Paying For 737 Type ??????????

[Jim Smyth]

The type rating does show commitment and also a persons attitude and capability. Southwest hires Captains, so a type shows that this perticular person can achieve this position. In the old days it was for insurance reasons but today with the longer upgrade times it doesnt seem as needed IMO. I also worked for other airlines prior to being hired at Southwest that had permanent FO's and we obviously arnt looking for that. The attitude expressed by some in here is the reason we weed people out of the process early on without the type rating. Ya, some do buy the type and dont get hired. I do feel for them and wish we could hire everyone but what Airline does? Most of our interview process until recently has just been with 3 people (2 Pilots and 1 person from Personal) for 45 minutes each. Do you think they are doing this to see if your qualified? You wouldnt be asked to come to the interview if you werent. I have been there (chapter 7) without a job and it does Suck the big one! I myself dont agree with the type rating requirment but they havent come to me for any suggestions yet! So when your in Rome do as the Romans do if you want a chance at the job but its deffinately not for everyone. YMMV

 

[Tripower455]

Yes I did pay for my training up to my C.F.I.I. But from my multi on I did not pay a dime. You bring a very good argument for your case. However I don't think those who paid for there 737 type only to be turned down at SWA would agree with you. For those who were already type somewhere else well it wont hurt as much to be rejected. I am glad it worked out for you and I respect why you did it.

As I said, it's a gamble. Some win, some lose. I was extremely lucky.

However the PFT culture that we operate in today really brings all of us down. It is bad for pilots everywhere.

I agree about the PFT being a drain on the profession. I never paid SWA a dime for training or anything else.

I can clearly see why it is a risk worth taking at SWA. However there is alot more to our industry than just one company. Being a professional pilot just is not what it used to be and in my humble opinion PFT has alot to do with that.

I agree that there is a lot more to the industry than SWA, in fact, early in my career I never even considered it as an option. The career is NOT what I pictured as a kid. As my experience with Ch 11, furloughs etc built, I started to realize what a good place SWA might be to hang my hat, with as much job security as could be had in an airline.

Along with the poor management you pionted out. We are all in this industry together! Some how we have lost track of that. Eventualy everyone is effected by longstanding policies that degrade our profession. So I am glad you got on with the "big guy's" but don't lose site of were you came from. There are alot of great pilots who are still working for those "scum bag operaters". They don't desreve to be treated like second class aviators just because the have not won the SWA lottery.

I have never lost sight of where I came from and never treat anybody like a second class anything. I spent 10 years getting s*** on in the commuter/cargo world in the days before I got hired at SWA 9 years ago.