Southwest 300 / 500 question

[Max Powers]

So is the Sim time done in the -700? And then you do some sort of differences/transition training for the 300&500?

 

[Tripower455]

The biggest advantage to a -300 with VNAV is that it wil stay on path most of the time during a descent. Just pull the throttles to idle at TOD and it'll do the rest.

With the -700s, "what's it doing now" is followed by "MCP SPD" and happens more often than not.

 

[scoreboardII]

you mean VNAV SPD, right?

 

[dicko]

you mean VNAV SPD, right?

I think he means he's given up on VNav and hit Level Change. MCP Speed then becomes the FMA .....

I love acronyms.

 

[XR650R]

Gotta luv Common VNAV. It's like SWA went to Boeing and said "That's great but don't you have anything cheaper?". Then Boeing said, "Well, we can get Common VNAV which really dumbs down the system and is actually going to get crews in trouble with crossing restrictions...wait, how about we bundle Common VNAV with ACARS programming that my 11 year old son programmed for a school project. That really sucks too but we can offer it to you for CHEAP". If course SWA said "We'll take it!". And now you know the rest if the story.

 

[johnsonrod]

Maybe if there were more of the old, 1970's 737's flying around, you could get out of your RJ.

Those switches and knobs and buttons are really tricky. It's very scary piloty stuff.

I'll pass on 30-minute turns, 5-6 legs per day, Lubbock and Islip layovers and 20 year upgrades. But thanks... Enjoy your knobs.

 

[slaquer5]

I'll pass on 30-minute turns, 5-6 legs per day, Lubbock and Islip layovers and 20 year upgrades. But thanks... Enjoy your knobs.

Actually its 10 min turns and 13 - 27 legs a day. Not sure why everyone thinks we only fly 5. I have done 3 MDW LAX turns in one day then still have to repaint the A/C during my layover.

PS Do not believe the rumors about the pay either. I would love to see what you think someone at SWA makes and how many days off they have if you exaggerate everything by X2.5

 

[Zdriver]

Ohhh yea.. and the temp control for the cockpit sucks.. never cools off in the summer, and in the winter it gets COLD up front and there is not much you can do about it.. (auto all the way up to no avail , and MAN will trip a pack)

hint.. turn off elect hydraulic pumps to help the changeover, helps keep the ACARS from dumping.

 

[waveflyer]

hint.. turn off elect hydraulic pumps to help the changeover, helps keep the ACARS from dumping.

Write down your times before you get on ground pwr- sometimes you'll have a kernel who thinks it's against the rules to turn them off first- and now and then it'll dump the times no matter what you do.

 

[Quimby]

I'll pass on 30-minute turns, 5-6 legs per day, Lubbock and Islip layovers and 20 year upgrades. But thanks... Enjoy your knobs.

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. Best of luck to you.

 

[say again]

Are auto-throttles that important/pertinent? I've never used them, so it's an honest question.

 

[say again]

I'll pass on 30-minute turns, 5-6 legs per day, Lubbock and Islip layovers and 20 year upgrades. But thanks... Enjoy your knobs.

Like the regional you're at is better!! Get real.

 

[waveflyer]

Are auto-throttles that important/pertinent? I've never used them, so it's an honest question.

They're nice, in an addictive way, and important bc in smooth air they're better at maintaining for fuel- which is why mgmt turned them on- but not important for safety

 

[Whataburger]

Are auto-throttles that important/pertinent? I've never used them, so it's an honest question.

No.

They're just one less thing to do while sleeping.

 

[Tripower455]

you mean VNAV SPD, right?

DOH! Yeah, brain fart......

The bottom line is that there's little warning when it gives up and it's not on VNAV path anymore. Most of the 300s will stay on path/speed like they're on rails. All you have to do is remember to pull the throttles to idle at TOD! The 700, not so much......