Some answers
Lots of questions on this thread, but I didn't see any responses.
First of all, congrats on the interview. I remember well every interview call/letter I ever received and I jumped around like a lunatic.
Use the gouge on aviationinterviews.com. Study applicable parts of the Instrument and ATP test prep. Study the AIM and FARs. Look up samples of the IQ test online, just so you can get some techniques going. Read a couple of the aviation interview books out there. Practice telling your "how I got into aviation" story.
I would affirm what was said regarding the interview being a personality check. Airplanes don't crash because someone doesn't know the holding speed above 14,000 feet. They crash when two folks sitting in the pointy end aren't getting along well enough for one of them to speak up. Be yourself, but bring out those parts that you believe make you most attractive.
If you haven't flown a PC before, buy an hour of time just to get the hang of it. Departure, turns, level off, hold, ILS, pretty basic and just use any light twin procedure with which you're comfortable.
Bases: LGA, BUF, GSO, MCO, IND, STL, CMH. Rumors of BOS reopening if we pick up more northeast flying for DAL or US.
Commuting is your call. I did a two leg commute from IND to Charlottesville, VA for PDT as an FO, and it was horrible. Being gone is the worst part of this job, and commuting makes you gone more. We do have a commuting clause, which may ease the pain. I'm living in base with CHQ and I can't believe the QOL difference. I'd like to think I'll never commute again, but I probably will. Upgrade pay is quite motivating.
Pay is 21, 28, 32, and 33 for year 1-4 FOs until our next pay raise which is 10/04. FO pay tops out at 36 (2007), but by that year we could have a new contract. The lowest captain pay on the property is 45 (for 1 year captains, which don't exist). 5 year captains make 54 on the small jet and 61 on the biggun. If you want to dream, 2007 pay for 90 seat aircraft is $119 if you've been here 20 years (long live the lifers!).
Good company, well diversified, aggressive management, good pilots, good safety record, nice airplanes, pilot labor issues recently settled. Pay isn't the highest, but I've flown for two airlines that had industry leading pay for the equipment (PDT and UAL) and personally witnessed the unsustainability of those contracts.
Drop me a private message if you have more questions. Best of luck to all who are preparing for interviews anywhere, I know it's an exhilarating and exhausting process...
W8N
