Sim prep for potential Flex interview

[flyzimex]

Frasca sim in Dallas area

So I got a call today from Pam at Flex setting up the phone interview for tomorrow. I guess if I don't manage to screw it up somehow tomorrow I'll have an interview coming up soon. You guys have convinced me not to spend money on renting a Lear sim. However, last time I flew was in December last year so I'd like to do some prep in a sim. Does any one know where I can rent a Frasca sim in the Dallas area?

Obviosuly, since I haven't had the phone interview yet I'm not sure when the face to face is (if invited) but I guess it could be as soon as in a couple of days on next Monday. Obviously time is pretty tight and I would appreciate quick replies.

Btw, what can I expect to pay for ah hour in a Frasca?

Any tips on the phone interview? I have studied the gouges on aviationinterviews.com.

Any help much appreciated,

FZ

 

[LandRoverNut]

Be yourself! Pam is a great lady and just wants to get to know you and know more about your resume. Ask questions and relax!!

 

[can99]

Hey and remember, put full and steady pressure on the rudder pedals when on the ground, you positive pressure in both feet when steering it on the runway, it will go mad on you. And hey I crashed the sim in my interview and I got the job! (no one warned me about the rudder issue in the Lear 31a sim!, so first take of f was classed as practice, but we got a good laugh)

Dont sweat the sim, I hadnt flown a old fashioned six pack instrument panel for a long long long time and made it, its actually very simple, in the V1 cut keep it on the centerline, and then when its straight it will be time to rotate, dont rush. We were briefed before the sim about the whole thing (except the rudder!) , and given a lesson on holding without a FMC. Ask questions too in the sim, listen to the instructor pilot running the thing.

Saying this, out of 7 in my interview day, only 3 got thru, and when I was in training it seemed 50% didnt make the interview solely on the sim. They will tell you why you didnt get the job the next day too which is great.

Good luck, its a great interview experience you will find.

 

[zagno83]

for a good sim. in dallas call skymates in arlington good piece of equipment good people.....
Congratz. on the interview, how long does it takes to get the call these days???
Thanx good luck.

 

[Photoflight]

when i did my phone interview it was more of a let you know about the job type of deal. To make you understand that this is a different type of flying than airline, charter, etc...

Also to let you know what the company is offering. Be yourself, relax, and let us know when your schedule for the face to face.

 

[flyzimex]

for a good sim. in dallas call skymates in arlington good piece of equipment good people.....
Congratz. on the interview, how long does it takes to get the call these days???
Thanx good luck.

Thanks for the tip on the sim. Will check it out..

I had a friend of mine walk it in about three weeks ago. Got the call today from Pam when I was at the 11th fairway during a round of golf with the same friend. My game improved somewhat after the call .

Looking forward getting a chance to move on from present equipment and furthering my skills in aviation .

FZ

 

[7777]

Best of luck to you FZ. I like reading stories like yours. Your persistance paid off and you are now being rewarded. Do good, you earned it.

 

[rumrnr78]

Thanks for the tip on the sim. Will check it out..

I had a friend of mine walk it in about three weeks ago. Got the call today from Pam when I was at the 11th fairway during a round of golf with the same friend. My game improved somewhat after the call .

Looking forward getting a chance to move on from present equipment and furthering my skills in aviation .

FZ

Fractional flying will really hone your skills. It is easy to get lazy in a CRJ landing on 150 ft wide runways. You will be going into uncontrolled fields with 75' wide strips and a stiff crosswind and every other challenging environment!!
You will be challenged, rewarded and at times pissed (the good type). Have fun and cheers- Rum

 

[flyzimex]

Best of luck to you FZ. I like reading stories like yours. Your persistance paid off and you are now being rewarded. Do good, you earned it.

Thanks 7777 for your encouragement. It sure would be nice to finally get to the level of flying which was the whole reason for me starting this trip some eleven years ago..

FZ

 

[flyzimex]

Fractional flying will really hone your skills. It is easy to get lazy in a CRJ landing on 150 ft wide runways. You will be going into uncontrolled fields with 75' wide strips and a stiff crosswind and every other challenging environment!!
You will be challenged, rewarded and at times pissed (the good type). Have fun and cheers- Rum

Thanks Rum

Well, for the most of my career I can't really say I've had the luxury of flying to 150' fields. I have been happy to get 50', but that's not in a jet obviously. Lots of small uncontrolled airfields and the last year's flying I have been trying to find small remote dirt strips in the middle of Sahara where everything is pretty much yellow. Thank god for GPS. Not quite sure how the old timers did it in that kind of environment back in the days..

FZ

 

[Wankel7]

Btw, what can I expect to pay for ah hour in a Frasca?


FZ

Again; use your computer, MS flight sim, and a cheap yoke

When I interviewed there I was out of my six months on instrument currency. I hadn't been in a cloud in over six months let alone an approach.
After about four hours of computer flying I was over prepped and did fine.

You will be fine to spend that money you saved on beer

You will be fine man!

 

[solafide]

I came from steam gages in a turboprop. No EFIS, no FMS, no jet. We flew the 45. I didn't think I did as well as my partner, but I got hired and he didn't. Like others have said, show that you have good CRM skills. Brief, brief, brief, and solicit input from your partner. I agree with others that the sim isn't weighted nearly as heavily as the other aspects. In my opinion the first 10 minutes of the company presentation is the most important, where they meet you for the first time and judge your appearance and personality. Btw, if you get the 45, the steering is very sensitive - the steering, not the rudder as I read another post. It is hard the first time to keep the ac on the runway during the V1 cut. Have your seat and or pedals adjusted so you can get the maximum amount of pressure on that rudder. Remember to use plenty of aileron once you're airborne.

Remember, the sim eval is just a small part of the whole interview. And the person evaluating you only has a few words with the people making the decision. Flying great won't carry you through if you haven't convinced the interviewers you're the right person.

 

[flyzimex]

Preparing for interview

Well guys, did the phone interview with Pam (very nice lady) this morning and was invited for the face to face in a couple of weeks.

I appreciate all the good inputs from you guys, and if you have any further useful info please feel free to add..

FZ

 

[FraxJockey]

Remember to use plenty of aileron once you're airborne.

Riiight.... that's how you handle a v1 cut...plenty of aileron...

In the mean time the IP is yelling at you to keep the ball in the center.

Not trying to be a smart a$$. If you get the 45 sim use your feet to keep the airplane under control. Adjust your seat so that when you have full rudder deflection you have a SLIGHT bend in the knee. Once you reach the stops, the force sensors in the rudder pedal kick in the rudder boost system. If your leg is locked out at max extension, you won't have that extra pressure to turn on the RB. Incidentally, the rudder boost doesn't give you MORE rudder, it just gives you MAX available rudder. Good luck with the interview. I also forgot, if you do use the autopilot, don't relax the rudder. The Yaw damper is not strong enough to keep the ball in the center...that's what your foot and rudder trim are for.

 

[solafide]

I didn't mean to make it sound like rudder is unimportant. I just kind of assumed that if you're applying for this job you know how to keep that thing mashed to the floor during a V1 cut. Soooo sorry I didn't clarify that for the 50 hour multiengine pilots applying for this job. What I'm emphasizing is that the rudder on the 45 is not as effective as it is on some aircraft, even with the RB, and using some aileron will help with that heading control.

Flyzimex, don't let FraxJockey fool you. Most of us don't cut each other down. We're really a great group of guys (and gals).

 

[FraxJockey]

Not cutting anybody down, just giving helpful advice...that is what the man asked for.

Solafide said "Use plenty of aileron"...well if you deflect the yoke more than 5 degrees the roll spoilers kick in and that makes the maneuver even more difficult.

Just some some helpful advice from someone who has gone through recurrent at least a dozen times...

Also Wankel has a good point about the MS Flight sim. It may not be exact, but a real close model. But don't forget, you may get to do the eval in a Lear 31A,45,60 or CL300/604. Chances are that you will do it in the 31A sim since that is most readily available. The 31 has much better rudder effectiveness.

 

[solafide]

Okay, I'll concede that my "plenty of aileron" wording was a little misleading. How does 2 to 3 degrees of bank sound? But FraxJockey, please leave out the belittling sarcasm next time. It doesn't become us.

 

[FraxJockey]

Like others have said, show that you have good CRM skills. Brief, brief, brief, and solicit input from your partner. I agree with others that the sim isn't weighted nearly as heavily as the other aspects.

Flying great won't carry you through if you haven't convinced the interviewers you're the right person.

Here we can agree. The basic goal of the sim eval is to see if you are trainable. It is hard enough to train someone in new equipment if you have to teach them how to fly. I hear we are getting swamped with applicants and as such we are getting more selective. The sim eval isn't a deal breaker, but if a choice has to be made between who to offer the job, it could be the deciding factor. Good luck.

Solafide, I'll remember to leave the sarcasm out next time.

 

[solafide]

Here we can agree. The basic goal of the sim eval is to see if you are trainable. It is hard enough to train someone in new equipment if you have to teach them how to fly. I hear we are getting swamped with applicants and as such we are getting more selective. The sim eval isn't a deal breaker, but if a choice has to be made between who to offer the job, it could be the deciding factor. Good luck.

Solafide, I'll remember to leave the sarcasm out next time.

No hard feelings, FraxJockey. Hope to see you out there. And Flyzimex, just be yourself. I think this is a great place to work. I echo FraxJockey: Good luck.

 

[hammer2]

Okay, I'll concede that my "plenty of aileron" wording was a little misleading. How does 2 to 3 degrees of bank sound? But FraxJockey, please leave out the belittling sarcasm next time. It doesn't become us.

Use the roll disconnect lever. That works the best.