LOT Polish Airlines Pilot Interview Questions 2026

I Would Insist on the Brief — If the captain dismisses my weather brief for an E195 domestic sector — "I've flown into Warsaw a hundred times" — I would be direct: "Captain, the TAF today shows your specific concern and I would prefer to brief it. Can I run through the threats?" Experience with an airport does not negate today's specific weather. If the captain continues to refuse, I would brief the approach myself out loud: "For my own preparation, the approach minima are [X], the missed approach is [Y], and the wind is [Z]."

Specific Threat Assessment — Present the concrete threats that make today different from a routine Kraków flight: cumulonimbus clouds with tops to FL380 indicate severe convective activity (turbulence, hail, lightning, microbursts), Kraków's proximity to the Tatra Mountains and Carpathian range means terrain-enhanced convective activity, wind shear on approach is a go-around or diversion trigger, and the airport's approach procedures in mountainous terrain have less margin for deviation. Brief specific mitigations: discuss ILS versus RNAV approach options, review the missed approach procedure considering CBs in the vicinity, and plan alternates (Warsaw, Katowice, Rzeszów).

CRM Escalation if Needed — If the Captain dismisses your concerns again: 'Captain, I am not comfortable proceeding without discussing the weather threats. Our TEM briefing requires us to identify and mitigate threats — the convective activity around Kraków today is a significant threat that warrants planning.' This escalation invokes the formal TEM framework that both crew members are required to follow. If the Captain still refuses to engage, you have options: request a delay until the briefing is completed (the aircraft should not push back with an incomplete briefing), or contact LOT's Operations Control Centre for dispatcher input on the weather situation.

Normalisation of Deviance — This scenario tests whether you recognise and resist complacency. 'I've done it before' is the most dangerous phrase in aviation — it assumes that because previous operations were successful, the same level of risk assessment can be applied every time. Every flight is unique, and weather changes hour by hour. Show the interviewers you understand that challenging a senior Captain is uncomfortable but necessary when safety requires it. After the flight — whether it proceeds safely or not — consider filing a safety report if the Captain's refusal to engage with the weather brief represents a recurring attitude that could affect future flights. At LOT Polish Airlines, operational decision-making reflects the airline's position as Poland's flag carrier operating from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) — a hub that serves as a strategic connecting point between Western Europe and destinations in Central/Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Select a High-Stakes Decision — Choose a decision that had significant consequences and required careful deliberation. Aviation examples are strongest: a go-around decision in marginal weather, a diversion for a medical emergency or technical issue, refusing to fly due to fatigue or weather concerns, or choosing to retake a training module rather than rushing through it. Non-aviation examples work if they demonstrate the same decision-making qualities: accepting a career change into aviation, investing in flight training, or making a difficult ethical choice in a previous profession. The decision must have had real weight — not a trivial daily choice.

Decision-Making Process — Describe how you approached the decision systematically. What information did you gather? What options did you consider? What trade-offs did you evaluate? Did you consult others (instructors, mentors, family)? How did you assess the risks of each option? LOT's interviewers are evaluating your decision-making competency — a core pilot skill. Show that you use a structured approach similar to FORDEC (Facts, Options, Risks, Decision, Execution, Check) or a similar framework, even if you did not know the formal model at the time.

The Decision and Its Outcome — State clearly what you decided and why. Own the decision — do not present it as something that happened to you. Explain the outcome: was it successful, partially successful, or did it not go as planned? If the outcome was negative, what did you learn? LOT values pilots who can make clear decisions under uncertainty and take responsibility for the results. The airline's own history demonstrates this: the decision to order 55 new aircraft during a period of industry uncertainty was a bold commitment that is now driving record growth. Reflection and Application — Conclude with what this decision taught you about yourself and how it applies to your pilot career. Perhaps it taught you the importance of gathering complete information before acting, the courage to make unpopular decisions when safety demands it, or the value of consulting experienced colleagues. Connect the lesson to LOT operations: 'As a LOT pilot, I would apply this same approach to every critical decision — from go-around calls to fuel planning — ensuring that safety always takes priority over commercial pressure.'

Higher Cabin Pressure Capability — The B787's composite fuselage (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) tolerates a higher pressure differential than conventional aluminium fuselages — approximately 9.4 psi compared to 8.6 psi on the Boeing 767. This allows the cabin to be pressurised to a lower cabin altitude of 6,000 feet equivalent at cruise, compared to the industry standard of 8,000 feet on aluminium aircraft like the B737, B777, and Airbus A330. The 2,000-foot difference has measurable physiological effects: at 6,000 feet, blood oxygen saturation is approximately 95-96% versus 90-93% at 8,000 feet, significantly reducing passenger and crew fatigue on long sectors.

Passenger and Crew Benefits — The lower cabin altitude directly improves the travel experience on LOT's long-haul routes to New York (8.5 hours), Los Angeles (12 hours), and Tokyo (10+ hours). Passengers experience reduced fatigue, fewer headaches, better sleep quality, improved hydration, and less jet lag severity. For LOT's crews operating augmented-crew sectors of 10+ hours, the reduced fatigue from lower cabin altitude improves cognitive performance during critical phases — particularly beneficial during the approach and landing after a long westbound sector against the jet stream. The composite also fuselage allows cabin humidity to be maintained at approximately 20% versus 5-10% on aluminium aircraft, because composites do not corrode from moisture exposure.

Structural and Design Advantages — The composite fuselage enables further design improvements: windows are 65% larger than on the B767 (composites allow larger openings without structural penalty), the fuselage acts as a better thermal insulator (reducing condensation on interior surfaces), and there is no fatigue cracking from repeated pressurisation cycles — a major maintenance issue on aluminium aircraft where microscopic cracks develop around rivet holes and window cutouts over thousands of cycles. For LOT's B787 fleet operating multiple daily pressurisation cycles on transatlantic routes, this translates to reduced structural inspection requirements and longer intervals between heavy maintenance checks.

Operational Considerations — While the higher cabin pressure is overwhelmingly positive, pilots should understand its operational context. The higher pressure differential means greater structural loads during each pressurisation cycle — the composite fuselage is designed for this, but correct operation of the pressurisation system is critical. The cabin altitude controller on the B787 is fully automatic and manages climb and descent rates to prevent ear discomfort.

In the event of a pressurisation failure, the higher differential means a more rapid decompression than on a lower-differential aircraft — though the B787's composite structure is actually more resistant to catastrophic failure than aluminium because composites do not propagate cracks the same way. At LOT Polish Airlines, this technical knowledge applies across the airline's diverse fleet: Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners on intercontinental routes (Warsaw to Tokyo, Seoul, New York, Chicago) and Embraer E175/E195 jets on the European network — each type presenting different systems architecture and operational characteristics.

Alternate Adequacy Assessment — If Lahore's runway closure begins 2 hours after our planned Delhi ETA, and our typical hold/diversion time from Delhi to Lahore is approximately 1.5 hours, the alternate appears usable at the time of our planned arrival. However, any delay — ATC holding, weather deviation, or operational delay at Warsaw — could push our Delhi arrival later, potentially into the Lahore closure window. This marginal timing creates unacceptable risk, and I would recommend selecting a different alternate.

Alternative Alternate Selection — For Delhi (DEL/VIDP), suitable alternatives include: Mumbai (BOM/VABB) — approximately 2 hours flight time, full 787 capability, major international airport; Jaipur (JAI/VIJP) — approximately 45 minutes, shorter runway but adequate for 787 at lighter landing weights; or Lucknow (LKO/VILK). I would discuss with the captain and LOT dispatch to select an alternate that has no time-limited NOTAMs and adequate facilities for a 787 diversion with passengers.

Fuel Impact — Changing the alternate from Lahore (approximately 550 NM from Delhi) to Mumbai (approximately 690 NM) increases the alternate fuel requirement. I would recalculate the minimum fuel with the new alternate and verify that the total fuel loaded at Warsaw accommodates this change without exceeding MTOW or requiring a payload reduction. On a 787-9 with a 7-hour sector, the additional alternate fuel is manageable, but it must be planned correctly before departure.

LOT Operational Standard — This scenario tests pre-flight planning discipline. LOT's operations manual requires the captain to verify alternate adequacy during pre-flight preparation, including checking that the alternate is available not just at planned arrival time but with reasonable margin for delays. The NOTAM about Lahore's closure is exactly the kind of detail that separates thorough preparation from box-ticking. Mentioning this proactively — before the assessor asks — demonstrates the planning discipline LOT expects from long-haul 787 crews.

Immediate Assessment — A single-channel autothrottle alert on the 737 MAX 8 means one of the two autothrottle servo channels has failed, but the autothrottle system may still be functional on the remaining channel (depending on the specific fault). I would first check the EICAS message detail and cross-reference with the QRH. The key question is: does the autothrottle remain usable in single-channel mode, or does the fault require disconnection? I would verify thrust settings are appropriate and that the aircraft is climbing normally.

MEL and Dispatch Considerations — On such a short sector (Warsaw-Kraków, approximately 45 minutes), the practical impact of a degraded autothrottle is limited — manual thrust management on a 45-minute flight is straightforward. However, the decision about whether to continue versus return depends on: Is the aircraft scheduled for another sector from Kraków? Does the MEL allow dispatch with single-channel autothrottle? Is Kraków's maintenance capability sufficient to address the fault? For LOT's hub operation, an aircraft with a deferred maintenance item at Kraków may not get fixed before its next scheduled departure.

Manual Thrust Management — If the autothrottle is disconnected, I would manage thrust manually throughout the remainder of the flight. On the 737 MAX 8, manual thrust management requires particular attention during approach configuration changes and during the landing flare, where the autothrottle normally retards to idle. Clear communication with the captain about who is managing thrust (typically the PF) and clear callouts for thrust changes ensure safe operations. The LEAP-1B's FADEC manages engine protection limits regardless of autothrottle status.

LOT Operational Context — LOT's Warsaw-Kraków route is a high-frequency domestic service, often operated multiple times daily. Aircraft turnaround at Kraków is typically short, and the 737 MAX fleet is shared across the network. A technical issue that grounds an aircraft at an outstation creates knock-on effects across the schedule. As FO, I would document the fault precisely in the tech log and communicate with LOT maintenance control via ACARS to ensure engineering support is available at Kraków if needed. This proactive maintenance communication is valued at LOT.