Could you make it as a pilot? Test your skills in the cockpit
Think you have what it takes to fly a plane? From weather challenges to split-second decisions, this quiz will reveal if you’re an ace aviator or better off keeping your feet firmly on the ground
Words: Harriet Cooper
Illustrations: David Doran
27/04/2026
NEED TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR PILOT KNOWLEDGE?
Read on for an in-depth lesson. (Spoiler alert! The quiz answers are below)
1. If you’ve just pulled off a ‘greaser’, you have…
A ‘greaser’ is a near-perfect landing when the tyres connect with the runway so softly and gently that everyone on board hardly feels a bump.
2.You’re crossing multiple time zones on a long flight. How do you stay awake?
On long international flights, planes often have CRCs (crew rest compartments), which pilots use for authorised sleep intervals.
3. A sudden tailwind shortens your landing distance. What’s the safest choice?
Pilots always prioritise safety. To avoid or mitigate a tailwind, they will choose a longer runway and/or one that offers a different wind direction.
4. What do the stripes mean on a pilot uniform?
The stripes – or epaulets – usually worn on the shirt shoulders and jacket sleeves of uniforms are a visual code to show authority and responsibility.
5.You’re on ‘hot reserve’ – what on earth?
If you’re a ‘hot reserve’ pilot (also called ‘ready reserve’ or ‘airport standby’), you are at the terminal and in uniform, ready for immediate duty if needed.
6. What’s the first thing you do after receiving instructions from air traffic control (ATC)?
Read-back or hear-back is vital to show you’ve received and understood the message, ensuring you and ATC are on the same page.
7. When it comes to a pilot’s appearance…
Grooming rules apply when it comes to a pilot’s personal presentation. It’s not just for safety and hygiene – it also reflects professionalism.
8. Weather conditions deteriorate mid-flight. You…
If the weather takes a turn for the worse, a pilot must always prioritise the safety of the passengers, crew and aircraft over schedule.
9. What do ‘tree’, ‘fower’, ‘fife’ and ‘niner’ mean?
On international flights, pilots use certain aviation words to avoid confusion. These include tree = three; fower = four; fife = five; niner = nine.
10. There’s a potential tight turnaround to make a connecting flight. You…
Information is key. Tell the cabin crew, who can then keep travellers updated, and the ground crew, who can arrange further assistance.
11. You’re on ‘Zulu time’, which means you’re…
‘Zulu time’ is a globally recognised 24-hour clock (a Coordinated Universal Time or UTC) used to avoid any confusion across time zones.
