737 Type Rating?

[flylike44]

Quick question...i'm currently an fo at a regional...my number for upgrade will be coming up pretty soon, but i'll be delaying it for various reasons...A family member has offered to pay for a 73 type as a christmas gift...Being that I'm still an fo and that I don't have any plans of moving on any time soon (not that i have any choice in the matter anyway), my question is this: would it be beneficial for me to get the type rating? any negatives having it might pose in an interview (why do you have this type rating with no time in the airplane? would you rather be interviewing with southwest? etc...). Any and all responses (even the sarcastic, smarta@! responses i'm bound to get) will be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance...

 

[Ponchus pilot]

No,just say it was a gift and that you are greatful and lucky to have gotten it. I hardley doubt it that you will get asked about this in an interview specially if that airline requires a type. Go for it dude.

 

[PunchTheClown]

Are you kidding? What do they do for stocking stuffers in your family?

 

[Mercury]

This is probably way to logical, but, with no PIC time, why not have Uncle Deep Pockets put the money into a CD or money market account for you until you decide which direction to take on the upgrade and what your ultimate goal is???. If it is SWA, great, the cost of the type is covered. If not SWA, maybe you can use the $$$ to pay down debt like school loans. Either way, I would still wait until after youve been through upgrade at your current employer. If your young and have the benefit of time on your side, upgrade where you are now, get some PIC time and command experience and then decide if you still want to buy the 73 type. Who knows your goals and aspirations may change as your career progresses or as the industry changes.

Just my thoughts....good luck with your choices

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Never turn down a type. Ever.

 

[flylike44]

thanks for the responses guys...
mercury- if you take swa, a cd, future goals, etc... out of the equation and just treat it as if you lived in a vacuum, what would be your answer?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

...A family member has offered to pay for a 73 type as a christmas gift...

All I gotta say is WOW - that's some gift.

 

[rickair7777]

Don't do it unless you are ABSOLUTELY certain that...

1) SWA is your dream destination.
2) They will still be hiring when you meet their mins.
3) You are guaranteed to be hired by them (they have been hiring 2-3 out of 18 at their interviews.

The reason I say this is that if you ever apply to any major other than SWA, a 73 type with ZERO operational experience just SCREAMS:

1) SWA was my dream job.
2) I'd do anything to work there, including paying thousands $$$$
3) I already interviewed, and got rejected
4) Now I'm applying for plan b,c,d...

So when you interview elsewhere, you will have to answer these questions...

1) Why should we hire you if you weren't good enough for SWA?
2) If we do hire you, how long before you re-apply at SWA?
3) Why should we hire you instead of someone who REALLY wants to work for us, not SWA?

How fast can you tap dance? Probably not fast enough...

 

[johndt]

Don't, don't, don't do it. But DO have that family member PM me.

I'm obviously kidding. You can tell your interviewer that you got the type, b/c an ATP costs about $2,100 and you have a brother who was willing to foot the extra $3-4,000 for the ATP + type. It's a no-brainer for me.

 

[XJohXJ]

Get it. All you need to say is: I had an opportunity to get a type rating at no expense to me. There is no anti-73 conspiracy. Any pilot would jump at a free opportunity to increase their experience level. Besides, SW is not the only airline that flys the 73...

 

[se1776]

get GIII Type that will get you somewhere

 

[puddlejumper101]

Don't do it unless you are ABSOLUTELY certain that...

1) SWA is your dream destination.
2) They will still be hiring when you meet their mins.
3) You are guaranteed to be hired by them (they have been hiring 2-3 out of 18 at their interviews.

The reason I say this is that if you ever apply to any major other than SWA, a 73 type with ZERO operational experience just SCREAMS:

1) SWA was my dream job.
2) I'd do anything to work there, including paying thousands $$$$
3) I already interviewed, and got rejected
4) Now I'm applying for plan b,c,d...

So when you interview elsewhere, you will have to answer these questions...

1) Why should we hire you if you weren't good enough for SWA?
2) If we do hire you, how long before you re-apply at SWA?
3) Why should we hire you instead of someone who REALLY wants to work for us, not SWA?

How fast can you tap dance? Probably not fast enough...

Dude...I have to disagree with you. I for a fact know multiple people at UPS, Fedex, and CAL who had 737 types. I know of a guy recently who had a type and got hired at CAL...and SWA. They never once asked him anything about the type or SWA whe he interviewed at CAL...

Take the type unless he is willing to give you the cash for other things...it's all about opportunities in this industry...and if someone was paying for my type I would not hesitate.

 

[N311HK]

Never miss an oportunity to improve yourself. Period! But then again you can go to Vegas for 2 days and improve yourself

 

[Vspeeds]

Wow!

I say go for it!

 

[Skyward]

I've been told by a UPS CP that if you have a 737 type UPS does count that against you, but that doen't mean they won't hire you.

 

[eyeh8flt]

Once you break the ice and get 73 type, it will open doors b/c it proves you are trainable. If you need a sim support, let me know.

 

[NEDude]

Don't turn it down. Get it and go have fun with the process.

As for hurting your future prospects at airlines other than SWA, I don't think it is an issue. Unless the interviewer has lived in a vacuum, they will know that over the last five years, the only consistant hiring at the major airline level has been at SWA. I too know people who have been hired at Continental, Air Tran, UPS, Atlas and Cathay Pacific with 737 type ratings and no time in the airplane (of course SWA as well).

You may want to do a search on the majors section about where to go, but IMHO you can't go wrong with Higher Power, K&S Aviation, or Flight Training International (where I went). I had a great experience and everyone I know who went to the other places did as well.

 

[flylike44]

thanks for the input everyone...for those that suggested it, the cash option isn't an option (believe me, i had my tix to fiji bought already)...

 

[Amish RakeFight]

This has been debated quite heavily for years and it seems that 65% say NO and 35% say YES to the 737 type. My figures of course can be off. Just an estimation of mine.

Perhaps we could have the mods create a poll.

Conventional wisdom would say all good things about acquiring the type and many good reasons have been given, yet due to the SWA position, it has gotten a bad rap.

 

[kmox29]

I can't remember exactly from my CFI days, but for some reason I think you should make sure you have the ATP to go along with the type. I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you type on a Commercial certificate, you'd lose it on an ATP certificate. Anyone?

 

[Caveman]

Graciously accept the very generous gift. Getting the type under those circumstances will be very easy to explain at any interview. Everybody gets a break at some point. Maybe this is yours. Go for it.

 

[HoursHore]

I can't remember exactly from my CFI days, but for some reason I think you should make sure you have the ATP to go along with the type. I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you type on a Commercial certificate, you'd lose it on an ATP certificate. Anyone?

False. My BE400 and 707 type tranfered to my ATP from my commercial.

 

[Captain Overs]

Get the type. If you get hired at SWA you'll be much farther ahead than if you invest it in a CD.

 

[Joe Schmo]

With the way hiring is forcast to pick up in the coming years, you'll be able to get a job with a mainline company without the type waiting. You might work for an airline that flies airbuses. If you got an oppurtunity to build PIC time I'd stick with that, everything else should fall into place.

 

[willNOTfly4free]

I can't remember exactly from my CFI days, but for some reason I think you should make sure you have the ATP to go along with the type. I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you type on a Commercial certificate, you'd lose it on an ATP certificate. Anyone?

Absolutely not! Any type ratings on your commercial certificate *will* transfer to your ATP certificate. That's straight out of the ATP written exam.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

I wouldn't want to work for any company that would hold it against you for making your resume as strong as it can possibly be. A type rating certainly separates you from some of the resumes in the stack, especially at Southwest. No airline expects that you will apply to them and only them. Why not have a resume that allows you to apply to the most airlines possible. Is Southwest going to hold it against you if have the F/E written test finished because you "obviously" want to go work for UPS or Fedex? No. In this crappy hiring period we're in right now, you have to do all you can to get ahead. Just explain to any hiring board that you got the type rating to open as many doors as possible. That doesn't mean you have to walk through the open doors. It sure is nice to have options though.

 

[Mercury]

mercury- if you take swa, a cd, future goals, etc... out of the equation and just treat it as if you lived in a vacuum, what would be your answer?

Wait a minute!!!!Life in a Vacuum..??!!?? Who told you about that, I never..

All kidding aside I would have to agree that any formal sim and ground training is valuable for career development as a professional pilot. So to answer your question, I would definately take the generous gift of training.

Good luck and let us know what you do.:beer:
Now back to the PSU v NW game

 

[pianoman]

So options are- something like a cheesy sweater or X-box 360, or a 73 type?

Do it.

Easily explained and also you will have a free ATP rating. If for whatever reason you end up getting furloughed and have to find a new job this may help you. As someone else said, never miss a chance to improve yourself.

You may also get some networking done and meet some people at the 737 class. This is invaluable in getting a job.