Swa Pool

[mayoplane]

Question

I have a question. I see some of the 'pool date' is from May 2007. I know several people who interviewed around August, September 2007 and already started the class. These people with May 2007 pool date, did they have the type back then too? How does this work? I am confused.

 

[GuyBehindTheGuy]

If you see these folks on the pool list, then they have their type. Your spot in the pool is either based on your interview date if you had the type or your type date if you got the type after your interview. Hope this helps!

Also, I kinda doubt that people that interviewed in August and September 2007 are already in class. They would have jumped about 250 people (or more) which doesn't sound correct.

Take care,

GBTG

 

[GFunk20]

"I know several people who interviewed around August, September 2007 and already started the class."

Impossible.

 

[mayoplane]

Ok

OK, maybe I was mistaken. I will try to verify the details of when these people got interviewed. Thanks.

 

[zippy32]

I'm in class and the chief of training of talked to us. He said we were hiring 180 this year. 36 already have employee id numbers. Add in all 44 of the 60+ guys and that would leave 100 more from the pool this year (assuming all 60+ guys get hired). Good luck to all the poolies.

 

[THEPRFCT10]

boy with info, it makes me wish they would tell us what number we are like they did before they started telling us where we stand with respect to what class we are in.....now it's hard to tell with the '100' when they'd go to class......did they give you any idea on future class dates zippy????

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

One of our former astronauts, rhymes with Poot Mibson, was in the MDW crewroom last week asking how to apply. I guess there's just not many astronaut gigs these days.

Well....apparently he may be applying to work at Mir...seems that once upon a time he...commanded a crew of seven-members (up) and eight-members (down) on Space Shuttle mission STS-71. This was the first Space Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.

 

[FCNelson]

I'm in class and the chief of training of talked to us. He said we were hiring 180 this year. 36 already have employee id numbers. Add in all 44 of the 60+ guys and that would leave 100 more from the pool this year (assuming all 60+ guys get hired). Good luck to all the poolies.

What would that bring the pool down to?
(ie how many left - I think its between 310 and 340).

What will be the acceptance rate for poolies who have to wait a while? Any guesses?

Thanks,

FCN

 

[Speedtape]

Name--------------Pool Date----- Class Date
___________________________________
klr1935------------2/13/07-------
huronip------------3/19/07------8/15/07
Hedgehog----- ---4/4/07--------8/22/07
flypirate24--------4/15/07-------8/22/07
c17guy------------4/16/07
flybynav1965------5/10/07-------
GFunk20----------5/22/07
THEPRFCT10------5/27/07-------
FoxTwo-----------5/ /07
sf340dvr-------
Prop Trash--------6/6/07--------
obadie------------6/12/07-------
GuyBehindTheGuy-6//07---------
RogerMOSA-------6/19/07-------
Bluto13-----------6/21/07-------
ofacegangsta-----6/21/07
DesertDuck-------7/7/07
msmb------------

Speedtape...........2/13/07...in secret training class

 

[lakempnative]

I have a question. I see some of the 'pool date' is from May 2007. I know several people who interviewed around August, September 2007 and already started the class. These people with May 2007 pool date, did they have the type back then too? How does this work? I am confused.

Maybe the 'class' they started was for their 737 type, because they're definitely not in class at SWA if they interviewed in Aug/Sept of '07.

 

[Tanker Clown]

I'm in class and the chief of training of talked to us. He said we were hiring 180 this year. 36 already have employee id numbers. Add in all 44 of the 60+ guys and that would leave 100 more from the pool this year (assuming all 60+ guys get hired). Good luck to all the poolies.

7 jets x 11 pilots/jet = 77 pilots for growth. Looks like there will be 0 retirements. Add a couple of guys for terminations, medicals, ect. Let's call that last group 13 guys to make a total of 80 new folks this year. 36 already are on property.

80-36 = 44

There are 44 oldies but goodies coming back. I would imagine, that there probably won't be anyone else from the pool called this year.

Just my observations on the pool math.

 

[vikesfanIV]

7 jets x 11 pilots/jet = 77 pilots for growth. Looks like there will be 0 retirements. Add a couple of guys for terminations, medicals, ect. Let's call that last group 13 guys to make a total of 80 new folks this year. 36 already are on property.

80-36 = 44

There are 44 oldies but goodies coming back. I would imagine, that there probably won't be anyone else from the pool called this year.

Just my observations on the pool math.

Tanker Clown... normally your info is spot on but I think you're a little off base this time. First off, not all the 60+ guys are going to get re-hired. The whole reason SWA is making them go through a formal interview again is because they want to weed a few of them out. Otherwise they would just send them all straight to training.

As far as airplanes, SWA has a new maintenance program which will allow 7 additional airplanes to be utilized for revenue flights as compared to last year.

And as for retirments, I agree a vast majority of pilots will stay, but not ALL of them. I taked to a Chief pilot and they had 3 pilots still choose to retire in Jan.

So, 14 x 11 = 154. Add in around 10 for retirements and you can get pretty close to that 180 number. I agree that's probably too high, but I guarantee there will be at least some additional poolies going to training this year.

In fact, SWA just called me last week to go get my drug test. I'm still at least 3 or 4 classes away, but they wouldn't be spending the money if they didn't think there was a pretty good chance we'll be going to training in the next 6 months.

Just my $.02. We'll all know for sure what happens this year around Dec 31st.

 

[WNC Flyer]

Just my observations on the pool math.

Thanks for the observation T.C. I suppose now you're going to tell us that there is no such thing as Santa and that the Tooth Fairy was really just my parents.

Don't mind me...all this swimming is making me crazy.

 

[WNC Flyer]

Vikesfan,

I don't see your name on the pool list. What's your pool date?

 

[Tanker Clown]

Tanker Clown... normally your info is spot on but I think you're a little off base this time. First off, not all the 60+ guys are going to get re-hired. The whole reason SWA is making them go through a formal interview again is because they want to weed a few of them out. Otherwise they would just send them all straight to training.

As far as airplanes, SWA has a new maintenance program which will allow 7 additional airplanes to be utilized for revenue flights as compared to last year.

And as for retirments, I agree a vast majority of pilots will stay, but not ALL of them. I taked to a Chief pilot and they had 3 pilots still choose to retire in Jan.

So, 14 x 11 = 154. Add in around 10 for retirements and you can get pretty close to that 180 number. I agree that's probably too high, but I guarantee there will be at least some additional poolies going to training this year.

In fact, SWA just called me last week to go get my drug test. I'm still at least 3 or 4 classes away, but they wouldn't be spending the money if they didn't think there was a pretty good chance we'll be going to training in the next 6 months.

Just my $.02. We'll all know for sure what happens this year around Dec 31st.

My man, I hope you are right and I am wrong. I'm telling you guys what my buddy tells me. He's pretty in the know in Dallas. The economic realities are what they are. Not to even mention the remote possibility that SWA merges with someone. I hope I am wrong. I really do.

Maybe the economy ends up not being as bad and some of these other clowns merge and reduce capacity and SWA fills the void. If that's the case, maybe the whole pool is emptied by the end of the year.

 

[Tanker Clown]

Thanks for the observation T.C. I suppose now you're going to tell us that there is no such thing as Santa and that the Tooth Fairy was really just my parents.

Don't mind me...all this swimming is making me crazy.

Sorry man...my advice would be to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

 

[vikesfanIV]

Vikesfan,

I don't see your name on the pool list. What's your pool date?

June 7th.

 

[Senio101]

I interviewed in June/2007 with the type rating, and I am in the pool. I haven't started class yet. It's not possible that people who interviewed in August or September 2007 started class yet.

 

[airlinepilot]

Hey guys....saw the list in the crew room of all the old guys that want to come back. From the comments being made in the lounge you can bet some of the AS#H#@%S will get face shots from line guys....I would be surprised if 25% of them make it back. It will be interesting at best!

 

[ballgag]

Hey guys....saw the list in the crew room of all the old guys that want to come back. From the comments being made in the lounge you can bet some of the AS#H#@%S will get face shots from line guys....I would be surprised if 25% of them make it back. It will be interesting at best!

Finally, some good news!!!

 

[AlbieF15]

Do you really think the angst from some folks will be enough to keep out these guys who "helped build the brand?..."

I'm not shooting here...just asking. I'm normally not very sympathetic to SWA management...but that has to be a tough, tough spot to be in. Telling someone who was on the property 10, 15, or 20 years "well...you aren't really what we are looking for..." has got to be one very AWKWARD situation. Also--if you are the kind of guy to go out of your way to blackball a former captain....are you concerned at all about what HIS buddies still on property might do if they know who did the negative campaigning?

There are a lot of new issues and potential flashpoints with these law changes. I'm sure it is going to test the unity at not only SWA, but a lot of other carriers (mine included) as well.

 

[Tanker Clown]

I bet 40 of the 44 get asked back.

Just imagine, a bunch of line guys dislike a old guy coming back...but that guy (who no one likes) was thought of highly enough by the company to be a check airman.

I got a feeling, the bad recs won't matter much.

 

[Whataburger]

Not all the old retired dudes "built the company." If hired in their 50's, which we definetly had some, they've barely been here since 911.

 

[Matrix]

Do you really think the angst from some folks will be enough to keep out these guys who "helped build the brand?..."

I'm not shooting here...just asking. I'm normally not very sympathetic to SWA management...but that has to be a tough, tough spot to be in. Telling someone who was on the property 10, 15, or 20 years "well...you aren't really what we are looking for..." has got to be one very AWKWARD situation. Also--if you are the kind of guy to go out of your way to blackball a former captain....are you concerned at all about what HIS buddies still on property might do if they know who did the negative campaigning? .

First of all with all your interview/H.R. experience you should know that being 'AWKWARD' has nothing to do with their final decision. They don't have to explain themselves to the candidate at all. Times change and what they are looking for changes. Secondly I doubt that SWA is going to publish the negative letters and who wrote them, therefore HIS buddies will have no idea who 'blackballed' him.

There are always some guys who get hired and it was a mistake, this is a chance to correct some of those mistakes, hopefully just a few.

 

[AlbieF15]

First of all with all your interview/H.R. experience you should know that being 'AWKWARD' has nothing to do with their final decision. They don't have to explain themselves to the candidate at all.

Times change and what they are looking for changes.

Secondly I doubt that SWA is going to publish the negative letters and who wrote them, therefore HIS buddies will have no idea who 'blackballed' him.

There are always some guys who get hired and it was a mistake, this is a chance to correct some of those mistakes, hopefully just a few.

Matrix,

You are certainly correct that management doesnt' have to explain their decisions. At the same time, if you look at the demographics of the chief pilots, managers, recruiters, etc at SWA I think you'll find a lot of guys closer in age to the guys who are approaching or are over 60 than the new hires from the last few years. Some of those returning guys are probably drinking buddies with some of the current leadership. Of course there are exceptions, but when you interviewed at SWA did you interview with a retired captain? I think SWA has hung on to some of their older guys in the past as a way to try to link and preserve their unique culture (and I say this as a compliment).

Now...if you were a CP and got a few nasty letters or emails about a guy you'd flown with, trained with, and perhaps liked...before you canned him would you at least ask HIS side of the story? And if he asked that pilot about WHY there were certain complaints I think most of those guys getting questioned could think of 3-4 dudes who might have had a beef with them. And then...over a game of golf, or a backyard BBQ, mention to their old buddy that FO so and so was a little weasel and to "watch their back..." People talk. It happens. I'm NOT saying you cannot march right in with 20 other guys and say "Capt so and so was a jerk...". What I am saying is that if you take a shot at someone and then miss...or even if you hit them but their powerful buddies are still there...just consider the consequences. Don't wound a Rhino if you know what I mean. Have good aim or let it slide.. Again...if its one of those obvious targets with tons of issues...making the call probably won't be so tough. Just be careful is my advice.

On changing times? Amen. Its a different industry than in 2000, or even 2003. God help us all!

Every time I comment on SWA I seem to raise some hackels. I've got a lot of friends there, and I know they enjoy their careers. I hope everyone there can hang on to what they have and keep that special culture. My comments are simply that with junior and senior guys tense, a tough market out there, and potential merger rumors every day, everyone is on edge and it has to be tough to keep the magic going. I wish all of success...and hope those poolies get their shots soon too.

 

[Jetjockey]

I've often wondered if that Southwest process of letting employees 'blackball' another applicant has come back to bite them.

Making derogatory statements about someone, diminishing their chances without them even knowing, or having the ability to defend themselves seems slanderous.

Yeah, I know..............to protect the "CULTure"

 

[TristarPilot]

Just keepin it alive.

 

[BlueandWhite]

Thanks Tristar,

I'll do my part....as of Friday, PD is still tentatively planning on 3 April classes (20-24 each). They have no idea how many 60+ guys will get hired back. They are going through full process, including decision board.

 

[texman]

So we have 300+ that are in the pool. How many of the pilots that are in the pool already have jobs at other airlines like Dal or Co. If so what are your thoughts of actually taking a class date as your seniority grows at your current airline.

 

[THEPRFCT10]

Echoeing a little bit.....spoke today to PD and they did say that the 3 Apr classes were expected to be filled solely by the 60+ guys....the decision to fill in some poolies here and there with them has yet to be determined.....maybe they'll have a different syllabus or training schedule??? That being said, they told me that after those 3 April classes, none planned until August, Sept., then maybe Oct....depending on how maybe poolies needed to fill the company quota. Good news, I guess? Keep swimming guys!