Alaska 737 Type Rating

[H8ster]

I have heard that getting your 737 type rating in hopes of getting hired by Alaska is not a good thing. Can anyone shed a little light on this or is it just a bad rumor. Thanks much!

 

[ClearRight]

Traditionally Alaska hires only those that really want to be at Alaska and Alaska only. I think a 737 type would make it look like as if you're trying for Southwest as well and that doesn't look good (back when everybody was hiring, they got burned more than once by guys leaving for other airlines midway through training)... this, of course, spoken by someone on the outside trying to get in!!

I had the opportunity to get my type for real cheap, but elected not to for that very reason...

 

[H8ster]

Thanks for the info. That is what I heard too.

 

[mach none]

I have heard that getting your 737 type rating in hopes of getting hired by Alaska is not a good thing. Can anyone shed a little light on this or is it just a bad rumor. Thanks much!

I would hate to pass up a "free" type rating. If you decide to get it. You will have to defend the bare type to the interview board. I don't know if it is that big of a deal. They will just want to make sure you really want Alaska versus Southwest.

 

[ferlo]

I was hired at Alaska almost 4 years ago with a 737 type rating. I didn't pay for it though. It was a non issue. Now if you go buy one it may make for some uncomfortable conversation. Having a type rating in and of itself won't kill you, IMO, but I don't interview pilots.

 

[SeaSlam]

At my interview, our group of 3 applicants met with the sim instructor to go over our profiles and discuss what we were and weren't allowed to do in order to help the pilot flying while he was being evaluated. I specifically remember him asking if any of us had a 737 type because if we did, he would expect us to fly to those standards. None of us had the type so it was a non-issue. That was about 2 years ago. I think it was probably that instructors personal decision to ask about the type rather than a company policy. I agree that you would probably have a few more questions about it in today's environment. If you're heart is set on working at Alaska some day, I'd save your $$$.

 

[hyeflyin]

Any word on hiring for 2005? Whats the chance of getting an interview without an internal LOR? Thanks.

 

[dogg]

If you can get a cheap type, why not? I can't imagine that Alaska or any airline would hold it against you for improving your qualifications and if you get lucky you will get hired by Southwest anyway..........

 

[English]

If you can get a cheap type, why not? I can't imagine that Alaska or any airline would hold it against you for improving your qualifications and if you get lucky you will get hired by Southwest anyway..........

Not entirely true, especially with Alaska. You'd have to know the history (ClearRight touched on it) to understand. Alaska is only interested in hiring people that want to work at Alaska as their first choice, not as their back-up airline. They hire pilots with the intention of them staying until retirement, not until United (opps, that was 2001) or SWA calls.

 

[dogg]

Well it seems that if Alaska wants that kind of dedication and loyalty then they should try to become the kind of airline( like SWA) that inspires it, but to frown on a type rating is ludicrous and that should be a sign that maybe you dont want to work there anyway.....or they could start requiring it. That would be an angle...Airlines are a long strange trip are they not......

 

[Superbird]

Ahhh, but what if you already work for SWA and your first choice is ALK...will the type rating hurt you then? Just something to ponder...

 

[AK737FO]

Already happened.

There is a guy in ANC right now that was a SWA Captain, He left SWA to come to work here. The type abviously didn't hurt him. His choice was to live in Alaska and work for Alaska Airlines. He was 5 to 7 years at SWA I think, got his Captain seat there, then got a shot at Alaska and took it. I admire him for doing what he did.
The bottom line. If you are a younger man looking for a Major airline job (currently not employeed by a major) and you have a 737 type on your license, Alaska is going to know that 99% of them are just fishing, looking for a bite anywhere - and if SWA calls first (or second) they will go there. Alaska is looking for guys who want to work HERE and nowhere else. Most of the time they are succesfull in finding those people, but occasionally a bad apple gets in the barrel.

If your heart is set on a job here, no need to go blow 7K and try to buy a shot at a job at SWA. Just put the money in your pocket, go get a "silver bullet" (they use to call in networking) and wait for the phone to ring. If a guy really wants to work here, the bullet is the answer.
I hope we can keep the school house open all spring and summer - good luck to those in the game.

 

[H8ster]

AK737FO,

Do you know when AK will start interviews again? I heard they are just working out of the pool right now. Any info would be great!

 

[QCappy]

They just started a class on Jan 4th with people out of the pool.

 

[Alaska Flyer]

I expect the next 2 classes to be 10 pilots each, which is the norm, and these will be pilots who have been hired and are in the pool. I also expect that no further hiring info will be announced until the pilot contract is settled, which is currently slated for arbitration in March. Of course, anything can happen with that, but management is being very tight-lipped about any hiring plans during this negotiation. They want to know where they stand on their pilot costs for planning purposes. Once the contract is settled, they will probably be forthcoming with future plans.

Regarding type rating, it is not required. Here are some sample questions for you in the interview:

1. I see you have a 737 type rating, it's not required here at Alaska, why did you get it?
2. We also fly the MD-80, why didn't you get a DC-9 type instead?
3. Since you have a 737 type rating, you should be able to explain this 737 electrical schematic to me...take a look at this fold-out page...
4. Did you apply, or do you ever plan to apply to Southwest?

Just something to think about. It's obviously valuable training, but you will also have to anticipate such questions, and I GUARANTEE question 1 and 4 above will be asked in an Alaska Air interview.

 

[IanSaw]

I heard that they were going to have a class with only two pilots in it that would start in the next 3 to 4 weeks. Most likely the rest of the people in the pool wouldn't be called until the fall at the earliest. They have a "to call" list for interviews, but they are going to start all over again since it has been so long.

 

[Delville]

AK737FO,

Yeah, there's a lot to be said for REALLY wanting to fly for Alaska. However, there's also a lot to be said for supporting your family. The fact of the matter is that over the last year SWA has hired several hundred pilots and plans to hire hundreds more over the next year. Other airlines have similar, but less grandiose, hiring projections.

I don't think it would be prudent nor wise to be so caught up with getting hired by Alaska Airlines that you fail to take reasonable steps to secure a liveliehood for yourself and your family. I have heard Paul Majer say that they tentatively plan on hiring between 55 and 100 in '05 at some indeterminate point in time after they iron out their contract difficulties. What if a person holds out for that long-awaited shot at Alaska, turns down other flying jobs in the interim just so Alaska can see how dedicated they are, and then gets shot down at the interview? Then what?

If Alaska Airlines is the kind of company that expects a person to forego the welfare of his or her family while he or she waits and waits...and waits for a possible chance at a job sometime in the future with Alaska Airlines, then is Alaska Airlines the kind of company that a reasonably sane person would want to work for?

 

[ATRCAPT]

I agree with Delville. A company should not hold a bare type rating against an applicant. However, that is not to say they don't. If an applicant shows up at an Alaska Airlines interview with a 737 type there may very well be special circumstances. He may have won it (AIRINC job fair), he may have been furloughed from another operator just after upgrading, or he may have simply had a change of heart. SWA isn't everyones ideal airline ya know!?! The point is just be prepaired to explain it. Again, it isn't fair to deny someone a job because he has taken steps to improve his credentials, but then again it's a dog-eat-dog industry out there, and we are ALL wearing milkbone underwear!

 

[dogg]

The bottom line. If you are a younger man looking for a Major airline job (currently not employeed by a major) and you have a 737 type on your license, Alaska is going to know that 99% of them are just fishing, looking for a bite anywhere - and if SWA calls first (or second) they will go there. Alaska is looking for guys who want to work HERE and nowhere else. Most of the time they are succesfull in finding those people, but occasionally a bad apple gets in the barrel.

AK, are you actually implying that some one who applies for Alaska and then while waiting endlessly for a call to interview they happen to go and get a type rating because Alaska can't get there act together on hiring, is a bad apple. What incredible arrogance you display. Alaska is not a better job than Southwest. It is just another job flying airplanes for money nothing more nothing less. Drink a little less cool aid, you are just what those Alaska managers are hoping for . Delville, your comments are right on.....

 

[mach none]

I think everyone is blowing this way out of proportion. All the interviewers will ask is why you have the type. Have you applied to Southwest. They are not going to hold it against you, unless you are evasive and make them feel you are hiding something. These are valid questions. They also realize times are tough right now and people have to put food on the table.

They also want to see a desire to work here. I know some think that is BS, but that is our culture. We want to work here and enjoy it.