Realistically-how long from Private to right seat for Southwest?

[Jim Dandy]

Ok, ok, this is a serious question. If a person was to go balls out training, that already has their private and working on their instrument, "guessing" how long would you say, how many years, could right seat be attained for flying for southwest?

Buy the time said person has the time to apply at Southwest, Southwest will be bankrupt, Delta will be out of business and PanAm will be flying something supersonic and be the Major American airline again.

The industry is far too unstable to ask such questions, last year people were asking "how long until I have the time to fly for Independence"

40 years from now we'll all be out of a job when they invent the teleporter al la Startrek.

 

[phishn@daves]

Off Topic.

Hey Click, That is the best Christmas movie ever!

 

[FN FAL]

Buy the time said person has the time to apply at Southwest, Southwest will be bankrupt, Delta will be out of business and PanAm will be flying something supersonic and be the Major American airline again.

The industry is far too unstable to ask such questions, last year people were asking "how long until I have the time to fly for Independence"

40 years from now we'll all be out of a job when they invent the teleporter al la Startrek.

It's not going to take 40 years...gas prices going down was only temporary.

 

[flint4xx]

The typical new hire class average age is usually around 40.

 

[MarineGrunt]

Do we have to wait untill you're dead AND gone?

Ouch man............... ouch........ :nuts:

 

[joe_pilot]

For every story like that, I'm sure there are 10 that went the other way.

We have a NWA FO flying caravans with us, as well as a few others that found an un-anticipated segue from flying wide bodies. I still don't know what the resigned regional pilot friend of mine wants, I'll call him this weekend, I have a feeling the move to ORF was not going to work out with his family life.

Very true FN, it's just that lurker's comments reminded me of my Bud. Besides, didn't you read the disclaimer at the bottom of my note?


Results are not typical. Individual results may vary

 

[cforst513]

Ok, ok, this is a serious question. If a person was to go balls out training, that already has their private and working on their instrument, "guessing" how long would you say, how many years, could right seat be attained for flying for southwest?

I bet you all-atps could get you from 0 time to right seat in a weekend.

 

[FN FAL]

Very true FN, it's just that lurker's comments reminded me of my Bud. Besides, didn't you read the disclaimer at the bottom of my note?


Results are not typical. Individual results may vary

I'm not trying to dig on you too hard bra, I know somebody without a degree and minimal times that actually went through the hire process at NWA about 7 years ago. No college, no jet time, some "pic" riding in a B90 King Air and maybe 2,500 total time. His big goof up was the 747 sim ride they gave him...had he told before hand that he was going, I would have told him to get some sim time on the credit card before going. He's a salesman now, filling the soap dispensers on his sales route, taverns, gas stations, stores. He's "harry chapin" flying now.

I think the realistic thing, is to not give the original poster false hope, but not discourage them from following their dream.

To say 3 years is not realistic, though it could be. To say 5 years, is more realistic. Who knows? Like YOU said...your milage could vary.

I'm going to stick with what I said before, if your life long goal is find yourself in the profession of flying aircraft and you find yourself professionally flying aircraft, you're there.

I have several friends at SWA. In fact, one of their long time captains is the reason I struck out for a flying career. We used to work together at a sporting goods store back in the early 1980's. There was a time that I would have tugged on his coat tail for the favor, now I'd just like to hook up with him, grill out and catch up on old times. In fact, I think I might just do that, he was a hell of guy.

 

[RUNNINHORN]

[

I guess my advice would be the same as you'll hear a lot around here: go to a place where you can get turbine PIC quickly. airlines don't really care if it's turboprop or jet time. don't get sucked into the SJS.



what is the SJS?

 

[RUNNINHORN]

That reminds me... A friend of mine started at FedEx four years (almost to the day) after he got his instrument rating. Instructed, went to lakes with about 800/50, upgraded, now an FE.

Results are not typical. Individual results may vary

yea, thats who I currently work for, Fedex as a manager (express). Would love to fly for them, just dont think I can train on the side and still be a manager and go straight into a fedex pilot seat.