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Airline Pilot Interview Prep

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Southern Air Pilot Interview Prep

Landing a cargo pilot seat at Southern Air means navigating a focused Technical and CRM interview designed to test your airmanship and crew coordination under pressure. Vectors to Hired gives you access to 193 Southern Air interview questions across four key categories so you walk in prepared, not guessing. Whether you\'re transitioning from regional airlines or moving up to widebody freight operations, our AI-powered platform builds your confidence before the call.

Updated March 2026

193+
Southern Air Questions
4
Categories Covered
AI
Mock Interview Coach

What to Expect at Your Southern Air Interview

Southern Air\'s interview process combines in-depth technical questioning on B737-800F and B777F systems with CRM scenario evaluations that assess how you perform under real-world operational stress. Expect interviewers to probe your recurrent training habits, your situational awareness, and your ability to communicate effectively as part of a two-pilot crew. Company-specific questions are common, so knowing Southern Air\'s cargo network, culture, and fleet inside and out is essential.

Interview Format

Technical + CRM

Fleet

B737-800F, B777F

Why VTH for Southern Air Prep

Vectors to Hired is the only interview prep platform built specifically for airline pilots, with 193 Southern Air questions curated from real candidate experiences and organized by Technical, HR/Behavioral, CRM/Scenario, and Company-Specific categories. Our AI coach gives you instant, personalized feedback on your answers so you refine your STAR-method responses and technical explanations before day one. No generic interview advice — just targeted prep for the Southern Air seat you\'re after.

  • 193+ operator-specific questions
  • AI mock interview with real-time coaching
  • Technical, behavioral, CRM & company-specific questions
  • Practice at your own pace, 24/7

Sample Southern Air Interview Questions

Here\'s a preview of the Southern Air interview questions you\'ll find inside Vectors to Hired:

Question 1

What do you know about Southern Air?

Question 2

Can you explain B777F cargo aircraft overview?

Question 3

How do you prepare for recurrent training?

Question 4

How do you handle a situation where you are running late for a flight?

Question 5

What is the most important quality in a pilot?

Interview Gouges

3 reports

Detailed interview experiences from pilots who interviewed at Southern Air.

Technical interview with study guide provided by HR in advance

Interview Stages

ApplicationHR sends study guide of possible technical subjectsTechnical interview covering Jeppesen chart knowledge, airport operations, and systems

Technical Questions

  • Jeppesen chart numbering system (10-9, 20-9, 10-9a, 20-9a)
  • 10-9 is the airport diagram for the primary airport in a city
  • 20-9 is the airport diagram for the second airport in a city (e.g., JFK charts start with 2, LGA charts start with 1)
  • 10-9a contains runway data including RVR sensor information and lighting for the primary airport
  • 20-9a contains runway data for the second airport
  • At smaller airports, airport diagram and runway notes are combined on the back of the first approach chart (typically 11-01)
  • How to determine number of RVR sensors per runway
  • Airport and runway lighting systems
  • General Jeppesen chart legend knowledge from the General Airway Manual

Tips

  • Study the Jeppesen General Airway Manual chart legends thoroughly
  • Know the chart numbering and sequencing system even in the EFB era
  • HR provides a study guide - take it seriously and prepare all listed topics
  • Be aware that Southern Air and Atlas Air share management and have had safety concerns
  • Multiple recent type ride failures (777) have been reported - come well prepared
  • The company has historically had difficult interview questions but current questions are reportedly easier
  • Prepare beyond the study guide - be ready for anything

Interview Experience

Southern Air sent a study guide of possible technical subjects before the interview. The technical portion focused heavily on Jeppesen chart knowledge including the numbering system. A key question involved understanding what 20-9 airport and 20-9 runway lights mean. The 20-9 refers to the airport diagram for the second airport in a city (for example, JFK uses 2x-series charts while LGA uses 1x-series). The 10-9a or 20-9a pages contain runway data including RVR sensors and lighting. At smaller airports this data is combined on the back of the first approach chart. Several current pilots noted concern about the quality of candidates and the company providing study guides, suggesting standards had evolved. Safety programs like AQP, LOSA and FOQA were discussed as areas where the company has been lacking.

Interview with Chief Pilot, laid back atmosphere, followed by drug test via mail

Interview Stages

Interview with Chief Pilot (described as laid back and super friendly)Drug test (completed via snail mail)

Tips

  • Interview was described as very laid back
  • Chief Pilot was reported as super and personable
  • Job offer can be made on the spot after interview
  • If you decline or delay accepting an offer, the Chief Pilot may not be receptive to re-accepting later
  • No pay except per diem until IOE completion
  • No deadhead pay in first year even though home-based
  • Family insurance costs significantly higher than other carriers
  • Research the company thoroughly before interviewing - consider comparing with Tradewinds and other ACMI carriers

Interview Experience

I interviewed with Southern Air and it was very laid back. The chief pilot was super and offered me a job, which I took since I was on furlough from Evergreen. However, right as I was doing my drug test via snail mail, Evergreen called me back. We weighed the options and it was only a lateral move so I thanked them respectively but stayed with Evergreen. Three weeks later I called Southern Air to hopefully re-accept their offer for employment because Evergreen didn't fulfill their obligations, and not only did Southern Air decline, the Chief Pilot was extremely rude and informed me I had my chance. He sounded more like a jilted lover. The interview itself was straightforward but be aware that the benefits package was an eye-opener - family insurance is significantly higher than other carriers, there is no pay except per diem until you hit IOE, and there is no deadhead pay in the first year even though you are home-based.

2011

Tips

  • T
  • h
  • e
  • y

Interview Experience

Southern Air is ACMI cargo. Interview is personality-heavy because the lifestyle is rough, trips run 20-40 days. Sim eval is the make-or-break part, they want to see you handle unfamiliar equipment under pressure. Interviews are at the PanAm training facility in Miami.

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