[QUOTE=Slats;1614639]If you're a pilot in the military the sim will be waived for you along with other prior 121 folk unless you give them a reason to administer the sim.[/QUOTE]

What would be a reason for them to give me the sim?

 

[QUOTE=John 3:16;1614652]That's a good question... If you've been out of flying for a while that alone maybe a good enough reason to administer the sim, just to check scan ability ect... I would think however, if you're prior flying duties were as an officer in any airplane, it would be waived. It's not like you quit Great Lakes and went to bag groceries for 7yrs.

If you do a poor job in the tech/HR maybe even the CRM portion, the sim can be given as a tie breaker.

 

Thanks, John. I'll try to find out what sims are used in the ATP and Aerosim courses. I assume, however, that you used a different sim prep product/system/company?

 

I am using a company here in Denver, Advanced Aviation Simulators. They are good for the sim portion, but you might need something more than that to cover the whole spectrum of preparation. They are basically teaching you a specific airline interview simulator profile, nothing else.

There are many companies, I think AeroSolutions (or something like that) is mentioned in some of the other threads.

You really can't go wrong with them or Emerald Coast, they are just so professional and knowledgeable.

I saw the following books on MANY posts in many different threads, got them, have used them extensively, they might help you as well:
"Everything explained for the professional pilot" by Richie Lengel
"The turbine pilot's flight manual (third edition)" by Gregory Brown & Mark Holt
Jeppesen Instrument Procedures Guide
"Airline Transport Pilot Oral Exam Guide" by Michael Hayes
"Airline Pilot Interviews" by Irv Jasinski

 

I've learned that it's one thing to have a good instrument scan, but another thing entirely to try to have an effective scan in an unfamiliar cockpit, in a simulator that is intentionally unstable, flying approaches that have multiple "gotchas" to test your knowledge/skill.

4,000 hours of fighter time helped, but until you've looked down at your plate and then looked up to find yourself 20 degrees nose high and 500' above your assigned altitude, you don't understand how they test you in the interview. Add the stress of being evaluated and knowing it's a job on the line, and you will understand the value of being prepared and how even a little less stress will help you out

 

Great stuff, John. Thanks for taking the time. Everything you've mentioned reinforces my feeling that the more prep the better. And reducing that stress, even by a little, is what it's all about.

The very best of luck to you in your interview this week. But with your described prep, I'll bet you won't need any luck. Let us know how it goes. Thanks again.

 

All this being said, keep in mind that the regionals are all DESPERATE for pilots now. This isnt an interview where you're trying to convince them to hire you, this is an interview where all you need to do is not give them a big reason to NOT hire you. So don't let the nerves get to you about some PC-based sim ride.

 

Thanks, TBucket. My original concern was not so much about the interview but rather about being as prepared as possible for the training challenges, assuming that he would be hired by one regional or another.

Although a lot of folks on this forum describe various training programs as not extremely difficult, I have the impression that the challenges described by John 3:16 could still be faced in training. So I was wondering if anyone had any particular knowledge of these "airline prep" courses that seem to provide a degree of familiarity with the 121 environment prior to training.

Appreciate the feedback.

 

I did the ATP regional course. There was no classroom prep. The whole thing was about call outs and flying a CRJ simulator. It was of little use for the Skywest interview. Find a Frasca 142 simulator and an instructor and fly for 2-3 sessions just doing holds and knowing how to enter holds. Then vectors for the ILS. Use the check list provided for the aircraft the sim is set up for. Usually a chieftain. The Skywest sim is very quirky. Get used to flying straight and level with left hand and be able to scan, look away, pick up a check list, tell your instructor what the hold is etc and come back to your scan.
There is a Frasca at Oakland Flyers, one in Fresno and I believe one in Santa Ana. The other states, just do a google search. Good luck

 

Thanks very much, kiwiflyer. Great to hear from someone who actually took the ATP course.

Assuming a candidate is offered a job at any regional and is about to start training, do you think a course like that offers any value to someone with no prior exposure to the 121 world? I take it from your response that you don't.