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US Airways Pilot Interview Profiles

» Home » Pilot Interviews » Major Airlines » US Airways
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Date Interviewed: January 2013
Summary of Qualifications: DHC-8 Typed. Flew for subsidiary for 5 years. 5800 Hours TT. 4700 Turbine. Asst Chief Flight Instructor for 141 prior to airline job.
Were you offered the job? Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Preparation:
I would encourage all applicants to look at the gouges. They are extremely accurate. Relax have fun and be yourself. If you currently fly for a 121 you shouldn't have too many problems. I purchased ace the technical pilot interview from Amazon.com and learned a whole lot. I wouldn't recommend studying just the gouge. I also studied the JEPP introductory pages back and forth. Take out the charts including various 10-9s and look at the symbols. It might behoove you to look at the Instrument Flying Handbook. I would recommend with any interview that you consider coming in the night before to relax. I had eight interview packets ready for each member of the interview committee. This included on nice resume paper a cover letter, updated resume and all the letters of recommendation. I would recommend you get a letter from your company's chief pilot, instructor pilot, fellow pilot and maybe character references. I think they really want to see that you are not just another pilot but someone with a personality.

Night Before the Interview:
I would recommend staying at a hotel close by with reliable shuttle service to the CLT training center. My company stays at the Quality Inn and its cheap (32.00) and includes shuttle service to and from the CLT airport and CLT Training Center. A couple restaurants nearby to eat. Get a good meal and get to bed early. The hotel has a decent breakfast.

Day of the Interview:
The interview starts when you walk through the front door, so be sharp. I bought a new shirt, slacks, belt, shoes and dry cleaned by blazer. My brief case was brand new and a new hair cut wouldn't be a good idea. They want you in your company’s uniform to the “T” so I took off my company lapel pin. My Interview was in CLT. I met with a Captain who was very nice and tries to make you relaxed. He took me and another applicant to a small room and sat us down. They check over your logbooks, FCC Radio, licenses and medical. They seem to really like the Logbook Pro print out (hint hint). There are the two portions, the technical and the HR. I would concentrate on coming up with a few TRUE stories that could fit with each TMAAT. The more detail the better!!!! If you get something wrong or there needs to be clarification they will ask you. SLOW DOWN and think! They aren't there to rush you. If you read the gouge and study extra you should do just fine.

2-4 Weeks of Waiting:
They will respond to the interview in 2-4 weeks. I have heard of people getting hired in 6 days and I have heard of people getting hired on week 4. So don’t give up hope. Nonetheless it’s a long 2 weeks.

End Note:
The hardest part is getting the interview. Be aggressive and humble. Put your gloves on and ready for a fight. Do anything you can to give yourself the upper hand. The movement is quick and the experience is amazing once you get to the interview. It’s yours to lose at that point.
Date Interviewed: January 2013
Summary of Qualifications: ATP, 6000hrs, 3000 Jet PIC, 5500 Multi, 737 Type
Were you offered the job? Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Previous gouge is still accurate. It was a very non-confrontational interview. They do everything they can to put you at ease and make you feel comfortable. It was probably the most enjoyable interview I've ever done. I interviewed in PHX and was flown out and back, positive space. Paid for my hotel that night. I got the impression that once you made it to the interview they really, truly wanted to hire you.

Interview Format:

- Tour of the training center with a Captain (definitely part of the interview!)
- One hour HR interview. HR interview as mentioned previously follows the SAR format (Situation, Action, Result). Make sure you come ready with different stories from your flying career.
- One hour technical with pilots.

Technical portion is straight forward. Questions on Jepps, enroute charts, 10-9s etc. Nothing that is not encountered in everyday flying. Also some situational questions (TMAAT).

Everyone in the training center tries to make you feel at ease and you get the impression of a very well run company. Tons of hiring projected for the foreseeable future so this is a great time to get hired.


HR Questions:

Have you ever made a mistake? Tell me about a mistake you made.
What do you know about US Airways?
What got you interested in flying?
Why choose you over other applicants?
You take-off and experience an engine fire. Tell me how you would get the plane back on the ground.
TMAAT you counseled a fellow crew member that was stressed or upset?
TMAAT you counseled a passenger that was stressed or upset?
TMAAT you saw a Threat and intervened before the situation became more dangerous?
TMAAT you made a decision that resulted in a call from management?
If I called your Chief Pilot, what would he/she say about you?


Pilot Questions:

Questions about MEAs, MOCAs, MSAs, and approach/departure briefings, highlighting hot spots.

How would you stay within 10 miles of a fix without DME or GPS?
What type of hold to do on the ILS after going missed?
How would you rate your flying skills?
Have you contributed anything at your current flying job other than flying the line?
Have you flown with a CA or FO that did not follow rules and what did you do about that?
Date Interviewed: January 2008
Summary of Qualifications: Current Captain with Air Wisconsin, 4000-TT, 600-PIC, 220-121PIC, 3300-121SIC, 800-night.
Were you offered the job? Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Exactly what has been posted here before. Show up at 0730. Talk with Graham, HR interivew first(Karon and Donna)...TMAT when you had to work with others, most memorable passenger, TMAT when you had you intervened when someone wasn't following procedures...Next Tech interivew with BOS Chief Pilot (Ed) and Lne Captain (Lori). TMAT when you had to depend on others, TMAT when you were distracted in the airplane. Have you had any training difficulties? How did you overcome them. Have you made any significant impacts/contributions in your current or previous jobs. What would the last 10 FO's you have flowen with say about you. What can you bring to USair. What experience had you had that would prepare you to come to USair. Low altitude chart over Nassua, who would you contact at this position. Could you accept a lower altitude (No). Approach plate - MSA what is it based off of and area (off the TTH VOR within 25miles) Where is the highest obstacle. How would you get into the hold and at what altitue. Done by 1000. 1330 got the call for the job
Date Interviewed: October 2007
Summary of Qualifications: 5000+ few types 4000 PIC
Were you offered the job? No
Pilot Interview Profile:

Arrive in either CLT or PHX. Flew in the AM interview the PM and out that night. No hotel needed. No sim. 1 hour HR interview. 1 hour Pilot interview. HR. Many many TMAAT questions. How did you get into aviation. Take me through a disagreement you have had. Who is your most memorable pax. Tell me a time you were a leader. What is a good pilot. What do you know of LCC? Pilot TMAAT you were unsafe. TMAAT you saved the day or saw something that saved the day. TMAAT you disagreed or did not get along with a pilot. TMAAT you convinced a pilot from doing something unsafe. TMAAT you had to talk to someone about doing their job correctly. How do you prepare for unfamiliar airports. A few questions on a non precision or LOC Jepp plate. Simple what is an MSA, its protections, and all that jazz associated with it. When is the missed on the nonprecision. What happens if on the approach one day I have 500fpm and the next day I need 700fpm, what is affecting me....Winds. Where is the highest obstacle on the plan view. No math test or Aero knowledge tests. This is mostly a personality interview.
Date Interviewed: May 2000
Summary of Qualifications: NA
Were you offered the job? Don't Know
Pilot Interview Profile:

Ogden Transportation (USA contracts them to move people around (412)-269-4845

Call and they will take you from hotel, or airport to the RIDC bldg for the interview. 4th floor. Straight out of the elevator and you are there. All the people in suits are interviewees

USAIR Timeline 02-16 Mailed in Application 05-10 Call for Interview 05-15 Interview/Simulator evaluation 05-24 Conditional offer 06-02 Medical date

I heard they were hiring 110/month. So to get in now means you won't be junior for long

USAir flies you Positive Space to the interview. However you have to live near an airport they service. I flew DEN-PIT. Stayed at Wyndham Gardens 724-695-0002 for $71/nite (UsAirways rate) . The people the re including the van driver know where to take you. You lust tell them you have a simulator evaluation or the interview

I had the simulator evaluation the night before at 2300. There were two retired line pilots doing the evaluations, Sam Proctor and Ralph E'iennes. Nice guys, they really want to put you at ease. The whole process took about an hour. Show up early because there will be a folder waiting for you with simulator evaluation criteria and appch p1ate (Indi ILS 51). You will want time to review. You will be evaluated in a 737,727, or DC9, whatever is available. I would only add that you should brief the approach. You can assign the a/c to the evaluator while you do this.

we finished at 0100. The lady who scheduled my interview seemed to anticipate this and allowed me to show at 1000 for my interview There were 8 interviewees, 5 male and 3 female. I think they were all C ivilian. r didn't get much time to speak to everyone because I showed late.

We went right into the 5 written exams. Each was 25-50 questions, timed for 15 mm. They are quick. I studied from ARCO Officer Candidate Tests and APICO Mechanical Apti tude and Spatial Relations Tests. Maybe some of you have seen this stuff more recently than me but I haven't taken these kinds of tests since SAT's. I have referenced to the parts in the ARCO book that were similar to the tests, not the answers. It is just to become farnil jar with the kind of questions.

Verbal Reasoning: ( ___ is to pod as nut is to_____)

Choose from a,b,c,d

Basic Math: Pencil and paper. NO CALCULATORS!

I would suggest spending time with fractions, square roots, percentages. Only answers I can remember are: if there is a long algebraic equation divided by another long algebraic equation, the answer is e.

Square root of 169=13 4.036 divided by .04 = 100.9 1/5 divided by 9 = none of the above

484 x 25 = 12100 .016 x .016 = .000256

Mechanical Aptitude

This test is much easier than the math. Reference ARCO page 228

---->pulleys, levers, turning cams and cogs, car running around a track, which wheel is spinning faster.

Logic Sequence: Mech Apt and Spatial Relation Reference ARCO page 143

Test gives you sequence of shapes and you pick the next shape in the sequence

Spatial Reasoning Reference ARCO page 65

They give you a piece of paper that you would fold, shaded or decorated sides. You must figure out what the shape will look like once it is folded.

This is where I went to lunch with 2 other interviewees. A guy from the office took us to a deli downstairs. Little did I know that he was one of the ones who would interview me later. Just goes to show that they are hiring people, not just pilots. They are all super friendly and they want to get to know you while you are there. They like it when you talk!

After lunch I went into the interview. The HR lady's name was Inez. She was very nice, and also was a retired line captain. It is a very easy atmosphere to relax in. They kid around and joke a lot to put you at ease.

They will start with a general review of your ap. Then they will begin with situational questions. Be sure when answering these to be as specific about these things as possible: Date, aircraft, specific situation, solution. You don't even necessarily have to talk about an aviation expereince. They like creativeness.

Questions I was asked:

1. Favorite class? Least favorite? GPA?

2. Current job responsibilities? Do you like your job? Why do you want to come here then?

3. A stressful situation where you took charge. How did you handle it?

4. Time you had to deal with an annoying or arrogant crew member?

5. Time you made a mistake and you wish you could change it?

6. Most difficult decision you ever made?

7. Ever make a decision that others didn't agree with? How did you handle it?

8. Time you disagreed with a rule or procedure?

9. Time you had to deal with someone sensitive?

10. Example of your favorite captain leadership skill?

11. Ever flown with a captain you didn't like? Why?

12. What can you bring to US Air as a flight officer?

13. Any questions for us?

Review of logbook and some paperwork (5 minutes). Keep a copy or 2 of everything you bring, and have the originals on hand, too. Bring a current 1st class medical. They thank you for coming then you go into the waiting room.

Computer Testing

Psych profile done with 241 questions that ask you similar questions several different ways. BE truthful, and state "strongly agree " or strongly disagree" when you can.

Some games done with a light pen to test hand eye coordination, memory, ability to do multiple tasks at once, and decision making skills. SPEED and ACCURACY are important. These are really fast paced and you can't really study for them.

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