Southern Air Interview Gouge

[pumpkinhead]

Does anyone know the latest interview process, questions at Southern Air?

Thanks

 

[swordfish]

Does anyone know the latest interview process, questions at Southern Air?

Thanks

Its a 2 day event, one day of HR interviews/ chief pilot interview. basic Questions, the next day a Sim ride( they used a 727 and 737 in the past) fly runway heading enter a hold, vectors for 2 engine ILS and land (hand flown)

Sword

 

[cattlecar]

Anyone know the name of the Chief Pilot or an HR person just to personalize a cover letter?

 

[G100driver]

Just answer the phone ... a buddy of mine was recently hired over the phone ....

 

[swordfish]

Just answer the phone ... a buddy of mine was recently hired over the phone ....

Was the case, not anymore! As stated above its a 2 day interview.

 

[miaboeingcapt]

Does anyone know the latest interview process, questions at Southern Air?

Thanks

http://www.willflyforfood.com/pilot-interviews/181/Southern-Air-Cargo.html

 

[dakotaHC8]

http://www.willflyforfood.com/pilot-interviews/181/Southern-Air-Cargo.html

That's old.

The basic questioning is geared to determine if you will be good fit for the kind of operation that we have. If you happen to already have intermational or overwater experience then that's a real plus, because it's a different lifestyle than flying short hops around the US.

My recommendation is not to sweat trying to know all the questions ahead of time. Instead try to spend time thinking hard about how you deal with change, how flexible you are, and how willing you are to adapt to fluid situations... That way you can be sincere when they are asking you these kinds of questions.

When it comes to the sim ride, I'd hope you are already able to enter a simple hold, or fly onto a course. The sim will be using steam driven gauges (like our classics have), so if you have gotten spoiled by EFIS you might want to review some of the basics.

As for hotels, the ones in walking distance to the Aeroservices building include the Extended Stay Homestead Suites (kind dumpy, but it's where SAI puts you up in training since they have kitchens), the Sleep Inn (it's ok), and the Comfort Inn (nothing special either). All three are a 3-4 block walk. Otherwise, if you want to cab it, there are some other decent options. We now put the SAI crewmembers at the Embassy Suites (not bad, good breakfast)

Hope the info helps, Good luck

 

[CaptSeth]

Be sure to try the Cafe con Leche at Vito's bakery.

 

[cattlecar]

Does anybody have any idea how long it takes after receipt of your resume for Southern Air to contact for interview or send a rejection letter (or do they even send rejection letters/emails or just toss your info out?). Thanks.

 

[swordfish]

Does anybody have any idea how long it takes after receipt of your resume for Southern Air to contact for interview or send a rejection letter (or do they even send rejection letters/emails or just toss your info out?). Thanks.

It's a new hiring possess now, not sure. we are hiring into a pool now which is new to southern.

Sword

 

[cattlecar]

Thanks, Sword. I get the best appch is to wait and update...

 

[cattlecar]

Another quick question: On APC the Teamsters are listed as the union at Southern Air, but I have seen several posts (maybe written by people who do not work for Southern) stating that Southern is non-union and that the company tends to jack the pilots around, for example one person wrote that pilots are often left in someplace line Incheon for their days off if it is inconvenient for the company to get them home. I find that hard to believe - especially if the pilots have a union (even if it's the Teamsters who, incidentally, did very little to help the pilots of the last company I flew for when the company routinely violated the contract). Just trying to clarify my info. Thanks for the info - it is much appreciated.

 

[unwashed]

Another quick question: On APC the Teamsters are listed as the union at Southern Air (1224), but I have seen several posts (maybe written by people who do not work for Southern) stating that Southern is non-union (NO) and that the company tends to jack the pilots around (YES), for example one person wrote that pilots are often left in someplace line Incheon for their days off if it is inconvenient for the company to get them home. I find that hard to believe - especially if the pilots have a union (even if it's the Teamsters who, incidentally, did very little to help the pilots of the last company I flew for when the company routinely violated the contract). Just trying to clarify my info. Thanks for the info - it is much appreciated.

I hope this helps a little. Most companies will violate the contract, fly it then griev it issue. Unions are only as good as the membership who volunteers to help run the show.

 

[cattlecar]

Thank you unwashed. Much appreciated. At my former company we had Teamsters and we had a good group in the MEC and in the committees, but got zero backing from the local 747. We had grievances backed up for two years and it got to the point where the contract was no more than toilet paper.

What is your overall impression at Southern Air? Do you like it/consider it a good place to spend a career? How are the benefits like health insurance, etc... Thanks again - I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer.

 

[unwashed]

Cattlecar I don't work for Southern but for a competitor in the 1224. 747 had its failings with a gentlemen at the helm GS esquire. I can't intelligently answer the rest of your questions, but hopefully someone who works there can.

 

[cattlecar]

I remember GS. For all the money he was /is paid you might think he would actually do something for the benefit of the pilots he purports to work for instead of only working to benefit himself and the IBT... and, of course the politicians. I hope the 1224 is a better organization with better/more ethical/honest folks at the top.

 

[swordfish]

What is your overall impression at Southern Air? Do you like it/consider it a good place to spend a career? How are the benefits like health insurance, etc... Thanks again - I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer.

if you have other places to go, i would go there first!

 

[cattlecar]

Thanks, Sword. I don't, so I'm ready to take the first offer I may get (if any...).

 

[Wayunderated]

Latest Interview process

Does anyone know the latest interview process, questions at Southern Air?

Thanks

The interview was very low key and comfortable. It started out with a group meet and greet followed by an overall discussion of "where are we now, where are we planning to go and what are we all about". Then, they wrapped it up with a question & answer session.

Afterwards, there are two face to face interviews (one with the 777 Chief Pilot and the new DO, the other with two ladies from HR) and a ride in a 737-200 sim.

The face to face interviews were very relaxed so don't get uptight. They really didn't ask any technical or "tell me about a time" questions. It felt like they just wanted to see if they liked you as an individual and they said the main purpose behind the interview was the sim evaluation.

For the sim, they usually took two interviewees at a time. One would sit in the back and watch while the other is evaluated, then you'd switch places. In the right seat, helping you out a LOT, was a Check Airman. No briefings, no checklists, just a straight forward evaluation of your flying ability. He would tell you where to bug your speeds, when to lower the flaps and the new airspeed to maintain for that configuration. You manipulate the flight controls and the thrust levers, however, you can ask him to make the final tweaks to your power settings for take off. Runway heading, a couple vectors, "turn direct to the VOR and hold X on the XXX radial". What they're looking for here is; can you enter a hold correctly, do you know what the max holding speed is for your altitude and did you think to make the required calls (i.e time entering the hold). It wouldn't hurt to brief your FO on your holding intentions and ask for confirmation. Shows good CRM and keeps you from blowing the hold because you're nervous and maybe missed the fact that he said "left turns". Then, it's vectors to the ILS for landing. On the way, they may ask "Where are you? Where's the airport in relation to us?". Then, a normal ILS to landing. The things to watch for in the sim are: Be easy on the controls! As with any plane, if you hamfist this thing, you're altitude, airspeed and heading control will be horrible! Scan constantly and be real careful of the sink as you roll into turns and the balloon as you roll out. It took surprisingly large thrust lever adjustments to maintain a level, constant airspeed turn so be prepared for that. After every flap position change, count 5 - 7 seconds and be prepared for it to balloon! Make small corrections and she'll fly beautiful. Make large corrections and you'll be all over the place. This may sound obvious but you'd be surprised how many comments there were about how hard this sim was to fly. Don't get freaked out, just use finesse and make small pitch corrections.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Keelhaul]

where did they say they were "planning to go"? Who is the new DO?

just curious.

 

[swordfish]

where did they say they were "planning to go"? Who is the new DO?

just curious.

Our new D.O is one of our younger, smarter, Check airman. best thing SA has done, infact when they sh)t caned the old DO everyone was thrilled to dump that D-bag.

 

[gringo]

deleted

 

[tubineotter]

if ya work here and want to know who our DO is where do you go? and its not a DO position its VP of ? ops???? any initials. where do the 400 sit? when? more triples?

 

[unwashed]

if ya work here and want to know who our DO is where do you go? and its not a DO position its VP of ? ops???? any initials CE has to be confirmed by the Feds. where do the 400 sit FAA hell because of BC? when? more triples, 2012 Maybe?

I hope this helps.

 

[johnsonrod]

Which aircraft are they now hiring into? 200s, 777s or incoming 744s?

Let's say someone is hired onto the 200. Realistically, how long before he/she could bid onto the 777?

 

[countbat]

Which aircraft are they now hiring into? 200s, 777s or incoming 744s?

Let's say someone is hired onto the 200. Realistically, how long before he/she could bid onto the 777?

Really!… Let’s see. In one hand we have a company which is constantly keep hiring for its large Classics fleet and has only 2 777s so far. Great number of more senior pilots, way ahead of any future pilot. What are the chances for a new hired to get a 777s spot?
Probably immediately someone might say, just because they are THE MIGHTY NEW HIRED.
I understand the company plans to have 10 classics, 10 400s, 10 777s. Now they have a lot of classics and only 2 777s. No 400s yet and no more 777 s so far, soooooo........do the math

 

[johnsonrod]

Really!… Let’s see. In one hand we have a company which is constantly keep hiring for its large Classics fleet and has only 2 777s so far. Great number of more senior pilots, way ahead of any future pilot. What are the chances for a new hired to get a 777s spot?
Probably immediately someone might say, just because they are THE MIGHTY NEW HIRED.
I understand the company plans to have 10 classics, 10 400s, 10 777s. Now they have a lot of classics and only 2 777s. No 400s yet and no more 777 s so far, soooooo........do the math

No need to bite my head off. Just a question - I realize you guys have a number of 777s (something like a total of 10 on order) and supposed 744s on order. At least that is what I have heard - I don't know your delivery schedule. Just trying to get an idea of what potential timing could be because, believe it or not, we don't all want to fly jurrasic jets for the rest of our careers. I happen to like newer technology/glass and although I could fly analog for a few years, I happen to prefer the newer technology. Is that ok with you?

Happy holidays

 

[gringo]

No need to bite my head off. Just a question - I realize you guys have a number of 777s (something like a total of 10 on order) and supposed 744s on order. At least that is what I have heard - I don't know your delivery schedule. Just trying to get an idea of what potential timing could be because, believe it or not, we don't all want to fly jurrasic jets for the rest of our careers. I happen to like newer technology/glass and although I could fly analog for a few years, I happen to prefer the newer technology. Is that ok with you?

Happy holidays

Don't take it personally.

Bottom line is, nobody knows the answers to your questions, least of all the line pilots. Countbat is simply venting the frustrations we all feel.

Originally we were told that ALL new hires will be going into the Classic, and ALL 744 and 777 crews would come from the 200.

As of now, that seems to have changed, where we understand that right seaters in the 400 will come off the street, whereas leftseaters will come from the Classic.

When are we getting the 400? Anybody's guess, but sooner rather than later would be a good bet. With the recent deCline in Norwalk the 400 might emerge from "FAA Hell" as someone mentioned earlier, sooner rather than later.

Bottom line is, the 400 will be on property eventually, we'll be getting more 777 soon, and with BC out the door morale has boosted about 10,000%.

 

[tubineotter]

ha ha ha i like that "decline" good stuff. what would a degilles and detimmy do for us?

 

[swordfish]

If the company trains you on a aircraft you are aircraft locked for 24 months, so with this said.... my understanding is all FO's for the 744 will be hired off the street. The 777 has gone very J.R as a FO.