SKywest interview question

[Standby]

I was just wondering if anyone knew whether Skywest was making interviewees diagram piston and turbine engines, or just turbine engines. Thanks in adavance for the help.

 

[viper548]

If you don't have turbine experience they won't expect it, but you should know your turbine stuff anyways.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Interviewer: What can you tell me about how a turbine engine operates?

Me: Uhhh...suck, squeeze, bang, blow?

FWIW turbines and piston engines operate on the same principles. The drawback of piston engines, if you want to call it that, is they lack continuous ignition and lose efficency converting vertical acceleration to a rotary movement.

When I was hired by my airline my response about turbine engine theory was pretty much what I wrote. I was flying Chieftains at the time of the interview. While I can't speak for interviewers at any airline I think most of them are merely looking for familiarity with things that you should know based on your experience. If you fly a piston twin you should be able to explain how any system of the aircraft operates and how the backup systems function. If you work for a 135 operation you should be able to answer any question on Ops Specs. For instance can you accept a contact approach? When can you cancel IFR? When is a takeoff alternate required?

 

[AGuyThatFlys]

I was just wondering if anyone knew whether Skywest was making interviewees diagram piston and turbine engines, or just turbine engines. Thanks in adavance for the help.

In my tech interview with Skywest I was asked to draw a diagram of a turbine engine; explain motive flow; and talk about hydraulic system theory. All my experience was in pistons, but I did study up on turbine engines (The Turbine Pilot's Manual), and I had experience with turbine engines in the Navy.

AGTF

 

[RoyalAviation2]

I was also asked about drawing a diagram about turbine engines. I said............huh? ahhhhhh. I don't know anything about turbine engines. Seriously, thats what I said.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Unrelated to drawing pretty pictures but I'd suggest you be able to answer any question that starts with "When can you descend/leave MDA/leave DA, etc. And be sure you really know the definition of FAF as it pertains to both precision and non-precision approaches. I have nothing to do with interviews anywhere at any airline but I think those questions are fair game.
I'd also suggest being comfortable with anything and everything that you might see on a Jepp plate or lo-alt chart.

 

[viper548]

I agree with Dave. You will also need to know the systems of the plane you currently fly

 

[Standby]

Alright guys, thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. I currently fly a piston and a turbine, so I was trying to figure out whether I would have to diagram a piston and turbine engine, or if they only make you draw turbine engines. There's so much stuff to study for this interview, that I was trying to cut down on unnecessary knowledge such as drawing a piston engine.

 

[kj6991]

Standby,

I know how you feel. I interview in a few weeks and have been preparing for this interview for a while now. weather, systems, jepps, turbines, IFR Proc, are all fair game. good luck to you.

 

[Halo_RJdriver]

Here is a good one for you Standby....

How do you feel making $0.00 for 2-2/12 months?

You are aware you will not make a nickel until IOE.