All of the pilot selection staff make you feel welcome

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Which Airline did you interview with? Delta
How many days between invite, interview, and listed availability? 6 weeks between invite and interview
Did you receive a job offer? Yes
If you did not receive the CJO why do you think you weren’t chosen to continue in the process? N/A
What is your experience? 121 only
Total Flight Time 3,000-4,000
Total Turbine PIC Time < 1,000
General Overview of Experience All of the pilot selection staff make you feel welcome and comfortable from the moment you walk in the building. Day starts out at 0745; get there at 0730 and you’ll be good. You’re called in groups of 3, from the area outside the office, to turn in logbooks and the two sets of paperwork that you’re asked to bring. At 0800, We got a briefing from Captain Barry Holmes, the Manager of pilot selection. Very relaxed and he just tells you how the day goes and throws in subtle hints on how to handle it all and be successful throughout the day.
After that, you’re split into 2 groups. One takes morning tests and does afternoon HR interviews, and vice versa. You also get 1 hour 15min for lunch, which you can grab in the cafeteria across the street. You’re also welcome (and encouraged) to leave the pilot selection office and see the museum, during that break. We had a group of 12 and we were all done by 1500. After waiting around for about 45 minutes, 2 guys were called out of the main waiting room, about 20min apart, and then the rest of us received CJOs shortly after. After receiving our CJOs, we were debriefed and given a bunch of paperwork to fill out and turn in on our way out, as well some to bring in completed for the following day. Finally, we went to another office to take our drug tests, and then told to come back by 0645, the next day for the MMPI.
Everyone there is interested in your success and wants you to leave that day, successful. It’s a true no bs, no games process. No one is counting how many little water bottles you drink or if you get coffee and how much you drink, and doing things like that. Just talk to the other candidates in your pool while you’re waiting around, leave your bags in the closet like they tell you, and remember absolutely no electronic devices out while you’re there. If you’re seen with a laptop, tablet, or phone anywhere on the Delta campus, its immediate game over.
How long did you have your application in before you received an invite? 12 months +
Did you attend a job fair? Yes
Did you do anything special that triggered the interview invitation? I attended the Delta pilot job fair in Atlanta, last year. Also had one internal rec from a pilot.
How many internal recs did you have? 1-2
How long was it from the time of your invite to the actual interview? 4 weeks
Did you have any issues with logbooks, application or paperwork? No issues with my logbooks or paperwork. I had one phase check unsat already disclosed on my app, however, I found a second when I was going through my 141 college logbooks that I had to add, after the invite. Also on my application, the ATP issue date I had listed was for when I got my original ATP, which is different from the certificate I currently have, since I received a second type rating since then.
I was prepared to explain why I had to add that second phase check bust after the invite, however, it was never specifically mentioned. The discrepancy between the certificate issue dates was never mentioned, either.
If you have a CFI or other certificate, also bring copies of those. It only said ATP, FCC license, and medical on the paperwork sheet, but they want to see those other ones as well. Laura, who processed our paperwork, made the copies of my CFI and there were no issues regarding that. No one “counted it against me.”
How did you prepare for the JKT/COG portion of the interview? I used the cog trainer in RST and it works great. Few times a week on that, and you should be fine. Actual one is a lot easier, including the math questions. Make sure to READ THE DIRECTIONS and take at least 1 practice test (you get 2 until the proctor has to do a reset to give you more). Cog test isn’t timed, so take your time; the only time aspect is when you’re in each level doing the test. I went for more accuracy than speed, and remember that the letter/number sequence pops up a second time in the test, so don’t data dump that after the first shot.
For the JKT, I used RST as well. Start with the 15 day checklist, read ANA, do the RST ground school, and then take those associated practice tests. Don’t memorize answers from the RST tests, rather, use them to gauge what areas you need to further study. To pass the JKT, you need to understand the concepts. I also recommend reading any Part 91 reg related to IFR operations, as well as basic Part 121 stuff regarding destination and takeoff alternates, and basic overwater ops. Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot and the instrument procedures handbook are also good reference materials.
Finally, go through the RST podcasts, topical study guides, and videos. They all contain useful information that’ll help you with understand the concepts covered on the JKT.
Technical Test Questions Covered 40% aerodynamics and stability, 30% turbine engine operation, 10% IFR and enroute operations, 10% aircraft systems, 5% math/holding, and 5% airport Iighting/signage. I got 2 weather questions, max.
After an airplane hits turbulence it initially returns towards its original state, and then begins divergent oscillations, what best describes the stability characteristics of this aircraft?
You’re preflighting an aircraft with the batteries supplying electrical power to the aircraft and you notice the fire detection system isn’t operational. What best describes how this system is powered?
What is the proper start sequence for a gas turbine engine?
You’re doing an engine start at a high altitude airport on a hot day. Your N2 is rising normally, however, the EGT is rapidly rising and approaching its limitation. What best describes the proper action?
What best describes the pink pavement spot with the “4A” in black letters in this diagram?
What is NOT true about waypoint SOJOY on the following high altitude enroute chart? (Was government chart, not jepp)
It’s VMC conditions and ATC says: Airline 123, maintain 2000 until established, you’re cleared for the ILS 22 approach. What can you do in this situation? (Answer was execute the published missed approach procedure if needed)
Youre doing an ILS 18 circle to land 07 and lose sight of the runway during the circling maneuver. What best describes the proper missed approach procedure?
What is the initial effect of fowler flaps?
I got questions about an inverter, what produces the most noise regarding a jet engine, change a diffuser makes on the air in the engine, simple compressor stall question, spoiler effects, high lift devices, and a couple effects of CG shift.
The math questions I got weren’t difficult, just some holding fuel calculations with tons of extraneous information and verbiage in the question. Another was a VOR radial and holding entry question, distance from the VOR, lead point for a 65 mile arc, and vertical speed calculation based on a crossing restriction.
What was the hardest technical question or content you experienced during the job knowledge test? The one holding question with a lot of excess info. Says you’ve been holding for 30 minutes and dispatch thinks wx will clear. How much longer can you hold before having to divert? A lot of the questions had 2 similar answers that seemed correct, so it made for a challenge when I was not 100% sure of an answer. It’s timed 60 minutes, so I suggest giving yourself 2-3 minutes per math question, and doing those at the end.
Cog Test Cog test was similar to RST. Much easier with the stylus, especially with the multi tasking parts. See comments above regarding the cog.
Cog Math Questions Very basic mental math. Percentages of round numbers, and basic addition and subtraction. I wouldn’t sweat this part too much.
You earn $25/day for 2 weeks, how much do you have in total after the 2 weeks?
You have 7 quarters and 5 nickels, how much money do you have in total?
500 kids are in a high school class. 70% graduate and of those graduates, 30% go to college. How many students go to college?
HR Questions 1 HR Rep, 1 current captain, 1 retired captain. They go through your college transcript and entire application with you. Each asks you an equal amount of questions and remember to make eye contact, equally, with all of them when answering.
With the HR interview, BE YOURSELF. Don’t give canned answers because they WILL ask you follow-up questions based on your responses. You’ll get caught in a bind and backed into a corner if you’re not genuine. The HR interview was basically like having a conversation, and I got tripped up on one of their follow up questions and started nervously rambling. Again, they want to hire you and they threw me a softball on the follow up by slightly changing the scenario and making a suggestion. They don’t ask you trick questions or try to be sketchy and play games. They’re there to evaluate your thought process in relation to work-related scenarios and get to know you as a human/person, and not just a pilot.
-Tell me about yourself since high school in 5 minutes. Time now is :45 past the hour.
-Tell me about your CFI experience in college and did you like it.
-Why did you choose the school you went to and what influenced that decision?
-Did your school have a 4 year aviation degree track; follow up- why did you not choose that path and what influenced you to pursue your non-aviation major and minor?
-Are you available with 2 weeks notice as stated in your application? If so, please initial.
-Are these two unsats listed on your application your only unsats you’ve received? If so, please initial. Follow up- what did you learn from these training failures?
-Was it hard to leave your first airline for your current airline (regional to LCC) and give up that seniority and possible flow?
-What does customer service mean to you and say you’re a 1k medallion frequent flier at Delta, how would you expect or want to be treated?
-I notice you’ve done some long flights at your current airline, what do you do to pass the time on these long flights? Follow up- have you ever used a PED in the flight deck? Why shouldn’t we use PEDs in the flight deck (other than for charts, manuals, wx, etc)?
-Does your airline use the iPad and have a paperless cockpit and do you carry backup charts? Would you be alright learning the surface, as we use this here at Delta?
-What are/were the upgrade times at your current and previous airlines? Did you ever have the chance to upgrade to captain?
-You’re the captain, WWYD if you’re flying with a new FO and his uniform is in disarray, shoes not shined, shirt half hanging out, and sloppy haircut? Follow up- he comes in the next week to fly a trip with you, perfect looking uniform, but absolutely refuses to wear the hat, WWYD?
-You’re the captain, a group of 5 platinum, diamond, and 1k medallion members get on your flight into first class after a golf tournament; FA says they’re drunk, gate agent says they’re ok, WWYD?
-You’re the captain, boarding complete and door is open in a 3rd world country, pax reports suspected human trafficking to the FA, WWYD?
-Do you have any questions for us?
How long prior to the interview did you prepare for the HR portion of the interview? 4 weeks
Which HR Prep service did you use and did it help? Mountain Capital Consulting. Helped immensely for HR, app review, and paperwork.
Any additional information you would like to add. On the first day, there is also a personality test similar to the Hogan that United gives. It’s 240 questions and 50 minutes timed. The response options are: strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree. Answer honestly and don’t overthink the questions. Also answer every question.
If you get a CJO, you’ll be invited back for the second day, where you take the MMPI-2. It is 567 true/false questions and not timed. Also answer honestly and don’t overthink the questions. Your results are analyzed by a psychologist and If your answers are dishonest or inconsistent, then your results won’t be valid and you’ll have to retake the test; I had to take the test because my results were “too positive.”
After that, you talk to a psychologist for about a half an hour. They ask you general questions about your past and flying career. If you didn’t answer something on the MMPI, then you’ll be asked about that, too.
-How did you get into flying?
-Tell me about your past in respect to your flying career?
-How was your childhood? Did you have any traumatic events how did you psychologically handle them?
-Who would you consider as your biggest role model(s) and why?
-TMAAT you had a stressful situation in life outside of flying? How did you psychologically handle it?
-TMAAT you had a stressful time flying, doesn’t have to be airline related? How did you handle it after?
-TMAAT you had a captain or other co-worker who you had a conflict with?
-What do you do to relax?
-Do you use recreational drugs or drink alcohol?
-How often do you drink?
-How does your drinking now compare to when you were in college?
-Have drugs or alcohol use ever impeded your abilities in work or school?
-Have you been in trouble with the law?
-Have you gotten any speeding tickets?
-Are you happy with your current living and job situation?
After the MMPI and psych eval results are analyzed, then you should receive an email by 1700 eastern that same day, saying you successfully completed the day or if your results need to be sent to a review board. You also get drug tested upon successful completion of the first day, and then finger printed and get an ID picture taken on the second day.
Is their anything you wish you could have done different to prepare you for this process? No, 4-6 weeks is sufficient to cover all the material necessary to prepare for all parts of the interview. Just be diligent about studying a minimum of 2 hours/day.
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