Sounds easy enough. Does the evaluator pause the sim after giving holding instructions? Does he bug your headings, courses, timers, etc?

How about the tech?

 

No pausing on the sim, he takes the controls from you (proper passing of the controls). Brief the approach and tune and ID the ILS. Set your heading bugs and inbound course. He runs your time during the holds though. You have to be the Capt and command him to do it. Takes you about 20 mins from t/o to touchdown.

 

Just a heads up for anyone booking a hotel the night before the interview. I found prices to be pretty high in the area so I called sheltair to see if they had a special deal with someone and they got me into the airport Hilton for $79 a night and that includes shuttle service to and from the airport, breakfast buffet, pool, hot tub, and gym. Back in the day when I was doing my time building I stayed at a hotel right near the airport and I can't remember if it was the marriot or the hilton, but it was a nice place nonetheless. I remember a bar/resturaunt a short walk away called All Stars that had good burgers and was open late. If you need to book just call sheltair and they make the reservation for you at their discounted price.

 

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.

 

congratulations to you, "I" was in no position to make captain(pic)decisions while flying passengers with that amount of time!

 

...I didnt apply for a captain position.....And clearly I was using that to prove a point......nowhere did I say that I'm suitable to make such decisions, or that I should have a job over someone else. I sent my resume, they called, I interviewed. Why not?

 

...you actually did, that is what an fo is for, to back up the captain! what are you going to do there in the right seat, just go along for the ride? this is not a personal attack but only my OPINION, so it doesn't mean anything.


good luck to you and congratulations on your possible first airline job.

enjoy

 

Yeah I guess your right. But, its not a job yet. Still waiting on the offer, and still not sure if I would accept. Not totally swung on barely financially surviving for the next 2 years...Part of me is saying "****** it, its just 2 years"...

 

Do we think the Saab will go senior once it starts coming online?

 

Eh who knows. I'd assume its hard to judge seniority when a new piece of equipment comes on line. But considering they will be flying on the senior lines, yes.