Overview:

The Delta Interview Process is a 2 day process. The first day is all testing. The next day is the actual interview which usually only lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The first 15 minutes or so are usually spent covering paperwork and logbooks

The interview itself is usually known to be very non-confrontational and you will normally know the result immediately following. If you are selected, you will be invited back at a later time for the physical and psych evaluation.

The most critical information is that up until the red piece of paper inserted in this package. Materials following it are raw collections of notes and other materials from other candidates which are provided to
you free of charge.

DELTA INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Why do you want to work for Delta?

What is your aviation background?

What would you do if the Captain did not have the aircraft stabilized by the FAF?

What do you think of cutting corners to save money?

What would you do if a passenger claimed the flight attendant was drinking?

What would you do if a passenger claimed to have seen you drinking?

The mechanic says that to fix the airplane will cause a 45 minute delay, what will you do and how will you handle the passengers?

In aviation what have you done in the past that you said you would never do again?

Tell about a leadership skill that did not work or a time that you failed as a leader.

What type of leader are you in the cockpit?

What are your priorities when you come to work?

Have you ever had any disciplinary action taken against you at work?

Would you rather be an FO on a 737 or an FE on a 727?

How would your supervisor describe your work habits?

What if the Captain was asking about your personal life?

Should a pilot have a sense of humor?

What would you do if the flight attendant comes to the cockpit and says a passenger has too many bags? What if it was a million mile member?

What would you do if you were told that your Captain was seen in a bar less that 8 hours before a flight?

How often have you missed work or been late for work in the past year?

What pilot do you admire the most and why?

Tell how team work was demonstrated in your last job.

What would you do if the Captain pulled the cockpit voice recorder CB before engine start?

What would you do if you saw the Flight Attendant take a bottle of champagne from the aircraft?

What would you do if the Captain did not follow noise abatement procedures?

What would you do if a thunderstorm was approaching the end of the runway and the Captain was continuing on approach to that same runway?

What is the best characteristic you would bring to Delta? And what is the characteristic you need to work on the most?

What is the most important characteristic of a Captain?

Why do you want to be a pilot?

What would be the biggest problem in transition from your current job to Delta?

What is a policy at work you disagreed with and what did you do?

What was your GPA in College?

Tell about a job where you had little or no supervision and what did you do to stay motivated?

Upon reaching the Aircraft, It is not clean (Trash in the Cabin) what will you do?

What best/least represents what you want to be as a Captain?

What is your favorite aircraft and why?

What are your own personal signs of stress and how do you cope with stress?

Are 45 deg bank turns a safety issue or dangerous?

What are the three most important qualities a Captain should have?

When you think of Delta what three things come to mind? Safety, Customer Service, and Cost Effectiveness.

Tips:

-Think Safety!

-No technical questions, just personal.

-Go over Application in Detail.

-Ask 2 to 3 questions about the Company.

-Remove yourself from a bad situation.

-CRM!

Delta Psych Exam

After your EASY physical you will be whisked away by checker cab to Peachtree Psychological Associates in Midtown ATL. Even if your running late make the cab driver stop for chow. You need to fast for the physical not for the psycho!

When you arrive you will be given the MMPI2 by the receptionist. 567 True and False bubbles staring you in the face. I'm not sure if it is timed but you will not have any trouble finishing it, so relax. Be sure to read the directions carefully. That paragraph gives you guidance on exactly how test writers interpret "True" and "False". I referred to it a few times during the first couple of questions.

Here are a few tips:

* Answer every question. A blank question = Denial.

* The test is not timed so read each question slowly and carefully, answer quickly, then reread the question and verify the answer.

* Be honest, Dr. Vanderplate doesn't believe anyone is superman/ wonder woman (Steve Austin/ Jamie Summers). E.g. "Snakes scare me - T"

* 96% of the questions are no brainers. "I bleed from my gums often, I can hear animals talking to me, I see visions in my dreams that I use to guide my life." There are only about 40 or so that you have to actually think about.

* Be consistent in your answers, but don't take consistency to extremes. "I've drank alcohol in excess - T"..."Sometimes when I'm stressed I find a few drinks help - F" Also remember: Yes, I've told lies and I have stolen something.

* Remember, this is still very much an interview. You haven't dressed up like a woman and you do not fantasize about being the opposite sex ( Even if you are wearing lace pink panties during the test).

* In the MMPI there are many questions with the use of qualifiers such as: "always, mostly, usually, sometimes rarely, seldom, once in a while", etc. I found that if the qualifier was "weak" (sometimes, rarely) it usually applied to me and most of the "strong" (always, mostly) didn't. "Sometimes I dream about sex" - T "My dreams are usually sexual in nature" - F. See the difference Sigmund!

After taking the test you will wait for the good Doc for your real interview. I am guessing that he now has the results from the MMPI and possibly the personality test that you took during your initial testing. I found him to be pleasant, personable and straight forward. Others have found him to be "Mr. Blank Stare" with no personality and I understand he has been somewhat mean to others. I guess it's pot luck. I planned to have contingency plans if things started to go bad, fortunately I didn't need it. From my experience and from talking to a lot of people I have concluded that he is looking for people who are social, are leaders, and are honest. You do have faults (unless you're like me, then make some up!) and he wants you to be up front with them. Recognize these faults in advance so you can be prepared. I tackled them like any interview question, a beginning, a middle, and an end or moral. Example: I don't eat peas, I don't like the way they taste, I eat other vegetables and when I have to eat them I hold my nose! See how simple this is.

What follows is the basic questions that he asks:

1. Describe yourself?

2. Describe your leadership style?

3. How would people describe your leadership style in the cockpit?

4. What are your good points?

5. What are your bad points? Is that all?

6. Where did you grow up?

7. What did your father do for a living while you were growing up?

8. What did your mother do while you were growing up?

9. Tell me a time when you were scared and/or stressed in the cockpit?

10. What do you and your spouse argue about most?

11. What do you do in your free time for recreation?

12. How do people describe your worst characteristic in the cockpit?

13. Have you ever had any history of Psychosis?

14. Has anyone in your family ever had mental problems?

15. Describe a traumatic event in your life.

16. Do you have any questions for me? No! ( You try to think of a question you can ask and not be second guessed!)

Notice that question #1, 2, 3, and 9 can really use the same general idea. Just like question #4, 9, and 12 can go together. I tried to weave a constant thread throughout all of my examples by using the same general subjects to answer the questions and modifying them to each topic or situation. I tried to talk freely and openly but always tried to maintain the interview decorum. Good Luck!


DELTA TEST QUESTIONS

TEST 1: Job Knowledge (95 min. 95 Questions)

General Hints:

-Many questions deal with holding pattern entries, testing your positional awareness.
-Many questions deal with lengthy Descent Profiles,Make sure you read the question at the bottom before
you look at the Information given. (Do not spend too much time on these)
-Use the following information for those calculations.
-0.8 Mach = 8 miles/min.
-GS/60 = X miles/min.
-Altitude to lose divided by 1000 x 3 = Dist to start descent.
-GS divided by 2 = sink rate + a Zero
-Define Specific Range: Nautical Air Miles flown divided by 1000 = TAS x 1000 divided by Fuel Flow in LBS/Hr.
-Define Specific Endurance: Flight Time divided by Fuel Flow in LBS/hr.
-Define Specific Fuel Consumption: Fuel Flow divided by Thrust in LBS/Hr.
-Calculating VDP for a Non-Precision Approach: If DME: MDA (HAT) divided by 300 = Dist from
runway in miles. If Timing: MDA (HAT) x 10% = time from runway.
-How to compute your descent rate on an ILS: GS x 5 = VSI in ft/min.

Tips:

Jet engines prefer a higher RPM to yield a lower fuel consumption.
Speed of sound varies only with Temperature. As temp increases the speed of sound increases.
As Temperature increases, True Airspeed Increases for a given altitude.
Mach 0.1 = 1 Mile/min. 0.8 = 8 Mile/min. Etc.
60 to 1 rule = At 60 DME each radial = 1 Mile.

Test Questions

1) How is takeoff distance and ground speed affected when taking off from Denver compared to Atlanta? Longer T/O roll in Denver due to a higher true airspeed for T/O. Ground speed will be faster in Denver. Indicated airspeed will be the same for both T/O's.

2) What happens to landing speed with varying headwinds, altitude, temperature, TAS, and Ground speed? Ground speed for landing will be slower with a headwind, Ground speed will be faster with altitude and temperature due to a higher true airspeed.

3) What shows up best on radar? Rain, Hail, Sleet, Snow (I put Hail)

4) What does Red and Green light signals from a control tower mean? Exercise Extreme Caution.

5) What is the worst Icing Condition? Freezing Rain.

6) What is the sequence for starting a turbine engine? Air, Ignition, Fuel.

7) What is a characteristic of a low pressure system? Unstable Air.

8) For over seas flights how many life jackets must be aboard? One for each person.

9) Computations for visual descent points for Distance- Divide the HAT on the chart by 300 and subtract that from the end of the runway. Example: MDA for LOC 27 (450)agl. 450/300= 1.5 miles. VDP for runway 27 is 1.5 miles from end of runway.

10) Computation for visual descent point for Time- Take 10% of the HAT and subtract that from the time from FAF to MAP. Example: MDA for LOC 27 (450)agl. Time on the approach is 3:00. 450x10%= 45 seconds. Subtract 45 seconds from time from FAF to MAP. 3:00 - :45 = 2:15 time on the approach to
the VDP. Or :45 seconds from the runway.

11) Know about Ice and the Pitot Static System..

12) You are in level flight and encounter icing conditions, and you know that the pitot system heat is not working, What do you do? Descend to a lower altitude, or Declare an emergency and request a lower altitude.

13) Figure rate of descent necessary for an ILS (3deg slope). Example: 180 kts GS, 180x5= 900 fpm. OR 180/2 + zero = 90+0= 900fpm.

14) What is the region of reverse command? A region of flight speeds below max endurance where a decrease in speed requires an increase in power.

15) What is the purpose of Vortex Generators? Provides airflow control that delays boundary layer separation.

16) What speed should you use when diverting to an alternate? Normal Cruise Speed.

17) You are entering a hold and your L/D max speed is above the max holding speed for FAR 91. What speed do you hold at? Max Hold Speed for FAR 91 as long as it is 1.3 times VS.

18) What is the advantage of a Swept Wing over a Straight Wing? Swept wings have higher Critical Mach Numbers.

19) What does L/D Max give you for Jets? Max endurance, Max engine out range, Max Glide Ratio.

20) Bearing pointer moves from 5 deg in front of the wing to 5 deg behind the wing in 8 minutes, you are doing 360kts. How far from the station are you? (Formula in the ATP written book.)

21) You are at 25,000ft, there is Level 5 thunderstorm 80 miles in front of you. You tilt your radar up 1.5 deg and the cell disappears. How high is the Thunderstorm cell. I used the 60 to 1 rule. Example: At 80 miles 1.5 deg of tilt = 2 miles of altitude. 2 miles = 2(6000) = 12,000ft. Add that to 25,000ft = 37,000ft
Approx.

22) What three things affect hydroplaning? Tire Pressure, Weight, and Depth of Water.

23) Know Basic V-Speeds. V1, V2, Vr, Vmu, etc. After an Engine Failure always climb and V2.

24) What is a mountain wave? Air flowing up the windward side of a mountain is relatively smooth. Dangerous down drafts may be encountered on the lee side. The wave pattern may extend 100 miles or more down wind of the barrier. Mountain wave winds are typically - Westerly.

25) You are descending through 6000ft and elect to turn on the engine anti-ice due to icing conditions ahead. Your EPR was 1.96. What do you expect the EPR to read after you switched the anti-ice on? Answer: 1.86. (due to lower pressure in the back of the engine, you took power away when you turn on the ice.)

26) What are the effects of landing on a narrow runway? You fly a lower than normal approach.

27) Mach number goes up as altitude increases, due to higher true airspeed.

28) Know the 60 to 1 Rule. At 60 miles from a VOR, 1 Deg = 1 Mile.

29) What has the greatest effect on hydroplaning? Under Inflated Tires.

30) What effect does CG have on Range and Stability? Most aft CG - Greater Range, but less stable.

31) If you have a total AC power failure, and get a Generator back on line, what will give you an indication of its power output? Kilowatt Meter.

32) What effect does a no flap landing have on aircraft speed? Faster Approach Speed.

33) Critical Mach Number Decreases as Altitude Increases.

34) Know holding pattern entries.

35) Where does a fire extinguisher discharge on a Jet Engine? Between the Engine and the Shroud.

36) When are compressor stalls most likely? High Power Settings, Low Speed, and High Angle of Attack.

37) Be able to compute holding times given fuel burn rate, fuel available, reserves, etc. Example: Fuel burn in the hold is 3000lbs. Per engine (2). You have 5000lbs. Holding fuel, How long can you hold? 50 Minutes. Note: Holding fuel is Gross Weight - Zero Fuel Weight.

38) Be able to compute descent rates, given speed in Mach Numbers, Distance, and Altitude to lose. Example: You are at FL350 going Mach .84, 112 miles from XYZ VOR. You are cleared to cross 12 miles outside of XYZ and 10,000ft and 250kts IAS. Indicated in the Descent is 300Kts. When do you start down? Use 3 miles per 1000ft of altitude loss, and 1 mile for every 10kts to slow the
airplane. 3x25= 75miles. 50kts of airspeed loss will take 5 miles. 75+5+12= 92 DME from XYZ VOR.

39) Know engine out procedures, with landing technique. If you have a crosswind, always land with the operating engine into the wind, This helps counteract weathervane. Example: You have Runway 18,36,12&30, The left engine is out, Winds are 210@30, Which runway would you use for landing? Use 18, wing down into the crosswind.

40) You are taking off on runway 15L in ATL, V1-123, VR-135, V2-147. You have an engine failure at 130kts IAS, what do you do? Continue the takeoff and climb at 147kts. IAS.

41) Mach number and Ground speed conversions: Take speed of sound (given in chart form)x Mach number, + or - for temp different from standard. Example: FL250 Mach .7, Temp -40C. 600 x .7 = 420 (600 is the speed of sound at FL250)This is TAS on a standard day. Standard Temp for FL250 is = -35C. (Lapse rate 2C/1000ft, 15C at Sea Level {2 x 25 = 50, 50 - 15 = 35C}) Actual temp at FL250 is -40C, 5 deg colder than standard. 5 x 1.2 = 6kts. (1.2 is the speed of sound change per deg C, Increase speed with increase in temp)Correction (colder than standard, subtract 6kts.) Answer: 420 - 6 = 414kts.

42) Know about heavy aircraft operations, and Wake Turbulence. Example: A heavy jet departs in front of you, what should you do? 1) Execute a missed app. 2) Land long beyond his point of rotation. 3) Land short before his point of rotation. Answer (3) is correct.

43) What turns AC to DC? Transformer- Rectifier (Transformer changes the Frequency, and the Rectifier changes the AC to DC).

44) What affects landing distance the most, Gross Weight or Speed? SPEED.

45) Know how to calculate descent profiles. Example: You are at FL340, GS is 480kts, You are 96 DME from the VOR. At what Descent Rate would you use to cross a VOR at 10,000ft. You are going 8 miles a minute, You are 12 minutes from the VOR. 12 Minutes to lose 24,000ft = 2000fpm.

46) On takeoff if you are given an immediate turn by ATC when do you turn? AIM says 400ft agl, but this was not one of the answers. I put when clear of all obstacles, but there was one about listed on the SID. (I am not sure.)

47) What is 1013.2 millibars = to in inches of mercury? 29.92" hg.

48) You are starting a jet engine and a ground person tells you there is fire shooting out of the tailpipe, what do you do? Cut the fuel and keep motoring the engine.

49) Winds aloft are 270@20, they shift to 210@15, Have you experienced frontal passage? Yes, even though shifts are usually to the right after passage. The question I got had to do with ground weather and frontal passage, low ceilings and heavy rain proceeding a cold front.

50) What does not effect the IAS at which an airplane stalls? Gross Weight, Turbulence, Altitude, True airspeed. Answer: Altitude does not effect the IAS at which an airplane stalls, ATP Written.

51) What affects lift in a turn? Angle of bank and Airspeed.

52) After going missed approach, what airspeed would you climb out at if diverting? L/D Max or Max Range.

53) If landing in full reverse, you start drifting left, what should you do? Take left engine out of reverse.

54) What should be considered in reference to hydroplaning? Tire Pressure, Weight, Hard or Soft Touchdown, Depth of Standing Water.

55) On climb, Diff Pressure is rising, Cabin Alt is rising, what is happening.
Normal operation, or Defective Diff Pressure Gage. It didn't say what rate the
cabin was raising, so I put normal operation.

56) On climb there is no pressure differential, what is the problem? Pressure
Vessel Leak.

57) Why does a tailwind increase Takeoff roll? Increased Ground Speed.

58) What speed is affected if you have a contaminated runway? V1. V1 is
reduced with a contaminated runway.

59) If on a 3 Deg Glide Slope at 700 feet per minute, a headwind increases what
correction must be made? Reduce the rate of descent (due to slower ground
speed).

60) Differential = Zero, Rate of climb = Zero, Cabin Alt = Zero, what is this telling
you? Aircraft is on the ground at Sea Level.

61) What effect does altitude have on Critical Mach Number? As altitude
increases Critical Mach Number Decreases.

62) You are on an ILS and the preceding aircraft reports a speed loss of 20kts.
What do you do? Discontinue the Approach. Wind Shear definition in the AIM.

63) What has a faster mach airspeed? 250kts IAS @ FL400 & -49C, 300kts IAS
@ 10,000 & +6C, 250kts IAS @ 15,000 & Stand Temp. Answer 250kts IAS at
FL400 & -49C.

64) Two aircraft are traveling in the same direction 50 miles apart. Aircraft in the
lead is going .76 Mach, aircraft in the trail is going .86 Mach. When will the
second aircraft catch the first aircraft? Difference in speed is .10 Mach = 1 mile
per minute. 50 miles apart = 50 minutes.

65) The LOC Inbound Course is 360deg, the final app fix is the XYZ VOR
090deg Radial at 20 DME. You are on the 288deg Bearing to the station,
established on the LOC. How far is the Final App Fix? Answer 6 miles. 60 to 1
Rule. 60 miles out, 1 Deg = 1 mile, 20 miles out, 1 Deg = 1/3 mile. Bearing
difference is 18 Deg/3 = 6 miles.

66) What would be affected by a no flap landing? Faster Approach Speed,
Longer landing distance.

67) Temp = 58 and Dew Point = 55, what could happen if temp drops? FOG

68) What is the difference between stalls at high altitude and low altitude? Not
as much thrust at higher altitude for recovery.

69) Emergency descent to 9000', Zero differential, does the problem still exist?
Yes

70) How is Oil cooled? Fuel

71) You are on the 270deg Radial. Hold east on the 090deg Radial 20 DME fix,
20 mile legs. Wind is 360@20kts. What radial will the bearing pointer be
pointing to before you turn inbound? (This Was Not on My Test, and I Don't
Know the Answer.)

72) You are on the 090deg Bearing From the station and are cleared to hold on
the 060deg Bearing To the station. What is your initial heading outbound? 240
Degrees.

73) You are FL370 in cruise flight. The OAT increases 5 degrees C, and the
headwind increases 5kts. What happens to your TAS and GS? 5x1.2 = 6kts.
gain in TAS, and GS Increases by 1kt.

74) L/D Max = 240KIAS, Vflaps = 205KIAS, Vs = 149KIAS, You get a holding
clearance for 7000ft, at what speed do you hold? 230KIAS (Max holding speed
between 6000ft and 14000ft.)

75) What influences the turn-radius the most? Altitude, Weight, Load Factor,
Airspeed. Answer: Airspeed.

76) You are executing a missed approach on Runway 09 and get cleared to hold
south on the 180deg Radial of the VOR on the field, at the 15 DME fix. What
type entry? Parallel Entry.

77) What conditions are conducive to the formation of frost on an airplane?
Clear night, 30deg F., Light winds, No precipitation.

78) What has an effect on specific range? Gross Weight, Altitude, A/C
Configuration.

79) Why does specific range increase with an increase in altitude? Greater True
Airspeed, Lower Inlet Air Temps, Increased Engine RPM'S, Lower Fuel
Consumption.

80) You are flying a circling approach when you lose sight of the Runway, how
do you execute the missed approach? Make a climbing turn towards the landing
runway and fly the published missed approach, when established on a segment
of the missed approach procedure.

81) You are in a landing roll-out with full reverse thrust, when you lose the left
engine and the airplane is veering right. What do you do? Retard both reverse
thrusters to IDLE and counteract the yaw with rudder and differential breaking.

82) You are flying at 0.86 Mach, and you elect to slow down for operational
purposes. Below what airspeed do you have to advise ATC? 0.85, 0.84, 0.83,
0.82. Answer: 0.84 ( Equivalent to 10kts.)

83) You have been advised that cargo has been shifted from a forward cargo
hold to an aft one. How does that affect the aircraft's stability and cruise speed?
Less Stable, Higher Cruise Speed.

84) You are on a 20 DME arc at 240kts GS. What will your lead radial be to
intercept the final approach course? 1-4 Radials, 5-8 Radials, 9-12 Radials.
Answer: 5-8 Radials. (4 miles a min, Standard rate turn = 90deg = 30seconds, 2
miles to complete the turn, 2 miles at 20 DME = 6 Radials.)

85) You are descending through moderate icing conditions, and your pitot-static
system ices up. What does your airspeed indicator show? A decrease in
airspeed.

86) What determines the optimum cruise altitude for a jet airplane? Aircraft's
gross weight at the beginning of the cruise.

87) What is a disadvantage of a swept-wing design? Dutch-roll tendencies, wing
tips stall first, reduced max coefficient of lift.

88) What are your actions if you experience a compressor stall at a high
altitude? Lower angle of attack, Reduce fuel flow, and Increase airspeed.

89) What is Vmu? The minimum unstick speed = the minimum speed at which an
airplane can be rotated off the ground without experiencing a tail-strike.

90) What is CAS? Calibrated Airspeed = Indicated airspeed corrected for
position and installation error.

91) A 747 is traveling at 120kts and is crossing the outer marker which is 5 miles
away from the runway. A DC9 is traveling at 150kts, and is 7 miles behind the
747. Where will the DC9 be when the 747 lands? Answer: 5 3/4 miles behind
the 747. The 747 is traveling at 2 miles/min. 2 1/2 min from the runway. The
DC9 is traveling at 2 1/2 miles/min. 6 1/4 miles of travel in 2 1/2 minutes.
12miles - 6 1/4 = 5 3/4.

92) The best performance for a turbine engine is? High RPM - High Airspeed

93) What sequence of events would stop a turbine aircraft the quickest?
Reverse, Spoilers, Brakes.

94)What airspeed do you hold at when you are at 8000ft? 210kts.

95) Warm front will produce what type of thunderstorms? Occluded.

96) At a higher altitude why does it take longer to recover from a stall? Less
power due to altitude.

97) Why would a swept wing aircraft roll if you were to push on the rudder?
Because the advancing wing has a greater angle of attack (Dutch Roll).

98) What affects turn radius the most? Speed.

99) Your flying into a very strong jetstream. Your trying to conserve
fuel. What should you do? Climb as high (for fuel efficiency) and fly as fast as
you can.

100)You get smoke in the cabin and you fix the problem. How do you get rid of
the smoke? Decrease cabin pressure differential (Raise the Cabin).

101) You start losing cabin pressure, and you fix the problem. How do you
determine that the cabin is re-pressurizing? Cabin pressure differential is
increasing.

102) You have to perform a high speed abort. What determines the amount of
brake energy that is absorbed by the brakes? 1)The time it takes to stop. 2) The
distance it takes to stop. 3) The speed at which the brakes are applied. 4) The
rate at which the brakes were applied. Not sure about the answer, but we think
it is #3.

TEST 2: Job Knowledge Situation Type Questions (20min. for 25 Questions)

Hint: Be Conservative/Safe

1) You are flying an ILS and at the DH no RWY in sight, you are executing the
missed approach. At the same moment you advance the power you break out
and see the RWY. What do you do?

2) The airplane ahead of you on an ILS reported windshear, as you approach
the FAF you notice a significant drop in airspeed. What do you do?

3) You experience windshear during turn onto the final approach course.
What is the best course of action?

4) On approach you find yourself in an overshoot situation, slightly nose low and
on airspeed. What do you do?

5) You are following an airplane which has been cleared for a visual approach.
You report the airport in sight, but cannot see the airplane you are following.
The controller clears you for a visual approach, can you accept? Yes, but the
controller retains separation responsibilities.

6) You are cruising at FL290 when you realize that your FO is not answering any
ATC radio calls, and you are feeling a tingling in your fingers. What do you do?
Get on 100% Oxygen.

7) You are flying in IMC when you realize that you are experiencing spatial
disorientation. What do you do? -rely on your gut feelings -rely solely on the
instruments -have your FO take over the controls.

TEST 3: Mechanical Comprehension (Interpretation of Pictures)

Examples: 1. A cow and a sheep are standing in the sunlight. On who's
back does snow melt first.
2. Two girls on a swing, one swing is longer. Who can
perform more swings in an hour.
3. Two ladders, one is spaced wider on the bottom. Which one
is more stable.
4. A car is coming out of a tunnel. Does it's horn sound
louder or quieter inside the tunnel.
5. A stone is thrown straight horizontally off a cliff and
another is dropped vertically. Which one hits the water first?
6. If this gear turns counterclockwise, which way does the
other gears turn? Etc.

Test 4: Verbal Comprehension (Multiple Choice)

Examples: X is to Boy as Niece is to X (nephew/girl)
X is to Tree as Melon is to X (apple/vine)
X is to Pacifist as Religion is to X (war/atheist)
X is to Car as Runners are to X (wheels/sled)

Test 5: Verbal Reasoning (Strange Test, See For Yourself!)

Test 6: Math Test (40 Questions in 20 min.)

Examples: 1. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division of
Fractions.
2. Multiplication and Division of Decimal Numbers.
Hint: Know where the decimals move.
3. What is the square root of 169? Answer: 13
4. Basic Calculations: -5(-3)x6=90

Test 7: Personality Test (250 Questions in 50 min.) Time isn't a factor.

Interviewed: November 2000 Seven other applicants interviewed with me the same day.
One military male not yet released
One military male been flying with another airline
Four Commuter drivers, one female
One other airline guy

Results: The only female washed on first day testing, all others passed testing, interview, and offered conditional employment.

The WFFF gouge is very good on all accounts, but additional study will do you a lot of good. I studied the ATP and F/E written. I could have done much better had I studied a book on swept wing theory (Fly the Wing, Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators) and a book on math rules of thumb in the cockpit (Math for Aviators?). This information should cover. Descents and headings to hold in cross winds.

The following questions are pretty easy, but they are timed individually. You will have about 60 seconds to view and answer each question till it disappears from the screen and you take a penalty

Q: A train leaves a station at 15 minutes to 8 and makes three stops in route to its destination. Each stop takes 15 minutes and the travel time to the destination in 3 hours. What time will the train reach its final destination after stopping at each stop?

A: 12:30

Q: Peaches cost 40 cents a can, applesauce cost 60 cents a can, and pears cost 50 cents a can. What is the total cost of three cans of peaches and two cans of pears?

These are additions to the Job Knowledge Test. They are a general idea only - not the
Identical question. I think the rules of thumb can be found in a book called “Math for
Aviator” or something like that.

Q: You are on the 090 radial at 20 DME. What heading would you fly to go direct to the 60 DME fix on the 190 redial of the same VOR?

Q: You are on the 090 bearing to the station. The wind is 360 at 50. What heading will you need to fly to track inbound to the same VOR on the 270 degree redial from the station?

Q: An aircraft is in a 1G state. If the aircraft is then put into a 0G state the:

Induced drag decreases and parasite drag decreases.
Induced drag increases and parasite drag increases.
Induced drag decreases and parasite drag increases.
Induced drag increases and parasite drag decreases.

Get a good briefing on the computer based skills test from someone who has been through it. Get as detailed of a briefing as you can. There is no way to study for it so a detailed explanation will help you be better prepared.

Phase I 1 hour long MMPI personality assessment, choose a to e, most like most unlike etc. Try to keep to the outer edges either side but your best bet is to just answer honestly! Don’t try to trick the test or it’ll trick you! They weed out about 60% at this point.

Phase II If you get called back for phase 2 the job is yours to lose! Phase 2 is a sanity check to make sure you are the same guy on the app and personality test. Be yourself and be prepared and your on the team!

My morning started with a DC-9-10 sim, but they will be moving to a 727 sim in the next few months, at any rate the event is completely laid back and stress free. Our Evaluator, CAPT(ret 36 years) Terry Marsh went as far as to say that the first gear warning horn was free and any there after would cost us each a beer!!! The flying couldn’t have taken more than 15 minutes at most. Depart LAX runway heading to 5k, at 1k turn left to a heading. Level at 5k left direct Seal Beach VOR and hold as published. 1 turn in the hold and depart on an assigned heading to intercept ILS 25l final and shoot the approach to a landing. No tricks, no abnormalities, no questions! and guy did the same thing but at SFO with holding at OAK.

1 hour later I had the panel interview, 2 pilots and 1 HR rep. Again totally laid back and stress free. It took 45 minutes but time really went by quick. It was an enjoyable and pleasant discussion with plenty of chuckles and light hearted comments all around. Below is a list of all the questions I’ve ever heard asked at the panel interview, the highlighted ones were asked of me. I never called Linda Meyer and made it through, but apparently her gouge is dead on.

Medical Started at 0700 the next morning. Complete eye exam by an NWA Optometrist to start the morning. Nurse shows up at 0800 and walks you through everything else. Another complete eye exam, every test I’ve ever taken and then a couple extras, no problems though just thorough. Then height/weight, blood pressure and resting pulse. Hearing test is the standard 3 beeps and lift a finger kind. Chest xray, 2 tubes of blood, FAA urinalysis and a visit with a doctor. He does a general all around check and another partial eye exam, mostly just eye muscle stuff. Then off to the stress test. 15-18 minutes on the treadmill with the ekg octopus on your chest. Stage 1-4 is walking, stage 5 is a quick jog. Once you get to 85% of your max heart rate the fun is over. Then they time your pulse recovery time and do some resting blood pressures and your done!!

NWA Panel Interview

Linda Meyer 907-688-6910 for interview prep

* Summarize your flying career?

What is the most important part of CRM?

Describe your style of leadership?

* What are the aspects of a good leader?

What is the most difficult leadership position you have been in?

How did you get people to do what you needed done?

How does a CAPT earn respect?

* What do you expect from a good lead flight attendant?

What is your best and worst quality?

How would you be able to tell when a subordinate was ready to assume a leadership role on a crew?

What can you offer Northwest?

* What if you had offers from other airlines?

* How many airlines have you applied to?

Have you ever been directly questioned by a subordinate who had a safety concern related to how you conducted yourself while flying?

Tell me about a time when you've had a conflict with a superior in the airplane?

What makes you the kind of person and pilot we'd be comfortable having on a crew?

Have you ever had an opportunity to implement a policy?

What is important to you in a company you work for?

Oxygen requirements?

What do you need to descend below decision height?

What altitude can you descend to with only the approach lighting in sight?

Calculate a VDP?

* Destination alternate weather and fuel requirements (Flag and Domestic)?

* How much gas should a 747 Flag operator carry from Detroit to Amsterdam?

What are chinook winds? warm, dry, gusty wind phenomena that occurs in Canada as wind crosses the Rockies. It creates a warming effect that melts snow, causes the temp to rise and produces gusty winds up to 100 mile down range.

* Holding pattern entry?

Airspeed limit below 10,000'?

Airspeed limits within different airspaces?

What is a mountain wave? occurs as wind of 15 kts or more produces a smooth updraft on one side of a mountain or ridge and then a turbulent downdraft. This effect is repeated up to 100 miles down range of the Appalachians and up to 700 miles down range of the Rockies.

Discuss runway lighting?

What are QNE, QNH, QFE?

Discuss unusual attitude recovery techniques and what instruments you would reference?

* You have a medical divert, what considerations do you have? What are your priorities? What resources could you use for help?

* CAT 2 visibility requirements?

In 3 statements, how should we remember you?

* Name 3 NWA firsts?

Describe a single event that caused you to regroup yourself?

* What are departure alternate requirements?

* What if you are CATIIIc qualified?

Give NORDO procedures?

* How many aircraft does NWA operate?

* What is our stock price? Has anyone hindered you while flying?

Describe your most outstanding event in an aircraft?

What have you had to sacrifice in your career?

How would you handle a sub-par performance from your FO?

Why NWA over the others?

What is an AFSS?

* Is there anything in your background that is bad?

What is marginal?

When do you need 2 alternates?

Which pilot base would you choose and why?

What would you do to improve morale at a place of employment?

What is the touchdown zone?

Tell me about an emergency you did not have a checklist for?

* What is your pet peeve in the cockpit?

What are the windshear procedures for your aircraft?

What do you look for in an airline?

* How do you handle a CAPT who is doing your job?

* How far away can a takeoff alternate be for a 747 taking off below landing mins?

When do you not have to do a procedure turn?

What are the 5 required calls to ATC?

* Have you ever had a difficult passenger?

What would you do if you were deadheading and sitting next to a passenger who was really complaining about NW and unhappy?

How do you handle emergencies or abnormalities in flight?

Northwest Trip Report 28 March 2000 (USAF C-5, T-37. 2700 TT, 900 PIC) Phase 2 I just got back from the interview and sim eval and was successful in getting hired. The whole process was a bit non-standard from everything else that you might read out there. But it turned out alright. I flew up the day before on a positive space pass and it was great. NWA makes you pay for a hotel, but there are plenty of them right by the airport and most have shuttles to NATCO. If you successfully pass Phase 2, you’ll be notified right then and are scheduled for a company physical the next day.

Showed at 0700 for an 0800 sim hoping to link up with my partner for the day a little early and talk strategy (good idea). We were met by one of their retired pilots who was absolutely great and tried to put us at ease, beginning by saying the DC-9 sims were broken and that we should just “hang tight” while everyone scrambled to figure out what was going to happen to the four of us. NWA finally decided to just get us interviewed (again, the standard is to sim first and interview second) and we’d worry about the sim later. A word about the sitaround. You will be noticed by everyone who is working there and you’ll likely be talked to by many pilots who feel sorry for you sitting on those blue couches. Every five minutes someone came up to offer encouragement and tell you how great Northwest is. At least they helped to put you at ease. I’d obviously stand whenever someone comes up to you. I’ve heard that NWA has been known to have some of the HR people or Captains sit near you in the cafeteria or “meet” you just to see how you handle yourself and then they are the ones who wind up interviewing you, so be ready! I waited until 1300 for my interview and then went in.

The interview was VERY straightforward and relaxing. I was very prepared and felt extremely confident and comfortable that I was ready to take on whatever they would ask. They are ready for you to be nervous and are very accommodating. The people who interviewed me: DC-10 Captain Chuck Hanebuth, DC-9 Captain Karen Ruth, HR Director Marlene Berman. The questions come in shotgun fashion: one after another from each person and be ready for the questions from one person to be linked to the question asked immediately before. If you are doing well, they may jump on you for one of your answers, just to see you handle it. Smiling is very big for them. Expect a lot of non-verbal feedback. Both the beginning and end of the interview was them talking only to each other, just sit there and smile. Eye contact is huge for them. I swept each of them on each answer (some say to answer the questioner and look only at them) because it appeared to me they were boring holes into me with their stares. I only say this because it can be unnerving when people look at you this way. I got the feeling they didn’t want to miss anything and were hanging on your every word. That being said, if you didn’t know an answer, that was alright and they moved on. Don’t be surprised if they try to help you with hints, all of us got a hint or two. They also did a cursory review on all my records right off the bat. Be ready for questions on that stuff too. Be ready to explain every last detail on transcripts/forms that you hand in. They will ask you if they can keep everything you give them—obviously yes is the right answer. I had made an extra copy of it all, just in case I needed to clarify anything for them. My interview lasted about 45 minutes and again, was very straightforward. At the end, I: THANKED THEM, TOLD THEM HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM AND INTERVIEW AT NORTHWEST, and TOLD THEM I HOPED THEY WOULD FIND IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO JOIN NORTHWEST AS A PILOT. I went for the big sell at the end and it worked well. Practice your close if you go for it though, you can get wordy and ramble. I would recommend some prep prior. I went through Linda Meyer and was very pleased. She gave a lot of great advice and it helped a lot—whatever info she has is spot-on. She can be reached at 907-688-6910.

Our sim was not in the DC-9, but in the 727. You are given about a ½ hour to prep. I was not at all pleased with the way this part was handled. The evaluator was someone different and was not inspiring (more intimidating than most) at all. We were given the DC-9 books and told to disregard the tech information, and just concentrate on the target parameters and rules of the evaluation. You’ll each get 30 minutes or so in whichever seat you’d like to fly from. We were told to expect and study the LAX 25L and SFO 28L ILS (they also had SEA ILS 16R in the study packet). Just before we stepped, my partner was told he’d be first and was given MSP ILS 30L and I was given ORD ILS 14R! So much for flying the material they gave us prior to study (also so much for my eroding confidence at the time)! We pressed and I get the idea they are looking for a basic understanding of the control and performance concept and a general aptitude of CRM and how the two of you worked together in a cockpit. You’ll takeoff, turn, climb, descend, enter holding, do the turn, depart on a heading or proceed own nav to the localizer and shoot the ILS. Don’t worry about the landing; you’re only graded on getting to decision height. Our evaluator showed us nothing about anything in the cockpit (“You’re on the runway and the engines are started, go. Feel free to run any checklists you’d normally run.”), we figured it out on our own. I would recommend some sim time in something crew oriented and something complex. The sim crashed halfway through my profile (not my error) and so I got the opportunity to start over from the beginning when I was almost finished. Don’t worry if you screw something up. We got into a bad situation (90 off to the localizer at the OM due to what we both considered a ridiculously confused clearance) and we just recognized it, shot through and asked for a vector back around into the course again. Give up the jet to the other guy when taking a holding instruction or briefing the approach. Inform the crew or company of any diverts. After the sim was over, we were individually debriefed (“You stay put for a minute and I’ll be back in to debrief you after I talk privately to your partner.” It reminded me of a military order and again, not too confidence inspiring). My experience in the sim was not at all what I’d heard about, my only reason for going into so much detail is so you’ll at least know what may be coming if the first thing you hear in the morning is “Your DC-9 sim is broken, but hang in with us and we’ll figure it out”. Far and away, the worst scenario I could have imagined and not nearly even close to flying what anyone would consider a “good” sim profile. Again, they have to be looking for the basics. Everyone says the sim is really a non-factor. Not one of the four candidates that day felt the sim was a non-factor, but an absolute gut wrenching, stressed, brutal experience—and needlessly at that! But in the end, it all worked out.

Below are the questions I was asked in the interview portion. Good luck.

1. Briefly summarize your flying career 2. What is the most important part of CRM in your opinion? 3. Describe in detail your particular style of leadership 4. How would you be able to tell when a subordinate was ready to assume a leadership role on a crew 5. What can you offer Northwest? 6. What if you had offers from all the other airlines? Which would you take and why? 7. How many airlines have you applied with? How many hired by and how was that process? 8. Have you ever been directly questioned by a subordinate who had a safety concern related to how you conducted yourself while flying? 9. Tell me about a time when you’ve had a conflict with a superior in the airplane 10. What makes you the kind of person and pilot we’d be comfortable having on a crew (as a copilot or engineer)? 11. Have you ever had an opportunity to implement a policy? What was it and was it implemented? Why or why not? How did you feel about it? 12. What is important to you in a company you work for? 13. Oxygen requirements 14. What do you need to descend below decision height? Can you legally descend with only ________ in sight? 15. What altitude can you descend to with approach lighting in sight? 16. Calculate a VDP for this approach 17. Destination alternate weather and fuel requirements (flag and domestic) 18. What are Chinook winds? 19. Draw this holding pattern and tell me speeds, entry, times, directions, etc. 20. Airspeed limits below 10000 feet and within different airspaces 21. What is mountain wave and all about it? 22. Discuss runway lighting 23. What are QFE, QNH, QNE? 24. Discuss unusual attitude recovery techniques (IMC and VMC) and what instruments you reference 25. You have a medical divert, what considerations do you have? What are your priorities? What resources would you use for help? 26. CAT 2 vis requirements 27. In three statements, how should we remember you?

Sim. DC-9. Straight forward. T/O, climb to 3 or 4 thousand. Turn direct to a VOR and hold. Then radar vectors ILS. Second person basically the same, except HILO for ILS. Could sit in either seat. Use whatever checklist you'd normally call for. Piece of cake. Personality test. Who know? Answer truthfully. Servile, aggressive, people are out to get you, i need approval, I seek advice, I am a perfectionist. Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree. Again, who knows? Interview Three person board, one human resources and two pilots (Capt and FO) The first question is always do you have anything in your back ground that is bad? Next a mix of HR and technical. 1. How does captain earn respect? 2. What are 121 Flag alternate requirements? 3. What is marginal? 4. When do you need two alternates? 5. Tell me about your flying career? 6. When do you need an alternate? 7. When can you leave the DH? 8. Which pilot base would you choose and why? 9. What would you do to improve morale at Place of employment? 10. What is the touchdown zone? 11. Tell me about an emergency you did not have a checklist for? 12. What is your pet peeve in cockpit? 13. How do you handle a captain who is doing your job? 14. What are the windsheer procedures for your aircraft? 15. Chinook wind? 16. Any questions? 17. Who else did you apply to? but not why 18. What do you look for in an airline? I'd like to believe this is all. I am former AF, 3200 hours, 1600 pic, 1300 sic, 1100 instructor. all MEjet.