American Eagle

[ready2fly]

Day 1:
Flew space positive out of TPF for DFW. Got to the gate with my standby ticket and the agent told me to wait until I was called. Ten minutes later, she smiled over at me and said out loud "Paging passenger Stan H.... Please come to the counter."
When I got there, she said "so, you're interviewing with us? Best of luck to you....and here's your ticket." I looked down and it simply read "First: Seat 6F" Off to a GREAT start!!!

Got to the hotel (LaQuinta ...which apparently is "Spanish for 'We've got your back.' and ALSO 'how can we help you!'" Who knew? Diverse language that Spanish. )..... and met up with a few of the other interviewees. Went to dinner at the Mexican Inn - decent little ..umm.. Mexican... place. Then we all met in the lobby for a cram session. Lights out about 10:00 p.m.

Day 2:
Six of us left on the shuttle to HQ left at 7:00 a.m. Miss it and you may as well go home. They do not take latecomers.
Arrived at the faciltiy and sat for no more than 5 minutes when Ross (the Captain who would be leading us through the days event) issued us our visitors badges and ushered us into "The Room."

After a brief speil about the company, we were issued the 50 question written test (straight out of the ATP). You have to score an 80 or better to stay...and they tell you "The higher you score, the easier it'll be for you." I had test D which asked questions about MAWP, the jet stream, VOR checks, a few Part 121 questions....kind of all over the ATP map.

Then came the technical interviwew with the captain. Mine was with Brian. GREAT guy - very laid back and patient. Not being a Jepps guy, I stumbled on a few things, but he waited until I finally fell over the answer. His questions were:
-How many hours in a year can you be scheduled? Month? Week? Day? (they are looking for you to answer in "Calender years" "Calender months" "7 day period" and "24 hour period")
-What is the difference for Domestic and Flap regarding the above?

(Note: my pax just got here to FMY, so I'll pick this back up when I get back to TPF).

[drl5555]

Was this yesterday (1/30)? I'm interning at AA this semester, and as I was running an errand I saw someone directing what looked like a bunch of AE recruits down the hall to the sim building. Might have been you. Not very important, just thought I'd mention it...small world!

[ready2fly]

(okay....I'm back).
-CORRECTION: The difference between Domestic and Flag...not flap.
-Airport diagram for DFW:
*Taking off from 18L
*ATIS reports 1/2 mile vis. Can you go?
*What visual references do you need to see?
*How do you tell how far down the runway you are in low vis?
*RVR is 6-6-5, can you go?
*RVR is 6-6-missing, can you go?
*Runway lights: What do they tell you? What color are they, when do they change color, what colors do they change to - what do those colors mean?

That kind of thing.

DFW (BLECO Two Departure - RNAV - Will Rogers Transition):
In a turbo-jet......
-What are your initial headings? (finger fly)
-What altitude do you put in your altitude pre-select? (it's on the plate)
-What is MCA at Will Rogers VORTAC? (on the plate)
-What is your max speed? (on the plate)
-What is your departure freq.? (on the plate...see a trend here? )

ILS into DFW (can't remember which one.. there are so many):
-You're "here" (points to outside the FAF) and ATIS is reporting 1/2 mile vis. Can you start your approach (yes - minimum vis on the plate is 1/2 mile - read the plates)
-ATIS is reporting 16, can you start the approach (no - RVR for this approach was 18. RVR is controlling read about RVR in the Jepp intro pages)
-You're inside the FAF and tower reports that ATIS is now indicating RVR at 16. RVR was 18 when you began the approach. Can you continue? (yes - RVR when you cross the FAF is controlling).

That was pretty much it for the technical interview. He asked me if I had any questions for him. I did. I asked how long he had been with the company. Best thing about his job. Thing he liked least about his job. How he got started flying. Have questions ready. It'll show you're interested in the interviewer and not just there to be interviewed.

HR Interview:
Nice lady named Devin did my interview.
*Why Eagle?
*Why you?
*How will flying for Eagle be different from your current job?
*What sets you apart from the other candidates?
*Any criminal violations? DUI's?
*Ever been dismissed or asked to resign from any jobs? (be honest - if you have, you have)

That's it. Short and Painless.

When we got back into "The Room" we discovered that one of our number was no longer there. Don't know what he failed (Written or Tech), and they don't tell you what you fail if you do. But, that woke us all up. This was for real. Keep your game face on!!

Simulator:
We did the SAAB 340 sim, but from what Kevin, or sim instructor, said - they are going back to either the 707 or the 737 starting this week.
-Started with a 45 minute brief. Pay attention!! You'll be tired at this point, so don't drift off. He'll explain all what they want to see from you and the various callouts. YOU are to initiate all power changes with callouts, and then he will finish it off for you.
*Depart LAX RWY 25L (hand on the tiller to 60 Kts, then on the yoke)
*"Set takeoff power"
*"Crosscheck"
*"V1. Rotate"
*"Positive rate/gear up"
*hold 10 degrees nose up at 200 kts.
*1000 ft. "set climb power/climb check"
*do a couple of turns right and left.
*Level off: "Cruise power/cruise check."
*fly straight and level at 200 kts
*Positive transfer of controls when ready to copy holding clearance. Brief the hold as if you were telling a student how to do it = what type of entry; which direction to turn; make sure you say that you're going to turn "inside the protected side of the hold" on a teardrop or a parallel entry; when you're going to start timing and when you're going to notify ATC that you're in the hold.
- do this correctly and you probably will not have to fly the hold.
*Vectors to ILS RWY 25L with flight director. EASY! Just keep the "triangle" in the "dock" and you'll not only intercept the LOC, your descent will be right on glidepath.
* Once established: "Flaps 15"
* Crossing FAF "Gear down"
*if you fly the approach well using the flight director, he will turn the FD off and you finish on "raw data" (meaning= fly the HSI and Glide Slope Indicator) down to 100' HAT, then go visual to a full stop landing.

They were previously having the candidates fly two approaches: One with the FD, one without, and they still may, but that's how they had us do ours. Takes about 20-30 minutes... and was a complete BLAST!!!

Day 1 ended at approximately 6:00 p.m. with an invite to come back the following day for the medical if you passed the sim. Shuttle back to the hotel, finish dinner before 8:00 p.m. (they'll work with your group on this if the sim runs late) then fast until the next morning.

Day 2:
Arrive at 7:30 a.m. with your bladder full! Connie does a short briefing (redundancy? ) on what's going to go down, then you begin:
*Blood drawn = 3 viles (vials?)
*Urine samples = Two: Fill up one - STOP, sign some paperwork - fill up a second.
GO TO BREAKFAST - EAT A LOT!!!
*Hearing
*Vision
*EKG
*Blood pressure
*Cognitive test on the computer (about 1 hour - fun if you like video games and mental math).
*Finger prints
*See the doctor:

That's it - takes about 5-6 hours start to finish. When you're done, you catch the shuttle to the airport for your flight home. My flight was scheduled for 3:04 p.m confirmed. We finished at 2:10 p.m. - Karen (Head of HR) personally drove myself and another candidate to the airport so that we could make our planes.

THAT's the kind of personal touch I encountered. That and they bought us all lunch on day 1 because the HR interview ran late and the cafeteria closed.

VERY impressed with what I saw and experienced!! Very professional! I realize that allcompanies - not just airlines - have their down side and political B.S. - and I'm sure I'll experience that, but from what I saw, it's a solid organization and one I cannot wait to join!!!

No class date yet (find out today or tomorrow). They wait until the results of your medical come back before issuing a class date. You cannot fail the medical. However, if you have something you need done (say like re-taking the cog test), then they tell you what needs to be done before you get a class date.

That's all. As most will tell you BE YOURSELF!!. Don't come in with "canned" answers. Be professional. Look professional (suit, tie, shined shoes). Know your stuff. They don't expect you to be an expert, but they do expect you to have studied!! The gouges are out there (aviationinterviews.com) - and they know it and they EXPECT and WANT you to read them! Shows that you use all available resources, so do so.

Most of all - you'll be stressed, but enjoy it!!

Hope that helps any new candidates!! Best of luck!

Stan

[crashmbern]

well i would add something but ready2fly basically covered everything. i interviewed back in dec. and everthing is still the same. the only place i interviewed with was piedmont back in oct. I was blown away by eagle. from their facilities and their interview process made you want to work for them even more. usually you have to pay for your own hotel room for 2 nights if you make it through everything but i only had to pay for one b/c of an ice storm, if we failed the sim we would have not been able to get a flight home. and i couldn't get home the day of the medical b/c all flight to NY were full. so they paid for tha hotel room as well. seems simple but that impressed me.

I'm in the feb 20th class. and word yet stan which class you in???

adam

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by crashmbern

I'm in the feb 20th class. and word yet stan which class you in???

adam

Hey Adam: No word yet. Hoping to find out today or tomorrow. Looking like March 6th though. From what we've been told, the 20th is full. But, then again... that's only hearsay.

How soon after your interview did they call for the class date? What hotel are ya'll in?

Stan

[crashmbern]

well i got a call about the review board the following monday. unfortunately i failed the cog test and had to get a doctor to re do it for me. so its been a long process for me. usually you'll hear about a week later about your medical.

[ready2fly]

Cool. I heard back from the Captain's board the day after I got back, so I'm good to go there. Hoping to hear something today or tomorrow regarding the results of the medical. HOPEFULLY, I'll not have to re-take that cog test.

[husky16]

Just Curious-

Which bases are most of the new hires going to or are they spreading them out?

[crashmbern]

usually DFW/ORD/SJU. usually the younger guys get stuck with san juan and don't have a choice. most likely that will happen to me. doesn't matter though i know a bunch of guys either down their, or in training.

[pavelump]

They also tend to go back and forth between DFW and LAX on the Saab, but if you wanted one over the other, it's not too hard to transfer between the two.

Stan, I'm sure that you already did, but if not (and you want to) let them know that you would be willing to take a sooner class date if somebody drops out at the last minute. Every number helps!

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by pavelump

They also tend to go back and forth between DFW and LAX on the Saab, but if you wanted one over the other, it's not too hard to transfer between the two.

Stan, I'm sure that you already did, but if not (and you want to) let them know that you would be willing to take a sooner class date if somebody drops out at the last minute. Every number helps!

Waaaay ahead of ya, bro! Told Karen that very thing yesterday.

As it is right now, I'm in the March 6th class.

[C650CPT]

Soooo
You're available the 21st and 22nd (Feb ) for some celebratory adult beverages ... it's not a question ... your attendance is mandatory! I'll get ya details later. I'll make sure my hotel room has doubles since you shouldn't be in any condition to drive.

Jim

[ready2fly]

Originally Posted by C650CPT

Soooo
You're available the 21st and 22nd (Feb ) for some celebratory adult beverages ... it's not a question ... your attendance is mandatory! I'll get ya details later. I'll make sure my hotel room has doubles since you shouldn't be in any condition to drive.

Jim

I'll be present and accounted for.

[crashmbern]

to bad you didn't get the 20th.but maybe somebody will cancel and you'll get in.

[ready2fly]

If Karen calls me with that option - I'm there, bro!

BTW - what equipment are you guys expecting for your class?

[E_Dawg]

Congrats RTF!

[crashmbern]

i haven't talked to anyone about equipment. I'm only 22 so i am expecting the ATR. i am actually hping for it, i have a couple of friends their now. really don't want the saab. eventually i want to fly the emb out of LGA. plus SJU is a pretty good commute from NY. jet blue delta and of course american have a couple flights a day so it shouldn't be a problem.

[Polarbear]

Just out of curiosity, how senior is the BOS base?

[pavelump]

BOS is pretty senior. That being said, two newhires in Monday's class got it (and will be on reserve for a very long time unless they transfer)... Two got LGA which is also very senior. Will they continue to put newhires there? Probably not, but you never know...

[ready2fly]

I'm actually hoping for an Emb out of DFW. I'm 40 and there is one guy older than me in our class (that I know of), so my chances may be pretty good of getting that.

Pavelump, When my class date gets closer, let's exchange digits and we'll try to meet up for a cold one or two.

Stan

[pavelump]

sounds good. lemme know when you're around.

Later

[Polarbear]

After seeing this post I did a little looking around and found a cool chat board for AE called Eagle lounge. Lots of info on it. For those that are wondering where the FO's got placed for previous classes it is all there. The site seems pretty new, the address is: www.eaglelounge.com

[wheelsup]

That regional interview is NUTS ! I was asked several technical questions on my interview:

• What is your favorite thing about the Bonanza (current single I was in)
• What is your least favorite thing about the Bonanza?
• What is Max Gross weight?
• What speed do the flaps and gear come out at?
• What are three factors of Vmc?
• Explain one of those factors.

No written, a sim that I did the night before to prep for (same profile) in a MS2004 type setup with cockpit, and about 15 minutes of HR questions. No IFR questions what so ever.

I think it's funny that these airlines want CFI's to know things like t/o alternates, RVR t/o charts, flight time/duty time limitations, etc. when we never use them in a daily basis. While it's good you have a background on it, Indoc teaches you all those things and is company specific.

That interview truly is tough! For the people that make it all the way through I am extremely impressed - I wouldn't of made it!

[Spbeyond]

"*Urine samples = Two: Fill up one - STOP, sign some paperwork - fill up a second." How the crap! Crazy man! lol Why dont they just let you fill both then sign the stuff?

[BoilerPilot2007]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I think it's funny that these airlines want CFI's to know things like t/o alternates, RVR t/o charts, flight time/duty time limitations, etc. when we never use them in a daily basis.

This may be one of the few benefits to getting a degree in aviation. We go through a "practice" indoc class.