Sim check conducted on an Elite 4 PCATD configured as a DC-9. There is a sim operator, copilot and observer. All are HAL pilots. ILS 8L @ Honolulu. Take off and climb to 1000 feet at 15 degrees pitch. At 1000 ft, decrease pitch to 10 degrees and turn to 180 heading. Accelerate to 250 KIAS and level off at 5000 feet. Take a few moments to get comfortable with sim, than to 180 degree steep turns in both directions. Sim is frozen and you are asked to identify your position in reference to ALANA intersection. Unfreeze, fly to ALANA and enter holding at 5000 feet and 220 KIAS (note: 200 KIAS FAR limit - ask ATC for deviation). After entry turn, told to decend to 3000 feet while in the inbound turn to ALANA and cleared for the ILS 8L approach. Intercept 14 DME arc (note: approach has arc at 3100 feet, point out this to instructor). After you have shown that you can arc, sim is frozen and you are asked to brief the apporach. Aircraft is repositoned on the arc at the lead-in radial. Intercept and fly ILS to minimums and landing. HAL instructor acts as copilot and is very helpful. Make whatever standard calls you use at your current airline. Mention all radio calls. Sim operator will set heading bug, speed bug, altitude alerts. OBS and navaids. Very straight forward and all the HAL pilots want you to succeed. Clipper Aviation at HNL has an Elite 4 PCATD and knows the profile cold. Extremely helpful sim prep and made the HAL check easy. Call Clipper at (808) 479-3893.

Interview was with the Chief Pilot and 2 line Captains. Very little technical. - Questions on your flying background, education etc. - Why Hawaiian? - Why should Hawaiian hire you? - What would your current DO/CP say about you? - Captain wants to take off into reported microburst......... - Would you relocate to Hawaii? - As an FO, how have you handled past conflicts with Captains? - What are the engine fire memory items for you curren t aircraft? - Log book review, questions on any inflight emerencies you've had, etc.- Explain VMC and how CG changes effect.- When do you need an alternate, second alternate, takeoff alternate? - If hired as a DC-10 FE and than offered B717/DC-9 FO 1 month out of FE training, would you take it? What about 10 month check ride for probation review, how would this effect your decision? What about fact you can nopt be fired after probation for initial bust on FO upgrade, but can during probation - how would this effect your decision?

I was hired by Hawaiian Airlines February 1999 in a class of 8. Hawaiian started hiring again in September of 1998 and has hired between 8 and 12 a month ever since with projected hiring to continue with 65 more (at least!) in 2000. When I was interviewed last October the interview process was very brief since HAL was interviewing current employees, politically connected pilots and relatives of HAL pilots. Now the interview process and hiring minimums have gone increased, but it is still fairly brief and relaxed. Selected applicants now are tested on a PCATD simulator and then interviewed by a couple line pilots. Once past the interview, applicants are called in for testing which consists of three IQ exams (two math and one english) two long, written psychological tests and a brief physical exam. As far as I can tell, if you are called back for testing you will be hired unless you really screw up the psych and IQ tests. Hawaiian is an ALPA carrier, so if you have crossed an air carrier picket line in the past, do not bother applying. Just my personal opinion. Hawaiian is a great company to work for with wonderful employees and a unique corporate culture. We have been flying inter island for 70 years and internationally for 16 without a single fatality (knock on wood!). Although our present pay is 50% below the industry average, our pilot contract expires February 2000, the company is finally making a profit again and we are pushing for parity. We have just ordered 13 Boeing 717s to replace our DC-9 fleet with delivery starting in early 2001. Our present fleet of 11 DC-10-10s and -30s is projected to grow to between 15 to 17.

The interview for Hawaiian Airlines is pretty straight forward. The biggest hurdle is getting an invitation. They only interview people who have recommendations from current Hawaiian pilots. Without that, it'll be pretty tough to get in.

Once that is taken care of, it is a two step process. All the interview process takes place at their headquarters in Honolulu. The first day is a simulator ride, using an Elite 4 PCATD set up as a DC-9. They give you a briefing sheet before hand with a lot of helpful information on it. They mostly want to see your instrument skills, so they handle the gear, flaps, etc. All you have to do is fly and set the power. Takeoff from HNL RWY 8, turn out to a heading, level off, and make 180 degree steep turns each direction. Then intercept a radial to a hold. Fly out of the hold and fly an arc. Then the ILS RWY 8 to minumums. That is it for the sim ride. The guys there are former line pilots, and are very cool about it all. Just relax and let them help you as much as possible.

The next day, you interview with three current line pilots, one of them is the assistant chief pilot. It's very relaxed. They are all in Aloha shirts, so that kind of sets the mood. They really just want to get to know you. They look over your logbooks, ask about your background in flying, your education, how you heard about Hawaiian etc.. One situational question (what do you do if capt goes below mins, or what if you smell alcohol on his breath....standard stuff) and that is it.

If you make it past that part, they will call you and ask you to come back at another date to complete the application and background check paperwork, take a drug test, and do about five hours of psych tests. I think it was the Wonderlick, MMPI, and a couple more I hadn't seen before. And that's it. If all goes well, they are hiring about 7 or 8 per month, mostly into the FE on the DC-10 for the west coast. Sometimes a person or two will go directly into the right seat of the DC-9. With all the new 717's coming in, and more 10's arriving soon, the hiring will continue for quite a while. Most people who fly here love it. It is a great place to work.