SWA Poolies

[texman]

My buddy is pretty in the know. He was a big wig in the union and told me he talks with the guy who runs all the pilots on a very regular basis. He also talks to Gary Kelly frequently as well. He even told me that if the company had kept growing, that he probably would have been an asst chief pilot by now. Hopefully it does start growing again, I'm sure with him pushing me I will just have to show up for the interview and go through the motions.

So the question is, who you are really going to be after you go through the so called motions? mmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

 

[Tanker Clown]

So the question is, who you are really going to be after you go through the so called motions? mmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Just another guy on the property!

 

[Cruncher]

We start phase 4 of our RNP transition next month. Word is we'll be done by late Oct / early Nov timeframe. This added with the normal PT/PC training really takes up the bulk of our sim time. I would not say training runs hiring #s, but it does but a damper on hiring flexibility.

We have downgraded CA, and run a historically low paying schedules for all. We still have cuts to our "shoulder" flights, which makes commuting a pain in the arsh. But our flights are stuffed (as many of you know), ...

There are rumors of growing 10 aircraft this year (that is, to not retire 10 a/c and have effectively 10 more than last year). I had the aircraft schedule around here somewhere (can't find it now), but remember we are getting most a/c the last half of this year. Someone can probably tighten me up here. Though, we do still have jets in the desert, so unless there is a huge "previously" unannounced growth, ... it may be a little while still. We have a dozen or so "Freedom 09" guys still to retire this year. 2 more retreads this year, 6 next year than 14 total in 2012. 2013 (as everyone knows) is when age 65 finally catches up.

IMO, we will probably not hire this year. If we do, it may be a single class for the winter schedule / vacationers. I wish we'd hire 100 / month (or had the need to) and who knows this may all change by the time I finish this post and announce 10 cities, and 50 a/c growth schedule for the next year.

 

[Captzaahlie]

My buddy is pretty in the know. He was a big wig in the union and told me he talks with the guy who runs all the pilots on a very regular basis. He also talks to Gary Kelly frequently as well. He even told me that if the company had kept growing, that he probably would have been an asst chief pilot by now. Hopefully it does start growing again, I'm sure with him pushing me I will just have to show up for the interview and go through the motions.

Yeah we heard the story many posts ago, good luck with that award winning personality of yours. I hope you do better in an interview than you do on these pages, because on flight info most people tend to think you are tool material.

 

[Tanker Clown]

I'm going to laugh my a$$ off when you guys buy my beers. Maybe after you pick up the tab I'll ask you if you go on FI. Then suprise, suprise....you just bought the Clown beers. You guys will love me. Most people do.

 

[T B O N E]

Yeah we heard the story many posts ago, good luck with that award winning personality of yours. I hope you do better in an interview than you do on these pages, because on flight info most people tend to think you are tool material.

Call me a conspiracy theorist but I'm pretty sure TC is already a SWA guy, just pretends not to be to get people spun up on here. Seems to work huh....

 

[Tanker Clown]

Call me a conspiracy theorist but I'm pretty sure TC is already a SWA guy, just pretends not to be to get people spun up on here. Seems to work huh....

See, I don't even have to interview. I just wonder if I can go right to the left seat. After 20+ in the military, I'm a little behind. BTW, are co pilots allowed into management positions?

 

[mt2]

TC -
After 20+ years of military service you are afforded a Check Airman position with the possibility of an Asst CP job within 6 months if all works out. WN will be sooo lucky to get an aviator of your caliber they'll literally beg you to work in DAL. Really though, are they worthy enough ?? Perhaps you ought to talk to the General about a prestigious position where you'll be able to share your skills and knowledge on the global stage. Either way, best of luck...

 

[jonjuan]

See, I don't even have to interview. I just wonder if I can go right to the left seat. After 20+ in the military, I'm a little behind. BTW, are co pilots allowed into management positions?

Just JC.......

 

[ableone]

I just got off the phone with a downgraded SW CA.

He said that he has been briefed that the company has been truing up the pilots' minimum monthly GT to the tune of $20 million/mo and that they are not going to continue much longer.

Furloughs expected in the fall.

He has already been approved for an open ended leave and is interviewing in China for an NG CA position.

 

[vixin]

......................

 

[ableone]

It is third person hearsay but he did get his leave approved with an open ended start date.

 

[vixin]

Why would he go to China? Unless he likes it there. He can as a senior FO make darn near make CA pay playing the game.

 

[ableone]

He was a full time CA. At the moment he is a lance but the next phase of the contract (which goes into effect in May) will severely restrict the amount of CA time he can pick up. (This is also going to have an impact on the senior FOs when lancers stop dumping their FO trips)

He figures that furloughs in the fall, with all of the attendant cutbacks, will pretty much end his lance days.

No matter how much time he picks up he can not match his former full time CA pay. As these are his prime earning years he does not want to take the hit. ( I actually agree with him here and if I face a downgrade I too intend to go fly a Chinese bus. )

 

[Flying the Line]

If I called my coworkers scabs, I'd probably go to China too. (this is an "inside" reference...IOW if you don't work there you won't understand the reference).

 

[waveflyer]

"Perspective: use it or lose it."
- r Bach

 

[Moon-dog]

I just talked to a guy who said that there would be mass hiring starting next week and they were gonna make the clown CP!!

Silly rumors abound, SWA is making money and very well could see this as an opportunity to expand and be ready for the economic turn. Or they could continue in the conservative way they have over the last few years. Who knows? I am not sure Gary Kelly knows what tomorrow will bring, literally, tomorrow.

 

[Captzaahlie]

I just got off the phone with the pope, he and oboma are having lunch with tanker clown on monday....

 

[Quiet Flight]

This message is hidden because Tanker Clown is on your ignore list.

The monthly guarantee "truing(?)" ended in February. Someone is giving you old info. Line gaurantees are back to almost normal now. I'm in the camp that does NOT think we will hire here, but I have heard the re-interview scenario floating around in recent weeks. Just curious. And for the record, my understanding is it is not a full interview, but rather just a quick catching up session to make sure the candidates don't have any fresh DUI's, failed check rides, etc...

 

[Cruncher]

ableone, your friend may be just a "little" upset with what is going on and is speaking with a bit of emotion. I can't say I blame him per se.
I would not necessarily call him a fool to leave SWA to go fly for a Chinese airline (even as a bus CA), but it's close. A 10 year FO makes a decent salary and has the days off he needs / wants. He will probably bid 3 weeks of vacation this year (if he has not already done so). He gets the best premium time (for the most part IS CA pay). Gets the best Open Time (the CA side has had almost no OT, ELITT exists almost as an acronym only). I doubt a chinese carrier can beat the quality of life he now enjoys. Now, unless he wants to go to China, I would ignore his insight.