Interview experience:

I started by downloading an application from Eva's website, and FedEx'd the completed package to Taipei. I got a phone call late Monday evening, the they received the application. He was looking for some clarification and some more details, mainly on my training records. The next day I faxed him the additional information and he called back to set up an interview date 2 weeks away. He then called back twice more moving the interview earlier each time, and by Saturday I was on an Eva flight from LA to Taipei. While waiting for the flight, I met an Eva captain who was commuting and chatted with him about the company. His summary, it's an ok place to work. At midnight, I arrived at the Eva training center where housing is provided for the 4 day process. Day one is in the simulator, day 2 is a technical/HR interview, and days 3-4 are for the medical. I got up at 8 am for my sim ride. For me they used a 767-300 sim, though they could also use the 747-400 or MD-11 sims as well. While waiting for the sim, I met the current newhire class of MD-11 pilots, most of whom were from Varig on a 2 year contract, and the others were Australians. After a one hour sim briefing, I sat down in the right seat of the sim (he gave me a choice). All of the preflight items were complete except for programming the FMC and the engines were running. We took off from from Rwy 5L in Taipei and flew the Houlong 4 departure. He leveled me off at 10,000 and vectored me off the departure for some steep turns followed by a pair of stalls, one straight ahead "just for practice" and one with flaps and a 20 degree bank. He then repositioned us to the runway for another takeoff followed by a visual pattern and landing on Rwy 5L. Next, he dropped the weather and gave me an engine failure prior to V1 followed by another engine failure at V1. After cleanup, he gave me vectors to the ILS 5L, flight director only (dual cue). Another Eva captain had told me that they are really big into stabilized approaches, so if you don't like your approach go around and do it again. I wasn't too happy with my approach so I took his advice and did a single engine go around followed by another hand flown single engine approach to minimums. All told the ride took about an hour and 15 minutes, and was pretty close to a rating ride if they added a Cat III, a nonprecision and a circle. I would highly recommend getting a couple of really good sim sessions in the 767 prior to the interview. I would also highly recommend getting to Taipei at least a full day if not 2 early to give yourself some chance to rest and adjust after the long trip. That afternoon, I took the company bus into Taipei to check out the area a little, as I had never been to Taiwan before. The following morning, I went up to the 9th Floor of the Admin building for the Tech/HR interview. I met with Jason, who was the one that called me to set up the interview. He gave me a 2 page summary on the salary and working conditions for Expat F/Os. They were considering me for either the MD11 or 747-400. Salary was based on basic salary plus duty allowance plus incentive flying allowance. Basic salary offered was NT$97,500 per month, with a one month annual salary supplement paid at the end of the 13th month of employment. Per diem is US$3 per duty hour. Incentive flying is NT$850 per flight hour. After 50 hours, the overtime rate is NT$850 x 1.5. So if I did all the math and conversions right, I'd say pay comes out to about US$70,000 per year based on 80 hours per month. Accomodations are provided in the company appartment building next to the training center in Nankan, about 15 minutes from the airport. Normal schedules are 21 days on followed by 10 days off. You can jumpseat for free on Eva aircraft to commute. One biggie is that there is a US$60,000 training bond for a period of 4 years. After giving me 30 minutes or so to look over that, he called me into the next conference room where I met the panel of 5 interviewers, 3 Taiwanese and 2 Expat. Technical questions included runway weight limits for large aircraft, balanced field length, thunderstorms, emergency descent procedures, and loss of control on a snow covered runway in a strong crosswind. Their biggest concerns with American pilots on furlough was about our intentions - if we were planning on staying long term at Eva or if we were just going to fly for a couple years then return home. After about 15 minutes of deliberation, they elected not to offer me the job, saving me from 2 days of poking and prodding at the medical, which is done at the Taiwanese CAA medical center in Taipei, and apparently is similar to what their military pilots have to go through. They flew me back to the US that night. Again, my two biggest suggestions is get there as early as you can to be well rested and be proficient in the simulator they evaluate you in. They seem to be in a growth mode, and if green is your favorite color, good luck!

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EVA Airways Study Guide Questions:

1. Why did you apply with us?
2. What is grid mora?
3. What is MSA?
4. What is the difference between GPWS and EGPWS?
5. What is your windshear procedure?
6. Explain Balance Fld. length
7. Tell us about your aviation background?
8. Explain De icing/ Anti-icing procedures.
9. Tell us about your flying experiences?
10. What will you do if recalled by XYZ Airlines?

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