Interview experience:

My interview experience was very similar to the others that have posted gouges.  The interview was at the Red Lion Hotel in Denver.  I showed up about 15 minutes early, but they didn't get me in until about 20-30 minutes after my scheduled interview time.  I was interviewed by a person from HR and a pilot.  I was asked nearly all of the HR questions that were posted on the gouge here (how was my flight to Denver, how did I get into flying, what do I like about my current flying job, why do I want to leave my current flying job, what is professionalism, when was I most scared in an airplane, where do I see myself in 5 years, why GLA, what can I bring to GLA, what do I expect to get out of GLA, what makes a good FO, what would I expect from a captain, if I have a 24 hour layover how will I spend my time there, have I ever failed a checkride, have I ever had a DUI, have I ever had any drug-related offenses, have I ever been convicted of a felony, when can I start GLA, why should GLA not hire me).  I was also asked a scenario-based question: what would I do if I was on an overnight and we were supposed to be at the airport at 6am, but the captain didn't want to leave the hotel until 6am? 

The technical portion was a little bit different than the others posted here from interviews in previous years.  He pulled out a LOC BC approach and asked me to brief it and how I would fly it.  After that, he asked me the length and width of the runway I was going to land on. That info was on the back of the plate. It was not tricky.  Next he took out a STAR and gave me a scenario that I'm taking off from a particular runway at an airport (he showed me where the airport was on the STAR) and asked me how I would fly the arrival into Denver.  He gave me the Jepp taxiway diagram for the airport I was taking off from - be sure to pay attention to any ODP's for the runway you are taking off from.  He never pulled out a low enroute chart, but he pointed out a MEA and a MOCA on the STAR and asked me what those were.  He asked me if the weather goes below minimums after I pass the FAF, can I still land?  He then said that he noticed I had some time in a particular multi-engine airplane, and then he asked me to explain the landing gear system on that airplane.  Be sure you know the systems on the multi-engine airplanes you flew, even if it's been years since you've flown those airplanes.

No simulator or written exam!

As others have mentioned, be sure you have some questions for them at the end of the interview.  

One other thing that you should be aware of is that when I received the email from HR saying that they would like to interview me, there were many requirements that had to be met prior to scheduling an interview (at least 80 hours logged in the last 6 months, at least 35 hours logged in the last 90 days, 3 take-offs/landings in a multi-engine in the last 90 days, and 6 approaches in last 6 months). If you are not flying regularly, you may have a problem meeting all of those requirements.



JOIN NOW to get the remaining 131 gouges on Great Lakes Airlines.

Great Lakes Airlines Pilot Pay Rates



Great Lakes Airlines Study Guide Questions:

1. Why Great Lakes?
2. Who was your most difficult Student?
3. What is MOCA?
Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude, lowest altitude that assures obstacle clearance but does not ensure navigational signal
4. What is MEA?
Minimum En Route Altitude, lowest altitude on that airway that assures obstacle clearance and acceptable navigational reception.
5. What is GRID MORA?
*** A bit of clarification -- YES, Jepp Lesson #11 says, "On Jeppesen charts, all MORA altitudes which are 6,000 feet or lower have an obstacle clearance of 1,000 feet. If the MORA altitudes are 7,000 feet or greater, the obstacle clearance is 2,000 feet." But I agree that it makes no sense -- what about the altitudes between 6,000 and 7,000? I believe this is in error. In the Jepp Chart Glossary entry for Grid MORA, it says the Grid Mora will clear by 1,000 feet all terrain and obstacles up to 5,000 feet MSL, and will clear by 2,000 feet everything 5,001 MSL and above. ***
It's an altitude derived by Jepp or provided by state authorities. If derived by Jepp, Grid MORA clear all terrain and structures by 1000' in areas where highest elevations are 5000' MSL or lower. MORA values clear all terrain and structures by 2000' in areas where highest elevations are 5001' MSL or higher. Grid MORA (State) altitude supplied by the State Authority provides 2000' clearance in mountainous areas and 1000' in non-mountainous areas. Also... a +/- denote doubtful accuracy but are believed to provide sufficient reference point clearance.
re. previous entry, I know the 6,000 and 7,000 altitudes don't make sense. That's exactly how it's worded in the Jeppesen lesson. I think the correct altitude is: below 5,000ft. obstacle clearance is 1,000ft., and above 5,000ft. it's 2000ft obstacle clearance. Maybe 6,000 ft- im not sure.
MORA stands for Minimum Off-Route Altitude. On Jeppesen charts, all MORA altitudes which are 6,000 feet or lower have an obstacle clearance of 1,000 feet. If the MORA altitudes are 7,000 feet or greater, the obstacle clearance is 2,000 feet. A grid MORA is for the Lat-Long grid for that sector of the chart. A 'route' Mora is rare because of assigned MEA's, but are depicted by an "a" following the altitude number. An example can be seen east of the Chosi VOR in Japan, Oceanic Route OTR 11 has a MORA of 1700a. Reference: Jeppesen free 'Chart Clinic' series, Lesson #11 from Jeppesen.com .
6. How was your flight to Denver?
7. What has been your biggest sacrifice through out your flying and training?
8. Who is the person you look up to the most and why?
9. Have you applied for any other airline?
10. If you got a call from another airline, What would make you decide to go or stay with great lakes?

JOIN NOW to get all 67 Great Lakes Airlines study guide questions!