HercDriver130

Youthfulness is wasted on the young....LOL

madman moe

Well... if all goes right hopefully my seniority will disagree

FamousLastWords

Figured I'd chime in and give you my quick gouge on the interview as I haven't yet posted it on AviationInterviews.

Wonderlic test first thing in the morning. Can't study for it, but worthwhile to find a few sample questions just so you know what to expect. I found it to be fairly simple. I made it to question 40, don't know of anyone that finishes the whole thing. General consensus says shoot to make it to ~25 or so. Questions are relatively easy. You would get a 50/50 if you had unlimited time, so that 12 minute test time is where the challenge lies.

Written test second. 25 questions. Basic stuff you would find on an instrument written. The study guide linked to is a decent start. Certainly has some similarities to the written, but it has changed and there are several versions. The UFO question, for instance, was most certainly not on my version. Not sure if it exists on any of them anymore. If you are fairly current on your knowledge the written shouldn't be too much of a problem, everyone who interviewed with me concurred it was fairly straight forward/easy. Spend more of your time prepping for potential interview/tech questions than for the written.

PRIA paperwork next. Make sure you have all the addresses/phone numbers for every employer or school you attended in the past. They are 'judging' you the entire time you are present at the interview, so make sure you read the instructions they give you. (ie. "Fill in all of part 1. Sign and Date Part 2 only") A couple people were asking questions that were clearly answered in the instructions and it didn't make a great first impression.

Off to the break room. Called in one at a time for the interview, or called in to be given the "thanks, but no-thanks" speech. If the tests/paperwork were satisfactory you start the interview. Interview was with 1 HR and 1 Captain. HR questions first while captain takes your passport, medical, certificate, and thumbs through your logbook...most of this you will find on AviationInterviews, but heres some of what I remember:

HR
-Tell us about your flying career
-Misconception people have about you
-Why Republic (A real shocker! Bet you didn't expect that one!!!)
-We have a training contract, is that a problem?
-Any Arrests/DUI/etc?
-I didn't get any of the "Your captain did/wants to (insert bad behavior) what do you do?" questions

Captain
-Basic turbine operation?
-Advantage/Disadvantage to sweptback wing
-121 Duty rigs (max 24 hr, max month, max year, can you ever go over (yes, you can)
-Asked about bleed air in a roundabout way. What happens when you compress air in the turbine? Where does the heat for a hot wing come from?
-Current airplane....left engine fire, what are procedures (quick run through box memory items was more than sufficient)
-Whose the president/CEO
-Thanked me, shook hands, and warned me about the sensitivity of the sim


Simulator last. I was told I was free to go after I finished, so I never talked to anyone from HR again. I believe everyone gets the following routine:

Depart direct to a VOR enter a hold. Lose radar. Direct to NDB/LOM. Procedure turn for the ILS. Hit DH, go missed, engine failure on climb out. Box memory items/secure engine. Sim paused and your done.

If your want to familiarize yourself with the actual fixes mine was:

Depart KTTH Runway5 direct TTH VOR Hold as published. 2 turns, direct NDB. Lost radar, report NDB. Call NDB passage, procedure turn, report FAF inbound. Missed approach at mins (nothing in sight) about 700' engine failure. Take care of that, done.

It's a desktop set. Sensitive, maybe even a little more sensitive that other PCATD type sims I've used, but tolerable. You make 'radio calls' to the guy sitting next to you. I held altitudes and headings mostly within 50', few deviations to the 100' range. He tells you from the get go that tolerances of "several hundred feet" are normal/acceptable. I certainly made a couple small mistakes, but I get the feeling they are really just looking for basic IFR airmenship.


Overall seems like a great company and great people. The interview experience was very enjoyable, and as low-stress as they can make it. By researching the interview procedures a bit here and by reading/studying the last 12 months of AviationInterviews you will be borderline over prepared and will nail the interview. I received the call with an offer before boarding the plane home. Excited to start.


Hope that helps.

Good luck!

FamousLastWords

And for those of you who aren't fans of direct download links, here is the "study guide" you originally requested. Click Chautauqua.

http://www.aviationinterviews.com/miscellaneous.php3

HercDriver130

Whats your class date? Your interview sounds identical to mine except that I got no technical questions. My class date is 11/27 with S5. Hell even our phone calls came at the same time....LOL.

Congrats.

how many in your interview group? Any idea how many got offers?

FamousLastWords

Stand by till tomorrow on the class date, slight chance it will change. I'll let ya know.


I'm sure the technical questions depend entirely on your flying background, as well as what Captain does your interview, what he ate for breakfast, and if he likes your tie. AKA its probably random. My most recent flying was part 135 scheduled twin-piston. Mostly CFI work before that. I did take a turbine systems class in college which I mentioned on the resume, probably prompted the turbine engine/sweepback questions to make sure I wasn't completely full of it.

Only 3 interviewees which sort of surprised me. They said they were hiring close to 1000 pilots this year. Which, assuming interviews every day Monday thru Thursday would lead to 5 people being hired every day they conduct interviews. 2 out of the 3 were not asked to conduct interviews after the two tests and paperwork. So out of three interviewees one got the job.


Congrats to you as well

madman moe

I would think that you got these types of questions because of your 135 experience... I don't know why they would expect a part 91 CFI would know more than the absolute basics about any of that.

Thanks a lot for the gouge!

HercDriver130

My background is 1800 hours military and just under 1000 hours part 121. Would be interested in what you end up with a class date and cert.

Actually I think they only interview monday thru thursday.... or at least that was my impression when I was scheduling a date. we had 6 on my day.... and two of us for sure got the nod.....though there might have been a third.

FamousLastWords

October 22nd class date for Chautauqua in Indy.

Sim at Flight Safety in St. Louis.

ToiletDuck

I'll say it once.. USE THE IFR ORAL GUIDE AND YOU'LL DO JUST FINE.