Interview with First Air

[synthpro]

I was invited to an interview WITH SIM for First Air.

Any heads up would be much appreciated on what to expect.

Synhpro

[scopiton]

for which position ?

[MKIII]

I think there is an opening for a president position...

[Hoov]

Rampies too...

[ettw]

If its like mine was:

Technical exam. cant remember how many questions..maybe 30....IFR, northern ops, i think there was a q about ISA at 35000 feet or something like that, maybe a q about whether to climb or decend as you encounter turb in the vicinity of a jetstream.

The interview was straight forward...tell us about a time....tell us about a time.....describe what crm means to you.

Sim eval was also straight forward. use the pnf, call for the checklists, basic ifr but just faster (of course that depends on what youre flying now). Its a citation sim if they use the TC one here in YOW.

Cheers,

ETTW

[synthpro]

Thanks so much ETTW!

That really helps.

Synthpro

[Changes in Latitudes]

What ETTW says is on the level.

Have a good idea of the company before you go in. Have an understanding of CRM situations and know that they involve more than just interacting with another pilot (flight attendants, ground crew, dispatch, ops interactions).

Know why you want to work there and the type of environment you'll be working in. Come armed with a few questions too.

[B757FO]

If its like mine was:

Technical exam. cant remember how many questions..maybe 30....IFR, northern ops, i think there was a q about ISA at 35000 feet or something like that, maybe a q about whether to climb or decend as you encounter turb in the vicinity of a jetstream.

The interview was straight forward...tell us about a time....tell us about a time.....describe what crm means to you.

Sim eval was also straight forward. use the pnf, call for the checklists, basic ifr but just faster (of course that depends on what youre flying now). Its a citation sim if they use the TC one here in YOW.

Cheers,

ETTW

ETTW is bang on. I used to do some interviews there in my time there and if they are the same exams as before I created them and they are not that hard. If you have the books written by a guy in western Canada go through the ATPL ones and the questions are similar. 1 exam was for jet entries and 1 exam for turbo prop entry level. The exam is based on experience and is only a guidline in the hiring process. It was 30 questions for the turbo prop and 65 for the jet rated pilots. Again mostly as stated above ATPL exam and some basic questions like the ISA at 35000'. I believe the question was what is ISA -10'C at 35000ft. Or it was written the other way like if its -45'C at 35000 what is ISA. I think it's the 2nd way if I can remember. What happens to mach in a climb at a constant IAS. At -20'C the Altimiter over or under reads. Lightning is prominent around a thunderstorm between what temperature ranges? -5 to +5'C etc questions like that. The interview part is based on the old Air Ontario interview now this may have changed but I am sure its the same one. Simple situations they put you in and you have to talk your way out of it essentially. As ETTW mentioned always mention the F/A. Drunk Captain etc. Tell us why we should hire you. Why First Air and not AC/WJ etc. Know a bit about the company will always help.

The sim profile was based in YOW on the King air 90 sim. (This is all by memory so may not be corrent but the items to be covered will be the same.)
T/O from rwy 25 left turn direct the YOW VOR (may be clearance) Prior to reaching the VOR you will get a hold clearance at the VOR. Use the pilot not flying to fly basic skills straight and level on the heading etc and speed. Once you brief the hold and don't forget to talk about wxx and fuel etc for the hold advise company then advise the backend etc. You will be vectored for an ILS on either 32 or 07 to a go around engine failure. Vector around for a visual on one of the runways. Now this may have changed but sim evals are all similar. There are looking for a good scan. The sim has no Z axis so it does not yaw only pitch and roll so engine failures are pretty easy to feel them. Falls to one side.
Its a good company as BBB will agree but I had done my 11 years and needed a change. Miss it though some days. Good luck. Let us know how you did.

EDITED: ADDED
Another thing we used to do is give a guy a small emergency checklist on the 727 and give you a minute to remember it then they take it away and ask you to recite it by memory as best you can.

Cheers.
B757FO

[synthpro]

Hey B757FO...

I want to truly thank you for these points. I will make sure to put them to good use. Thank you so much, and I appreciate the time you took to write this.

Synthpro

[B757FO]

No problem. Good luck. Just be yourself. The more info you know about the company is a plus also as ETTW said. They will ask you what do you know about 7F. Routes planes bases etc.

Good luck.

B757FO

[Brantford Beech Boy]

Its a good company .... Miss it though some days.

some days.

BBB

[Pratt]

Word has it that they are not doing very well at the moment, losing alot of market share to Canadian North and others. Having let go a couple of the big guys........................

Just a few more things you might want to figure into your decision.

[northernu]

ya, ive also heard they're not doing too well at the moment. looks like the few guys who got out and headed to asia left at the right moment. from what ive heard though, the shaky area lies with the atr staff...i doubt 5T could take over for the herc though.

[young grasshopper]

ive also heard they're not doing too well at the moment

I suppose you've scoured over the 7F accounting books to figure out that one? I guess a friend of a friend would be a reputable source though...

looks like the few guys who got out and headed to asia left at the right momen

No one has left for Asia...but yeah - when EVERY company was losing guys, 7f lost some guys to Emirates/AC/etc.

Having let go a couple of the big guys...

Sometimes change is a good thing...wait for a couple months and you'll see...

from what ive heard though, the shaky area lies with the atr staff

Pretty brazzen for a guy with ONE post...Stand by your Company/Identity if you're choosing to slag another company and their staff...

Jeff

[Pratt]

Having let go a couple of the big guys...

Sometimes change is a good thing...wait for a couple months and you'll see...


Jeff[/quote]

I am not arguing with you, just stating facts.


I didn't say it wouldn't be better or worse,, but it is the typical knee jerk reaction when things aren't going well. Two very experienced guys gone, who is directing the show now, the bean counters, that can't be good.

[Changes in Latitudes]

ya, ive also heard they're not doing too well at the moment. looks like the few guys who got out and headed to asia left at the right moment. from what ive heard though, the shaky area lies with the atr staff...i doubt 5T could take over for the herc though.

Definitely, with consistently full loads and 60 years of doing this I am sure 7f is feeling this shaky ground and hitting the panic button. I'm betting that they've never had a change in management in 60 years either, its all very new to the organization as you must know. Hope those Dash 8's can handle sarcasm because I am loading it on real thick at the moment.

Anyway, there's enough food at the buffet for everyone, just keep your face on the right side of sneeze guard, ace.

Getting back on track, First Air offers an outstanding benefits package, above average pay, great maintenance, good schedule, and great people to work with in a challenging environment. It's a stable organization worth exploring; go to the interview!

[flynfiddle]

I've heard those ATR guys are a shifty bunch!

[Four1oh]

7f is a solid company, with solid flying; the kind of flying that teaches you more than just hand-flying an ILS. You'll learn lots, and the place probably smells far better now that a certain CEO is gone. It can only get better.

My sim eval was on the 727 many moons ago. Remember, if you find yourself on a 5 mile final, in the dark, and no glideslope; power=altitude and pitch=speed.

[Rowdy]

ETTW - You're a king. Every post I've seen from you has been clear, concise to the point with no bullshit and no bias. Pretty impressive for a Hawker pilot. haha

I have no info to add as I don't work there, but we see a lot of their crews and they seem like a good bunch.

Best of luck to you.

[synthpro]

Hey everyone.

I GOT THE JOB!!!! ha ha ha. I'm so happy.

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. The kind of information I received from you was extremely useful.

So I truly thank you for all your help. This was a big break for me.

Synthpro

[Changes in Latitudes]

Hey everyone.



I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. The kind of information I received from you was detrimental to my interview last week. Information is most certainly POWER.

Synthpro

Geeze, that's the last time I give out any employment info, I didn't mean for it to be detrimental to your inteview, Synth!



detrimental (comparative more detrimental, superlative most detrimental)



Causing damage or harm.
Smoking tobacco can be detrimental to your health.


Congrats!!! I think

[synthpro]

Still hangn' from the celebrations last night.

Synthpro...

[young grasshopper]

Welcome to the team - are you YOW/YFB based or YZF? In any event - congrats again and see you around...

[ettw]

Hey everyone.

I GOT THE JOB!!!! ha ha ha. I'm so happy.

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. The kind of information I received from you was extremely useful.

So I truly thank you for all your help. This was a big break for me.

Synthpro

CONGRATS!! I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much!

Cheers,

ETTW