment to counteract the reduced relative lift vector (loss of altitude)
during a turn is not required, the aircrafts computers will do that for you.
Aircraft and engines inertia.
Because of the size of the aircraft and its engines, the aircraft has a rather big inertia.
Therefore, it will take a moment to see the outcome of your sidestick and thrust correction.
A good method to fly the A320 is to give small inputs, wait a moment and see what is the
outcome of your inputs.

25/25

June 2015

Revision #7

You might also like