Ryanair Pilot Selection: What to Expect
Ryanair at a Glance
Fleet
610+
Boeing 737-800 / MAX 8-200
Passengers
200M+
Largest in Europe
Bases
90+
Across Europe
Questions
306
In our Prep Pack
Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers — over 200 million annually — operating 610+ Boeing 737 aircraft across 90+ bases. All 210 ordered MAX 8-200 "Gamechanger" aircraft have been delivered, and the airline recruits year-round for both cadets (through the Ryanair Mentored Programme) and experienced pilots with existing B737 type ratings. With 150 firm MAX 10 orders (plus 150 options, first deliveries expected spring 2027 pending certification in Q3 2026), Ryanair's recruitment pipeline is one of the most active in European aviation.
The selection process is efficient and direct, reflecting Ryanair's operational culture. Most candidates go from application to a yes/no within 4–8 weeks. The pass rate is competitive — roughly 1 in 4 candidates who reach the assessment day receive an offer.
Online Application & CV Screening
Hours, licence, medical validity check
Online Aptitude Tests (Aon/Cut-E)
Spatial reasoning, multitasking, maths, personality — ~2 hours
Pre-Recorded Video Interview
3–5 questions, ~30 sec prep, ~2–3 min recording each
Assessment Day: HR Competency Interview
STAR competency questions, 30–45 min
Assessment Day: Technical Interview
B737 systems (TR), ATPL theory, operational knowledge, 30 min
Assessment Day: Simulator Check
B737 Level D — raw data, ILS, circuits, engine failure (TR)
Assessment days are held at Ryanair's Dublin headquarters or at Hahn (Germany) training centre. Cadets and experienced pilots attend the same day but receive different technical questions and simulator scenarios.
Stage 1: Online Aptitude Tests (Aon/Cut-E)
After passing the CV screen, you receive a link to the Aon (formerly Cut-E) pilot aptitude battery. You typically have 3 days to complete it once the link is activated. The battery includes up to 12 mini-tests lasting roughly 2 hours total. This is the highest-volume filter: most candidates are eliminated here.
Test Modules
- Spatial orientation — gyrocompass and radio compass, determine position relative to a beacon
- Multitasking (FAST test) — fly a virtual aircraft while answering maths and verbal questions simultaneously
- Numerical reasoning — mental arithmetic under time pressure
- Deductive logical thinking — pattern recognition and sequencing
- Personality profile — 200+ questions, system cross-checks for consistency (no right or wrong answers)
"The FAST test is the real killer. You're flying a plane with a joystick, maintaining altitude and heading, while solving maths problems and listening to ATC. Practice multitasking — don't go in cold." — PPRuNe, Ryanair assessment thread, 2025
Stage 2: Pre-Recorded Video Interview
After passing the aptitude tests, you receive a link to a pre-recorded video interview platform. You see a question on screen, get roughly 30 seconds to think, and then 2–3 minutes to record your answer. There is no interviewer — just you and a camera. English fluency is assessed here — Ryanair operates across 40 countries and clear communication matters.
Typical Questions
- "Why Ryanair?"
- "Tell me about yourself."
- "What was the hardest part of your training?"
- "Describe a time you worked in a team."
Keep your answers structured and within the time limit — rambling is the main reason candidates fail this stage.
"Don't overthink the video. They want to see you can communicate clearly and don't look like you'd frighten the passengers. Structure: 30 seconds intro, 90 seconds substance, 30 seconds wrap-up. Smile. Look at the camera, not the screen." — PPRuNe, Ryanair video interview thread, 2025
Stage 3: Assessment Day — Dublin or Hahn
If you pass the video interview, you receive a phone call or email with an assessment day date. The day starts at 08:00 at Ryanair HQ in Dublin or a European sim centre. Expect 6–10 candidates in your group. Results are communicated within 5–7 working days.
Assessment Day Schedule
- Document verification and briefing
- HR competency interview (30–45 min)
- Technical knowledge assessment (~30 min)
- B737 simulator check (40–60 min)
Required Documents
- Valid pilot licence (EASA CPL/frozen ATPL)
- EASA Class 1 medical certificate
- Logbook (physical or electronic — remove password if electronic)
- Valid ID or passport
- MCC/APS MCC certificate (cadets)
Expired documents mean immediate disqualification — they will send you home.
HR Competency Interview
The HR interview is STAR-based: Situation, Task, Action, Result. You sit with an HR interviewer and a Ryanair pilot — one asks, the other takes notes. The interview lasts 30–45 minutes. They will ask 6–10 competency questions and expect specific examples from your experience — not hypothetical answers.
Competency Areas Assessed
- Leadership and decision-making under pressure
- Teamwork and conflict resolution
- Customer focus and adaptability
- Base flexibility (non-negotiable — saying "I only want Stansted" is a soft fail)
- Type rating bond commitment (€29,500 for cadets)
- Understanding of the ULCC business model
They may ask whether you have applied to other airlines and how you would prioritise if offered multiple positions simultaneously.
"They asked me 'Why Ryanair and not easyJet?' — and they wanted a real answer, not flattery. I talked about fleet commonality, upgrade speed, and the base network. The interviewer nodded. Then she asked 'What's your biggest weakness?' and I could see she'd heard 'I'm a perfectionist' from the previous 50 candidates." — Forum report, Ryanair FO candidate, 2025
"HR started: tell me about yourself, why Ryanair, a STAR question based on my CV, why would I be a good Captain, what was my biggest achievement so far, why are SOPs important, can I pay for the type rating, have I applied elsewhere." — PPRuNe, Ryanair cadet candidate report, 2023
Technical Knowledge Assessment
The technical interview lasts approximately 30 minutes and is conducted by a Ryanair pilot. The depth is operational — they want to know you understand how things work in daily line operations, not that you can recite textbook definitions. If you get something wrong, admit it and move on — they assess how you handle knowledge gaps, not whether you are an encyclopaedia.
Type-Rated Candidates
- B737 hydraulic system (A/B/standby)
- Fuel system architecture
- Bleed air system
- Anti-ice vs de-ice systems
- EGPWS modes
- Autobrake settings and logic
Non-Type-Rated Candidates
Focus is general ATPL theory — meteorology, flight planning, principles of flight, performance, and human factors.
Operational Topics (Both Tracks)
- METAR decoding
- RVSM requirements
- Approach types and CAT I/II/III minima
- Fuel policy — trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve
- Runway markings — TORA, TODA, ASDA
"Technical questions are really dependent on your experience. They might give you a METAR to decode, a picture of a runway and ask you to point out TORA, TODA, ASDA. They might ask how a turbocharger works. If you don't know something, just admit it and move on." — Candidate report, Ryanair assessment day, 2025
B737 Simulator Check
The simulator assessment begins with an early briefing — typically around the assessment day itself, or a separate day for some cohorts. You are paired with another candidate and fly a Boeing 737-800 or MAX Level D full-motion simulator. Each candidate flies approximately 20–30 minutes as Pilot Flying (PF) and 20–30 minutes as Pilot Monitoring (PM). Charts are provided in advance — common airports include Liverpool, East Midlands, and Dublin.
Non-Type-Rated Assessment
Focus is basic handling: raw data flying (no autopilot, no flight director), steep turns, climbs, descents, visual circuits, and an ILS approach down to minima. You are judged until minima, not for the landing — if unstabilised, go around, they will reposition you.
Type-Rated Assessment
Expect emergencies: engine failure after V1, hydraulic failures, sick passenger diversion decisions. CRM is assessed alongside flying ability — brief your intentions, call out deviations, and communicate throughout.
Pilot Monitoring Role
As PM, be active: call out speed and altitude deviations, assist with checklists, confirm entries. Sitting silently is a red flag. The assessor may deliberately stress you — asking basic maths questions during a 45-degree bank turn, or asking your PM if they agree with your holding entry.
"I hadn't flown a 737 sim in 6 months. First ILS was bumpy. Second was solid. The TC said 'That's exactly what we want to see — someone who improves.' They're not looking for perfection. They're looking for learning curve." — PPRuNe, Ryanair sim assessment, 2024
"The landing is not part of the assessment. Just have fun with that 60-ton monster. You fly PF and PM. As PM you must be active — call out deviations, don't just sit there." — Candidate report, Ryanair Dublin assessment, 2024
Ryanair Pilot Assessment Preparation — Sample Questions
Preparing for the Ryanair pilot assessment? Below are three questions from our Ryanair question bank with the coaching frameworks that candidates use to prepare. The first shows the complete answer — all paragraphs, tips, and airline-specific context. Each of the 330 questions in the full pack averages 600 words of structured coaching per answer.
What would you do if you see your captain not following SOPs?
The Graduated Response — Assert, Advocate, Challenge — My approach follows a graduated escalation. First, I assert — I point out the deviation factually: 'Captain, the SOP calls for Flap 40 on this landing, I see we're configured for Flap 30.' No judgement, just a factual observation. Most SOP deviations are unintentional, and a clear assertion resolves 90% of cases. If the Captain acknowledges and corrects, the system worked. If they dismiss it, I move to advocacy: 'Captain, I'm concerned because the landing distance calculation was based on Flap 40 — with Flap 30 we may not have sufficient margin on this runway length.' I am now explaining why it matters. If the Captain still refuses, I challenge: 'Captain, I'm not comfortable continuing with this configuration. I believe we need to go around and reconfigure.' At Ryanair, where the Captain and First Officer may have never flown together before (95+ bases, 40 countries), this graduated approach is essential — you cannot rely on established rapport.
SOP deviations rarely come from malice. Causes include: fatigue (Ryanair crews fly up to 900 hours annually), complacency (experienced Captains may develop shortcuts after thousands of sectors), distraction (communication overload, personal stress), or genuine disagreement with the SOP (rare but possible). Understanding the 'why' helps you calibrate your response. A fatigued Captain who misses a checklist item needs a gentle 'Did we complete the approach checklist?' — not an aggressive confrontation. A Captain who deliberately skips a required procedure needs a firmer response.
When to Take Control — In extreme cases — the Captain is incapacitated, clearly impaired, or taking the aircraft into an unsafe situation and refusing to listen — the First Officer must take control. 'I have control' followed by a go-around or level-off, then a PAN PAN or MAYDAY as appropriate. This is exceptionally rare but you must be prepared to do it. You would prioritise the safety of 197 passengers over avoiding an awkward cockpit confrontation.
The Classic Follow-Up Scenario — PPRuNe candidates report this question is asked at virtually every Ryanair assessment, sometimes phrased as: 'What if your Captain says at cruise altitude, if not visual at DA, I'll land anyway because I'm tired?' The correct answer: 'I would acknowledge the Captain's fatigue, suggest we review the approach conditions closer to the time, and if at DA we are not visual, I would call go-around per SOP. I would not compromise the stabilised approach criteria regardless of the Captain's preference.' Ryanair's CRM training explicitly teaches this graduated response model — First Officers are expected and encouraged to speak up.
Tip: Memorise the escalation: Assert → Advocate → Challenge → Take Control. Give a specific example scenario, not just theory. Mention the PPRuNe-reported question about 'Captain wants to land below DA' — it shows you have done your research. Never say 'I would just follow the Captain' — that is the wrong answer at any airline.
4 coaching paragraphs + tips · this level of detail for every question
After takeoff, you get a single hydraulic system low pressure indication. The aircraft is flyable. Do you return immediately or continue to destination (30 minutes away)?
Assess the Indication Before Reacting — I would not immediately assume the worst, but I would not ignore it either. A single hydraulic system low pressure indication could be a genuine system failure, a transient fluctuation, or a faulty sensor. My first action: note which system is affected (the B737 has two independent hydraulic systems — A and B, both operating at 3,000 PSI), note the time and flight phase, and check for secondary indications. Is the quantity decreasing? Are there any associated system losses (flight controls, gear, brakes, spoilers)? If the indication is transient — appears briefly and then returns to normal — I would continue to monitor closely while briefing the Captain on what I observed. If the indication persists or is accompanied by secondary failures, I would follow the QRH procedure for hydraulic system low pressure, declare the appropriate urgency level to ATC, and plan for landing at the nearest suitable airport. On the B737 at Ryanair, a System A failure affects more flight controls than System B, so the specific system matters for my decision-making.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
Describe the oxygen system on the B737 — crew and passenger
Crew Oxygen System — the flight crew has a dedicated gaseous oxygen system stored in a high-pressure cylinder (typically 1,800 PSI when fully charged) located in the forward electronics bay area. Each pilot has a quick-donning smoke goggle/mask combination accessible within 5 seconds from the stowed position (this 5-second requirement is an EASA mandate). The masks provide 100% oxygen and switch to positive-pressure delivery above a defined cabin altitude to prevent ambient air leaking past the mask seal at high altitude.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
330 Ryanair questions with full coaching frameworks
Technical Interview (196) · HR Interview (82) · Simulator Assessment (31) · Written Test (12)
330
questions
~600
words per answer
30
airlines total
Lifetime access · Alternatives charge €130+ for 90-day subscriptions
What Successful Candidates Say
Know Ryanair's Numbers
Fleet size (610+ B737s), passenger count (200M+), base count (90+), recent orders (150 firm MAX 10 orders, first deliveries expected spring 2027). The HR panel expects you to know the business, not just the cockpit. Mention the ULCC model, ancillary revenue strategy, and Michael O'Leary's name — just not as a punchline.
Base Flexibility Is Non-Negotiable
If you say "I only want Stansted" — that is a soft fail. Ryanair assigns bases based on operational need. Express genuine flexibility and mean it. They may directly ask: "If you don't receive your preferred base, would you still join?"
Have 6 STAR Stories Ready
Leadership, teamwork, conflict, failure/learning, decision under pressure, customer service. Each story should be 2 minutes spoken. Practice with a timer. The HR interviewer has heard every generic answer — make yours specific and personal.
The Sim Is About Attitude
A rough landing with good CRM beats a greaser with no communication. Brief everything. Talk throughout. Show you can learn from mistakes. If you go around, that is not a failure — it is good airmanship.
Prepare the Type Rating Question
Cadets will be asked how they plan to fund the €29,500 type rating bond. Have a clear answer — loan, savings, family support, or instalment plan through salary deductions. Hesitation here signals you have not thought the commitment through.
Quick Salary Reference (2026)
Ryanair pay combines a low base salary with substantial variable sector pay — typically 30–50% of total earnings. UK bases pay the highest gross, but Southern and Eastern European bases can deliver better net income due to lower tax rates. All cadets carry a €29,500 type rating bond amortized over 5 years.
| Rank | Annual Gross (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second Officer (Cadet) | €35,000–45,000 | Incl. sector pay at 850 BH. TR bond deducted monthly. |
| Junior First Officer | €55,000–65,000 | After TR bond paid off, rapid increase. |
| Senior First Officer | €80,000–93,000 | Year 4–5+. Highest FO rates in EU LCC market. |
| Captain | €145,000–175,000 | €175K requires instructor supplements (TRE/LTC). |
Figures are approximate and pre-tax at 850 block hours. Actual pay varies by base, roster, and supplements. See our full Ryanair salary breakdown for detailed progression tables and base comparisons.
Sources & Methodology
This guide is compiled from pilot community reports on PPRuNe (Ryanair interviews and sim assessments thread), Reddit r/flying, Glassdoor pilot interview reviews, candidate blog posts, and Ryanair Group Careers public materials. Question content in our Interview Prep Pack is sourced directly from candidate reports — each question shows its source type and confidence level.
Ryanair's recruitment process evolves with hiring demand. While we verify content regularly, always check the Ryanair Careers portal for the most current requirements. This guide was last updated in April 2026.