Ameriflight scoop

[ShortsDriver]

Got a call from Ameriflight out of the blue for an interview in PDX for their 402 or Chieftan. I have read the gouge on AviationInterview.com, but was wondering if there was anything more recent any one might be able to add.

Thanks

 

[ProPilot5]

Just finished indoc. this week, sounds like they will have class of 5 captains a month, or there abouts.

You will meet with recruiter, give up all paper work including latest DMV, show off and already have copies, they will make their own, but recruiter seemed to like it. Then off to conference room to go over HR and Tech questions.

What is Black rectangle with squiggle gap in the middle under a victor way on a low enroute chart. (MEA Gap)
What are Green verses blue airport information blocks
Why capital letters on airport information blocks vs small case
Really look at airport information blocks and decode
I was asked No weather questions
Flying the Santa Barbara, CA ILS how would you set up Navs, DME and NDB
Given a ground speed and fuel burn, after missed at primary airport, how much fuel is required. I know it is enough to get to alternate and reserve but you have to calculate it in gallons.
Pick my most current aircraft and diagram out the electrical system, I should have nailed this since every post says you do this, know how battery terminals are connected to buss and what systems might be on 12v and what on 24v. He gives you choice of A/C.
At 14 and 15 thousand feet how far out could you sence the VOR, know the numbers.
First question like everyone said was, what is MOCA, show me one on Jepp chart.
Any inicidents, or interesting experiences
Why Ameriflight over several regionals
Details required for Contact and Visual Approach, if you accept a Visual, are you still IFR?
When do you need an alternate airport
What is wx requirement for alternates
Given a groundspeed and ft/nm climb required and your ability to climb rate from VSI, can you make the grade? Just use equation for ft/nm climb to ft/min calculation.

Options at this point in the interview are:
Thank you, you are a candidate come take simm ride
Thank you we will let you know
Thanks you come back next week for simm ride

I was asked to take a simm ride in their AST? 820 with the guts of a Chieftain seats and everything real realistic with the windshield fogged over, a little eerie, actually feel like you are in actual, just put eyes on the dash and was ok.

Go into room with simm instructor and review checklist, very simple one page very basic. Given plenty of time to review it.
Given a/p diagram of Santa Monica Airport to takeoff from R/W 3 clearence:

Cleared to Burbank A/P – On departure Fly R/W headings to 900’ then climbing right turn to 270 degrees intercept and track out on the LAX 316 degree to Silex intersection(IAF).

I was given plenty of time to review the departure plate and Approach procedure copy the clearance in the room go over it. Power settings are on the bottom of the checklist, very straight forward. Very friendly and warm environment, no tricks. No engine outs, no lost comms don’t touch flaps or worry about ATIS, don’t set up for missed, you wont see airport just kill throttles and the end.

The airplane is on the runway preflighted and checked ready to go you just get clearance to takeoff and give throttles.
Held altitude perfectly
Climb at 100 knots, bank angle about 20 degrees for standard rate
Don’t use flaps unless you feel necessary, encourage not to.
Only used Comm 1, 2 is a dummy just ask instructor for ATIS, not necessary to pull up youself.
Level out at 4k’ do cruise checklist fly to silex, parallel entry and used hold to turn around. Was cleared for the approach well before silex just had to fly as published, no vectors, no interruptions. Very quite and professionally done
Plane was so smooth flying, that the only problem was a drift to the left caused by my left hand pulling done on the yoke.

Excellent experience, very professional, friendly, calm surrounding, treated very fairly and respectfully, different from several other interviews. Good company with great planes, Beech 99, 1900s, Metros, Brazillians, Chieftains, Saw a king air in the hanger, lears, perfect place to move quickly into PIC Twin Turbine or better.

PM if you have specific questions.

 

[fraitman]

Shorts: that was an excellent review of the technical part of the interview by Flyboy2. It is competitive, and there may be several pilots with strong technical knowledge and skills competing for one position. Some advice on non-technical issues:

Dress nice. Doesn't need to be expensive, but clean, crisp, maybe buy a new shirt and tie if yours are getting kind of old. Have a hair-cut within the last week. Make good eye contact. Answer the question being asked, don't try to impress the interviewer by babbling on about other things. If you don't know an answer, say you don't know. Don't let it drag you down, everyone misses questions. Be confident, self-assured, not cocky. Be respectful, don't forget to smile. Be likeable. Remember, they are hiring Captains, not FO's. They need to trust that you maintain your composure when out there in the weather by yourself. Do some research on the company. If you have questions, write them down so you don't forget.

Have a note pad with you. Maybe if you have a hard time with a question, jot it down. If he asks why, say you want to look up the answer later. They want pilots who like to learn. Remember the names of the people you meet. When departing, say something like "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview Mr. Smith." Don't act like they are doing you a big favor by interviewing you, and don't act like you are doing them a big favor either. Be neutral, they have things to offer you, and hopefully you have things to offer the company -- a balance. They want pilots with good communication and people skills, show it. You will have direct contact with the customers, they want pilots that the customers will like.

Think in advance about what you have to offer the company. Avoid saying things like "I am a safe pilot." That is assumed. Everyone will say that. Remember they are in business by giving good service to customers. Learn about who their customers are, and how they serve their customers. Show an interest in the business of the company, not just that you want to be paid to fly an airplane. Do you know anyone that works there? Call them, pick their brain. Determine two or three of the top reasons that you want to work for the company. Think about 2 or 3 reasons they should hire you over someone else that is a qualified and competent pilot. Maybe something in your background or experience. Have you had jobs that involved customer service? If the time is right, maybe you can talk about how you went out of your way to help customers (even if it was at Taco Bell). It is an attitude they are looking for.

Most of all, be honest. Experienced interviewers usually have great BS detectors. Sincerity is important. It will be straight-foward, they don't play these weird games, good-cop, bad-cop,or any of that stuff. They just want to get to know you enough to be confident that you would succeed in training and on the job.

If you can get a letter of recommendation from former bosses, it can't hurt -- aviation jobs or otherwise. Especially valuable is an LOR from an AMF Captain. But if you don't know anyone there, you can still get the job based on a good interview. Good luck. Let us know how it went.