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.

I would stick to the PA-44 and PA-34. Their systems are fairly similar. If you study one, you will know 70% of the other. Remember the main difference is the seneca is approved for icing, is turbocharged, and has air conditioning so there are a few more systems to explain. Also the fuel system has some differences as well. Then remember the what would you do questions - if this failed and then that failed and there are no airports, it's a hurricane and complete sandstorm, and one of your passsengers is having a heartattack and you have 15 minutes of fuel left type questions!!:D

I'd say pilotpip and herc driver are right. In my last interview I didnt get questions about my B1900 or king air 200 time. He said "of course you know those planes well, your last airline made sure of it." Tell me about the brakes on the Pa-44. I had to tell him I had no clue, it had been too long since I'd flown one. He didnt like it much and he was pretty rough after that, but it would have been much worse if I had tried to bs the guy.

good question to ask, and the real answer comes down to where your interviewing.....my only interview thus far has been at eagle and all i was asked was to tell him a little about the airplane im currently flying (piper mojave) i think i threw the guy for a loophole because he acted like he didnt know what it was (not suprising) turns out in the end they just really dont ask that much about systems at some places, they just need to fill classes

as everyone else has said, whichever you have the most time ot instructed in (how can you teach about a plane if you don't know it?)

i was asked one systems question in my RAH interview, as both I and the CA in the interview are/were qualifed on the EMB145.