Well my story started back in the summer when I went to a career fair. I went to the ASA/XJT booth and was told I certainly met the mins, but that the review board would want to see 50 hrs in 6 months. It took me awhile to accumulate this time as I am on furlough and on a fixed income. I didn't get the hrs until October and the interview was set in early November. In the meantime I did everything imaginable to prepare, this included reading educational books, enduring hrs of King dvd's, studying Jepp manuals and charts, FAR's and AIM, I also got about 5 hrs in a sim which I had set up as a jet so that I could as closely mirror a 737 as possible. I utilized another person in the sim so that I could practise CRM.
I was emailed a packet which included a study guide. Apparently, they just recently changed their interview technique and there are some things you cannot study. This includes the psych and computer testing. I was given a positive space ticket to ATL and stayed at the Motel 6 for $39/ night. The hotel is really a faster walk, than drive to the interview location. However, the hotel has issues and you might decide to stay at one of the others. I tried, but the ones that were in my budget were full. I arrived in ATL at 2300, the night before the interview. It wasn't my choice, but apparently that was the best they could do since all the flights were full.
The next day I arrived at the interview location and met with 3 other individuals for our 0800 appointment. I was struck by how friendly all the employees were, even the rampers. Everyone was so pleasant, greeting us and each other. Eventually, we were led to the break room and then taken upstairs to a conference room. We were shown a brief presentation on the company outlook and the "Super Regional" concept. Then we turned in all of our paperwork, told a little about ourselves and the tabular testing began. Afterwards, we were taken to another floor and each brought in for a 2 on 1 technical/HR interview. I was asked a little about myself, my background and previous airline. I was provided a low enroute chart for DEN and an ILS plate. I was then questioned extensively on icons, procedures and rules. Take your time and make sure that you read all notes on the plate. The only thing I slipped up on was the classes of VOR's, I just couldn't remember the specifics. Also, forgot about the signal limitation on the MOCA. Afterwards, was allowed to take a lunch break where we all were united and then were driven to another location for fingerprinting. When this was done we were told to take a cab over to the Concentra for drug testing. Our day ended around 1600. The four of us had dinner at across the street at Spondivits, if you like fish, this is the place. Fairly priced, with a nice atmosphere, but a little noisey.
At 0730 the next morning we met at the Delta training center for the computer testing. This is where I blew it. I really didn't sleep well the night before, didn't have any breakfast and just wasn't prepared for this type of testing. We were given countless different test which are impossible to study for. By the time the test got to the aviation specific material, my brain was fried and I was just done. Be prepared for formula problems, ie, fuel burn, computing time enroute, and crossing restrictions. These test take about 3 hrs, then comes the psych test, which is another hr. Unfortunately, I know that I did so poorly on the computer testing that I was pretty depressed by the time I got to the psych test and maybe it showed. Later I found out nobody thought they did well on the computer test. Around 11 we were walked over to the sim building and briefed on the 737 FTD. I suggest writing down all the EPR settings for the various configurations and giving it to your copilot, or placing it in an area in your field of view so that you have the proper power settings. You will be flying from the right seat, they'll tell you that when you're in the left seat you're not being evaluated, but I would still act as you would in a crew enviorment. Make sure to help you partner out with the basic callouts and occasional reminders. Mine didn't do it for me, but I did it for her. The sim is sensitive, and it is a jet, so try to stay ahead and anticipate speed changes, etc. You have to allow for spool up time. Profile was pretty simple, depart JKF and I think we were told to do a steep turn. Then you're given holding clearance, you just tell them how you'll enter the hold. Then vectored for the ILS following a constant speed descent.
The sim guy told us that we could expect 2-3 wks before we hear anything. I never did and had to end up calling, that's when I found out I was rejected. Hope this helps someone else, good luck! |
