Skywest Cadet Prep Session

-Well-groomed, suit and tie even for online interviews

-When they ask you to introduce yourself, take advantage. Give a detailed description of resume,
other jobs, college, explain any gaps.
-Make sure that logbook and resume are up to date.
-Have an availability date set.

Sections
-Logbook Review
-HR
-Technical Subject Areas
-WX, FARs, Turbine Engine Theory, Airport Signage, Systems, Aerodynamics, Jeppesen
-CRM

Logbook Review
-They want to see ATP minimum qualifications, so have those hours totaled and ready to
reference.
-TT, XC, PIC, Night, Instrument, Multi, Past 90 days, past 12 months, monthly average
-Include any checkride failures (Dates, reasons, what you learned)

HR
-Tell me about a time…
-Come prepared with 5 or 6 flights in mind that could you help answer questions. “When were
you scared in a flight? Have you made any mistakes while flying? Tell me about your favorite
flight, etc…
-Be familiar with Skywest Mission and Values, Date it was started, who is CEO, etc..
-Strengths and weaknesses as a pilot
-Tie in safety and CRM to all of your answers

CRM
-Scenario (Not always done during online interviews)
-“2 in, 2 out” - Talk to two sets of people in the plane and two out of the plane: crew, passengers,
etc… ATC, dispatch, etc…
-Expand resources. Is there a doctor on board?
-Doesn’t have to be perfect but debrief is important

Technical Subject Areas

-FARS
-91.175
 -Alternate minimums
-Derived alternate minimums
-Exception 17347 (3585)
-1 Navaid, 2 Navaid rule
-Max holding speeds
-RVSM Airspace
-Aerodynamics
-Swept wing
-Behavior at lower airspeeds, stall characteristics, benefits,
-High Altitude
-Multi-engine Aerodynamics - PAST/SMACFUM
-Critical Mach
-Mach Tuck
-Coffin Corner
-Dutch Roll
-WX
-Thunderstorms
-Anvil
-Microburst
-Stages
-Lenticular Clouds
-Cloud Clearance
-METAR/TAF
-Codes
-Duration
Systems
-Electrical
-Talk about your most complicated electrical system
-AC/DC
-TRU
-Volts v. Amps
-Batteries
-lead acid or NiCad?
-Magnetos
-Diode
-Bus
-Circuit Breakers
-Gear Box Accessory
-ATS
Turbine Engine Theory
 -“You are an air molecule, walk me through your journey through the engine.
-Explain 4 “strokes”
-Diffusers and stator vanes
-Bleed Air
-Start Malfunctions
-Hot start
-Hung Start
-Jeppesen Charts
-SID, STAR, ILS
-Boldmethod has good resources
-Be THOROUGH but BRIEF
-Maltese cross not FAF for precision. Glideslope intercept is FAF
-Airport Signage

Other
-CRJ upgrades quicker
-Skywest online has a domicile map with seniority info
-CRJ or ERJ?
-pick QOL over aircraft
-Practice Storytelling
-Can you captivate a listener with your abilities?
-If you change bases you get 4 free “move days” so keep in mind if you want extra vacation time

Actual Interview - approx 1.3 hours

-Started with Introductions
-Said it was going to be more a conversation, he said “chill environment”
-Went over logbook screenshots I sent. He asked about total time, XC, night, instrument, and
multi-engine time and we went over how much I need to meet ATP minimums. He asked how
many hours I get monthly. Somehow he didn’t get the total times I sent, so I had to scramble to
send him an updated page so have that ready just in case.
-Asked me about checkride failures. I explained what happened and what I learned from them. I
then asked if he had any more questions about them and he said “nope, you answered correctly.”

HR Section
-Have you ever been terminated in a pilot position before
-Are there any incidents/accidents that would come in a PRIA report that you haven’t disclosed
to us
-He asked a couple more questions I don’t quite remember about negative pilot history
-“Tell me about a time when you had an issue in flight and how you handled it.” He left it very
broad and said it can be anything from weather to an equipment malfunction to a disagreement,
etc…
“Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond.”
“Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a leader, this can even include a student
since they are the one paying the bills”

No CRM scenario

Technical Subject Areas

-What is 91.175
-Showed me B airspace on Jepp chart, asked speed limits above, in, and under B shelves
-What is the 123 rule
-What is exemption 3585(17347)
-Holding Speeds
-Swept wing pros and cons
-Critical Mach
-Mach Tuck
-Coffin Corner
-Critical Engine
-What factors determine the critical engine
-What is a carburetor
-What happens to a carbureted engine at high altitude vs a turbine engine?
-What are the cons of a fuel-injected engine?
-Parts of a turbine engine, what components are involved, stages
-What is bleed air used for
-What is the purpose of bypass air
-How is the cabin pressurized
-How is the cabin pressure regulated
-What is the hydraulic system used for
-What is a TAF and how long does it last
-Had me read through a METAR (KCHS), know all of the remarks
-Weather results from warm and cold fronts
-How far from a thunderstorm should you fly
-If there’s an anvil, where do you fly around the cloud
-What is a microburst
-Why does virga occur
-Tell me about the electrical system in the plane you most commonly fly
-What is an inverter
-How to convert from AC to DC and DC to AC
-Asked me how familiar I was with Jeppesen charts, when I said we don’t use them at UVU he
seemed like he wasn’t going to ask very hard questions
-Showed me an airport diagram and asked me what it was
-Hot Spots
-Had me brief a Jepp approach (KOTH ILS 5) with 1sm reported visibility and 300 foot ceiling.
-Asked me about the FAP for precision and non-precision
-Asked me about the conditional DA and what to do if I didn’t meet that standard
-Showed me a bunch of airport signs and asked me what they meant
-What color are taxiway lines, lights
-What color are runway lines, lights
-Opened it up for me to ask any questions
-What aircraft do you prefer, what base

Anwers to my questions
-ERJ is faster training right now
-Those who succeed at Skywest are open to criticism, those who fail are not open to criticism
and are complainers
-Study alone, fail alone but dont get more than 4 in a study group
-Get a good sim partner
-Positive attitude, be confident but not argumentative
-ERJ can cause complacency. He recommended learning the CRJ first so you don’t get lazy
-Security and training are better than the whole industry even if pay isn’t, but over time pay
improves with pilot profit sharing
-Planes are very well maintained and crews are usually pretty good
-If I don’t hear back within 1 week I need to contact the person who set up the interview