My app was reviewed in December, but didn't get a call until I followed-up via email in January and was given a two day interview two weeks from the call.

     I stayed at the Drury Inn - its a few bucks more, but good breakfast and clean rooms.  The other one (Motel 6) I heard wasn't bad.  I just saw an online review I didn't like (bed bugs).

     We went across the street in the morning to the ASA building (A-TECH) - took the shuttle, but you can walk almost just as fast.  After waiting in lobby for a bit, we were brought into cafeteria.  Dale and Joe are retired captains (just missed age 65 rule) and HR contractors for EJT and will lead the start of interview. You watch a video (pretty good overview of their vision) and can ask as many questions as you like.  They are hiring only for EJT side of merger (EMB-145 and their bases - Chicago and Newark are junior bases).  They told us that once the two pilot groups combine their seniority, there can be movement to the ex-ASA side with CRJ.  I like they "super-regional" growth goals, want to service all states and want to hire 400 this year.

     Then you take a short break in cafe and they setup for the first 30 question knowledge test.  Not that bad.  Mostly basic CFI stuff.  

     You then get a HR test with an essay question on the back.  The HR test is pretty much softball stuff - why did you get into flying, biggest mistake you made or saw, etc.  For the essay, I got "Explain high altitude airspace".  Other questions were on Icing and deice procedures, describe turbine engine, High altitude physiology, Thunderstorm avoidance and Wind shear avoidance / technique.

     I talked about Class A, RVSM, high altitude equipment requirements.  Not sure what they wanted, but they tell you not to over think the question.  I think they are looking at your writing skills.  

     You then take a grid test.  You can duplicate on Excel by creating a table that goes from -17 to 17 along top, bottom and sides.  Then put numbers in the middle.  Start at 64 and increase by 1 or 2 all the way down and across.  No lines in the middle of grid, just numbers.  You get 50 questions with x/y coordinates and need to answer on another sheet with four answers.  You get 9 minutes.  I had time to finish all 50 and most finished in the 40's.  You need to get at least 30 right.  Key is setting up the sheets.  Put question sheet in front of you and laminated grid on top.  Use that to follow the current question.  Answer sheet to your right.  Just keep working and don't second guess.

     Then you get lunch - you have to buy it, but its not bad.  They have a salad bar and some hot entree and vending machines.

     After lunch, you wait for oral tech interview.  This seemed to be anti-climatic.  I wasn't asked any systems questions, but given a lost comm scenario.  When you arrive at the approach, what altitude are you at?  I hadn't really thought about that one before - you are at the highest of the cleared, expected and MEA and to descend over the IAF.  

     I had to brief the Santillo approach in Mexico.  It has two teardrop procedures turns - one for the approach and one for the hold which also can use the first turn for altitude.  You may need to continue the figure eight until you get to altitude.  I think a gouge describes it better.

     After tech interview you walk across the street to get finger-printed and wait until everyone is done to go for drug test.  After that, you go back to hotel.

     Next morning starts earlier at Delta 1020 building.  They will tell you where that is (you pass by it on way to Concentra).

     You get the cognitive test first - all I can say it is weird.  There are some gouges about it, but tough to prepare for, since all computerized.  The hardest one for me was the flagman test (they show you a flagman with flag in either left or right hand, facing you and facing away and right side up and right side down).  You have a few seconds to say which hand the flag is in.  I think you can practice that a little if you wanted.

     Then personality test.  300 questions - tedious and will drive you batty.

     Then 60 question knowledge test - a lot tougher questions, but you can prepare by memorizing a few of the rule of thumb formulae.    If you look at some of the other gouge pages, I think they talk about the cognitive and personality tests.

     After that, it was the sim.   Because of construction, we had to use a 737-200 FTD (no graphics).  Was heavy - use trim liberally (no tapping it) and be aggressive with stick to achieve what you need.  I thought it was pretty stable, but three guys almost stalled and one guy had the stick shaker go off.      They just want to see you climb, level off, turn & climb (try to get turn completed first), level off, go to hold (remember to slow down to hold speed for your altitude - I was at 8000' so 230 kias, aim for 220 kias  - they try to remind you a couple times before hand), tell them hold entry and what turn you will make inbound.  If you get it right, they will vector you to ILS.  Just follow the ILS.  Watch power, but have your partner call off the EPR numbers for you so you can manage according to profile they give you.

     Overall, it was a great experience and we met a lot of administrative people who said off the record that this was a great company to work for.  It took about a week to get the call with the results.  I am excited to start in about a month.