Riyadh Air Pilot Interview: Recruitment Process, Requirements, Questions and How to Prepare
A practical guide to the Riyadh Air pilot recruitment process, reported assessment stages, interview themes, technical preparation and the evidence you should build before assessment.
Riyadh Air Pilot Interview: Recruitment Process, Requirements, Questions and How to Prepare
If you're preparing for a Riyadh Air pilot interview, knowing a list of interview questions is only part of the preparation.
Riyadh Air is building a new airline from the ground up, and its reported pilot selection process reflects that.
Candidates have reported a combination of online assessments, psychometric testing, technical interviews, behavioural questions, CRM assessment and simulator testing.
The exact process can change between recruitment campaigns, so relying on an old question list or another pilot's experience isn't enough.
The better approach is to understand what Riyadh Air appears to be assessing, what the current requirements are, and how to prepare for the different stages of the selection process.
In this guide, we'll look at the Riyadh Air pilot recruitment process, current pilot requirements, reported interview questions, technical topics, simulator assessment, salary, commuting and the areas you should focus on before your assessment.
Important: Riyadh Air recruitment processes and requirements can change as the airline grows. Reported interview questions and assessment experiences in this article come from candidate reports and should not be considered guaranteed or leaked questions.
What Is Riyadh Air?
Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia's new national airline, headquartered in Riyadh and owned by the Public Investment Fund.
The airline is a major part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy and has been established with the ambition of creating a global aviation hub in Riyadh.
Riyadh Air plans to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030 and has built a substantial aircraft order book to support that growth.
The airline's planned fleet includes the Boeing 787-9, Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350-1000. Riyadh Air has orders for 60 A321neos and 25 A350-1000s, with options for another 25 A350s. Its overall aircraft order book has grown to as many as 182 aircraft.
Commercial operations began in 2026, meaning Riyadh Air has now moved beyond the startup phase and into the early stages of building its scheduled network.
For pilots, that makes Riyadh Air a particularly interesting opportunity.
You're not simply joining an established airline with decades of history.
You're joining an airline that is still developing its fleet, network, procedures and culture.
Why Are Pilots Interested in Riyadh Air?
There are obvious reasons why Riyadh Air has attracted international pilot interest.
The airline is building a large widebody operation, with the Boeing 787-9 forming an important part of its initial fleet.
It is also offering pilots the opportunity to join a new airline at a very early stage of its development.
Riyadh Air's pilot careers material emphasises:
- Safety
- Professionalism
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Learning
- Career development
- Innovation
- Empowerment
- Having a voice in the development of the airline
The airline describes its pilots as having an opportunity to help shape the organisation rather than simply joining an established operation.
That is worth thinking about before your interview.
The question isn't only:
"Can you operate a Boeing 787 safely?"
It may also be:
"Are you the type of pilot we want helping build this airline?"
That distinction should influence how you prepare.
Riyadh Air Pilot Requirements
Pilot requirements can change as Riyadh Air's fleet and recruitment needs develop, so always check the current vacancy before applying.
The published requirements for Boeing 787 First Officers have included:
- Minimum 2,000 hours total flying time
- Multi-crew, multi-engine jet experience
- Operating-seat time only
- Valid ICAO ATPL
- Unrestricted Class 1 medical
- ICAO English Level 4 or above
The First Officer position is based in Riyadh and involves domestic and international operations from the airline's Riyadh hub.
Simulator time does not count towards the published flying-time requirement, and flight engineer or Second Officer experience is excluded from the operating-seat requirement.
Requirements can change between recruitment campaigns, so use the current Riyadh Air vacancy as your final reference point.
Riyadh Air B787 Captain Requirements
The requirements for B787 Captains are considerably higher.
Published requirements have included:
- 6,000 hours total flying time
- Multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft experience
- 2,000 hours recent command on widebody aircraft
- Valid ICAO ATPL
- Unrestricted Class 1 medical
- ICAO English Level 5 or above
- At least 150 hours command in the previous 12 months
Earlier Riyadh Air recruitment campaigns have specified additional preferences around recent command experience on aircraft such as the B787, B777, A350, A340, A330 and A380.
Again, those requirements have changed between campaigns, so don't assume an older advertisement represents the current standard.
Does Riyadh Air Hire Airbus Pilots?
Yes.
Riyadh Air's long-term fleet strategy includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
The airline has ordered Airbus A321neos and A350-1000s alongside its Boeing 787-9 fleet.
However, the requirements and available vacancies depend on the specific aircraft and recruitment campaign.
If you're applying for a particular fleet, prepare specifically for the requirements and assessment information associated with that vacancy.
Where Is Riyadh Air Based?
The airline's hub and pilot base is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Current pilot vacancies describe Riyadh as the base and reference both domestic and international flying from the Riyadh hub.
This is an important consideration for international applicants.
You're not applying for a job where you can simply assume that your existing home base will remain your base.
You need to understand what relocating to Riyadh means for you and your family before you apply.
Can Riyadh Air Pilots Commute?
This is one area where information online can be confusing.
Candidate reports have described commuting arrangements being available under certain circumstances, including reported 14-days-on / 14-days-off patterns.
However, the availability and terms of commuting appear to depend on the applicable contract and circumstances, and candidate reports should not be treated as a guaranteed entitlement for every pilot.
Some candidates have reported that commuting arrangements become available only after completing training and probation.
If commuting is important to you, make sure you understand the current contract terms rather than relying on what another Riyadh Air pilot received several years or recruitment campaigns ago.
It's also worth preparing for questions about relocation.
Candidate reports have included questions about whether a pilot's family would move to Riyadh and how they would approach the possibility of living there.
That makes sense from an airline's perspective.
Riyadh Air isn't just recruiting someone for a simulator session.
It's recruiting someone to build a career in a new operation.
What Is the Riyadh Air Pilot Recruitment Process?
Preparing for your Riyadh Air pilot interview?
Prepare for the recruitment process with a dedicated Riyadh Air interview preparation package — built around the areas pilots are likely to be assessed on, rather than a generic question list.
The recruitment process has evolved as Riyadh Air has grown.
Candidate reports from different recruitment campaigns describe slightly different sequences, so you should not assume every applicant will experience exactly the same process.
Reported stages have included:
- Online application
- Online video assessment
- Psychometric testing
- Personality assessment
- CRM assessment
- Initial interview
- Technical panel interview
- Simulator assessment
- Final recruitment and pre-employment checks
Not every candidate will necessarily complete every stage in this exact order.
The important point is that Riyadh Air's assessment is broader than a traditional interview.
You need to prepare for the whole selection process.
The Riyadh Air Online Assessment
One of the more interesting parts of the reported recruitment process has been a short online video assessment.
Candidates have reported an assessment of approximately 15 minutes containing several sections.
Reported areas included:
Motivation Questions
Candidates have reported being asked questions such as:
"Why do you want to join Riyadh Air?"
This sounds straightforward.
It's not.
A generic answer about wanting to work for a growing airline isn't likely to demonstrate much research.
You should be able to explain why the airline's particular operation, culture, growth strategy and career opportunity appeal to you.
ATPL Knowledge
Candidates have reported approximately five basic technical questions during the online assessment.
Reported areas included:
- Altimetry
- Meteorology
- Jet engines
- VOR/CDI
- Anti-ice
- Contaminated wings
- Stall characteristics
- V1
- Turbulence
- Isobars
- Volcanic ash
These reports are useful because they demonstrate something important:
Don't assume the initial video assessment is purely an HR screening exercise.
Technical knowledge may form part of it.
Personal Question
One reported question asked candidates:
"Apart from being a pilot, how would you describe yourself?"
This is an interesting question because it moves beyond qualifications and flying experience.
It's asking you to show something about who you are as a person.
You don't need to turn this into a five-minute life story.
Think about the qualities you bring to an organisation and be able to explain them with genuine examples.
The Riyadh Air Psychometric Assessment
Candidates have also reported psychometric testing as part of the recruitment process.
One reported process involved candidates completing psychometric testing more than once, with the second assessment apparently providing an opportunity to demonstrate improvement.
If you encounter repeated testing, don't become obsessed with achieving a perfect score.
Instead, focus on:
- Understanding the instructions
- Working methodically
- Managing time
- Remaining consistent
- Learning from feedback
- Avoiding unnecessary overthinking
Psychometric testing is difficult to prepare for by simply memorising information.
Your best preparation is understanding the type of assessment you're going to encounter and arriving rested and mentally prepared.
The Riyadh Air Technical Interview
The technical interview appears to be one of the more substantial stages of the selection process.
Candidate reports have described technical panel interviews involving experienced airline pilots.
Questions have reportedly covered both general ATPL knowledge and the candidate's current aircraft.
This means your preparation should happen at two levels.
General Aviation Knowledge
Revise your fundamental knowledge rather than assuming your experience will carry you through.
Areas reported by candidates include:
- Meteorology
- Instrument procedures
- Aircraft performance
- Engine knowledge
- IFR operations
- Navigation
- Anti-ice
- Turbulence
- V-speeds
- Volcanic ash
- Aircraft limitations
Your Current Aircraft
Be prepared to discuss your current aircraft in depth.
That includes knowing:
- Systems
- Limitations
- Memory items
- Performance considerations
- Abnormal procedures
- Operational considerations
- Differences between normal and abnormal operation
Don't just revise the technical questions you hope will be asked.
Understand your aircraft.
Reported Riyadh Air Pilot Interview Questions
There are reported Riyadh Air interview questions available online, particularly through pilot discussion forums.
They are useful for preparation, but they need to be treated carefully.
Riyadh Air is a developing airline and its recruitment process has changed over time.
A question reported by a candidate in 2024 or 2025 may not appear in your assessment in 2026.
The best use of reported questions is to identify themes.
Reported Motivation Questions
Candidates have reported questions such as:
- Why do you want to join Riyadh Air?
- Why are you interested in Riyadh Air?
- What are you looking for from Riyadh Air?
- Why do you want to work for a new airline?
- What attracted you to the opportunity?
- What would you do if you didn't receive a commuting contract?
The last question is particularly interesting.
It potentially tests whether your motivation for joining Riyadh Air goes deeper than the lifestyle or employment package.
Reported Personal Questions
Reported questions have included:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Where did you complete your flight training?
- Apart from being a pilot, how would you describe yourself?
- What qualities would you bring to Riyadh Air?
These questions are relatively open-ended.
That can make them harder than a highly specific question.
You need to decide what information is actually useful to the interviewer.
Don't simply walk them through your CV.
Reported Behavioural Questions
Candidate reports have included behavioural questions along the lines of:
- Tell me about a time you flew with a difficult senior First Officer.
- Tell me about a difficult situation you experienced on a flight.
- Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with someone.
- Tell me about a time something went wrong.
- What did you do?
- What did you learn?
The exact wording can vary.
What matters is being able to demonstrate the underlying competencies.
For behavioural questions, build a library of genuine examples covering:
- Safety
- Decision making
- CRM
- Leadership
- Conflict
- Communication
- Mistakes
- Learning
- Pressure
- Adaptability
Learn how to build a strong library of examples for your airline pilot interview.
What Technical Questions Are Asked at Riyadh Air?
Reported technical topics have included a mixture of ATPL-level knowledge and aircraft-specific questions.
Examples reported by candidates include:
- Unreliable airspeed
- Stabiliser-related memory items
- Hold-over time
- B787 unreliable airspeed
- Meteorology
- Altimetry
- VOR/CDI
- V1
- Turbulence
- Isobars
- Volcanic ash
- Wing anti-ice
- Contaminated wings and stall characteristics
- Jet engine operation
This isn't a guaranteed question list.
It's a preparation guide.
If you see a list like this online and attempt to memorise the answers without understanding the underlying concepts, you're missing the point.
Technical interviewers can change the question very easily.
If you understand the concept, you can handle the variation.
What Is Riyadh Air Looking for in Its Pilots?
Riyadh Air's public careers material provides some useful clues here.
The airline emphasises:
- Safety
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Learning
- Innovation
- Empowerment
- Career development
Its corporate culture also places considerable emphasis on being forward-thinking and reliable.
That matters when preparing your interview examples.
Don't just collect stories where you were the hero.
Collect stories that demonstrate:
Good judgement.
Good CRM.
Professional challenge.
Learning.
Self-awareness.
Adaptability.
Leadership when required.
The ability to work effectively with other people.
Those are much more useful than a collection of impressive-sounding flying stories.
How to Answer "Why Riyadh Air?"
This is one question you should expect to be able to answer well.
But don't make your answer entirely about:
- Salary
- Commuting
- Leave
- Housing
- Flying a 787
- Career progression
Those may all be legitimate reasons for considering the job.
They're not necessarily compelling reasons for the airline to hire you.
A stronger answer should demonstrate that you understand what Riyadh Air is trying to build.
For example, you might discuss:
- The opportunity to join a new airline at an early stage
- The scale of its growth plans
- The opportunity to contribute to a developing organisation
- Its international ambitions
- Its focus on innovation
- The opportunity to help establish a strong operational culture
- The type of flying and fleet you're interested in
- Why your own experience fits the environment
The key is authenticity.
Don't repeat Riyadh Air's website word-for-word.
Explain why those things matter to you.
Learn how to answer "Why do you want to work for this airline?" without giving a generic response.
Know your examples before you know the questions.
If you want to prepare specifically for Riyadh Air, the dedicated preparation package helps you work through the competencies, behavioural evidence and assessment themes that matter.
Preparing Specifically for the Riyadh Air Pilot Interview
If you're preparing specifically for a Riyadh Air assessment, I've put together a dedicated Riyadh Air Pilot Interview Preparation Package designed around the airline's recruitment and assessment process.
It is designed to help you prepare for the areas that matter — rather than simply giving you another generic list of airline interview questions.
How to Prepare for the Riyadh Air Pilot Interview
We have built a Riyadh Air Specific Pilot Interview Preparation system that covers all of the below. A true “all in one” resource. Click below to view.
RIYADH AIR PILOT INTERVIEW PREPARATION
1. Research the Airline Properly
Don't stop at knowing that Riyadh Air is a new Saudi airline.
Know:
- Where it is based
- Its fleet
- Its network
- Its ownership
- Its growth strategy
- Its current operations
- Its role in Vision 2030
- Its corporate values
- Its pilot career opportunities
You should be able to have an informed conversation about the airline.
2. Prepare Your Behavioural Examples
Build a library of genuine experiences.
Aim to cover:
- Safety
- Leadership
- CRM
- Conflict
- Decision making
- Mistakes
- Pressure
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Learning
For each example, know what happened, what you personally did, what the outcome was and what you learned.
Learn how to structure your behavioural interview answers using the STAR method.
3. Revise Your Technical Fundamentals
Don't only revise the technical subjects you think Riyadh Air will ask.
Revise the fundamentals that an airline pilot should know.
Then go deeper into your current aircraft.
If you're a B787 pilot, know your aircraft.
If you're transitioning from another aircraft, be particularly prepared to explain your understanding of the differences and the learning involved in moving to the 787.
4. Practise Speaking on Camera
If the recruitment process includes a recorded video assessment, reading answers silently isn't enough.
Record yourself answering questions.
Watch the recording.
Look for:
- Rambling
- Excessive filler words
- Poor structure
- Looking uncomfortable
- Speaking too quickly
- Over-rehearsed delivery
- Answers that don't actually answer the question
The goal isn't to become a polished presenter.
It's to become comfortable communicating clearly under assessment conditions.
5. Prepare for Follow-Up Questions
Don't assume an answer ends when you've finished your STAR structure.
The interviewer may ask:
"Why did you make that decision?"
"What were you thinking at the time?"
"What would you do differently now?"
"What did the other pilot think?"
"What did you learn?"
You need to understand your own example well enough to have a genuine conversation about it.
Learn how to prepare for follow-up questions in a pilot interview.
6. Don't Bluff Technical Questions
If you don't know something, don't invent an answer.
Experienced interviewers can usually tell.
A much better approach is to demonstrate how you would deal with something you don't know operationally.
For example:
"I'm not certain of the exact figure, so I wouldn't want to guess. I'd refer to the applicable aircraft documentation or procedure rather than rely on memory."
There is a major difference between not knowing something and pretending to know it.
Professional pilots understand that difference.
7. Prepare for the Simulator as an Assessment
If you're invited to a simulator, don't approach it as a competition to demonstrate how aggressively you can fly.
The assessment is about more than raw handling ability.
Think about:
- Instrument scan
- Accuracy
- Workload management
- Situational awareness
- SOP discipline
- Communication
- Decision making
- Crew interaction
- Handling errors
- Staying composed when things don't go perfectly
If you make a mistake, don't mentally check out.
Recover.
Continue.
Learn from it.
Understand what assessors are really looking for during an airline pilot simulator assessment.
8. Be Ready to Explain Why You're Moving
For an international pilot applying to Riyadh Air, motivation isn't necessarily limited to the aircraft or the airline.
You should be able to have an honest conversation about:
- Why Saudi Arabia?
- Why Riyadh?
- Why this airline?
- What appeals to you about the lifestyle?
- Whether your family is supportive
- Whether you are prepared to relocate or commute
- What you want from your next career move
You don't need to pretend that salary, roster or lifestyle aren't factors.
They are.
But make sure your answer demonstrates that you've thought seriously about the decision.
The Biggest Mistake You Can Make Preparing for Riyadh Air
It's easy to fall into the trap of trying to find the "Riyadh Air interview questions."
You find a forum.
Someone posts ten questions.
You write ten answers.
Then someone else posts another twenty.
You write another twenty answers.
Before long, you're trying to memorise 50 or 60 responses.
That's not really interview preparation.
It's memorisation.
And it becomes particularly fragile when the interviewer asks a follow-up question.
A better approach is to prepare evidence rather than scripts.
Know your experiences.
Know the competencies those experiences demonstrate.
Know your technical fundamentals.
Know the airline.
Then practise having a conversation about those things.
That's much more robust than memorising a question bank.
Sean's Perspective
When pilots prepare for an airline interview, I think they often focus too heavily on trying to predict what the interviewer will ask.
I understand why.
It's reassuring to find a list of questions and think:
"Great. I'll prepare those."
But the problem is that the interviewer doesn't have to stick to your list.
They can change the wording.
They can ask a follow-up.
They can challenge your decision.
They can ask what you would do differently.
And suddenly the memorised answer isn't much use.
The pilots who tend to prepare well aren't necessarily the ones who have memorised the most answers.
They're the ones who understand their own experiences well enough to talk about them naturally.
That's particularly important for an airline like Riyadh Air.
You're potentially being assessed across several different environments — online assessment, technical knowledge, behavioural questions, psychometrics, CRM and simulator performance.
You can't memorise your way through all of that.
You need to be able to think, communicate and operate.
That's the skill you're ultimately trying to demonstrate.
Final Thoughts
Interview preparation shouldn't stop at the interview.
Riyadh Air's reported process can involve online assessment, technical knowledge, behavioural questions, psychometrics, CRM and simulator performance. Prepare across the process.
Riyadh Air presents a different kind of pilot recruitment opportunity.
It's a new airline with ambitious growth plans, a developing fleet and an international recruitment strategy.
That makes the opportunity exciting.
It also means the recruitment process is evolving.
Recent candidates have reported online assessments, psychometric testing, behavioural questions, technical interviews and simulator assessments. The exact sequence and content can change, so old reports should be treated as preparation information rather than a guaranteed roadmap.
If you're applying, prepare broadly.
Know the airline.
Know your aircraft.
Know your technical fundamentals.
Build a strong library of genuine examples.
Practise communicating them clearly.
And be prepared for the assessment to test something different from what you expected.
The goal isn't to walk into the Riyadh Air interview thinking:
"I know exactly what they're going to ask."
The goal is to walk in thinking:
"Whatever they ask, I can give them good evidence."
If you're preparing specifically for Riyadh Air, you can see the Riyadh Air Pilot Interview Preparation Package for more targeted preparation around the airline's recruitment and assessment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to become a Riyadh Air First Officer?
Published B787 First Officer requirements have included 2,000 hours of total flying time, multi-crew multi-engine jet experience, an ICAO ATPL, an unrestricted Class 1 medical and ICAO English Level 4 or above. Requirements can change between recruitment campaigns.
How many hours do you need to become a Riyadh Air Captain?
Published B787 Captain requirements have included 6,000 hours total flying time and 2,000 hours of recent widebody command experience, along with the required ICAO ATPL, medical and English qualifications.
What questions are asked in the Riyadh Air pilot interview?
Candidate reports have included questions about motivation, personal background, behavioural situations, CRM, technical knowledge and aircraft-specific subjects. Reported examples include "Why do you want to join Riyadh Air?", questions about difficult crew members and questions involving technical subjects such as unreliable airspeed, meteorology, VOR/CDI, turbulence and aircraft systems.
Does Riyadh Air have a simulator assessment?
Yes, candidate reports have described a simulator assessment as part of the pilot recruitment process. Reported assessments have included Boeing 787 simulator sessions. The exact simulator profile and location can change.
What is the Riyadh Air online assessment?
Candidates have reported a short online video assessment containing motivation questions, ATPL-style technical questions and personal questions. The exact format may change as Riyadh Air's recruitment process develops.
What technical questions should I study for Riyadh Air?
You should revise your core ATPL knowledge as well as the systems and operational knowledge relevant to your current aircraft. Candidate reports have mentioned areas including meteorology, altimetry, VOR/CDI, turbulence, V1, anti-ice, volcanic ash, contaminated wings and unreliable airspeed.
What is the Riyadh Air pilot salary?
Riyadh Air does not appear to publicly publish a standard pilot salary scale. Candidate reports have described packages involving basic salary plus housing, transport and flying-related allowances, but compensation can vary by rank, fleet, contract and individual circumstances. Always confirm the current package directly with Riyadh Air.
Can Riyadh Air pilots commute?
Candidate reports have described commuting arrangements, including reported 14-days-on / 14-days-off patterns, but availability and conditions can depend on the employment contract and individual circumstances. Candidates should confirm the current commuting policy rather than relying on historical reports.
Where are Riyadh Air pilots based?
Riyadh is the airline's primary hub and pilot base. Current pilot vacancies describe positions as being based in Riyadh and operating domestic and international services.
Is Riyadh Air a good airline to work for?
Riyadh Air offers the opportunity to join a rapidly developing airline at an unusually early stage. Whether it is the right airline for an individual pilot depends on factors including the contract, roster, commuting or relocation arrangements, fleet, career goals and personal circumstances.
Should I memorise Riyadh Air interview questions?
No. Reported questions are useful for identifying preparation themes, but they aren't guaranteed to appear in your assessment. Build a library of genuine experiences and understand your technical knowledge well enough to handle variations and follow-up questions.
How should I prepare for a Riyadh Air pilot interview?
Prepare across the entire selection process rather than focusing only on the interview. Research Riyadh Air, revise your technical knowledge, prepare behavioural examples, practise communicating on camera, prepare for psychometric testing and understand what is expected during the simulator assessment.
Where can I get Riyadh Air pilot interview preparation?
My Flight Deck Prep offers a dedicated Riyadh Air Pilot Interview Preparation Package designed specifically for pilots preparing for the Riyadh Air recruitment and assessment process.
Warm Regards,
Sean
B787 Pilot | Founder - My Flight Deck Prep