Everything I found here was right on target! My background it all military flying and military regs. If you are a military flyer getting into the civilian world, read up on the FAR/AIM. I followed advice here and got the book "Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot." Was a great way to summarize and identify the important things to remember. I also got an iPad App that has the FAR/AIM and used that to cross reference what I found in "Everything Explained..."
I received my HR paperwork a few days after I spoke with them on the phone. They called me while I was deployed and I returned their call about 3 months later. It was great that they did not mind such a long delay.
The interview packet came exactly a week before the interview. As for the memory items it was pretty easy to memorize. It was not overwhelming but you will have to put in time to learn it. It includes Ops Limits, V-speeds, and a bold face memory checklist (mine was engine failure). Its not like the AF where you have to write it down exactly. They will ask you the memory checklist during the SIM or during the tech interview. Pretty easy.
Stayed at Candlewood as suggested. Was a clean room and there are restaurants right by the hotel. When you check in, set up a wake up call and arrange a time for the shuttle to take you to Headquarters 2. I got on the van at 0730, arrived by 0740. I was the first one there and they had a security badge ready with my name.
There were a total of 5. I was expecting to be the oldest (I'm 38), but turns out I was the youngest. I thought there would be a bunch of fresh-faces 20-somethings.
Once we signed in a gentleman took us to the holding tank. THey collected our log books and some paperwork. If you are USAF, don't worry about your SARM products too much. I has the SARM print out my Flying History with all aircraft time and my grand total.
A few minutes after they collected out log books, the first guy got cut. Don't know why, but I would assume it was because of his log books/paperwork. One of the recruiters came in as asked him to collect all his belongings.
They gave us a really good brief and were very professional and made us feel relaxed. I volunteered to do the SIM first.
SIM
-touchy as expected.
-all the throttle movement is down in the bottom of the power range
-they give you a good run down of the sim and will answer questions as you go.
-part of the SIM is to eval your CRM. ask the evaluator for what you want and use your normal habit patterns
-he will be ATC, you just talk to him as if you were the Copilot
-T/O 36L, not even a SID, level at 3000' RWY HDG
-got some vectors and he asked me were we were relative to TTT. Center the HSI and tell him. Too easy.
-gave me a HDG to intercept a radial and track inbound to TTT (follow your normal procedures and you will be fine)
-gave me holding instructions (Hold south of TTT on the 180 radial, EFC...). transfer the acft and draw it out, tell him your entry plan, when you will start timing, and brief the hold. take back the acft. once we started to TTT he gave me vectors.
-ILS 36L. Have him set you up then transfer the acft and brief the approach. dont forget the required calls in your packet. I dont know if he was missing calls on purpose, but if he does miss a required call, just use your CRM skill and make the call for him.
-did the published missed
vectors VOR 13R full stop. I actually forgot to brief timing.
HR
-It was an FO who did the HR portion
-standard stuff...Why AE, why you, why did you get into aviation, etc.
TECH
I studied hardest for this. The Jepps guide on Jepps website was good. I went through airfield diagrams, approaches, SIDs, and STARS. Make sure you know what all the symbols, any altitudes, etc.
-MOCA, MORA, MEA, MSA
-Required acft documents (ARROW)
-Class 1 medical is good for how long?
-O2 requirements (Part 91 requirements) 12.5, 14, 15
-Fuel requirements
-Min take off WX
-Takeoff alternates
-When is arrival alternate required
-What is V1, V2
-Started asking the memory ops limits but did not ask every one
-When can you descend below DH
-What is GS intercept on ILS
-Jepps stuff i remember: airport beacon, ARP, Highest obstacle/terrain on the plate (has the big arrow pointing to it), displaced threshold rwy remaining, LAHSO, ILS hold short & what Wx when you have to use it, Green/Blue airports, Grid MORA, MEA, dashed lines on SID/STAR, MEA on STAR, crossing restrictions, speed restrictions, Descend Via instructions
As I got done with different parts of the day, people seemed to disappear. Don't know why exactly but it looks like TECH weeded out a couple.
I got done first with all interviews before lunch. The voucher covered a good lunch. There were 2 left after lunch and the last guy went to the SIM. At that point one of the recruiters came in and I heard the dreaded words: "please get collect all your belongings and come with me." took me into the office and before I sat down gave me the good news.
Was a great experience overall. They make you feel relaxed. Just study your packet, jeeps, and the items you find here. There are no huge gotchas.
Good luck. |
