Recent Pinnacle Interviewed - Whats Up With The New Test?

[CapnVegetto]

Brothers:

The critical AOA of a CRJ is (depending on a few things; such as weight of paint etc etc) about 23-27 degrees.

Basic knowledge kids!!!


(don't shoot me -- just giving ya'll crap with my 'basic knowledge' remark)

take care!

Yaaay!! Now I know the critical AOA on a CRJ!!!

Whoops, I just forgot it.

 

[FlyWithSean]

Irish Pilot what happened to you being a member of the Fractional Mafia?? Why Mesaba?? Arent they the lowest paying regional?

Well my wife knew the answers to all the Pinnacle questions but she is a super pilot anyways.

By the way Rhoid this is not a forum for advertising. While you are at it why dont you list the Frasca in your aircraft experience.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Irish Pilot what happened to you being a member of the Fractional Mafia?? Why Mesaba?? Arent they the lowest paying regional?

Well my wife knew the answers to all the Pinnacle questions but she is a super pilot anyways.

By the way Rhoid this is not a forum for advertising. While you are at it why dont you list the Frasca in your aircraft experience.

Still a member of the maf...just trying to head north until I have the times for where I want to apply. This way if something happens and I dont get hired at my frac Ive at least already taken steps to be where I want to be. Dont worry Sean...Ive still got eyes for the frac life! Just trying to plan right. Dont want to rule anything out at this point.

 

[Lear70]

Dutch, that question isn't looking for a specific pitch angle, or speed, or weight, (the pitch angle will change with flap setting, gear position, weight, CG, and Density Altitude but will always be the same AOA); it's a theoretical question.

The Coefficient of Lift (CL) and the Coefficient of Drag (CD) are not expressed by any physical unit, they are rather absolute numbers obtained from either wind tunnel tests or derived mathematically for every aircraft's airfoil by the manufacturer. A Lear 55 wing for example may have almost identical CL and CD numbers as the CL-65, but won't be exactly the same, even though the airfoil design is almost identical.

Initially both the CL and CD increase as the angle of attack increases to a certain "optimum" point (L/D Max). After this point, as AOA increases, the lift begins to drop slightly and drag INCREASES sharply; this point is defined as the Critical Angle of Attack. If the angle of attack increases past the Critical Angle of Attack, At one point all lift will be lost while the drag continues to increase (stall).

1. Why the hell does the backup hydraulic pump not come on automatically to pick up slack when you lose the engine driven pump? (or on the #3 system, the main electric pump)?

Because the most high-draw electrical items are external lights, galley items, and electric hydraulic pumps. If you lose an engine-driven hydraulic pump, the more-than-likely cause of such failure is that the engine in question stopped rotating, which means the generator is offline too and in most flight scenarios, this would leave you single-generator ops. Adding a bunch of electrical drain on your only working generator isn't the brightest of ideas, so the checklist calls for the APU to be started to give additional generator availability, THEN (for both a single-engine approach and/or a hydraulic pump failure) "select pumps 1B, 2B, and 3B on" prior to commencing the approach.

2. Why does the checklist not call for you to turn off the ENG SPD switch in the event of an N1 or N2 overspeed? (ENG SPD switch turns on and off the fuel computer, and an overspeed is more than likely either a stuck fuel valve or a bad fuel computer.....had this happen to me in the LR-35 and turning off the fuel computer corrected the problem.....even though it's NOT in the checklist)

Because Bombardier doesn't want people getting creative. The airplane training program isn't DESIGNED to give pilots enough information to know the system thoroughly enough to get creative; that kind of systems thinking is a thing of the past. They want robots who will complete the memory items, complete the QRH, complete the checklist, and "land at the nearest suitable airport". Period. It's also probably why these switches were removed in the -700's, where you don't even have CONTROL of the engine computers. Nice.

 

[Lear70]

Oh... almost forgot to mention. Sorry to hear you got caught in the new interview procedures but it gets better (worse). From my understanding they're introducing the "new and improved" interview process in stages. Eventually it will be a two-day process to involve:

1. Written test in its current form to cover knowledge of swept-wing aerodynamics, turbine engine theory, common jet aircraft systems theory, and Part 121 regs.

2. Portions of the MMPI (Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory) - psych test. No, I'm not joking. And don't call me "Surely".

3. Simulator eval in the CRJ, full-motion. Basic IFR skills, takeoff, (rumored to be a V1 cut or engine loss shortly after takeoff that most new-hires crash their first attempt on), proceed to a non-depicted hold, enter and exit, single-engine ILS approach and landing. Not to ATP minimums, but crashing is definitely a bad thing.

4. Overnight on your own dime.

5. Day two: 3-on-1 interview similar to what's in place now.

6. Rumors of a medical exam, but those haven't been confirmed yet.

Yeah, I know... all for a regional job and not a great one at that. Don't shoot the messenger.

 

[88_MALIBU]

If that is true it is a terrbile way to do an interview IMO. What skills can you detect from an applicant in a CRJ Sim? Didnt Mesaba stop doing there in a motion sim because it was such a terrible way of evaluating a young pilot's skills>? They are wasting money if that is going to be their process.

 

[pilotkppsg]

Man, the FAA must have their foot up Pinnacle's a$$ somethin' terrible to make Pinnalce mgmt. think they should do all that crap to get good pilots for a regional job.

 

[millhouse21]

4. Overnight on your own dime.

You gotta love that. I was never in any danger of getting hired at Pinnacle because I couldn't afford to go through training.

 

[Rob M.]

Here's the answer normal interview and a good training program. Then no more problems and wasted time, for everyone invovled. But that would be to easy, we don't do things the easy way in the airline business.

 

[Rook]

Shut up GIA Dork

Come on now EMB. Believe it or not 128 is a good kid. I know I'm coming to his defense because he's my co-worker, but he's just trying to give someone some info.

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[Rook]

Smart man.

Dude. You're supposed to Encourage people to come here. Don't you want more seniority?

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[Rook]

As funny as all the other flamebait on this thread has been the above quote had me pissing my pants. Thats the funniest g**dam thing I read this week.

I agree. But it's the truth. She's still giving the same 'quick upgrade' story during the interviews.

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[PCL_128]

Dude. You're supposed to Encourage people to come here. Don't you want more seniority?

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

Hey, you're right. Why didn't I think of that? Time to go post some of those USA Today ads down at the local FBO.

 

[Skaz]

Crit AOA, I also heard its 23-27 degrees, but thats not an option on the new test, you get 10, 46,60 and methinks 80 or 90.

Some pretty bizarre questions were asked though.

 

[ILSJUNKIE]

Hey, you're right. Why didn't I think of that? Time to go post some of those USA Today ads down at the local FBO.

It sounds like you guys are totally desparate for pilots right now. Why? I have heard some bad things about working there. Can you tell me whats wrong?

 

[PCL_128]

It sounds like you guys are totally desparate for pilots right now. Why?

We still need a couple hundred guys before the growth stops late this year. With the GIA program canceled and the company unwilling to pay anyone while they're in training, it's very hard to find qualified pilots. About half of the pilots that are offered jobs don't show up for training because they can't afford to pay for their hotel and expenses for 2-3 months while in training and receiving no paycheck.

 

[donaldd]

.....

 

[Rook]

It sounds like you guys are totally desparate for pilots right now. Why? I have heard some bad things about working there. Can you tell me whats wrong?

Might take a couple cases of beer dude.

Rook

 

[FlyChicaga]

Oh... almost forgot to mention. Sorry to hear you got caught in the new interview procedures but it gets better (worse). From my understanding they're introducing the "new and improved" interview process in stages. Eventually it will be a two-day process to involve:

1. Written test in its current form to cover knowledge of swept-wing aerodynamics, turbine engine theory, common jet aircraft systems theory, and Part 121 regs.

2. Portions of the MMPI (Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory) - psych test. No, I'm not joking. And don't call me "Surely".

3. Simulator eval in the CRJ, full-motion. Basic IFR skills, takeoff, (rumored to be a V1 cut or engine loss shortly after takeoff that most new-hires crash their first attempt on), proceed to a non-depicted hold, enter and exit, single-engine ILS approach and landing. Not to ATP minimums, but crashing is definitely a bad thing.

4. Overnight on your own dime.

5. Day two: 3-on-1 interview similar to what's in place now.

6. Rumors of a medical exam, but those haven't been confirmed yet.

Yeah, I know... all for a regional job and not a great one at that. Don't shoot the messenger.

Yeeeeaaaahhh.... they'll be heading back to GIA in no time.

 

[donaldd]

Pinnacle Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!