Flybe interview

[Deputy Dog]

Hi All,

Have an interview with flybe next month at Exeter International Airport. This is over a 3 hour drive away (assuming I dont get lost) which is stressful before an interview. Can anyone recommend a good (cheap) hotel/b&b/hovel near by. Hotels recommended tend to range from 60 to 100 pounds for a room which is pricey :ouch::ouch:.
Any advice welcome

DD:ok::ok:

[dmdrewitt]

I can recommend the Express by Holiday Inn which is only a couple of miles from Exeter airport. Unfortunately it doesn't fall in the cheap price range. It seems even the rate my company is paying while I am here is £62.50.

Very nice rooms here in the extension. Flat screen TV.. Blue LED lighting in the bathroom. Very modern!

A quick search on google reveals many B&B's at a reasonable price. :ok:

[wellsey]

Try Ashclyst Farm. They do rooms at very reasonable rates..£15 or £20 quid a night last time I checked.
Alternatively look for B&B's in Rockbeare, Pinhoe or Ottery St Mary. They are all just outside Exeter so will be considerably cheaper.
Good luck,

w:ok:

[BlueRobin]

DD, did you apply online along with every one or did you get a fast-tracked interview? If former, when did you apply?

I stuck mine on at the start of Jan and am still waiting :\

[Fireboy]

I used the on-line application back in Novemeber, I emailed flybe last month and I was told there were still 400 applications in my category to be looked at.

[sparks-flying]

I was November too. Guess I am one of the 400!!

[matt_hooks]

I stayed at a lovely old place called Culm Vale country house, google for it. It's pretty close to the airport, only about 10 minutes drive away so ideal for the interviews.

The room was £30 for bed and breakfast, and very comfortable. The owners are both doing PPL's at Exeter airport so are always happy to have pilots around the place. The only problem I had was getting away from the place, once we started chatting about flying and such. Rebecca and Graham are really friendly and the atmosphere is great.

Good luck with the interview!

[Deputy Dog]

MVE

Thank you very much for that feedback. I shall start chewing :ok:


BlueRobin - I applied online back in november when the form first went online.

Matt - this sounds good and the price is right.
Wellsey - re Ashclyst Farm, will be checking this out. thanks guys.

dmdrewitt - sounds nice but too much ££. I have checked online of course but all seem too expensive, and this is not a holiday. However you just cant beat first hand experience.

Thanks guys :ok::ok:


and yes, out of interest, I am "...the wrong side of 40..." :eek::eek:

Regards DD

[G SXTY]

The Holiday Inn Express is sometimes used by Flybe pilots on initial induction & TR courses. It can be a good place to hang around and pick up some advice . . . ;)

[BellyAir]

it may count against you to arrive all calm to a FlyBe interview.

Perhaps driving the day of and coping will more fully prepare you for life with them.;)

[Deputy Dog]

Does anyone know why the service celing of the Q400 25000ft. In fact, why are turboproprops more efficient at mid altitudes even though gas turbine engines happier at high altitudes/rpm. Is it because of air density/propellor efficiency (guess). Cant seem to find killer answer anywhere.:ugh:

Regards
DD

[Chesty Morgan]

DD, the Q400 is limited to 25000' because it doesn't have drop down oxygen. I believe it has to be able to reach 14000' within 4 minutes, post depressurisation(!), for certification purposes. As an aside the SAS Q400's do have drop down oxygen and are certified to 27000'(?).

Regarding mid-altitude efficiency. It's something to do with propeller efficiency, local speed of sound and supersonic tips...but that's too far back in ATPL theory for me to be totally sure:cool:! Try Google:ok:

[Deputy Dog]

Thanks Chesty, that is the killer answer I have been searching for :cool:
I had read about the SAS 27000' and this is why the 25000' ceiling started to bug me.
Regards DD:ok::ok:

[G SXTY]

Chesty is spot on re. oxygen. Not much point in paying for a pax O2 system for only another 2000'.

If you really want to impress the interviewers, research and compare the fuel burn and cruise speeds of the Q400 and 146. You'll see why Flybe are rather keen on the Dash . . .

[CABUS]

Another nice thing to know and possibly mentions is that for every extra 1000kgs of fuel a Q400 carries it only burns 6kgs per hour, good for tankering fuel.

Best of luck:ok:

[Maude Charlee]

Or more usefully, the E195 and the 146 - seeing as the Dash is not the fleet replacement choice for the 146. Moot point however, as being a newbie, you'll be spending at least 18 months on the Dash.

[RVF750]

Q400 is a replacement for some 146s. As the Guernsey crews may still find out.....

Are you sure the SAS Q400s had drop down Oxygen, I didn't know it was an option. I was under the impression the 27,000 certification was for non EU ops countries or perhaps non UK CAA. I certainly didn't see any big bottles or plumbing on the SAS dash I looked over in the hanger the other week. Nose mounted AC socket perhaps, but no oxygen....

The depressurisation issue is a pain, because the Q400 is such an efficient thing it doesn't like coming down. You can hardly get more than 3,000fpm if you try hard, because it will over speed easily and VMO is 360kt true. 1020rpm and flight idle will be a quite gentle descent in comparison to most jets with spoilers out. It's a shame the roll spoilers didn't have a seperate flight drag mode.

Best of luck on the interviews guys!

[Serenity]

Any info on the sim ride, SID/STAR/Route??
Cheers!

[Deputy Dog]

Serenity,

Copied this from PPJN.....

"Sim assessment at Flight Safety in Farnborough. Sim used is either the B1900D or the Saab 340. Take off, level off, speed up, slow down, turns onto headings, track to HON VOR & regain the 180 radial from the overhead. Vectored manual ILS to land. Take off again, level off at 3,000ft, return to the BHX NDB for a procedural ILS to land rwy 33 (can switch to rwy 15, be prepared) nothing tricky about it. Aerad provided on the day but it is a bit tatty."


Not sure how up-to-date this info is.

DD

[5 RINGS]

the briefing you'll be given at Farnborough is barely more detailed than that. you'll get an introduction of the sim to be flown using a mock up.

this was valid back in last December. Aerads provided on the day. One will depart BHX from Rwy 33 and fly the profile as PF in the RHS, then LHS-RHS swapped, then new PF flies same profile in the RHS from BHX Rwy 15.

Very friendly examiner and free coffee available :ok:

[G SXTY]

and doughnuts . . . :ok:

[Coffin Corner]

Deputy Dog

The info on PPJN is correct :cool:

[Dihaz]

i can confirm that the question about drop down O2 is correct as confirmed by Capt. Ian Baston.

[wbryce]

If you get an FTO recommendation, does anyone know the general time scales for FlyBe to process your application and call for interview?

[Coffin Corner]

Depends on requirements, there are alot of Dash courses at the moment, but most of these are EMB145 conversions. There is some attrition but it has slowed down a little bit.
Expect 4-5 weeks to be contacted, could be slightly longer, could be less, I wouldn't sit by the phone every day though.