750+ newhires at SWA in 05 *confirmed*

[Ted Striker]

thats awesome...I am going next month! Hope they call.....my stuff has been in since Feb!

Thanks for the info guys!

Dart, when are you going? I'll be there on the 10th, unless they can move me up to the 6th.

 

[roughneck]

Our capacity is only about 750 if we went full force Jan-Dec. We are limited by our class size and sim schedule.

A captain I flew with last week quoted Mark Clayton as saying that "Sim time contracts have already been negotiated with Flight Safety to handle additional capacity that we may not can handle with our own sims." It will still be in house training, but we will use Flight Safety Sims to pick up the slack. We have hired numerous new instructors as we gear up for next year.

All I know is what I have been told, as I assume is your position as well. I do think that maybe your information is possibly outdated. I hope I am right and you are wrong, but only time will tell.

 

[Cheesemo]

I'm afraid Huntfever is right, rumors (even "firm" rumors) are exectly that, only rumors. I too have heard the 750 number, 30 used a/c, etc. But until iron is on the ramp, it's only speculation. The "management types" hear stuff from the company, but the strategic plans from the G.O. are well guarded. All attendees sign a non-disclosure statement before every meeting.

I hope they all come true, and it's fun to talk about them, but let's not hang our hats on them!

Cheers

 

[Tripower455]

Hate to disappoint, but we have only planned for 400-500 next year, with the possibility of 1-200 more. None of us will know the number until some things play out. Our capacity is only about 750 if we went full force Jan-Dec. We are limited by our class size and sim schedule. Sure, there are some contingency plans in place, but that is not what is "on the books"....yet

This is exactly what Bob T. told us in recurrent in the beginning of Nov. ( 2 months early for me, to allow for more sim time for new hires!).

The co. came and asked what the max #'s that could be pushed through, and it is 750.

It would be great if it does actually happen!

 

[SWA/FO]

lies all lies......... I heard furloughs. Yep, you heard it here first on flightinfo.com. SWA to furlough 1500.

Just kidding guys/gals... I have heard the 750 newhire rumor too.

 

[canyonblue]

ACA CEO Kerry Skeen sat in my jumpseat, IAD to BTV

At the end of your day was your wallet missing?

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Riiiiiiiiiight!!!!

what part do you find unbelievable?

 

[Eagle-ista]

I would bet that Freight Dog is referring to the part about Aloha.

 

[sandman2122]

SWA can train up to 60 - 75 guys a month?

 

[SWA GUY]

We've trained 48/month, and that's the most I've seen so far. That being said, I think there may be a little more wiggle room left in the SWA training center.

The other option, if needed, is to dry lease sims and there are plenty available.


Billy Ray Valentine (Capricorn)! Be cool.

 

[DBCOOPER]

I would venture to guess that Frieght Dog was referring to the fact that if there was a merger of SWA/Aloha (not holding my breath) - that an "interview" process would be given to the Aloha pilots. I don't think so.

This rumor has been going on for quite awhile. Personally I don't think it will happen, but if it does....great for my job security. I will have to prepare myself to work much harder though, seeing as how this Aloha gig has got to be the easiest job in the airline industry.

 

[Cheesemo]

I heard the training center guys talking about a class a week for a couple of months in the early part of the year to front load the hiring number, then backing off to the standard every two weeks later in the year. That would tie in with the redistribution of PC/PT's this winter. '05 should be an interesting year!


Cheers

 

[snoopy505]

I think Freight Dog was talking about the part where Aloha was practically "begging" SWA to buy the -700s. How could that be? If it was such a great deal, they would've bought Aloha years ago. Now that Aloha has a new CEO, I'm sure he is not ready to give up his reign yet. Plus, if the merger deal was not in the best interest of everyone, to include the pilots, the owners would not sell. That is the way it is at Aloha. You see, sometimes it pays to be privately owned.

 

[Freight Dog]

I don't see us giving up our -700's to SWA unless they were outright buying us, and it definitely doesn't seem that SWA is even remotely interested in us. But just for giggles... if SWA took our -700's, our pilots would go with them. It's spelled out in our contract.

 

[PSL]

It (transfer of assets) might be in your contract, but we've seen how contracts hold up to judicial scrutiny in the 'brave new world'.

I thought we would never go near PHL, we did. I thought we were done (aka ... Morris Air) with acquisitions, wrong again ... as our bid for ATA assets proves.

One thing is for sure; this CEO is considering all his options and exercising the privileges that 1.92B cash in the bank provides.

If we were to acquire your B-737s, you might come with the airplanes ... but I know 2000 + FOs that would be irate at anything more than just a staple of your pilots to the bottom of our list.

 

[G4G5]

I don't see us giving up our -700's to SWA unless they were outright buying us, and it definitely doesn't seem that SWA is even remotely interested in us. But just for giggles... if SWA took our -700's, our pilots would go with them. It's spelled out in our contract.

I seem to remember quite a few TWA pilots saying the exact same thing prior to ALPA selling them down the river.

 

[HalinTexas]

One thing that might help the training picture. ATA has an underutilized sim in ATL (Marietta) that I'm sure SWA could lease on the cheap if not outright buy. Changes to make it a -700 WN jet would be minimal.

 

[learherkjay]

DAL - DEN - it's all I want for Christmas!!!

 

[Freight Dog]

I seem to remember quite a few TWA pilots saying the exact same thing prior to ALPA selling them down the river.

Don't get me wrong... I know TWA guys got royally hosed, but they still hold seniority numbers at AA. I'm referring to having to "re-interview" for your job, and that just won't fly.

It (transfer of assets) might be in your contract, but we've seen how contracts hold up to judicial scrutiny in the 'brave new world'.

If we were to acquire your B-737s, you might come with the airplanes ... but I know 2000 + FOs that would be irate at anything more than just a staple of your pilots to the bottom of our list.

Show me one merger where everyone was happy... I guess when both sides are unhappy, that would probably be a fair merger...

In any case... it's a moot point because I really don't see anything happening between us and SWA. No need to raise our collective BP over nothin..

 

[PSL]

MY BP is not up over you post ... these decisions are made far above my pay grade ... I simple fly the airplane as safely and economically as I can.

My point was simple; to point out how bad my predictive skills are regarding our 'corporate moves'.

If SWA were to buy (if you own them) or assume the leases on Aloha's 737s, this would not constitute a merger by any stretch of the imigination.

If the TWA/AA hook-up was not a merger, as deemed so by the courts, any acquisition of assets by SWA would be that ... an asset purchase.

I know nothing about your company or your PWA, other than I have been treated with the highest degree of courtesy and comfort when I am visiting friends in HI.

My point, rearding the FOs, was to point out that SWA FO's would not be thrilled by any lenghty delay in upgrade by SWA giving the pilots of Aloha DOH on our seniority list. The Morris pilots got to keep their captain chair until such time as they could attend FO training. They were pay protected during the integration ... and still that was not enough for some of them.

Either way ... you are correct ... I don't see any real interest in Aloha's A/C ... but my batting average to date on these situations is next to zero.