Buying 737 type

[check six]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

I do not support PFT since it drives training costs to pilots instead of company.

But as a guy with a good paying desk job who wants to make sure he can make it through training before he quits his desk job I'll buy the type just for peace of mind that I have the training down cold.

So are the 737 types legit?

Thanks,
Check six

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

If your total time is 2300 hours, then a 737 type is not going to make you any more employable than you are right now. If I were you, I'd be looking for a regional job.

Good luck

 

[FlyBarneyJets]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

What does he base THAT load of garbage on?

 

[sligo1]

The 737 type is the only way to get hired at SWA. I would hardly say that getting that job is not worth it. If SWA is your goal-then you need to roll the dice at some point.

 

[27 driver]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

I do not support PFT since it drives training costs to pilots instead of company.

But as a guy with a good paying desk job who wants to make sure he can make it through training before he quits his desk job I'll buy the type just for peace of mind that I have the training down cold.

So are the 737 types legit?



Only if you get it from a decent and reputable establishment like AeroServices in MIA. I hope everyone recognized the sarcasm.

 

[CA1900]

Only if you get it from a decent and reputable establishment like AeroServices in MIA. I hope everyone recognized the sarcasm.

Aeroservices is the only place I've gotten universally crappy reviews from every single person I know that's gone their. Said it was just horrible.

 

[IronCityBlue]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

I do not support PFT since it drives training costs to pilots instead of company.

But as a guy with a good paying desk job who wants to make sure he can make it through training before he quits his desk job I'll buy the type just for peace of mind that I have the training down cold.

So are the 737 types legit?

Thanks,
Check six

And the award for semi-random, virtually rudderless, partially coherent yet not necessarilly flame baited post goes to...:laugh:

 

[328dude]

And the award for semi-random, virtually rudderless, partially coherent yet not necessarilly flame baited post goes to...:laugh:

Things I miss:

Iron City Beer
The Lube (the one in Sharon, OH)
Primaty's (Extra slaw)
WDVE and "Pant's and That"

:bawling:

 

[stupidpilot]

SWA only hires about 20% of the pilots they interview. Would you like to spend 7 grand with only a one in five shot of getting a job? And what's with the military standards training??? I've had both military and civilian training and have had good and bad training from both. So the military standards comment is a load of BeeeeeSssssss.

 

[328dude]

SWA only hires about 20% of the pilots they interview.

Actually, it's around 35-40%. but thanks for playing.

 

[igneousy2]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

I do not support PFT since it drives training costs to pilots instead of company.

But as a guy with a good paying desk job who wants to make sure he can make it through training before he quits his desk job I'll buy the type just for peace of mind that I have the training down cold.

So are the 737 types legit?

Thanks,
Check six

very few people go get a 737 type for "quality training" with the expectation of going out and flying a 737 tomorrow the quicker and dirtier the better.

Many people get a 737 type because it virtually gurantees you an interview at SWA (not anymore apparently) and a 25 (or whatever) percent chance of getting hired at SWA is a lot higher than the near 0% chance without the type.

Aside from SWA - no airline is going to care if you have a 737 type or not unless you have actual PIC in the airplane to back it up. In fact - it is detrimental to your chances at other airlines if you have a 737 type on your certificate. "so - if Alaska is the only airline you have EVER wanted to work at then - why do you have a 737 type?"

Later

 

[igneousy2]

SWA only hires about 20% of the pilots they interview. Would you like to spend 7 grand with only a one in five shot of getting a job? And what's with the military standards training??? I've had both military and civilian training and have had good and bad training from both. So the military standards comment is a load of BeeeeeSssssss.

That logic would apply if we were talking about independent variables that you can't control - like rolling dice - then I would agree that it is a bad deal. However, if SWA is truly the ONLY airline you ever wanted to work at - and you have the charisma that SWA is looking for - and you don't blow the LOI - all things you have some control over then the odds really aren't so bad. Add to the fact that just because you fail once, doesn't mean you can't go back.

When I went to the SWA interview there were one or two guys that clearly had little chance of getting on - they couldn't contain their cocky a-hole-ness - I even saw one guy get into a fairly loud confrontation with one of the cooks during lunch, couple of guys were dropping F-bombs - like nobody ever told them they were bad words - don't know if anyone in the interview process noticed - but come on! Then there are the few that exude that "SWA spirit" from the word go. I would say that the math is completely different for the two types.

So if you are a complete A-hole that can't turn it off - then don't bother to get your 737 type.

Later

 

[joevollers]

the 737 type would be worth it to buy.. if you have all the other boxes already checked off, however... I'd wait until they are interviewing again....

Dear Pilot:

We are honored by your interest in Southwest Airlines and especially our Pilot Open House! We know you were looking forward to this event, as were we. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Open House for this year based on recent changes in our hiring numbers. Gary Kelly, our CEO, announced plans to reduce our growth from eight to six percent to ensure continued stability for current and future Employees. With this change, our current pool of Candidates, selected from completed interviews, will sufficiently accommodate our Pilot hiring needs for the foreseeable future.

Though we are humbly asking for your flexibility and don’t mean to discourage you in any way, you deserve an honest, accurate picture of our hiring outlook. And, we wanted you to know this information as soon as possible. Please know that you are encouraged and welcome to update your application online at southwest.com on a monthly basis. Our sincere hope is that you will continue to consider Southwest for future employment as we believe Southwest is truly the best place to work.

Sincerely,
Flight Operations Recruiting
People & Leadership Development
​

 

[AirCobra]

I have several reasons to get a type especially if it only costs around $5000 like some of these places are offering.

If you are a Flight Engineer that has not flown in the front for awhile and are ready to upgrade. Takes a lot of stress out of upgrading and gets you current again. More valuable than renting a Cessna 172 and better than failing your upgrade training.

You have not flown in a long time and want to start applying for airline positions. Good way to fly a transport category aircraft, get current, get a rating, and feel more comfortable about starting intial training.

A type rating will make you eligible for extra cash flying seat support in either seat or sim instructing if you live near a training center. The type would pretty much pay for itself in a few years considering you can make anywhere from $100-300 per day.

Makes you eligible to apply to any airline that demands or suggests you have a type even if it is in the future sach as SWA, Ryanair, or several contract companies.

 

[AirCobra]

very few people go get a 737 type for "quality training" with the expectation of going out and flying a 737 tomorrow the quicker and dirtier the better.

Many people get a 737 type because it virtually gurantees you an interview at SWA (not anymore apparently) and a 25 (or whatever) percent chance of getting hired at SWA is a lot higher than the near 0% chance without the type.

Aside from SWA - no airline is going to care if you have a 737 type or not unless you have actual PIC in the airplane to back it up. In fact - it is detrimental to your chances at other airlines if you have a 737 type on your certificate. "so - if Alaska is the only airline you have EVER wanted to work at then - why do you have a 737 type?"

Later

There is an easy answer to that question: "I wanted to get instrument current and fly a large transport category aircraft. The 737 type was $5000 and the 747 type was $14,000 so I opted for the 737."

 

[Splinter]

While I think that FAA DE is full of $hit, the B737 type for the purposes of employment at a certain major airline is crap. They require you to have it, but then put you through a full training course before you go to IOE. Why make anyone get it then? What purpose does it serve? Does is cheapen insurance costs that everyone has a 737 type? My type was a joke. I could have slept in and had my wife sub in for me and still pass the checkride. Every non-121 issued type is a rubber stamp because they know that no employer will put you in a cockpit without a thorough training course to fix their 2-week crash course errors.

 

[klr1395]

Yes it does cheapen insurance for the major that you refer to. Why so angry about it? If you don't like it, then don't apply there. cheers, klr

 

[RT8VA]

Ok so dumb question, we do one more sim at Cal then at SWA and we get the type so what is the difference.
Just curious.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

I do not support PFT since it drives training costs to pilots instead of company.

Actually, there is no PFT at SWA....in fact at SWA, you are paid while you go through training, and your hotel is also paid for. SWA has it's own New Hire training and hence, New Hires do not pay for any part of their training....so SWA does not drive the training costs to the pilot...SWA incurs all the training costs.

There are many different 737 type schools...it really doesn't matter where you get your type...as long as you have one.

In addition, you don't need the type to interview here. If you get the interview and you get selected...then you can decide if getting the type is worth it to you.

 

[NEDude]

I did the 737 type two years ago, and while I did not feel that I would be capable of stepping right into the left seat of a 737, I felt the training was pretty good. I actually felt better about the 737 than I did about the CRJ when I finished the new-hire training at a large and well respected regional (isn't respected regional an oxymoron?)

I just did an A320 type through Airbus. Again, I am not going to go into the left seat, but there are some airlines there where guys will be going straight into the left seat and they went through the same course I did. To be honest I do not feel there was a huge difference between the factory Airbus training that is sending people straight into the left seat and what I got with my 737 type.

In short no training program, no matter how intense, will every make you fully understand an airplane. That will only come with actual experience on the airplane. I think the basis of a type rating program is to give you the basic foundation of the airplane, not be a substitue for experience. Similar to an instrument training program, a newly Instrument rated pilot is technically legal to fly approaches down to minimums in mountainous terrain, but isn't really proficent to.

 

[b747dogg]

FAA DE tells me that buying a 737 type or any other type for that matter is a waste of money. He says that they just want your money and don't train to same standard as Military of Airlines.

This is exactly why he is a FAA DE.