Hello guys I had an interview at SimTech in Dublin on the 16th Dec I got today positive answer
no dates for TR yet as they are going through Christmas but they will get back in touch just after the new year.
SimTech simulator is a 737-800 FTD, which means it is not a FFS and it looks similar to the real aircraft. I suggest you if you have a chance, to have a ride on it before or maybe just try to get in there and have a look so you know what you'll expect.
I got there, got the briefing from the sim assessor for any questions and some tips. Very relaxed, jokes and he tried to put everyone in a comfortable position. As he said, they are there to see if you have potential. Once you done with the briefing, you'll get paired up with the person just in front of you and you will be give plates. We had DUB rwy 28 approach only with SID LIFFY 4A. Now I do believe they were not the most updated charts as they were dated 2009.
Me and my partner went first to the SIM, me starting as PM on the left hand seat. You will chose were you want to be and what role you want to do first, just coordinate with your partner. You will also have time to brief the plate and other things with your partner before the SIM, just write down in the plate what you think it is important and speak with your partner call outs and other differences that you may have had during your training.
We did full SID with QDM and QDR intersection, couple of turns, climbs, descents, etc. the the assessor will ask you during the flight what is you position, he will then pause the SIM and the PF only to point at the chart where you are however he will ask the PM is he agrees. Make sure you are pointing in the right plate, I was pointing in the VOR app when we had the ILS app set up in the radios lol good call from my partner when he told me it was the wrong plate o was looking at. We then had smoke in the cabin, requested radar vectors for ILS approach (procedure didn't include any hold). Ceiling OVC008 so we became visual early. G/S and LOC failure 100' above minimums, as we were visual we proceeded for landing. I had the same when I was PF apart from the SID which instead was non-procedure departure.
To be fair I had a hard time to handle the aircraft, very fast very sensitive, small pitch changes will give you large differences in ROC/ROD. Probably you will have clean and config the plane while you are turning and climbing/descending so be prepared. My partner was in the SIM the day before so he handle the aircraft really really well.
5 min to cool down, then interview. My partner went first, I waited around 40 minutes.
HR Questions:
Tell me about yourself
Have got any family in aviation?
What your parents do?
You did your training with X, why did you go there?
Was it state funded?
How much did it cost?
How did you pay for it?
What was the hardest part of your training?
Why do you want to join FR?
What would be the biggest challenge if you join FR?
When did you apply to FR?
What do you dislike about flying? (that one really caught me lol)
Did you ever had any incidents/accidents?
Your MCC, what was that all about?
How would you describe the engineers at your Airport?
Pick 3 bases
Your availability?
MCC aircraft?
Technical questions:
Loading policy regarding bags, cargo and Mail on the FR 737 (I'm a flight dispatcher)
How many holds have you got in the 737 and where are they?
MZFW IN 737?
Why smaller than MTOW and MLW?
Why do we have it?
Vref, what is?
How much it?
Diihedral vs anhedral?
Why do we have it?
Winglets, what are they?
Why they are there?
Assessment done!
My background:
26, Portuguese, integrated course in Portugal, 250 hours, ATPL exams 91% With 1st pass in all, Aviation degree. Worked in retail for 7 years, last 2 as store management, last 9 months as a flight dispatcher.
Now the shocking news for the moaners about age and application waiting time:
We were 8, 3 or 4 were older than me, 27 and 29, another guy I think he was over 30 but not sure. Finished my training in April 2012, applied in May 2012, got called in November 2014. Yes, 2 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS 24 DAYS WAITING so please cut the b
t if you're moaning about 1 month without hearing nothing. And yes, this was also my first interview ever so just prepare yourselves! One guys finished 4 years ago but I don't know when he did apply.
All went very fast, it just took 29 days from email from CAE asking the CV until get an answer if successful or not. However they told us to not expect anything before Christmas. Next available dates are from May 2015 onwards.
I wish good luck for everyone and please be patient, I know is hard because I went through that as well but you have to keep trying and do not demotivate. Get a job in airline operations or ground handling operations, that will give you an huge knowledge about many things and you will make good contacts and friends. If you work hard, people will help you when you need. Just be yourself in the interview, don't try to be the smart ass, they will get you
Cheers