• Pilot Jobs Board
  • Pilot Resume Database
  • Pilot Interview Gouge
  • Airline Pilot Pay Rates
  • Career Articles
  • Flight School Directory
  • Blog
  • Message Boards
  • Resume Services
  • And much more...
Post a Pilot Job

Mesa Airlines Pilot Interview Profiles

Date Interviewed: August 2000
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

I interviewed with Mesa on Aug. 22 2000 and I had a great experience. Now they are giving an 80 question ATP test, Study all of the ATP test prep book except the A/C specific questions and remember that the aspect ratio of a disk is 1:1. If you study for the written test it is a piece of cake. the written test is of no significance unless they are choosing between two people. then they look at the test scores.

the interview was more nerve racking. Everybody gets a good interview. Lori Clark gives interview times according to perspective flight times, so do not be hesitant to ask for an early interview to be able to catch your return flight Lori is easy to get along with. Show up on time for your interview, don't keep the interviewers waiting. In the interview I was asked all about the Jep. approach plates and low and high altitude enroot charts, know those legends cold. The legends are in the approach plates manuals under tap introduction. One other question that was asked is if on short final on an ILS apr. and the cap. descended to the DH and rabbits in sight then descends down to 100 above TDZ and no runway environment in sight then continues down what do you do? they are looking for safety first then calmness and fallowing the chain of command (remember you can shove the throttles foreword and he is going around then, or pick up the mike and call missed Apr. and that cancels the landing clearance.) Other things to know is why you want to work for the company and give reasons like personal testimony from current employees awards won and other info that you can get from there web sight www.mesa-air.com .

Remember Mesa only interviews people that they want to higher so if you got an interview you have great chances to get hired. Relax have fun and be very nice and courteous.

I got the beech 1900 and my class date starts Oct. 9, 00

If you have any questions E-mail me @ jamesremery@email.com and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Date Interviewed: February 2000
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

The last gouge that you guys have posted is just about right on except for the written. Still 50 ATP 121 questions with some weather included, but I guess the test was revised recently (Jan 2001). Study Chapt. 3, 4, 6, 7, 16, and 17 for sure. One hold question (you are at HDG 060 TO the ABC VORTAC on 060 Radial, hold at ABC VORTAC 090 radial left turns, what kind of entry do you use for this hold). There were about 25-30 of us in the interview, all different backgrounds (3 San Juan college grads), lowest time was 1000TT (company mins, I think). We were told at the beginning of the interview that we were here because Mesa wants to hire all of us but I heard from other applicants that they were told that only about 50% of interviewees will get the good news (trying to psych us out perhaps). Study Jepp charts and plates (buy a set, its worth it), practice briefing approaches (make sure you sound like an airline pilot when you do it at the interview, it will impress them.) Other oral questions:
Why do you want to work for Mesa?
Ever had a disagreement with a co-worker?
How did you handle it?
Ever violate an FAR? (Be careful with this one.)
How did you get interested in flying?
How do you build your time?
What aircraft have you flown the most recently?

Above anything else, BE HONEST. These guys are not idiots and they just want to find out if you are the kind of person they would like to fly with. Have ALL of your documents available (licenses, logbooks, Soc. Sec. card, passport, FCC Radio license, drivers license, resumes.) Everyone there is real nice and laid back so don't feel like you're on trial. Have a GOOD explanation for anything substandard on your application or records (remember, no lying), and relax and have fun. You want this job. Don't you?


Date Interviewed: November 1999
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

The interview started at 8:30a.m. at the Double Tree Inn Resort in Phoenix. The hotel was $124.00 per night, but there is a Holiday Inn Express just down the road within walking distance. There were 23 of us, 21 male, 2 female. Lori Clark was the first person to talk. She came in and gave us the written test and told us all to relax, the test doesn’t affect whether or not if you get the job. The test is 70 questions straight out of the ATP question bank. I remembered 65 or so of the questions when looking after the interview. Here are the numbers as per the ASA ATP test prep book 2000. All of these questions are the same as mesa gives them too you!!

8192 8210 8289 8244 8137 8155 8321 9172 8143 9261 9406 8969 8963 9422 8903 9378 8397 8247 8380 8387 9058 9062 9317 9076 9087 8381 9078
8396 – except the tire pressure is 90 p.s.i. 9320 8888 9395 9396 8247 8257 9037 9391 9382 8298 8859 9097 9365 9010 9127 9354 9434 9106 9102 9105 9177 9209 9241 9191 9192 9171 9155 9200 9199 9212 9139 9141 9224
-There are a couple of questions on reading a Metar-Taf, very basic
-What is the aspect ration of a disk = 1 (Wing span/Chord)
-You are at 20,000 ft and have to cross the vor at 10,000 ft; you are going 300 knots and descending at 2,000 ft per minute, when do you start your descent?

That’s all I can remember with the written test. Then after 1 hour a captain comes in and talks about the company. Training is 6 ½ weeks. Not paid during the first 3 ½. Then Lori Clark schedules everyone for his or her personal interviews. I recommend you stay around the whole time. There were a lot of pilots whose names were called and they weren’t there. So stick around. I was one of the first to go in there. There were two line pilots conducting the interview. They asked for my logbooks and licenses, etc. While they were looking those over they started asking questions:
1) Tell us about yourself.
2) Why do you want to work for Mesa?
3) What are your qualities?
4) How would a friend describe you?
5) Name 5 qualities that make a good Captain.
6) Name 5 qualities that make a good First Officer.
7) Have you ever had a conflict in the cockpit?
8) How did you resolve it? CRM
9) Have you ever failed a check ride, or students fail a check ride?

Then came the technical part. He pulled out an OLD FORMAT Jeppesen I.A.P. for Durango Colorado. The ILS dme 2 approach with the dme arc. They said you are coming in from Farmington vor. Brief this approach. Then they asked what does the m.s.a ensure? After that they brought out a metar for Kphl and had me read it. Then a taf. Very basic. After that they said they would call within a week or two. I received a call and was hired three days later. The personal interview was around 25 minutes. Good Luck. They are very easy going and they want to hire you.

Date Interviewed: October 1999
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

Hi I was interviewed with Mesa Airlines. They flew me out to phoenix AZ. The hotels are very expensive so please plan early. A single nite can run you
from $60 to $179. I stayed in Holiday Inn Express and paid $ 45.00. The
Interview is conducted in Double Tree Hotel. We were told to show up at 9am.
Human Resource Manger Miss Lorie Clark along with a Company's newly upgraded
Capt and FO gave us the company back ground information. After that we were
given a 100 questions ATP style test no time limit. Almost all of the test
came out of ATP written book. One of the questions was the aspect ratio of a
disk and they give you three possible answers. I believe the correct answer
was 1:1. If you study the ATP book, u will do fine in that test. And no u
dont have to study the instrument book. After the test Miss Lorie Clark came
back and gave us all our interview time and told us to return back to that
room for one on one interview. There was no simulator ride. During the
interview Miss Lorie Clark started asking questions while FO is taking notes.
And Capt is looking through the log book and certificates. The questions
that I can remember were why u wanna work for Mesa. Your future plans.
Explain a typical day at your present job. What was the last criticism u
had. Have u ever broken a FAR and would u ever brake one. Describe
everything about yourself and why u wanna fly and how u ended up here at
Mesa. After that there was a technical side from the Capt. He asked max
speed that can be used in class B and C. Holding speed at 14000 feet and time
for holding leg. They pulled out Jepp plate with DME ARC with an ILS. Asked
questions about MSA and brief the approch. Gave a senario that if u are
north of the airport and being vector and told to maintain 6000feet and HDG
of 180. cleared for full approch. The approch called for 5000 feet on dme arc
and same altitude for an ILS in bound. I was asked to explain that how would
I fly this approch. Remember I am on 180 HDG and IAF calls for 330-R IAF with
ARC. They worded exactly like this " --- maintain 6000feet and fly 180 HDG u
are cleared for ILS -- full approch contact twr when established." They
wanted to know that when would u decend on an approch and would u decend to
5000 while on DME ARC. They asked where is FAFon an ILS approch. I told
them when u intercept GS. Then they asked so if that is true then what if u
are cleared for the approch like 15 miles out at around 7000 feet and approch
calls for 5000 feet in bound on a LOC, where is your FAF? I told them that
yes eventhough u would pick up GS way out but your final approch fix would
still be at where the approch envirnment is not 15 20 miles out. Guys I dont
know the correct answer for this one. Few other questions about dipicted
hold on an app and DA. The interview was about 25 min long and they are very
friendly and nice people. Oh yeah they wanted to know that what u know about
the company. Their contract with US Airways is going to expire in year 2000.
they just renewied their contract with America West for next five years.
Company is recieving RJs one of each in month of Nov and Dec total of 25 RJs
about 71 BE1900Ds and 8 DHC 8s. Upgrade to left seat is approx 11/2 and up
grade to RJ is two years. All training gets done in Pheionex AZ about three
and half week. u start off as BE1900D FO. They pay for training but do not
pay for hotel for the first three and half weeks of gnd training but they pay
u FO salery right from the first day so that covers pretty much all of your
housing. Sim training is through Flight Safety San Antonio branch and they
pay for housing there.
Its a good company to work for. I recieved a phone call three days later and
was hired.

Date Interviewed: September 1999
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

Arrived at the Doubletree Plaza in Phoenix at 8:30 AM. There were I believe 16 of us. Tow women and 14 men. Age range from early 20's to 51.

First was an orientation session. Lori Clark of Flight Operations and three
line captains presented information on Mesa. This carrier has come a long
way since Jon Orenstein took over. He is a great salesman that goes after
new contracts. This day they just received a new CRJ at PHX. They are
looking at the EMB145 to fill America West's requirement for more jets as
soon as possible. The training is 3.5 weeks for groundschool and 2.5 weeks
for flight training. They do pay you during training, but no reimbursement
for lodging and meals. If you do well on the systems test, you may get the
dash 8; if you don't score high, you probably get the B1900. There are
8-1900's in PHX that are senior, so you would probably go to the east coast
if its the 1900. The dash 8 domicles are Grand Juction and Phoenix. A bid
line is 28 days. 1.5 years to upgrade to captain on the beech.

We took a 70 question multiple choice ATP test. We were told that the score
would not have a negative impact on the inteview. Then we were scheduled for
interviews, which took about 25-35 minutes. Mine was with a cowboy line
captain and Lori. Typical HR questions. First question involved being based
in Maine 5 on 2 off. Are you planning to commute from home? Answer it
honestly. One briefing on an ILS approach. One tricky DME arc question
involving an approach plate. Lori knows her stuff on this, so make sure you
know approach procedures. One question on flying with captains much younger
than yourself. Be honest.

One guy in the interview class flew 2 years ago for Eagle and got out. He
was sharp and I think he will be in the class. This session's successful
candidates will be in the November-December class.

Feedback Form