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Skywest Airlines Pilot Interview Profiles

» Home » Pilot Interviews » National Airlines » Skywest Airlines
Date Interviewed: January 2014
Summary of Qualifications: CFI-II, Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot
Were you offered the job? No
Pilot Interview Profile:
This was an excellent experience as well as an eye-opener. If you are a low time, mostly VFR single engine pilot… this review is for you. I am currently employed as a pipeline patrol pilot coming up on 2000 hours with zero simulator time. To say the least, I didn't really know what I was up against before coming into the interview. I read all the gouges and did a lot of self-studying, but nothing prepares you like the real thing! A few pointers to add to all the other great gouges on this site are as follows:

Simulator Eval- you will get it if you are low time with no 135 experience.
-While in the sim pretend you have a brand new, terrible air traffic controller trying to kill you. Be sure to get WX and make all radio calls (seems obvious, but remember, worst controller).
-Beware of CFIT situations. I received the Burbank 8 ILS, and he had me at 3000 south of VNY and cleared me for the approach. With NO further instructions.
-The simulator is very touchy, so be aware of extra task saturation that you are normally over by this point in your career.
-Get in a professional sim with an instructor before your interview. Just do it. It will cost extra money and training, but if you want this job, thats what it will take if you are low time with minimal sim training.

50 question test-
covers 5 subject areas, 10 questions each: FARS, Jepp Charts/knowledge, WX, Highspeed/altitude aerodynamics, Advanced Systems
-I would suggest studying ATP written questions in these subject areas, the questions were challenging.

I did not get the job, but did get some excellent constructive criticism on my simulator performance. He told me to get some advanced sim training and come back in 3 months. He said he didn't want me to go into their training and bomb out simply because I was green in this area. This experience left me with more respect and admiration for this company and the people they employ. Hope this helped, Best of luck to you!
Date Interviewed: November 2013
Summary of Qualifications: CMEL,CSEL,CFI,CFII,CMEI 1520TT, 110 Multi, ATP Written
Were you offered the job? Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Skywest Interviews are known to be one of the toughest for the regionals. Come prepared, and make sure you study the Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot Book!

I stayed at the Comfort Suites, pretty good hotel, they deal with Skywest Guys all the time, so they know the drill and whats up. Cost around 56 bucks with the Skywest rate, and provide shuttle service to SLC and the Skywest Hangar form the hotel. Breakfast was good, you'll see a whole bunch of Skywest guys for interviews and/or training, so talk it up with them.
Make sure you bring a suit and tie, with polished shoes, look your best and remember to smile!

Interview starts at 8am sharp, so be early or get ready to leave. You can store your luggage at the Skywest Hangar if your catching a flight out that afternoon.

Bring all your originals, and extra copies just to make sure you cover yourself. They start off with a briefing and slideshow on Skywest. Pretty cool and breaks the tension. Makes you laugh and relaxed. Then You meet the captains who will do your interview. All 3 of my guys were 10+yr Captains on the CRJ. Then they collect your documents that they asked you to sign and bring in as well as a copy of your resume.
Then they give you a folder with a 50 question test and ask you to complete it. Ask questions on systems, turbines, electrical, Free Turbines, Schematics, Jeppessen Charts, General Knowledge, Weather. They use it to gouge your knowledge and will be a basis for your technical.
Then they ask you to draw 3 things on a piece of paper. For our group of 9 guys, in was draw a 1. precision runway
2. Draw a turbine engine, and 3. Draw the Electrical System of your most complex twin.
While you slave away doing that, they will start taking people out of the group to do the Sim. I got the Trenton ILS. Sim is a Frasca, touchy with pitch. Have a good scan and make sure you do not go below your approach speeds!!! Pretty Basic, get a clearance and atis, make sure the weather is ok to depart, LOOK At The APP Mins and know the departure regs!!! I said we couldnt depart with my first atis I recieved, and then he gave me a new atis. T.O RW 8, vectors , turns, the gave me a radial to hold off of and asked the entry, then did the approach Pilot Nav all the way to a landing. Just be aware and take your time setting the radios and nav up on this sim.

Next I got the CRM. They usually break you into groups of 3, Captain, F.O, and Jumpseater. Usually put the lowest time guys as captain, and High Time guys as JS. Basically you got 7 mins and a scenario to see how you would use all your resources, CRM ect. Use ATC, Flight Attendants, F.O, Captain, and Jumpseater as well as OPS and Maint. if you need to call them. There is really no right or wrong they just wanna see you guys be smart and work it out.

Lunch was then provided, The Captains join you and mingle with you. Have fun, and relax, just be professional.

Next was HR and Technical. I did it one on one with a Captain. They will grade your 50 question test and ask you stuff of the areas you were weak on. I was asked questions on my electrical system and turbine engines. Know inverters,AC,DC ect. For turbines know a free turbine , turbojet vs. turbofan. Bleed Air, stuff like that. They ask you on the drawings you were supposed to do. Markings on runway, when you can descend below DA, approach lights. Alot of Jepp Chart Questions, so study those good, MEA,MOCA,VORs, APP Plates, symbols.
For the HR, the captain is just checking if he can fly with you on a 4 day trip or not. They dont want weird freaks or boring people, just someone you can hang out with and have a convo with in the cockpit or on a layover. They ask about your flying career, why Skywest?, Difficult times and Best times in aviation for you. Some personal questions about your life and goals and visions.
Overall a great experience. I was nervous as hell going in, but they make you feel so at ease. They want you to succeed.
After that you debrief, they ask you how you think it went. Then they tell you that you'll receive the decision a few days later.
A week later I got a call saying I got a Class Date for the BRO. Really excited, this company is awesome, and great people, pay is awesome, planes are in good shape and great QOL.
Date Interviewed: July 2013
Summary of Qualifications: CFI-I, MEI
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:
Bring copies of everything you submitted.

The day starts with introductions of the company, a good video, and a chance to ask questions.

Everybody does the computer test. It is done in a room together with questions on a projector. You use a small clicker to answer the questions. You only have 45 seconds to come up with your answer. Basic questions on turbine engines, WX, Jep charts and aerodynamics.

After this they show you three questions on the board you have to draw/answer. Ours were draw a turbine engine of your choice, draw your fuel system and draw a precision runway with lights.

While that is going on they will pull you out for the CRM excercise. Just work together and all will be good.

If you are lucky enough to get pulled for the SIM just take your time in making sure you know how to use everything in it. It is an old school sim. They tell you the power settings and profiles you need. It is very clunky and I don't think the trim works so don't rely on it.

The HR and tech are kind of combined and vary depending on who interviews you. None of the interviews were even remotely close on what was asked. For sure know about turbine engines, and icing. Beyond that its a crap shoot. I was asked zero system questions while others were grilled.

Overall it was a great interview.
Date Interviewed: December 2012
Summary of Qualifications: 3,200 Total, 1500 PIC Turbine
Were you offered the job? No
Pilot Interview Profile:
8:00 am Show up at hanger, sign in and get visitor
badges.

8:15 Watch video on Skywest. Give you overview on the company. Meet the 4 Captains doing the interview, then introduce ourselves.

8:30 On the board are 3 questions.

1. Draw the fuel system of your current ME aircraft.

2. Draw out and turbine engine of your choice. i.e Turbo-prob, jet, ect.

3. When are you required to file for an IFR Alt.

Sat around a lot, did not have to fly the sim. Seemed as though if you had enough time and experience you didn't have to go. Only 1 guy in our group did.

7 min CRM exercise. Just use all resources. Not bad if you have ever flown in a crew environment.

Ate lunch.

Did the Technical/HR portion one on one with a Captain. They are big on Professionalism, Attitude, and Leadership. Give an example of each. Technical Salt Lake 2 Dep, TO Runway 34L at 6,000 feet, loose Coms. Then what. Remember the Jepps have a Lost Coms procedure refer to it. Enter the hold, what alt can you leave the hold at, depending on what sector your next assigned fix is (mine was to the south) Then ILS 17L at DEN, brief the approach, where is the final approach, in this case it was not glide slope intercept, it was the multise cross. Also, review holding entries.
Gave me a flight release, had to look at the TAF and determine if we needed to file and alternate.

Went in for debrief. They asked where I thought I did good, where I could have done better. I told them, they agreed. Sent on my way, got an e-mail 4 days later inviting me back in 6 months for another interview.
Date Interviewed: December 2012
Summary of Qualifications: Qualified
Were you offered the job? Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
If you get an interview, they have a position for you.
All of us there were 3,000+hrs average I estimate, many prior 121.
A nice lunch was provided.

Starts out with presentation at 8am. Everyone was so incredibly nice!
Then, in any order: CRM scenario with another pilot, Frasca 142 (simple tracking, holding, and ILS), Combined H.R./Technical Interview, and Debrief.

In lieu of an ATP-style written, there were three questions on the board, and you just described/drew the answers, and it was then used as part of the techinical interview.

All previous gouges are accurate, and the suggested study material from SkyWest in their interview offer e-mail is spot on. If you're a current professional pilot, just review all your notes and you're well-prepared. There was a lot of focus on 91.175 so understand that thoroughly using Jepp charts as examples.

Overall, it was such a nice experience. I can't wait to begin training. Good luck to everyone!
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