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Pinnacle Airlines View Vacancies

Pilot Interview Gouge and Question Bank

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Company website

http://www.flypinnacle.com/

Bases

KMEM, KDTW, KMSP, KATL

Fleet

CRJ200, CRJ900

Interview Profile

Interview usually starts at 0830 at the Pinnacle Headquarters
As a group (usually 15-20) get introduction
Written tests
- 45 minute time limit
- Study Gliem- Instrument, Commercial, ATP
- Some questions are their own
- No charts, figures, or performance
First interview, HR and technical
- 2 on 1
- usually conducted by a Line Captain and HR representative
Second interview, Situational Based Interview
- conducted by a Line Captain
- Role playing, 5 minutes
- Given in flight problem
- Write a self-critique when finished
Third interview, exit interview
- Some HR
- Chance to shine one last time
- Ask questions, if you have any

Please send your interview information

Interview Question Bank

Written Test

Fill in the blank
- What is v2?
- What is critical Mach?
- You are burning 3gph at 500 ft and traveling 45mph; how much fuel will you burn traveling 75nm?
- What is maximum speed at 10,000 feet? (mach 1.0)
- 50 questions- 40 multiple choice, 10 fill in (mostly approach chart questions)
Multiple choice
- Part 61, 91-
  - address changes
  - temporary certificates
  - visibility controlling for approach
- RVSM
- Temperature extremes on RNAV approaches
- A lot of weather- study everything from Gliem
- Load factor
- Hydroplaning
- Effects of aft C.G.
- Descent planning
- GS x __ = planned descent rate
- If you deviate from a clearance when is a written report is required
  - Only if requested.
- Where is time critical information found?
  - NOTAMS, not the AIM or AFD.
- A Headwind decreases your takeoff roll.
- Aircraft tire rides on a very thin smooth surface is viscous hydroplaning.
- Maximum speed in class "C" airspace within 4 nm from an airport is 200kts.
- Humidity, High altitude, high altitude or high density altitude increase your takeoff roll.
- Squall lines are the non frontal fast moving, in a line weather that can lead to tornadoes.
- RVR overrides visibility.
- Aircraft tends to continue further away from flight path, that answer is negative static stability.
- A broken layer or overcast layer AGL is the ceiling.
- The last 3000 feet of the centerline alternates between red and white, and the last 1000 feet are red.
- The sign thing is the device that tells you to hold short is from a taxiway to a runway.
- ILS critical area is 800 & 2.
- Vortices are at their greatest when the aircraft is Heavy Clean and Slow.
- Vortices are prolonged by a light quartering tailwind.
- Explosive decompression causes lung damage within 1/2 of a second.
  - How many seconds do you have to don the oxygen mask? 5 seconds.
- A crewmember must breathe oxygen above 25000 feet, if the other leaves his station.
- The maximum intensity and or development of a thunderstorm is during the mature stage.
- Winglets are not a High lift device.
- Wake turbulence, or Vortices, is generated when the aircraft produces lift.
- The maximum height of the tropopause is 60,000 feet.
- You must wait 2 minutes for the wake turbulence to clear.
- Below the rotor cloud is where it is the most dangerous.
- Aft loading causes the least stability.
- Temperature decreases 2 degrees per each 1000 feet of elevation that is the standard lapse rate.
- Thunderstorms need unstable air, saturated moist low temperature/dewpoint spread, and lifting action unstable air to form.
- Sterile cockpit does not include cruise flight below 10,000 fee, but does include taxi, takeoff, and all transitioning at or below 10,000 feet.
- To correct for wing rocking associated with Dutch Roll, you correct with coordinated opposite rudder.
- Rapidly non frontal movement of convective turbulence in a line form that can cause tornadoes, are called Squall Lines.
- For approaches, visibility is controlling
- RSVM (FL290-FL410) requires- 2 transponders, 2 altimeters, autopilot w/ altitude alert
- What is the clearance limit if cleared for an approach and then lost comm.?
- Holding speed at 6000ft
- On charts is height of Class C AGL or MSL

Human Resource Questions

How did you hear about us?
What did you do to prepare for this interview?
Is a Captain a leader or a manager?
- What is the difference?
How would you rate you current employer?
What would your coworkers say about you?
Tell me about a time you did something good for someone?
What bores you?
What is your biggest flaw?
What frustrates you about being a pilot?
How could you improve yourself as a pilot?
What is your worst trait as a pilot?
How do you react when you make a mistake?
How do you handle stress?
TMAAT you had a stressful situation.
- How did you deal with it?
- What did you learn from it?
TMAAT your aviation knowledge was lacking
TMAAT you had a disagreement with a coworker.
How do you motivate people who need motivation?
What would you do if the Captain wanted to drink inside of 12 hours (Company limit)?
What would you do if the Captain didn't use a checklist?
What would you do if the Captain continued below minimums?
What would you do if your Flight attendant was stumbling and passengers smell alcohol on them?

Technical Questions

Jepps Charts
Approach plate
- Know the symbology
- What is the highest obstacle?
- What the MSA and what does it provide you?
- Brief approach (don't just read it, don't forget the missed)
- Point to where you must be on an ILS to continue if the weather goes below minimums
- What is Final Approach Fix on ILS
- What is the Final Approach Fix on a non-precision
- Understand RVR, when is it reported, when is it controlling
- You get to DA and see approach lights, what can you do?
- When you can decend below DH?
Approach lights to 100' above touchdown zone or airport elevation?
You get to 100 above TDZE and see runway can you land?
Cleared for the approach and then lose comm., what is your clearance limit? (you are cleared to land)
What is the touchdown zone elevation
How would you go missed on this approach
What would the holding entry be
What is the max speed in the hold
Airport diagram (10-9)
- What is the D stand for in D-ATIS?
- What does ARP look like and mean on the airport diagram?
- What do the circles on the airport diagram mean?
- Where would find the T/O minimums
- What does HS circle (runway incursion hot spot) mean on an airport diagram?
- What is ARP?
When do you need a Takeoff alternate?
- How close does it have to be?
What is VDP and where is it on the plate?
- How can you figure one when not on the plate
- If published, can you descend below it if visual, is it regulatory
Aerodynamics
- Swept wing advantages
- Swept wing stall characteristics
- What is critical mach
- What is mach tuck
- What is coffins corner,how do you get out of it?
- Why does stall speed increase with altitude
- What helps with Dutch roll?
- Vmc decreases with altitude
- What is Low Speed Buffet?
- What is High Speed Buffet?
Holding Entries
Holding speed limitations
Define V1, V2.
What is a MOCA?
Read METAR and TAF
What converts AC to DC?
Airspeed limits
- Class B, C, D
- Under Class B
- At 10,000
- Below 10,000
Minimum altitude for turbine aircraft to enter Class D airspace
When do you need a takeoff alternate?
When do you need to file a landing alternate?
What altitude does RVSM start?
Icing
- What are the types of icing
- Which is most dangerous and why
- What are the type of de-icing/anti-icing fluids
- What is a holdover time (when does it start)
Multi airplane (or CRJ if you have any experience)
- Weights
- Limitations
- Systems
- Larger ones- electrical, fuel, hydraulic, power plant
MSA clears you of? Man made obstacles?
Can intercepting the g/s at any altitude be considered the FAF?
CRJ Questions (after taking the course 3 years ago):
- How many TRU's?
- What is a CDL?
- How many hydraulic pumps?
- What does an APU do?
- 10th and 14th stage bleed air for?
- Gear speed?
- What's a QRH?
- Max ramp weight?
- Max zero fuel weight?
- What is Max Wheel Speed?
- What is turbulence penetration speed?

Situational Based Interview (SBI)

Situational based interview is now just situational questions incorporated into the HR interview

Exit Interview

Why are you a pilot?
Why Pinnacle?
When can you start, if hired?
What challenges will you face coming to Pinnacle
What will you do if a Captain won't follow a checklist?
What do you do if Flight Attendant smells like alcohol?
What would you do if your Captain went below minimums on ILS?
What do you do if you are above V1 and Captain says abort?
What does CRM mean to you?
What do you know about Pinnacle?
Where do you see yourself in five years?

Please send your interview questions

Comments

Interviewed 4-23-08, 1st interview= 2 on 1 with HR and Captain. 2nd interview= plain clothed + Captain asking more systems and personal questions (04/23/08)
I was there a few days ago (week of 4-14-08/4-18-08).Just 2 interviews 1 tech and 1 final/exit interview. Both w/pilots no one from hr 2 on 1. The whole thing may take just a couple of hrs. Paperwork says they will provide breakfast and lunch, well no bkfst it was a table full of junk food, oreo cookies, gummy bears, peanut butter crackers, etc ... plenty of water and sodas. Lunch was sandwiches and more of the same bkfst. The building look anything but an airline, empty rooms no secretaries or any other personnel, neither phones or paper copiers. NOT EVEN A PICTURE OF ANY OF THEIR AIRPLANES, not very welcoming or talkative of their pride. (04/18/08)
Didn't look as professional as I expected, I did have the opportunity to walk over to the training bldg that looked much more professional. Good luck and happy flying. (4/18/08)
New base for the Delta Connection CRJ-900 flying is ATL (09/27/07)
Everyone was really nice- laughing and joking trying to make you feel at ease
Written is the hardest part- study.
They will call or send a letter to let you know the outcome
- You will not find out right away
- Call=good, letter=bad
They stopped doing a sim in June!
They provided lunch for us in August- don't know if they still do.

Please send your comments

Latest Ratings


21st July
Career Potential
Compensation
Equipment
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9th March
Career Potential
Compensation
Equipment
Quality of Life
Pinnacle is a stepping stone for most, however if you live in or near a domicile and have been with the company for a little while your schedule will be the one bright spot. 15-20 day off lines is quite common. The compensation is below average, especially for First Officers. $20.73, 24.39 and 30.09 is the pay rates for FO?s for the first 3 years. Work rules, junior man pay (125%) and dead head pay (50%) are sub par as well. The bottom line is that Pinnacle is an OK place to work as long as you have a reason to be here. (For example if you live in or near a base or are looking for a good schedule) If you want to make money or be treated like the professional that you are Pinnacle might not be for you.

23rd February
Career Potential
Compensation
Equipment
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