ATP multiple type ratings 20,000 total. 121 captain.
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
All Mesaba training classes are cancelled indefinately. Mesaba only got 5 of 15 that they were expecting from Delta. Those that were awaiting their training class to begin are now in a pool for first call to a new class date.
Date Interviewed: October 2008
Summary of Qualifications:
20,000 total hrs., 9000 pic-jet 121, some 135, military R/W. Retired UAL Capt. Multiple jet type ratings. 121 check capt. and adademic and sim instructor.
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
The process starts with a presentation about Mesaba from a line captain and HR personel. Documents that were requested were collected. Two written exams were administered, first the aviation knowledge test (review ATP knowledge test by Gleim), second was the intelligence test by wonderlick (google this and review as many as you can find). Next came the desk top sim evaluation. Basic flying skills and vor/adf orientation. you'll start airbourn with gear and flaps down, climb to 2000' cleaning up on climb out. Steep turn, then vor orientation, center the needle and read the radial SE of station. Your then repositioned on base leg for the ILS-6, make sure your w/i 10nm before letting down to proceedure turn altituted or stay at last assigned, 2000'until established inbound,call the tower OM, down to minimums, missed approach turn to track to NDB this is fixed card, no rmi. Turn to head of needle establish where you are from the NDB, NE quad, and the ride is over. The desk top sim is a single engine constant speed prop. If you have not used a desk top sim invest some time/money at the local fbo sim traniner. This is a very old basic trainer a good cross check is your friend. During the check you will be asked a couple of questions DO NOT STOP FLYING THE SIM EVEN WHILE FROZEN IN POSITION. You will be asked what holding entry you would use for a given set of holding instructions over a vor approching from different quads. Some specifics, Interview w/Line Capt and HR...Jepp plate questions, loc min vs full ILS mins for different cat of aircraft. Be able to interpret METAR current and forcast wx and apply that to destination wx requirements and alternate wx requirements for your arrival at destination and alternate. Be able to explain the operation of a system of your current aircraft especially if your currently flying a CRJ. Its usually the electrical system. Dont get fancy, stick to the basics. Some of the canadates were asked more HR questions, what would you do if-- maintenance/personel/weather problems arose, would flying with a young captain bother you,(remember I'm 60). The log books were reviewed during the interview. Then off for the pre-employment drug test, then to the airport and home to begin the waiting. Aviation knowledge test... skip the chapters that are aircraft specific, BE1900, 727 etc. Chapters 1 NTSB830,FAR 1/61/91, Chapter 2 Basic VFR, Ch 3 FAR 121 I don't recall any, ch 4 FAR 135 T/O min, wx for dest/alt. Ch 5 Aerodynamics don't recall any, Ch6 airspace and airports yes Class C & D, and speeds. Ch 8 Nav/holding and approach plates. Ch9 no enroute charts stuff but app plates. Ch10/11/12/13 skip. Ch 14 Weather yes.. if your at Fl 270, Alt set to 29.92 and you for get to reset it during descent to a landing at an airport with a bero of 30.57, field elev. 650' what will the altimeter read? (sea leavel) ref 14.7, icing/frost. Ch15 Wx reports yes. Ch 16 Wind shear don't recall any. Ch 17 Aero medical don't call any. Appendix A skip, Appendix B/C review. Transportation & Hotel.... Mesaba will provide the transportation to MSP to arrive the day before and return after the days events. Don't cut it close on arrival in to MSP get there so as to allow time to get to hotel and review and REST. The events start AT 07:30, transportation from the recommended hotels is provided the HQ/HR office opens at 07:00. Dress sharp be confident good luck. Check with the hotel desk about your ride to Mesaba when you check in. Now for the hotels...Mesaba recommends several hotels that they use all the time for these interviews. They offer a rate of $65-$85 for which you are responsible. Call them and check for a restaurant in the hotel or w/i walking distance. Mine had niether ordered in pizza for dinner and cold pizza for breakfast, take something for lunch or the're vending machines.
Date Interviewed: September 2008
Summary of Qualifications:
CFI/CFII/MEI 1200TT, 120ME, 500 Instruction given, 520 Cross Country
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Phone call for the interview was short notice but accepted the offer to come and interview. Mesaba will pay for the airfare but you are responsible for the hotel. Interview started at 730am and there was 5 people in this group. Started off with a presentation about Mesaba given by a captain/check airmen then a tour of dispatch. Two written test are given and then the interview with a pilot and HR. If you make it past the interview they will send you to the simulator. After the simulator it’s off to the drug screen and back to the airport.
Wonderlick Test 50 questions 12 minutes to complete as many as possible "we're looking for a certain number right" Basically an IQ test, study questions like "Are the following words same, opposite or neither same nor different" 4 things cost 50 cents. You 55 dollars, how many 33 and a third of these items can you buy?
Aviation Written Test 25 question multiple choice test based off of Part 91 and instrument procedures 30 minutes to complete, looking for an 80% or better -holding entry questions -You are 20 south of the ABC VOR, you have a clearance to hold west of the ABC VOC on the 270 radial with left turns. What entry and timing will be used? -What can you do when you see the approach lights at MDA/DA? -If you’re 18,000 ft and 50 miles out from the ABC VOR and get a clearance to be 10,000 ft 10 miles out what is the latest distance you could descend at 2000FPM going 240 knots? -VOT -MDA on a DME arc, on the arc portion -Speed limits -Holding altitudes, holding times and speed limits -Cloud clearance in class B -What is MSA and what does it provide you? -On this TAF what will the weather be at 1130?
HR Interview Do you have traffic violations? Ever failed a check ride, explain? Why Mesaba? What has been the biggest hurdle in your flying career? Did you ever have a student who just couldn’t get something, how did you handle this? Who do you look up to, why? Tell me a time you were scared in a plane Tell me about a boss you got along with Tell me about someone you didn't get along with What did you do when someone wanted to you to break FARs? What was your biggest mistake in a plane? What would you do if your captain didn’t follow SOPs and you told on him? What if you fly with that captain after you told on him and he confronts you? When flying, what is the most important thing to you to be safe?
Technical Interview What is CRM? Who all is involved in CRM? When you think of CRM, what is one word that comes to mind? Approach plate was a Jepp (VOR approach into Eau Clair, Wis.) Brief this approach as you were flying it? Where is the highest point on this approach plate What is the DA? Explain electrical system in last twin you flew? What do you do if your alternator in your plane failed? If both alternators fail? What indications do you get in the cockpit if an alternator fails? What do you do if the other engine quit? If your engine quiets and you’re an equal distance from 2 airports, what factors determine what airport you choose?
Sim Ride The following directions are provided to you before you sit in the sim. 23 squared for cruise 25 squared for climb You start out at 500ft heading 030 Get the sim to 110 knots and pitch for 120 At 120 put gear up Level off at 2,000ft Steep turn to the left You’ll get a VOR and they want to know what quadrant you’re in (Northeast, Northwest etc.), radial and distance Vectors for the ILS at ISP 060 2 notches of flaps for landing and gear down Make radio call at GINN Approx 15-16 inches for the glide slope (whatever it takes to maintain 110 knots) Call tower on the missed Asked what I would do for the missed, when I would know I was at the VOR, what heading outbound and what heading inbound then it was over.
Onto the drug test.
Date Interviewed: December 2007
Summary of Qualifications:
550 TT 350 Multi 200 Jet Comm ME/SE Instrument CFI,CFII,MEI Falcon 20 SIC type
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Overall the interview process was very relaxed. They made everyone feel at ease. Started with 6 candidates in the conference room watching a presentation about the company. The presenter answered any questions we had. Then came the Wonderlic IQ test. Basically 50 questions I beleive around 12 mins or so. Pretty much impossible to complete the whole thing, no penalty for guessing so try your hardest. Then was the 25 IFR question quiz. All the other gouges recommend the ATP written to help study but I recommend using the everything explained for professional pilot. The questions are ones that should be known by a IFR pilot. Then a waiting game in the cafeteria. After that interviews with an HR person and line pilot. Very professional and very at ease. They want to get to know you. Questions about current plane, was little different for me because my current plane is a jet. Some approach plate and low enroute questions. They was given conditional letter of employment.
Went to they're sim. Very basic sim, just like an arrow. Takeoff, climb to whatever altitude. Steep turns, turn VOR, tell radial and distance. Track a VOR Radial. Vectors for an ILS take down to mins then go missed. They give you a different hold then one on the plate. I got established inbound on the hold and was then told I was done.
Then off to the clinic for a drug test and over to airport to come home. I really look forward to working for Mesaba, everyone is very professional and nice. Most importantly just be yourself in the interview.
Date Interviewed: November 2007
Summary of Qualifications:
CE525 type, CFI, Comm SEL/MEL Inst
Were you offered the job?
No
Pilot Interview Profile:
the previous gouge is dead on, also know stuff about helding speeds, weather requirements for ILS crtical hold short, visual decent points
The sim is currently ILS runway 6 Islip New York, missed to Deer Creek VOR
