Competitive at SWA: ME Piston VS SE Tur

[ATR-DRIVR]

Mike,
Excellent analogy on 'El Captano Pipo.

Well said, well said.

 

[jergar999]

Anyone know the difference between a 121 driver and his jet?

The jet stops whining at the gate.

GO 135! (Until I get a 121 job)

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Enigma as well as others..

The post clearly started off with a question..
My understanding of the question was to either stay at a piston twin job or take a turbine job...

Never turn down a turbine job if the other choice is a piston job..
Dahhh!!!If you have the SWA mins met..Take the job you like that pays the bills..

Now the second part of the question... Does C-208 time count towards the BASIC 1000 PIC turbine requirments at SWA?

The answer is YES...Period..Only flight time in fixed wing aircraft is counted towards your flight time totals in order to meet the mins..

After those two issues were discussed the post has gone down the path of splitting hairs..
I will now attempt some hair repair and apply large amounts of conditioner..

AFTER you have met the BASIC requirments for an INTERVIEW at SWA..

It is my understanding that all aspects of your aviation background is considered in the process and weighted...How this is done is super secret stuff. But in general it is on a point system..

A good example would be one of my class mates..He was for the vast majority of his flying a AH-64 pilot and IP..During the later stages of his stay in the Army he started flying King Airs..

If you discount his background in the AH-64 you would be throwing away nearly 20 years of background..If you only counted his King Air time he wouldnt really be very "competetive" but he would still have met the BASIC requirments to get an INTERVIEW..

After that..It comes down to the person that walks thru the doors of the PD in Dallas on the day of the interview..The interview is still the most highly weighted part of the process..

The basic requirments are mins needed to get the interview..In the past all those that met the mins got the call to interview..

One last note about the original question..

IMHO working as a single engine turbine driver can more easily lead to a multi engine turbine job than say a light piston twin..

Its all about where you are..where you want to get to..And what are the requirments to get there..

Every postion you may wish to apply for in the future may dictate what path is required to reach your goal..

If your goal is to work for SWA..The requirments are very simple and straight forward..

Meet the mins to get the interview..

Do well on the interview..

Have a personal history that would indicate to everyone that you are a person that would fit into the SWA family..

Have a good background in aviation that shows lots of experiences...

And in general..Be a nice person..

Mike

 

[wil]

I guess that was a swipe at my post. I would never put down 135 as that was my background after instructing and before ASA. It just seems to me that given how many qualified people are looking for work you would want to be as competitive as possible and I think since SWA is 121 you might look better coming from that background.

 

[LJDRVR]

SWERPIPE, Dude, I loved the tounge in cheek response.

Wil,

I've encountered attitudes like yours before sir, usually from someone who desperately wants to believe that somehow their arbitrary career choices and imagined qualifications give them the edge over others. I suppose that's human nature. Do you REALLY believe a lack of 121 time will really make an otherwise qualified person a less attractive prospect, especially to an airline like SW? Like Mike says, its your attitude once you're through the door that gets you hired. There are few absolutes when it comes to hiring. Someone mentioned before that they were told to stay away from Martinaire. If that's sound advice, then how is it there are at least 4 MRA pilots I personally know of flying at SW? Three of whom went directly from Martinaire.

Save your breath dude. If you're going to dole out advice, then do so constructively, as opposed to attempting to build yourself up at the expense of someone whose capabilities you are completely unaware of.

Warmest Regards,

 

[Swerpipe]

I was kidding, of course

wil,

I know you see where I am coming from. I think good attitude makes good pilots, everything else is not as important. What makes you competitive is who you are, nothing else. I was being sarcastic at your labeling of competitiveness with the Part whatever or branch of the military. I was just having fun. Please don't take the me seriously. No offense wil ,please forgive me.
Part 135 drivers: I am not offending you since I am one of you....

 

[enigma]

Someone mentioned before that they were told to stay away from Martinaire. If that's sound advice, then how is it there are at least 4 MRA pilots I personally know of flying at SW? Three of whom went directly from Martinaire.

I mentioned that a SWA interviewer told me to avoid the Martinaire Caravan job. I can only say what Iwas told and stand on my reputation.

Did the Martinaire pilots have any turbine PIC aside from the Caravan? Did they also fly the metro?

An exception can be found for every rule. I don't intend to say that no Caravan (only caravan as PIC) pilot has ever gotten hired by SWA. I am saying that it is very rare, and advising that pilots who have only caravan PIC not get their hopes up. This business can be very tough, and unrealistic expectations can make it even more tough.

regards,
enigma

 

[RJones]

Ah, I was going to say something about SWerpipe's post but he's pissed me off so bad!

 

[jea]

single pt6

captain pipe- Im a pt 91 pilot and if you think its difficult to taxi in PHX I hope I never ride on your plane. Back to the single turbine -How about a meridian? Its pressurized, 260 true at FL290, single pt6. Granted its not an F-16 but we are able to fly sids, stars and comply with most atc requests- pretty good operational experience.

 

[wil]

LJDRVR- Where are you getting the "holy than thou" tone from my post? It is strictly my opinion. We all attack each other on this board and yet I'm willing to bet we would all get along over a couple of pints! I'm off to the pub (one more day off and the wife is at work!). Cheers- Wil

 

[wil]

SWERPIPE- All is forgiven! Wil

 

[LJDRVR]

O.K. Wil,

I re-read your post, mea culpa, sorry I jumped down your throat there. Gotta yell at someone, my wife won't let me scream at the kids and I would never yell at an FO. Just trying to say that none of us have the market cornered just be cause we:___________(insert favorite qualification here) Enjoy the last of your day off, too bad you have to go to "work". (I call it playing jet pilot)

Enigma,

You are correct, only one had Caravan only time. I see your point. By the way, I got to talk to your Chief Pilot the other day, he helped me out with some info gathering. (I'm putting together a CQFO program.) Nice guy, I apreciate his assistance.

Cheers

 

[Swerpipe]

RJones....

There is no reason you should be pissed off at me. It is actually sad that some people could take me seriously. My post was definitely ridiculous but there are some people out there with a certain mentality which make a post like that plausible. I am a Part 135 driver but I respect anyone that does what we do for a living because I have been there. I am not an elitelist which thinks I am better than anyone else. Believe me. God bless...

 

[WhiteCloud]

Re: RJones....

It is actually sad that some people could take me seriously. My post was definitely ridiculous but there are some people out there with a certain mentality which make a post like that plausible.

I got a good laugh at your posting, but you're right about some folks out there with a mentality of "I'm better than you because I fly/flew........". It gets old.

 

[kelbill]

From the SWA website on pilot qualifications:
"Flight Experience:
2500 hours total or 1500 hours TURBINE total. Additionally, a minimum of 1000 hours in Turbine aircraft as the **Pilot in command, as defined by FAR PART I is required. "

If I were you, I would get into the turbine powered caravan right away. They want turbine time more so than multiengine piston time I would say. We only fly jets/turbine 737s here, so that is the experience they want. I personally think they will be more impressed that way, that is why the mins are 2500 total or 1500 turbine. I'm not an interviewer, but I do work at SWA, and know that we hire based on how we like you and what you've done to get here, not strictly on how many hours you have. So build up the turbine time, you'll get more experience with them, and you'll get good work experience at the same time.
Just a thought.

 

[SWA GUY]

If you meet the SWA minimum flight time requirement( as mentioned above), you WILL get an interview.

If SWA likes your personality, you will get the job.

No where does it say:

1. No caravan pilots need apply.

2. No twin otter pilots need apply.

3. No F-teen pilots need apply.

4. Yes, we take Aggies but only because we have to....sometimes.