Next SWA Class Beer Pool!

[tredding@swa]

Love the Spirit...

Keep those guesses comin' in everyone!!!

We may be here a bit longer... but the case of cool ones will help keep our hopes high whilst paddling around the ol' cement pond until Uncle Herb and friends decide they just can't live without us!!!!

Have a great week - keep the positive vibes coming in!!!

Regards - Tred

 

[b747dogg]

hey tredding@swa, ill cover your case if your guess comes true. somebody has to step up and do it! have fun.

 

[tredding@swa]

thankyouverymuch!

Thianks dogg.... mighty fine of you to offer!!! I certainly HOPE that my guess wins!!! Sooner the better for sure!

Have a great day all - Tredd

 

[SentryIP]

Revised WAG

OK...Since the rules say only one date, I'll go for October 24th.

 

[Aplus9]

Class of 4 on the 14th of October 02 for sure.

First full size class on the 6th of Jan 03.


Bass Ale , Please.

 

[pegasus]

March 14th 2003. (is that the ides of march?)

Speckled hen or Bishops' Tipple, thank you

 

[shagadelic]

I hesitate to write this, but think folks want to hear the latest no matter what that may be. Please realize, I have had Chief Pilots tell me to my face "no more cities this year" and two weeks later they announce West Palm Beach. But today in EPT, Tony Dorsch said alot of the military leave guys were coming back from the desert and they were going to try to take the 8 planes next year with no new pilots.

I doubt very seriously they can do this, but our bookings for the 4th quarter are abysmal. I think it all hinges on whether people come back. Some of our tickets, when adjusted for inflation, are the cheapest in our history...(about the same as 8 bucks when we were selling 13 dollar seats). We are basically bribing people to fly. They are stressing to everyone to save money. The department heads are having to rewrite budgets, and cut costs. I may even have to slow down (except for that commuter flight at the end of my trip!!)

He did say long term plans were still on track, but in the short term it doesn't look good. Having said that, I like Feb 11; they'll start getting some bookings for spring and start feeling better about our position, and it will give time for other guys to cut more capacity.

Good luck, and my I be dead wrong!

 

[Slug]

Ouch

That's painful, but very similar to what I heard. Through a 2 friend chain from the HOU Chief Pilot, there could be as few as 1 class for all of 2003. It sucks, and I hope it isn't so, but.....

On another related note....Any of you part time reservists have an additional job at home? And if you do what is it? I'm still looking.


Slug

 

[Coach]

Shag - I think everyone appreciates hearing the latest, but the latest is like a dagger to the heart. I (or should I say my family) am already on the reserve floatation device(read $savings). Don't know if any other poolies floating near the top are really in a catch-22 situation where no one will hire you because you're in the SWA hiring pool and they only want guys who can give guaranteed payback. I can't figure out this "pilots returning from the desert". I mean how many could there possibly be? If they plan to absorb 8 jets worth from the desert returnees isn't that 80+ pilots? Lets see, first it was the never-ending stop loss list, now the infinite pilots in the desert list. And there are over 300 poolies? My first question to Herb and gang, if I ever get to Dallas will be "why did u ever bring so many in the pool and why couldn't you have been upfront with us and told us how many were in the pool?" If I would have known about all these never-ending lists I might have made some different decisions. Oh well, you try to make the best decisions you can with the information available, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Upsides are plenty of family time, don't have to go fight another war and the honey-do list is nonexistent; the downside -- no money.

 

[shagadelic]

I'm not sure how many guys are in the desert, but you're right, it's probably not 80. However, the summer before last, we were flying our a$$ off, JA rates were through the roof, etc. etc. They have some degree of latitude with how much they make us fly.

However, we also are having close to 100 retirements next year, so I really think we will have to run classes.

I talked to the EPT instructor, and he confirmed what I had been hearing. There are about 62 instructors now in the schoolhouse. All of them running around doing nothing. So when you say "Why did we hire so many guys" I would say the plan was not for you to sit in the pool for so long. It's obvious they WERE going to bring guys in much faster. But things have changed quite a bit with the traveling public. Or maybe a better way to phrase is that SWA's forecast for the public's travel did not bear out.

We simply need the economy to start chugging along again and we'll grow massively.

 

[N1WH]

march 5th 2003

 

[SWA/FO]

Live from Dallas......

I have heard nothing, except 360 in the pool. I'm digging for you guys/gals in the pool.

Things can and sometimes change quickly here.

Hang in there.

 

[w8n4swa]

RightBettor,

I hear your pain! Your so close to the lifetime job, yet so far from being hired by a good corporate flight department. I don't know your location, but my experience in this situation is to get an "in between" flying job...like flying for a charter service. Someone with your experience would be very welcomed to fly for a small 135 operator at a local FBO. It won't pay well, but it'll get you current. Perhaps you've already tried this...I don't know...but that's what I'd do if I were in your shoes. Most 135 charter ops can't keep pilots because of the lack of schedule and pay...so they would be thrilled to have someone like yourself available to fly their aircraft...might be in a 210 or a 172...but at least it's something to fly. Just my thoughts...keep trying...something will come up.

 

[OakRBust]

Easy Righty....

There is going to be plenty of LUV for you and the rest of us poolies. They aint gonna change the felt and the rules on the craps table in mid roll.

You and the rest of us got lucky. Keep Rolling them dice and your number will come up hopefully sooner than later.

 

[NEO]

In light of recent announcements, I thought I would float this thread to the top of the pile again.

 

[tredding@swa]

thanks for the float Neo...

HOPE is once again our friend.....

Afew cold beers will be a great way to wash away the chlorine taste in some lucky Poolie's mouth.

Good Luck All, hope to see some of you low numbered folks drying off soon!!

Regards - Tred

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

If Tony says it then its true..Hes about the greatest guy out there..Straight shooter and no BS..

Sorry for the bad news..
Just reading a letter from Crumy..His side of the story is that this is going to be one of the worst Qs in the companys history..

Hang on..

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

WHO IS TONY?

Who is Crumy?

Thoth-- totally agreed with your post on the 3rd quarter thread. People are getting way too excited. I for one rather keep calm than keep getting excited just to have my hopes dashed.

Where did you hear the 4th Q is gonna blow?

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

Looks like T1bubba is the closest

If the Jan 03 rumor is true we may have a winner soon

 

[tredding@swa]

VP Flt Ops

I believe that "Crummy" = Greg Crumm, aka VP Flight Ops @ SWA?

Can' t wait to pay off this one, hope there is a winner REAL soon!!

Regards - Tred

 

[luv2fly]

Revision of Class date Guess

Hey Tred,

With the newest news I would like to change my date to January 6th. Just kidding, but I am pumped about hearing good news. Do you have a list of the predications? How about putting them in a post if you do. See ya!!

 

[HOUMAN]

THE RUN DOWN

Here is the list.

25 Sep 02 race#53
30 Sep 02 b747dogg
01 Oct 02 luv2fly
14 Oct 02 HPaul3
15 Oct 02 Shav'r
17 Oct 02 tredding@swa
21 Oct 02 Flyky
24 Oct 02 JayhawkDude
24 Oct 02 SentryIP
28 Oct 02 DH200
28 Oct 02 qxeplt
04 Nov 02 w8n4swa
04 Nov 02 NEO
12 Nov 02 chazworth
14 Nov 02 Bake
14 Nov 02 PTinbound
14 Nov 02 SilentDave
18 Nov 02 Dirty
02 Jan 03 T1bubba
06 Jan 03 JPB
06 Jan 03 RightBettor
06 Jan 03 Aplus9
08 Jan 03 OakRBust
09 Jan 03 Flyboynfla
13 Jan 03 Santini
13 Jan 03 LiveFreeorDie
11 Feb 03 shagadelic
05 Mar 03 N1WH
14 Mar 03 pegasus
oct or nov CoopDog

 

[Slug]

Waited too long

Jan 3 for Slug. Start on Monday just after BCS game.

 

[McC]

I too waited too long, but better late than never!!!

I'm gonna jump on the January 6 bandwagon! I gotta, it's my wifes birthday - What a present that would be!!!

McC

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

Ahh, didn't notice my date was previously taken...

could I change it to 7 Jan?

 

[HPaul3]

October 14th doesn't count?

Ummmmm,

Not to be pedantic, but....I believe I guessed October 14th. Did a class not start on October 14th? I believe one did. Granted, it was not a FULL class, which, believe me, I want more than anyone else, but it was a class. Can I get a little LUV?

Perhaps a "consolation prize" of a nice six-pack. I like amber beers .

Luv ya,
HPaul3

 

[ivauir]

you win the no prize!!

It'll be coming FEDEX, watch for it true believer!!!

 

[HPaul3]

Re: you win the no prize!!

It'll be coming FEDEX, watch for it true believer!!!

Man, you're killing me over here, Iva . You could take this act on the road!

Too bad...I was really hoping for a cold one. Perhaps I should take my question to the People's Court.

Cheers!
HP

 

[tredding@swa]

Thanks HOUMAN

Thanks for breaking out the guesses for me!! I have not checked in for a while, could not take any more poorattitudes & gloom/doom....

"Things" do appear to be moving in the correct direction - break out a few towels for the lucky ones in the shallow end - can't wait to ship the prize out soon!!!

Regards - Tred

 

[tredding@swa]

Short List.... winner?

Looks as if there may be a winner here....? January is starting to look pretty good - here are the poolies with the January guesses:

02 Jan 03 T1bubba
06 Jan 03 JPB
06 Jan 03 RightBettor
06 Jan 03 Aplus9
08 Jan 03 OakRBust
09 Jan 03 Flyboynfla
13 Jan 03 Santini
13 Jan 03 LiveFreeorDie

In the event of a tie.... I will send the malt pops to the one who posted the date 1st. No hard feelings to those who guessed the same date later, just had to figure out a fair way to break the possible tie!!

Thanks to all who took the interest to play - sure am glad to be buying the prize!!!!!

Have a good one - Tred