17 Flight Paramedic Interview Questions and Answers

When an accident or illness occurs in the air, it’s the job of the flight paramedic to provide medical care and transport patients to the hospital. Flight paramedics are highly trained and must have both medical and piloting skills.

If you’re interested in becoming a flight paramedic, you’ll need to go through an interview process. During the interview, you’ll be asked a variety of questions about your medical and piloting experience, as well as your ability to handle stress and make quick decisions.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample flight paramedic interview questions and answers.

Are you certified as a paramedic?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have the necessary qualifications for the job. If you are not certified, explain what steps you took to become certified and when you plan on becoming certified.

Example: “I am currently working toward my certification as a paramedic. I started taking classes in college and completed all of the required courses. However, I had to put school on hold due to financial reasons. Now that I’m out of school, I plan on finishing my degree and getting certified within the next year.”

What are the most important skills for a flight paramedic?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of the most important skills and how you use them on the job.

Example: “The most important skill for a flight paramedic is communication. We need to be able to communicate with our patients as well as other members of the team. I also think critical thinking is an important skill because we often encounter challenging situations that require us to make quick decisions. Another important skill is teamwork, which helps us work together to provide excellent care to our patients.”

How would you treat a patient who is experiencing an allergic reaction while in flight?

Flight paramedics often treat patients who are experiencing an allergic reaction while in flight. This question allows the interviewer to assess your ability to handle emergency situations and how you would react under pressure. In your answer, demonstrate that you have experience with this type of situation and can provide a solution for it.

Example: “In my previous role as a flight paramedic, I encountered many patients who were experiencing an allergic reaction during their flight. To treat these patients, I first administered epinephrine through an auto-injector or by injecting it into the patient’s thigh muscle. Then, I monitored the patient’s vital signs throughout the remainder of the flight.”

What is your experience with pediatric care?

Flight paramedics often provide care to children, and employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with pediatric patients. Before your interview, read through the job description to see if there are any specific types of patients that they treat. If so, think about what kind of training or experience you have treating those kinds of patients.

Example: “I’ve worked as a flight paramedic for five years now, and I’ve treated many different types of patients. In my last position, I was one of two primary caregivers on each call, so I got plenty of practice working with all types of patients. One thing I love about being a flight paramedic is getting to work with kids. I find it especially rewarding when we can get a child back to their parents in good health.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a patient’s pain while in flight.

Flight paramedics often treat patients who are experiencing pain. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience managing a patient’s pain while in flight and that you can do so safely. In your answer, explain how you would manage the patient’s pain without compromising safety.

Example: “I once had to administer an IV of morphine to a patient who was experiencing severe back pain. I administered the morphine slowly over the course of several minutes to ensure it didn’t affect their breathing or heart rate. The patient felt immediate relief from the pain, which allowed them to relax and fall asleep for the remainder of the flight.”

If a patient suddenly went into cardiac arrest while in flight, what would be your first action?

This question is a behavioral one that tests your ability to respond quickly and effectively in emergency situations. In your answer, explain what you would do first and how you would react to the situation.

Example: “If I were on an ambulance when this happened, I would immediately begin CPR while my partner administered epinephrine. If we were in flight, however, I would have to administer the epinephrine myself since there are no other medical professionals on board. After administering the epinephrine, I would continue performing chest compressions until we reached our destination hospital.”

What would you do if you and your team member had different opinions on how to treat a patient?

When working in a team, it’s possible that you and your colleagues may have different opinions on how to treat a patient. Employers ask this question to make sure you can work well with others and respect their ideas. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to listen to other people’s opinions and consider them when making decisions.

Example: “I would first try to understand why my colleague had a different opinion than me. I know that everyone has unique experiences that shape their views. If they still insisted on treating the patient differently from me, I would do everything in my power to ensure that we were both following our protocols correctly. I believe that as long as we’re all acting within our scope of practice, there is no harm in trying something new.”

How well can you work under pressure?

Flight paramedics often work under pressure, especially when they’re in the air. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle stressful situations and perform well despite them. In your answer, explain that you are a strong problem solver who is able to stay calm even when things get hectic. Show that you have experience working under pressure by giving an example of a time you did so successfully.

Example: “I am someone who thrives under pressure. I know how to prioritize tasks and manage my time efficiently. When I was on duty at my previous job, we had a patient who needed urgent care. The patient’s condition worsened while we were en route to the hospital, so I took over their treatment and stabilized them until we arrived at the ER. We got there just in time, and the patient made a full recovery.”

Do you have experience performing emergency procedures in an aircraft?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience with emergency procedures in an aircraft. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills or knowledge that may be relevant to this role, such as:

Communication and teamwork skills Paramedic training Experience working in a high-pressure environment Example: “I do have some experience performing emergency procedures in an aircraft. In my last position, I was part of the medical team that responded to emergencies on board commercial flights. We had to perform CPR, administer medications and provide other care to patients while maintaining communication with air traffic control and our pilot. This experience taught me how important it is to work as a team when responding to emergencies.”

When is it appropriate to transport a patient by air?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of when to use air transport as a mode of transportation for patients. Use examples from your experience that show you know how to make this decision and understand the factors involved in choosing between air and ground transportation.

Example: “In my experience, it’s best to transport patients by air only if they need immediate medical attention or are unable to travel by ground due to their injuries. For example, I once responded to an accident where a patient was trapped inside a vehicle with serious internal injuries. Because we needed to get him to the hospital immediately, we transported him by air instead of waiting for an ambulance.”

We want to improve our response time. How would you implement a strategy to do so?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to implement change. Your answer should include a specific strategy you would use to improve response time, the steps you would take to implement it and how you would measure its success.

Example: “I would first assess our current response times and identify areas where we can improve. I would then develop a plan for improving response times by implementing new protocols or procedures that increase efficiency. For example, I would create a system of checks and balances so paramedics know who they need to check in with before arriving at the hospital. This will ensure everyone arrives on time and reduces delays.”

Describe your experience with delivering babies in emergency situations.

Flight paramedics often have to deliver babies in emergency situations. This question helps employers understand your experience with this type of situation and how you handled it. Use examples from your previous work experience to explain what steps you took to ensure the safety of both the mother and baby during delivery.

Example: “In my last position, I was called to a scene where a woman went into labor while driving home from the hospital. She had no other family members or friends with her, so she called 911 for help. When I arrived at the scene, I helped calm the mother down and explained the process of delivering the baby to her. Then, I asked if there were any questions she had about the process. After that, I got ready to perform the delivery.”

What makes working as a flight paramedic different from working as a ground paramedic?

This question can help the interviewer understand what you value about your current position and how it compares to other positions in the medical field. Use your answer to highlight any skills or experiences that make you a good fit for this role, such as teamwork, communication or problem-solving skills.

Example: “Working as a flight paramedic is different from working on the ground because of the unique challenges we face while in the air. For example, I have to be able to communicate with my pilot and crew members effectively so we can work together to solve problems during a mission. Another difference is that I need to be comfortable with heights since I’m often working at high altitudes.”

Which type of aircraft do you prefer to work with?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with a specific type of aircraft. It can also show them which types of aircraft are available at their company and how much experience you have working with those models. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the type of aircraft you prefer and why. You can also list the other types of aircraft that you’re comfortable working with.

Example: “I’ve worked with both fixed-wing and rotorcraft before, but I find myself preferring rotorcraft because they allow me to get to patients more quickly. Fixed-wing aircraft are great for long distances, but when there’s an emergency in a rural area, rotorcraft are often the only option.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of patient care during an emergency?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand the importance of patient care and how it relates to your role as a flight paramedic. When answering this question, consider what skills or qualities are most important for providing quality care during an emergency situation.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of patient care during an emergency is communication. It’s essential to be able to communicate with patients and other medical professionals in order to ensure everyone understands each other and can work together effectively. I also believe it’s important to listen carefully to my patients so I can learn more about their unique needs and preferences.”

How often do you perform emergency procedures as a flight paramedic?

This question can help the interviewer understand how often you use your skills and experience in a real-world setting. Use examples from your previous job to show that you are comfortable with performing emergency procedures on patients.

Example: “In my last position, I performed emergency procedures about 50% of the time. This was because we had two other flight paramedics who were able to perform emergency procedures when needed. However, I am confident in my ability to perform emergency procedures alone if necessary.”

There is a patient who needs to be transported by air, but there are no available ground ambulances. Do you wait for a ground ambulance or request an air ambulance?

This question is a great way to test your decision-making skills and ability to prioritize. It also shows the interviewer how you would handle an emergency situation that requires quick thinking. In your answer, try to explain why you made this choice and what steps you took to ensure the patient’s safety.

Example: “If there are no ground ambulances available, I request an air ambulance immediately. This ensures that the patient gets to the hospital as quickly as possible without putting them in any more danger than necessary. If there are ground ambulances available but they are all occupied, I wait for one of those vehicles to become available before requesting an air ambulance.”