Tell Me About a Time (TMAT): Helicopter Interview Questions — Part 4
TMAT Question: Tell me about a time when you had to adapt your communication style.
Situation
While serving in helicopter rescue units, I routinely worked with newly qualified, highly motivated aviators eager to respond quickly to emergencies. In one case, we received a report of multiple people in the water wearing personal flotation devices. Environmental conditions were acceptable, but not benign, and both the helicopter and a Coast Guard small boat were launched and converging on the scene.
Task
My responsibility was to help manage the response in a way that balanced urgency with appropriate risk, while ensuring the crew understood how decisions were being made. I needed to adapt my communication stye to keep the crew engaged and confident in the plan—even as we adjusted how the rescue would be executed.
Action
As both assets closed on scene, it became clear that the survivors were stable, properly wearing PFDs, and that the small boat would arrive only minutes behind the helicopter. While a helicopter hoist was feasible, it was not necessary.
I deliberately framed the discussion around asset selection and survivor centered risk. I explained that we were choosing the lowest risk recovery option for the people in the water, while maintaining overhead situational awareness and remaining immediately available to conduct a hoist if conditions changed.
Result
The small boat arrived shortly thereafter and safely recovered the survivors without incident. The helicopter remained on scene until the recovery was complete and then returned to our base.
The crew understood the rationale behind the decision and remained fully engaged throughout the case. Even more valuable, this communicative approach underscored the importance of adapting the plan to reduce risk to survivors. By doing so, it shifted the perception from viewing the rescue as a missed opportunity to recognizing it as a demonstration of professional decision making. The experience culminated in a shared understanding among the crew that strengthened trust and encouraged continued open communication.
The Real Deal – Additional discretionary information
This dynamic plays out often—first responders can find themselves competing for the “save.” If seconds truly matter, urgency is appropriate. At times, another rescue entity may be less optimal than your helicopter crew, and it may be up to you to use unemotional, sound logic to communicate to the other rescue asset that a helicopter rescue is the safest, most efficient, and effective option. In other instances, when a helicopter arrives on scene first, the situation is stable, and a better-positioned asset is a minute out, forcing the easy helicopter rescue for the wrong reasons is not fulfilling to an experienced crew.
The experienced crew knows the truly rewarding cases are the challenging ones that demand talent built through The Process. The cases where Fear is present, but the crew relies on Faith. Those cases where the crew evaluated The Alternatives and Options and knows it is time to Aim and Fire because the person in front of us is in genuine need and we provide the best chance of a positive outcome.
