So how was the SWA open house?

[Loafman]

It was kewl.

 

[Mr. Magoo]

My Take

I want to give you guys an update on the Southwest Airlines Pilot Open House that I was able to go to on June 10th.

They said that there were about 800 pilots that showed. All of the SWA employees seemed very humbled that so many people were interested in SWA.

Rebekah Krone opened the day with a run down of the days agenda.

Regional Chief Pilot ROB HAYNES talked about growth plans.
■ “growing like crazy”
■ Electronic Flight Bags are coming
■ 21 more planes this year, need 10.9 pilots per plane
■ 5000th pilot just started training,8000 pilots by 2012
■ 700 pilots are between age 55 and 60
■ upgrade to capt. 5 ½ to 6 ½ years

Recruiter RYAN HURLING talked about the Application Process.
■ make sure the application is complete and accurate
■ check your logbook
■ they realize that there are “no perfect pilots”

LINDSEY LANG – the Interview
■ Interviews conducted Mon – Thurs
■ 3 one-on-one interviews, 2 pilots, 1 HR person
■ main goal is to get to know you
■ be yourself
■ interview prep is OK but you better not sound prepped

Captain KEVIN CAGLE talked about Current Contact Form.
■ Stressed that a GOOD name and phone number listing for someone who can verify your flying history is a must.

Captain MARK PATKUNAS spoke on the LOI.
■ Main goal of the LOI is to see if can think under pressure.
■ The 7 minutes go by very fast.

Manager of Employment AMY WEBB sits in on the Decision Committee.
■ The interviewers are note takers and the DC makes the decision.
■ Make sure all of your info is correct.

Mgr of Flight Instructors JOHN CUNDIFF was next.
■ SWA training success rate 99 point something
■ If you have problems in training, just ask for help
■ Wings handed out first day of training

FO new hire GRAY HANSON talked about life in training.

Recruiter CONNIE CHASE talked about benefits.
■ Unlimited Space A flights for spouse, parents, kids
■ Max cost of insurance is about $80 for med, den, and vision
■ Profit sharing, 401k etc.

FO CARRIE WEBER talked about life on the line.
■ First month out of training you hold whichever domicile you want
■ Oakland still jr base
■ First year pay $45k, second year $75k.
■ Trip swaps
■ Overtime pays 2nd year pay

Questions and answer session followed. Nothing profound was asked.

They did a raffle between some of the speakers and gave away some “NUTS” books. Four or five lucky guys won interviews. But not me. BOO HOO

That's about it. Hope this helps a little. Good luck to all.

Goo

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

I want to give you guys an update on the Southwest Airlines Pilot Open House that I was able to go to on June 10th.

They said that there were about 800 pilots that showed. All of the SWA employees seemed very humbled that so many people were interested in SWA.

Rebekah Krone opened the day with a run down of the days agenda.

Regional Chief Pilot ROB HAYNES talked about growth plans.
■ “growing like crazy”
■ Electronic Flight Bags are coming
■ 21 more planes this year, need 10.9 pilots per plane
■ 5000th pilot just started training,8000 pilots by 2012
■ 700 pilots are between age 55 and 60
■ upgrade to capt. 5 ½ to 6 ½ years

Recruiter RYAN HURLING talked about the Application Process.
■ make sure the application is complete and accurate
■ check your logbook
■ they realize that there are “no perfect pilots”

LINDSEY LANG – the Interview
■ Interviews conducted Mon – Thurs
■ 3 one-on-one interviews, 2 pilots, 1 HR person
■ main goal is to get to know you
■ be yourself
■ interview prep is OK but you better not sound prepped

Captain KEVIN CAGLE talked about Current Contact Form.
■ Stressed that a GOOD name and phone number listing for someone who can verify your flying history is a must.

Captain MARK PATKUNAS spoke on the LOI.
■ Main goal of the LOI is to see if can think under pressure.
■ The 7 minutes go by very fast.

Manager of Employment AMY WEBB sits in on the Decision Committee.
■ The interviewers are note takers and the DC makes the decision.
■ Make sure all of your info is correct.

Mgr of Flight Instructors JOHN CUNDIFF was next.
■ SWA training success rate 99 point something
■ If you have problems in training, just ask for help
■ Wings handed out first day of training

FO new hire GRAY HANSON talked about life in training.

Recruiter CONNIE CHASE talked about benefits.
■ Unlimited Space A flights for spouse, parents, kids
■ Max cost of insurance is about $80 for med, den, and vision
■ Profit sharing, 401k etc.

FO CARRIE WEBER talked about life on the line.
■ First month out of training you hold whichever domicile you want
■ Oakland still jr base
■ First year pay $45k, second year $75k.
■ Trip swaps
■ Overtime pays 2nd year pay

Questions and answer session followed. Nothing profound was asked.

They did a raffle between some of the speakers and gave away some “NUTS” books. Four or five lucky guys won interviews. But not me. BOO HOO

That's about it. Hope this helps a little. Good luck to all.

Goo

Nice post Goo. Now impress me...what kind of ice cream did I eat?

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Ice Cream sandwich

 

[enigma]

Manager of Employment AMY WEBB sits in on the Decision Committee.
■ The interviewers are note takers and the DC makes the decision.
■ Make sure all of your info is correct.


Goo

Thanks everyone for the reports. Sorry I missed this shindig, but after using all my vacation earlier for an interview, I just couldn't make it.

I'd like to hear more on this specific.

IF the interviewers are only "note takers" (a phrase that would seem to indicate that no decisions are made during the interview process), then SWA should be performing basic background checks on each interviewee before the DB. Obviously not every interviewee gets his/her recommendors/previous employers/etc, called before the DB; a fact that pretty much counters the "only note takers" comment. The interviewers may be note takers, but they are also obviously permitted to "down" an applicant, because numerous interviewees never have any references/recommendors/previous employers called.

I'd also like to know if the term interviewer as referenced by Ms. Webb applies to the PD representative who takes part in the interview process?

Good Luck to all,

enigma, an SWA wannabe who had all of his background check, including drug test accomplished before the DB in 1998, but had no calls made to references/etc made in either 2000 or 2006. If only I could figure out what I've done differently the last two times! I guess that maybe the answer is right in front of my nose....I must have fooled them in 98

 

[Mr. Magoo]

I would agree that the interviewers have more pull than just note-takers would, but that was in my notes so I must have heard it. I don't think that decisions are made on the interview day but I think the notes that are taken, do carry some weight with the board.

Ms. Webb did say that people have made it through the interview with flying colors, had refs called, then they found an undisclosed "event" in the pilot records.

Goo

 

[T2Pilot]

Or you could land at Budapest in the early afternoon, then go sit at an outdoor cafe drinking good beer watching all the women who look like models walk by. After you've done this, go out for a nice dinner then crash for the night. Get up for a leisurely breakfast (champagne included), take a walk along the Danube, check out more scantily clad young women, drink more fine European beer, have dinner again, then go out to a club and watch the young lovlies on the dance floor. Get a full night's sleep, get up for another leisurely breakfast, and finally go fly again...

OK you have my attention. What company is this and where do I apply? Do you get paid as well or is it just fringe benefits?

 

[njcapt]

OK you have my attention. What company is this and where do I apply? Do you get paid as well or is it just fringe benefits?

It's ATA, and you have about 400 pilots on furlough to get recalled before you get your chance.

 

[HalinTexas]

One thing that was ever so subtle. They had a sign in sheet, and if you RSVP'd they had a name tag for you.

Me-thinks this might mean something to those that wish to work for SWA.

 

[matchthehatch]

One thing that they clarified at the Open House was the logging of PIC time. I was under the impression (from their website) that you could log PIC time if you were typed, in the left seat, and sole manipulator of the controls. However, they only want PIC time were you "signed" for the aircraft. That cut my PIC time but I still exceed their mins

Anybody else notice that SWA changed their web site to reflect this? There is no longer the mention of "typed, in the left seat, and sole manipulator..." thing. This really affects those guys at Fractionals (especially 5 year FO's at FLOPS or Flexjet) who swap seats, but aren't ultimately responsible for the a/c.