Logbook question for interview preparedness

Gross Navigational Error · Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:59 pm

Hi folks,

I've been fortunate enough to be scheduled for a phone interview next week. If they still like me then I get shceduled for the panel interview. You all know the process.

My question is...
Over the years I have not kept up the column in my logbook entitled "Actual Instrument". I always believed that if it is just IFR time the it will be almost all of my multi time. If it is time spent in actual IMC then who could ever come up with an accurate time for that. I could guess but that's no right. I can't fly around with a stop watch so I have always left that column blank. I have almost 7000 hours. Is this going to be a problem or shall I atempt to fill it in somehow? What will the interview panel think if I leave it blank?

Any/all advice greatly appreciated!

GNE

Ryan Coke · Post by **Ryan Coke** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:42 pm

They'd only worry if some wacko actually flew around with a stopwatch and logged his 'actual', or more likely forged the column with some bogus number. There are some requirements for 'simulated or actual IFR' time for some early licenses I think, but after that (the last 6800 hours, for you) it is just a line that the people that printed your logbook put in there. They could put in a line that says 'inverted time', but that doesn't mean it would have to be filled out.

And if my silly rant doesn't convince you, I fly for WestJet, don't keep track of my 'actual instrument' time, didn't have it filled out for my interview, and in fact don't even have a line for it in my current logbook.

Good luck on the interview!

Gross Navigational Error · Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:51 pm

Thanks Ryan!

I won't worry about it. Cheers.

tripleseven · Post by **tripleseven** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:01 am

Consider this story first: I know a guy who did a Cathay interview. He was in the same situation as you are now. Someone told him that the rule of thumb was that your actual IFR should be about 10% of total flying. So, having about 3428 hours (a guess for illustrative purposes), he magically had one entry of 343 hours on the last page of his logbook. To make a long story short, he made a fool of himself trying to explain this to the two british dudes across the table from him how he knew that he had exactly 343 hours of actual. He also didn't make it past the first interview.

Call me a nerd, but I've been keeping track of IFR time since day one. I don't use a stopwatch, but I keep track of it. If I do and approach, or climb through a layer, it's an automatic 0.1. Otherwise, I take an educated guess of how much time I spent in clouds. If you take my total time, and subtract all the ab initio stuff, it is pretty damn close to 10% of my total.

I would go through your logbook and make an effort to "get some" IFR time on paper.

Flightlevels · Post by **Flightlevels** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:46 am

For us...don't worry about it. WJ looks deeper than that(ifr time) WJ concentrates on other things that would stand out that are more obvious/important. The instrument time is a given knowing where you flew and what you flew to where. BTW the medicals are sheduled after you get hired in order to streamline things now, I know it doesn't make sense..."after you get hired" but getting someone in/out of town, doing the medical and interview etc was a tough long day, If problems show up after the fact, then the ball will be in your court. fair enough we hope.

Gross Navigational Error · Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:34 am

Thanks Flightlevels, it makes good sense. I also believe that what's done is done. I would rather be honest about not logging actual IFR time then making stuff up. I'd sleep better at night.

I interview guys at the company I work for and call me old fashion but honesty and integrity is everything.

Thank you also to you tripleseven I appreciate your opinion as well.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:45 am

Gross Navigational Error wrote:honesty and integrity is everything.

You must not work at Westjet because most "owners(not at westjet inparticular just your normal companies, mcdonalds walmart jetsgo)" lack both....

Kenny Blankenship · Post by **Kenny Blankenship** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:49 am

]

Flightlevels wrote:For us...don't worry about it. WJ looks deeper than that(ifr time) WJ concentrates on other things that would stand out that are more obvious/important. The instrument time is a given knowing where you flew and what you flew to where. BTW the medicals are sheduled after you get hired in order to streamline things now, I know it doesn't make sense..."after you get hired" but getting someone in/out of town, doing the medical and interview etc was a tough long day, If problems show up after the fact, then the ball will be in your court. fair enough we hope.

so after you leave your current job and move to YYC, you get your medical done and hope for the best, seems like a pretty big gamble to me as I can think of a few people who have done that kinda of thing and ended up out of 2 jobs.

I personally would rather make sure I was medically fit(according to WJ standards) before I give up my current job.

Anyone else think this is a bad idea???

KB