Africa World Airlines · E145 Captain Interview Prep

"I'm an Embraer captain with 4,280 hours. I started on the MA60 with Merpati in Indonesia, then flew the ERJ-145XR as an FO with CommuteAir for United Express, commanded Legacy 600 and 650s in international VIP charter with Fly VIP Air in Vietnam, and most recently was an ERJ-145LR Captain and FAA Line Check Pilot at Piedmont for American Eagle. I took time out for family care, which is now complete, and I'm looking to bring that Part 121 standardisation and multicultural experience to AWA's 145 fleet as you grow with the E190."

Points: Ghana's largest airline and only IATA/IOSA carrier in Ghana [1]; flying the type you know best; growth story with E190 [2]; you've worked in Indonesia, Vietnam, USA – comfortable in multicultural crews and developing infrastructure; interest in mentoring local pilots. Add a personal reason (West Africa connection, lifestyle, rotation fits you).

See section 2. Keep under 30 seconds, no apology, end on readiness. Mention the 2025 GoJet training period only if asked – decide beforehand how you'll explain it truthfully.

S: [real flight/situation] T: reach a safe shared decision. A: invited the FO's view first, stated the facts/SOP, used "what's the safest option?", agreed a plan, briefed it. R: [outcome]; debriefed afterwards. Tie to your LCP role: you coached rather than overruled.

Classic VIP charter scenario from Fly VIP Air: S: [e.g. principal wanted departure despite weather/crew duty/MEL issue]. A: explained risks calmly, offered alternatives (delay, alternate, tech stop), coordinated with ops. R: safe outcome, client respected the professionalism. Shows you can say no diplomatically.

Pick a minor, real one (e.g. an altitude/clearance readback caught by the FO, a briefing omission). [your example] Emphasise: speaking up culture, reporting (ASAP/safety report), what you changed afterwards.

Draw on Line Check Pilot work at Piedmont (effective 2 Apr 2024): identify the root cause (knowledge, skill, CRM), give specific feedback, model the behaviour, document fairly, involve training dept early. [one anonymised real example from checking]

Indonesia (Merpati), USA (two regionals), Vietnam (VIP charter with international crews/clients). Standard phraseology, explicit briefings, check understanding, respect for hierarchy differences while flattening the gradient for safety.

Contributing to AWA's growth: line captain on the 145, then E190 transition, and supporting training/checking (you already hold LCP experience) – if the airline needs it.

Strength: standardisation and calm, structured decision-making (LCP, VIP command). Weakness: something real and managed, e.g. "I tend to over-brief; I've learned to tailor the depth to the crew and situation."

You've already said you're comfortable with 8 weeks on / 3 off style rotations. Confirm your preference and constraints before the call.

• What do you know about our fleet and network? (section 1)
• Have you ever failed a check? Answer truthfully.
• Any incidents, accidents or violations? Answer truthfully.
• What's your notice period / start date? (Available immediately, subject to medical renewal & validation.)
• What would your previous chief pilot say about you?
• What does a good captain look like?
• How do you manage fatigue?
• Tell us about a passenger-related incident (disruptive pax, medical).
• Salary expectations? (section 10)

• Two rear-mounted AE3007A-series turbofans (LR commonly A1 variants) with FADEC (two channels, A/B). Know: start sequence, ignition, FADEC channel switching, thrust modes (TO/GA/CON/CLB/CRZ, ALT T/O, reserve thrust/ATTCS).
• ATTCS (automatic takeoff thrust control) – when it arms and what triggers reserve thrust.
• Starter limits, ITT start & takeoff limits, oil pressure/temperature – from AWA AFM.
• Thrust reversers (if fitted), FADEC-controlled.

• Small tail-cone APU (Hamilton Sundstrand T-62T family on most 145s) for electrics and bleed on the ground. Know start envelope, bleed availability altitude, fire protection and auto-shutdowns.

• Primarily 28 V DC: two engine-driven generators per engine (4 total) + APU generator; two main batteries (plus a backup/emergency battery); Essential, Shed and Hot battery buses; DC inverters for AC needs.
• Know: bus-tie logic, load shedding, what is powered in an electrical emergency (essential buses), RAT – the ERJ-145 has no RAT; batteries provide emergency power for a limited time. Check AWA battery endurance figure.

• Two independent systems (~3,000 psi), each with an engine-driven pump and an electric backup pump.
• Typical users: rudder, spoilers, landing gear, brakes, nosewheel steering and thrust reversers, split between the two systems. Know which system feeds each (gear, steering, inboard/outboard brakes) and the emergency/parking brake accumulator. Verify the exact split in the AWA AOM.

• Primary controls largely conventional with hydraulic power assistance where fitted; pitch/roll disconnect handles to separate jammed sides; trim systems (pitch trim electric with backup).
• Flaps electric (positions commonly 0/9/18/22/45). Spoilers: ground and flight spoiler functions.
• Know: jammed controls, runaway trim memory item, flap failure landing distance factors.

• Bleed air from engines (low/high stage), APU and ground cart; two packs; cross-bleed for engine start.
• Digital pressurisation controller with automatic and manual modes; know max differential, cabin altitude warning (around 10,000 ft) and the emergency descent procedure.

• Two integral wing tanks, electric boost pumps plus ejector (jet) pumps, crossfeed. Know imbalance limit, low-level warning, fuel temperature, and fuel crossfeed procedure. AWA capacity & imbalance limits from AFM.

• Tricycle, hydraulically actuated; electrical gear lever with emergency free-fall (alternate extension handle).
• Carbon/steel brakes (per mod) with anti-skid; emergency/parking brake from accumulator; brake temperature monitoring; nosewheel steering via tiller and rudder pedals.
• Hot weather: brake cooling time between sectors on short domestic turns (Kumasi/Tamale/Takoradi).

• Engine bleed air heats wing and horizontal stab leading edges and engine inlets; electric heating for windshields, probes/sensors; ice detectors with automatic mode.
• Know: when anti-ice must be ON (visible moisture + TAT/SAT), effect on performance, ITT. In West Africa mostly relevant in climb/cruise through convective cloud tops.

• Honeywell Primus 1000 integrated avionics: PFDs/MFDs, EICAS, dual FGS/autopilot, TCAS, EGPWS, weather radar.
• FMS typically Honeywell or Universal (UNS-1) depending on operator. Ask which FMS AWA uses and whether RNP/RNAV approaches are approved.
• Know EICAS message colours/priorities, reversionary modes, and autopilot disconnect logic.

• Engine and APU fire detection/extinguishing (two bottles for engines, crossable), cargo/lavatory smoke detection; crew oxygen masks with quick-don; passenger oxygen.

• MTOW / MLW / MZFW, Vmo/Mmo, max operating altitude (around FL370), max crosswind, tailwind limits, max tyre speed, flap/gear speeds, max cabin differential, temperature limits for takeoff.
• Performance: V1/VR/V2, balanced field, WAT limits, second-segment climb, obstacle clearance, contaminated runway corrections, landing distance factors.
• Hot & high: ACC elev. ~205 ft but OAT often 30–35 °C; Tamale/Ouagadougou higher temperatures – expect WAT/payload limits.

Typical ERJ-145 memory items include: engine fire/severe damage/separation; dual engine failure; smoke/fumes (oxygen masks, crew communication); emergency descent/cabin altitude; rapid decompression; runaway trim; jammed controls; emergency evacuation; TCAS RA; EGPWS/windshear escape. Exact wording and order: AWA QRH only. Ask whether the interview sim uses AWA or Embraer QRH.

• Final authority for safety of the flight; set tone at the briefing; open communication; manage the authority gradient; delegate (PF/PM), verify, decide (e.g. FOR-DEC, DODAR, T-DODAR).
• Show you lead with SOPs but think beyond them when needed – and document.

Threats (weather, terrain, ATC, fatigue, MEL items, commercial pressure) → Errors (crew) → Undesired Aircraft States. Explain how your briefings identify threats, assign countermeasures and set "bottom lines".

Fly the aircraft, memory items/QRH, engine-out procedure (EOSID if published), declare MAYDAY, assess: return vs Accra (longer runway, maintenance), weather, performance, landing weight. DODAR, brief cabin (NITS), passengers, land, post-flight report.

Early decision, radar tilt management, deviation requests, hold/divert to alternate (e.g. Kumasi/Takoradi or Lomé), know your minimum diversion fuel and declare MINIMUM FUEL/MAYDAY FUEL per ICAO.

Cabin crew report → assess, MedLink if available, nearest suitable airport, police on arrival, report. Lagos/Abuja ground security awareness (cf. 2018 Lagos taxi robbery incident) [1].

Flatten gradient, ask open questions, give them the leg with support; debrief privately; report through training channels if needed (your LCP experience).

MEL/CDL check, (M) and (O) procedures, operational impact (e.g. pack inop in heat, APU inop on outstation without GPU), engineering consultation; if not legal or not safe – no go, explain to ops.

Know FTL limits, discretion rules (GCAA/AWA OM-A), fatigue reporting; don't exceed for commercial reasons.