Just got home from my interview. Was exactly as Mexi said. On a side note, I saw the Dec trainees there, I believe today was their first day.
The Interview:
The face to face was very relaxed and easy. We joked about a lot of stuff. Don't take it for granted though, just because you have thousands of hours doesn't mean anything to them. They turned away a guy with 2000TT before me after the first of three stages, and I completed the full interview with 260TT...I am, however seeing a lot of guys from other regionals interviewing as well (older guys have you). I guess they are jumping on the Direct Entry captain slot. The written exam is self explanatory. FAA type questions, with a few (~10) on an ILS at Buffalo. They provide you with the Jepp. There is no passing grade, but Lilly said she is looking for about the average grade, which is a 73. I got an 82. The sim is also exactly as Mexi says. The rudder sticks, the HSI lags/jumps, and the RMI doesn't point directly to the station. They grade you on your basic IFR skills, things like scan, control, approach, hold, situational awareness, etc and can get a poor, satisfactory, good, fair, or excellent. Don't worry about radios, briefing the approach or weather. Just tune your Navs and fly the plane.
The Job:
I reliable source there (the van driver, and by reliable I mean no-so reliable) told me that they are pushing all of their 1900s up north and filling the Florida routes with the Saab...Also, the training bond only applies to initial new-hire training. Should you upgrade or transition to the Saab, training is free with nothing attached... Should you get hired, you spend 4 weeks of ground school at their FLL school, then 2 weeks at the sims in Orlando. They said reserve time is at most 6 months, with a guaranteed pay of 80 hours (as well as training). You get minimum 11 days off per month, and if you fly on a day off you get paid 150% normal rate. New hires go to Pennsylvania or Montana. Florida is too senior. Northern bases can expect about 80-90 hours a month, while Florida is much busier. I dont see any furlough coming in the next 24 months (considering the amount of growth), so I'd assume the training bond is safe and you wont get screwed. The chief pilot even admitted to me that they are way behind the hiring curve. Captains in the shuttle van said they really enjoy the job and they got lucky being bought out by VPAA.
If anyone has questions, feel free to PM.
Last edited by sandrich; 12-07-2011 at 06:34 PM.