Systems during interviews
 

How do airlines choose which aircraft to test you on for systems during an interview? Im looking at going to Skywest or RAH. Is it most recent? Most time in make and model? You choose? Random? I got my ME rating in a BE76, last flight about 8 months ago, about 30 hours total. Then about 10 as safety pilot in a BE58, also about 8 months ago. MEI in a PA44, and it looks like I may get to fly with a friend on some trips in a Seneca, maybe 10 hours total. I should have about 50 hours Seminole time leading into the interview as my most recent. Which plane(s) do I need to know?

All of them. If you're going to put them in your logbook you should be familiar with them.

I have a two hours logged in a Stearman. It has now been brought up on three interviews. If there's something unique or something that the person on the other end of the interview is familiar with it will likely come up.

I think in a concept sense yeah know yours systems. But speed and limitations in an airplane you have not flown for a while are not really needed.

Generally it is the airplane you currently fly, or the most complex airplane you have flown. If you're a CFI and fly multiple airplanes, it will probably be the twin or most complex airplane.

However, if the interviewer has history with a certain airplane, that could come up too. I don't think it would be reasonable to ask systems Q's about an airplane from your past.

But if you're a CFI and go for a ride in a citation don't log SIC unless you're willing to break down that airplane at your next interview.

I have already planned on being very familiar with the Seneca and Seminole since they will be recent, just wasn't sure if I needed to review the BE58 and BE76. Id rather memorize just two fuel/hydraulic/electric system diagrams instead of four.

Well, for what its worth my last airline interview they didn't even ask me 1 systems question....I guess it could have been due to my having an FAA type rating in the a/c or having flow it for 2 years....In fact I can't remember any airline asking more than 1 or 2 questions...I think if you know the first few questions they would let it go and move on.

I was all ready to describe landing gear and electric at my interview...never came up.

As mentioned, anything in your logbook is fair game. Fortunately for you, the Seminole and Seneca have similar or identical systems for just about everything so that should be easy. A Duchess and Baron would obviously be a bit more dissimilar but besides for V-speeds, all of those aircraft are pretty straight forward and fair game on an interview.

Just be familiar with what you have flown... if asked and you dont know... DONT try to BS them. Personally I wasnt asked anything technical on my interview with RAH, but others in my interview group got grilled.

The PA-44 was the twin I had the most time in as well as the most recency in. I was given a choice of systems to talk about. I chose the prop system and gave a rather broad overview of what kind it was and how it worked. The pilot asked me certain questions about it to which I directed my answers to both him and the H/R lady.