How long for a SWA interview call?

[VAPOR]

been waiting 8 mos, got the time & type

 

[NEDude]

The $64,000 question asked by many of us.

I was told by Ryan from the PD at the August AirInc conference that I should get a call in 2-3 months. Was told by him in October, after looking at my online app, I should get a call any time. Was told by Kim in the PD, after looking at my stuff a few weeks ago, that my stuff looks great and they'd be calling me "hopefully very soon".

My stats:

3600 TT
1600 PIC
737 Type
Ground/Sim Instructor in the training department
Turboprop - Civilian

I know of many far more experienced people who have been waiting a lot longer. So we'll see what happens.

 

[singlespeed]

long time. hope this helps

 

[145 Lawndart]

Just got the call last week. Had my app in since Jan'04 737 type since Mar'04. Over 7500tt 3000 tubine pic most of witch is jet time.

 

[jwes]

When will they call, I hope and update

I've got the time 6500tt, 2600 PIC 121, B-737 typed since Feb 2005
plus a check airman....Met Ryan several times and he says it all looks good, just keep updating. Its the lottery, then you have to pass the interview.
( a two tier lottery)

 

[VAPOR]

I've got the time 6500tt, 2600 PIC 121, B-737 typed since Feb 2005
plus a check airman....Met Ryan several times and he says it all looks good, just keep updating. Its the lottery, then you have to pass the interview.
( a two tier lottery)

thanks NEDude, 145 Lawndart and jwes!

Q for jwes: Who is Ryan and what is a two-tier lottery?

 

[atp160]

Applied October 2001, typed May 2002, interviewed December 2003 , references called , then got the letter to try again in a year. Over 9000 hours, retired military, 5 types, checkairman and FAA designee. Still waiting for a second chance. They say the usual is 2-3 times before you get onboard. Good luck it will be worth it

 

[VAPOR]

U2

for now we enjoy the ride

 

[jwes]

Ryan H. is a SWA rep that I've seen twice, once at Air inc. DC and another time at a Higher Power (B-737 type course) get together. He is really very nice and actually spends time looking at your resume and answering any questions you might have. He also conducts interviews at times.
And the two-tier lottery is just me saying how tough it seems lately to get on with SW

 

[flyNICKair]

Typed 12/2001, applied 01/2002, all the time, friends onboard etc. Just got a call a week ago.

You just never know.

Anything worth doing, is worth waiting for.

 

[AMRCostUnit]

Totals and Types -- see left.

Online app 1/04, K&S Type 4/04, 1100 hours and counting in the -800, USAF Stan Eval (Checkairman), 1200PIC Turbine.

Told by MDW Chief LF my problem is not enough PIC. Been an FO building useless SIC for 12 years now. No upgrade in sight...

Unit
Career Gear Operator

 

[miles otoole]

Totals and Types -- see left.

Online app 1/04, K&S Type 4/04, 1100 hours and counting in the -800, USAF Stan Eval (Checkairman), 1200PIC Turbine.

Told by MDW Chief LF my problem is not enough PIC. Been an FO building useless SIC for 12 years now. No upgrade in sight...

Unit
Career Gear Operator

Wow-I am impressed and yet disappointed that you haven't been brought on board.
I have always believed, as have many of the senior giys/gals who made this company what it is today, that the turbine PIC requirement needs to die a quick and ugly death. Very akin to the Navy (I heard Ken Koppy is still around) relaxing the 20/20 uncorrected eye standards for pilots in 1990 to 20/30. Post change, the pool of qualified applicants doubled. As much as we love the 1600 hour F-16 and F-18 (yarch) guys and gals, folks with your experience are AS qualified. Now it comes to the HR interview alone.
Problem is, the non-flying management team won't release its grip on the standard. To do so now would somehow publically indicate that WN is lowering the qualification bar.

 

[Captain Overs]

If you lower the PIC time, or do away with it, then this board will be filled with no PIC guys who feel a sense of entitlement and can't figure out why they aren't getting the call.

I think they SHOULD waive it for military guys but no one else.

 

[Remington]

Why waive the PIC time for the Military folks? Is being in charge of a single seat, single engine jet more important than flying a 50-250 passenger jet all over the US/world?

 

[Captain Overs]

No, but military guys don't fly as much as we civilian guys do. Besides, I bet you that military training is 10 times harder and more intense than Regional Airline initial training.

 

[SWA GUY]

You must be sh!tting me Overs. Your line of arguement is rediculous!

 

[miles otoole]

No, but military guys don't fly as much as we civilian guys do. Besides, I bet you that military training is 10 times harder and more intense than Regional Airline initial training.

So, are you saying that because us former military guys flew less, we should get cut a break for altruistic reasons? I'd hope the military training is harder as most military guys/gals have ZERO flight experience after graduating from OCS or (god forbid) air force ocs versus most of today's regional new hires with 1000+ hours, much of it turbine time from other regionals.
The WN sim instructors I talk to generally tell me they rarely have to worry about a regional pilot having trouble in training versus the single seat military guy who often needs to be "civilianized."

 

[Remington]

So OVERS....intense military training = real world PIC airline time.

 

[Victor120]

-repeat message deleted

 

[Victor120]

SWA doesn't seem to get caught up in this pi$sing contest; they hire equal parts from each group. Every ratio I've personally seen or experienced reflects this. This debate really is a comparison of apples and oranges. SWA likes equal parts of both (fruits); and likely for a reason.

Group hug? mmmkay, then.... all better.

 

[VAPOR]

my understanding of the 1,000 PIC requirement is for insurance

 

[jwes]

I liked the beginning of this post where people chimed in about their flying experience and how long they've been waiting to hear from SW. Lets hear about that some more. It kinda makes me feel like I'm not the only ugly duckling out there. The other part (who's better military or civi) is just stupid
So keep it coming stay on track.

 

[JumpJetter]

I liked the beginning of this post where people chimed in about their flying experience and how long they've been waiting to hear from SW. Lets hear about that some more. It kinda makes me feel like I'm not the only ugly duckling out there. The other part (who's better military or civi) is just stupid
So keep it coming stay on track.

I agree...stayontarget..

3700TT
1800 PIC T
Mil fighters -> regional T-props -> Major ->furloughed ->Pt 135 Charter
(some how my wife is still with me!)
App and Type in Oct 2004 (didn't have the PIC time yet)

PD told me it's a matter of "throughput". Just can only interview only so many at a time.

Then of course there is the selection rate.....

JJ

 

[eagledoormat]

I interviewed in 1992 originally and it was 1000 pic. A year later, they weren't taking aps. When they started again, it was now 1000 PIC Turbine and I was no longer qualified as I only had 960 PIC turbine and was an FO on a turbo prop for a regional with no upgrade in site. It took me almost 5 more years to get requalified. Well, I was turned down the next time also and have just recently re-interviewed with almost 12000 TT and 2500PIC turbine. Waiting to hear but don't feel good as they aren't checking my refs yet.

 

[LJDRVR]

Type and APP in late 2001, 2200 turbine PIC, the rest on the left. Still patiently and happily waiting.

 

[BMW]

I interviewed in 1992 originally and it was 1000 pic. A year later, they weren't taking aps. When they started again, it was now 1000 PIC Turbine and I was no longer qualified as I only had 960 PIC turbine and was an FO on a turbo prop for a regional with no upgrade in site. It took me almost 5 more years to get requalified. Well, I was turned down the next time also and have just recently re-interviewed with almost 12000 TT and 2500PIC turbine. Waiting to hear but don't feel good as they aren't checking my refs yet.

Don't let the fact that your refs haven't been called get you down. Several guys in my interview group had their refs called and mine were not so I was expecting a letter. They got letters and I got the call, with none of my refs ever being called. No rhyme or reason how they do things, at least I can't figure it out. Keep the faith.

BMW

 

[eagledoormat]

Thanks

Thanks, BMW! You made my Thanksgiving. Maybe...just maybe......

Anyway, thanks and best of luck to all SW hopefuls. It's a great place, and a goal worthy of the wait.

 

[:-)]

To answer the original question. Who the heck knows?

Seriously, if you read the reports of people who got the call, and people who have not yet gotten the call, you'll just pull your hair out, because there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason.

 

[shuttlepilot]

7900TT, 3100 pic turbine, checkairman, typed in april 2004, app. in since then. Still waiting...

 

[MADPHOTOGRAPHIC]

FELLAS,

Thought I might share some limited experience with those that are waiting for a call to interview.

I am a Navy pointy nose puke with with some 100 or so hours messing around in light airplanes.

I got Typed @ K&S (great program aka Mike Sturgis) in late May 05.
Online app in June of 05. No call until September of 05. BUT>>>

I called PD and spoke to Kim and Lindsey( Both the best ever) and they took me through my app page by page to make sure it was formatted correctly.

My big mistake was my work history. All I put for employment history was "95 to Present" USN Strike Fighter Aviator. 2400 hours 2000 pic.

They want your employment broken down by each individual command you were in. What did you do there and what were the highlights.

Also breakdown your flying history by each and every aircraft you ever took the controls of. Seriously, being detailed will get you everywhere in this process.

After I spoke with them about my app, I got a call within three weeks for the interview.

Did the interview (amazing place and people), sweated out the 5 weeks waiting for the Letter or Call, finally getting the call to "Continue" the day before Thanksgiving. Whew!!!

I hope this helps in terms of looking over your app and making sure it's correct. Lindsey and Kim were super helpful over the phone but hopefully this post will help others avoid my mistake therby getting you an interview a lot faster. If you're looking for info on my prep or documents feel free to to ask.

Good Luck to all. NEVER GIVE UP!!!