We started at 9a at the Scenic Airlines Administrative offices at North Las Vegas Airport. It's about 15 minutes from LAS & the strip--I rented a car, so I could check out the nearby neighborhoods. I stayed at the Fiesta, as did everyone else in my interview group--it's closest (1/2 mile), cheapest ($39) and very clean. If you stay there, you might want to see if you can leave a note at the registration desk so that you can hook up with other interviewees.

We were all placed in a classroom. We were given applications to fill out (bring your 10-year history, complete with names, addresses & phone #s, and the names & addresses of at least 3 people whom you have known for over 10 years), and we were given a 30 question multiple choice exam, straight from the ATP written. All of the questions were from regulations, procedures, meteorology, etc.--no "figuring" needed. Study those questions pertinent to a commercial/supplemental operator such as Scenic--skip the B-737-type questions.

The sim was pretty basic--they seem to be looking for instrument proficiency, situational awareness and trainability. No-one had the same profile, but the basics were the same. Take off from LAS using some sort of basic SID (not any of the complicated ones, so don't bother studying them), climb out to the north, receive & figure out holding instructions on an easterly LAS VOR radial/DME fix, then proceed to the hold. On the way, you'll be called off to do steep turns, then roll out and go immediately to hold (KNOW WHERE YOU ARE!). After a turn or two, you'll be cleared for either a VOR or LOC approach from a really high altitude. This is where trainability comes in--the sim instructor will have told you about some quirk of the sim, and you should put it to use at this point (mine was "this thing drops like a rock with the gear down"--I needed to get down, so I put the gear down & dropped). You won't need to mess with props or radio, just power. The sim is pretty stable--don't overfly it and you'll do fine. Bring your kneeboard; you won't need your timer. The sim has an HSI--be sure you're familiar with one. There is no CRM, but do be sure to make any required IFR reports (established in the hold, etc.).

The oral interview is with an HR person and a captain or chief pilot. They will ask you about your background--all of the normal "get to know you" questions. Who are you, why are you here, where do you want to be in a year (captain on the Otter, building time & experience so that I can go directly to the majors--they know that you aren't going to stay for much more than 12-18 months and expect you to be realistic about it), what are your best & worst qualities, what kind of people bother you, how will you feel if a man/woman (opposite gender) has a higher seniority number and is promoted before you are (irritated & angry is the correct answer, but of course you will find out if they are more qualified before making an issue of it), have you ever been late to work (yes, but extremely infrequently because I try to be professional), have you ever had an argument or disagreement at work and how did you solve it, have you ever broken an FAR (never intentionally, but like anyone, I've probably come too close to a cloud or forgotten to turn my transponder on). Will your previous employers give you a good recommendation? Are you a team player? What did you do to prepare for this interview (recent time in a sim is a plus!) What do you know about Scenic?

The tech portion will include a Jepp approach briefing (study your legends & pick out all sorts of weird things on different obscure plates, like stars, circles, dots, triangles--what do they mean). You might be asked MSA & MORA questions. I had to read a METAR--get to know the obscure remarks abbreviations. Know weather minimums in all of your airspaces.

The situation questions are the ones we all get--the captain has alcohol on his breath, the first officer is stealing from the company, someone doesn't have a seatbelt on. Scenic has a SERIOUS zero-tolerance policy (alcohol and all drugs--prescription, illegal and over the counter, believe it or not), so don't tolerate anything and don't violate the FARs--you are expected to report problems to the chief pilot. It's not your job to cover for anyone. No matter what you say, be prepared to stand by your reasons, because the situational questions have no right or wrong answer, and are designed to see if you will become flustered when someone challenges you. They will play Devil's Advocate with a vengeance, to the point of being jerks, until they see that you won't be flustered.

They'll look through your logbook and ask you questions about your most recent & familiar airplane--engine type & HP, fuel capacity, starting procedures, airspeeds, BEW and Max GW. They'll ask about your times--how much have you faked? If you have SIC time logged, know whether or not you can legally log it--does the aircraft or operating certificate require an SIC? Were you type-rated (SIC doesn't need to be typed) or have a high-altitude endorsement (SIC doesn't need one).

They'll ask if you have questions--make sure you have some questions about the company, its people & policies, etc.. Let them know that you are interested in their company.

The interview lasted over an hour for each person in my group.

It's a long day, and you can't leave the facility, so bring something to eat for lunch (or eat a soggy sandwich from the gift shop). Bring something to read, too, because you might be sitting for an hour or more while other's are interviewing or simulating.

You should receive a letter within a week, and they welcome follow-up calls.

First of all they call you in the room and have you fill out a whole bunch of paper work. As your filling out the paperwork they have you go to the Sim in order of oldest to youngest. Right before the sim ride he'll have you get relaxed in the sim, there's no visual its pretty weird, its all gauge flying. You don't touch the radios because thats how the sim knows where you are. He will also give you a sheet with the power settings on it for the airplane, you don't mess with the props. During the Sim ride, he has you do a sid, When you get up to altitude he will then have you do one or two steep turns, then he'll have you track directly to the Las Vegas vor, then a hold, after that he has you track a radial, then he turns you back toward the Vor and give you a few vectors and all of a sudden he will clear you for the Vor approach into Las Vegas. Be ready for that! Then he has you do a Vor/DME approach. Make sure you get down to minimums in time. They grade you on each area of the flight. and you must meet the total grade to make the cut. Some guys just messed it all up and they were asked to leave before the tech and Hr interview. He said I did pretty good, but make sure you Get some sim time because that ATC 820 flies like a Bus, much different from a frasca, but it will hold whatever airspeed you have the power set for very nicely.

The Written test is taken from the ATP written 121. 30 questions on regulations and procedures. I thought it was pretty tough but others thought it was easy. Its a sliding scale the better you do on the other areas the lower the score on the written test test can be.

Finally the broad interview, line pilots and HR staff will talk to you about you background and there will be some technical questions asked. METAR and Approach plates information my be asked. The Tech and HR interview are held at the same time. Make sure you look at both people. He'll give you a very thorough approach plate brief. He'll ask about everything on it be prepared. He'll ask you about grid mora's and MSA's, during the day and night. Under part 91.119 there are no MSA's at night but he asked about them anyway. What would you do if you smelled alcohol on your students breath. Answer he wants to hear is " Don't fly with him anymore". What would you do if you smelled alcohol on a captains breath? What would you do if you saw you captains seat belt unbuckled and there was a 727 on 3/4 mile final, and you were just cleared for immediate takeoff? What would you do if you were cleared for takeoff with a 727 on 3/4 mile final and you just barely started rolling? Then the HR lady asked 10 basic HR questions. Whats one of your best qualities whats one of your worst? etc. Then he'll look at your logbok and ask you about some of your trips, then the last question he'll ask you is how much of this time is Fake? Written Test Version # 1 (there are three versions) duty time (can't recall if it was the 8 hour or 100 hour question) who is responsible for obtaining wx when a person is in custody of law enf, when are they boarded & deplaned (first & last) no non-essential conversation during taxi, t.o., landing or below 10'K (except cruise below 10K) when is a flight attendant required (over 19 seats) emg equip must be identified & clearly marked as to method of operation emg equipment req to be carried (I think it was comm op over uninhabited terrain) w/in how many days must NTSB be notified of an accident? inop equipment must be reported to ATC airborne radar is inop--when can you go (day VFR only) indications of a pulsating VASI what affects stall speed which direction from primary control surface does elevator adjustable trim tab move when control sfc is moved? vis & cloud clearance at 10500' (Class E) (5miles/1/1000/1000) alternate minimums (1hr before & after ETA) when is an alternate required for supplemental carriers narrow runway illusion (higher than actual) location of a thermal low (dry, sunny region) characteristic of tropopause (lapse rate) wind shear (I think tailwind to calm wind) frost/ice/snow on airplane most accurate current & forecast icing (pireps, airmets & sigments) 3rd gyro define Vmc (only essay/non-multiple-choice question)