Southwest 737 Type Rating

[dmahurin]

I am trying to get a type for the SWA gig. I live 2 hours from Dallas. My vacation time is limited. Do you know who offers 737 training in the Dallas area? Are there any places that you can complete the training in 7 days? TIA.

 

[canyonblue737]

the only places that can do it in under 7 days require experience in the 737. Higher Power Aviation does types in Dallas and i can't recommend them highly enough, also SWA people department folks stop in during class to discuss the company and go to lunch with you. They take 14 days to do the training but will break it up however you want, ie. 7 days here, 4 days there, and another 3 days here... even over several months.

 

[LoveGun]

Everyone is going to tell you to check out Higher Power. I did my ground school there in late August and then went back for the sim in early sept. They are very flexible. Some guys I met there broke their training up into three or four different segments. I think it would be easy to break up the ground school portion, but I wouldn't recomend breaking up the sim. Some of the guys that took a break in the middle of the sim had to retrain and that is expensive.


I can't say enough good things about Higher Power. All the instructors there are very helpfull and the program is streamlined. Call them now.

BTW, I got the call from southwest two days ago. I have a february interview!!

 

[p3hawk]

I also went to HPA, I have my interview this Tuesday. HPA is the place to go>

 

[JetFumes]

Whats the pass rate like. It would suck to fork out the money,and of course, study your @ss off, to get a pink slip for 8500 bucks.

 

[srjorion]

I don't know the specific numbers, but I would venture to say the passrate is extremely high. They go out of their way to make sure youare prepared. If you are having trouble they will know and beable to give you some extra help to ensure you pass.

 

[HarleyGuy]

Congrats Lovegun & p3hawk! Nothin' but luck!!

 

[JTB]

dma,
This topic has been debated many times on this board. Do a search for type rating and you'll get some interesting/informative info. I went to HPA in Aug, got the call in Nov for a Dec interview and got the "good news" call this past Monday. I'm very excited (a huge understatement, to the say the least!). And I'm very fortunate and vowed that if I ever did get a good news call that I would try to help as many folks as I could - since this board and the great folks on it have helped me immensely!
I was in your situation at the beginning of last summer and wondered which school to attend. HPA and K & S seemed to be the two to go to if you're hoping for SWA. Of course, having gone to HPA, I'm partial to them and concur with everyone above. They're professional and flexible. You're not buying a 73 ticket, you're buying excellent instruction. They do have a solid relationship with SWA as the HR folks come over on Fridays to answer questions.
Does going to HPA (or K & S) assure you an interview at SWA - no. I believe in the end, it's all about your competitive qualifications. Does going to one school over the other increase your chances of getting the call? That's the million dollar question. In reality it may just be checking the "yes" block on the app. For me, I learned that HPA's culture is very similar to SWA's. I liked the idea of spending two weeks with great folks with similar values as SWA. I'm sure K & S also has similar values and I've heard only absolute great things about them. Plenty of current SWA pilots have attended both schools.
As far as breaking up training - it's not difficult to do. It seems that ground training (first week) would be the one to break up, but I would really try to do all the sims at the same time (as stated above). Pretty steep learning curve. Hope that helps. Good luck!

jtb

 

[p3hawk]

Ditto JTB, on your last post. Im sure that if the people dept.could go to K&S they might. Id like to think so anyway. I had a blast at HPA, great group of students to learn with. And with that $7300 737 hat, Paris Hilton got nothin on me.

 

[chase]

Dmahurin,

You've heard the good things about HPA...my $.02 is due to your location strongly consider HPA for the following reasons:
1. Very flexible; will break training up at your convenience
2. Excellent instruction; very thorough
3. Good pre-study materials with CDs & audio tapes to study with; makes the pre-test much easier
4. Good use of technology; presentations are very clear with great graphics; great training aids, -200 system mock-ups that show how each system works when switches are activated in the cockpit...great for slow learners like me
5. Ground based training with full switchology & operational lights available for use to make the flow training before the sim much better & thereby getting the students to flying the profiles on the first sim much quicker...helps with making the checkride go even better
6. Relationships...you can buy a type anywhere, what I believe you get at HPA are friends that are truly interested in you reaching your career goals & will work at providing you all the information you wish to receive....they provide a newletter that comes out every two months highlighting hiring trends & info about what can make you more competitive for the aviation job you're interested in, they have a excellent staff on board who continue helping well after you receive your training, if you so desire....I could go & others have on this board
7. K&S has folks come over from SWA also on occasion...they are great folks in PHX & provide great training and insights into Southwest that are unmatched except by HPA in my opinion....however I will emphasize what has been emphasized before, neither place guarantees an interview with Southwest or an automatic pass....there are no secret handshakes....

My caveat is I use to work at HPA & know these folks professionally & personally. I didn't get my type there but wish I had known about them before...I most certainly would've now knowing what I know. Yes I'm biased but wouldn't steer you wrong regardless.

Good luck in your pursuit....

 

[johnny taliban]

P3,

congrats on the interview! Would you mind posting your credentials. Your profile is the first that Ive seen of someone without either Part 121 time or CURRENT military that has been invited to interview with SWA. (maybe they have run out of check airman to interview ).

good luck,

johnny

 

[p3hawk]

Hey Johnny, P3hawk here, my profile is pretty basic: 1580 jet/pic-HS-125, 7300 total time, 685 turbo-prop/pic ioe-checkairman, retired military P3 flight engineer.

I currently fly as a Hawker fractional pilot. Hope this helps.

 

[dmahurin]

Great info guys. I am checking into HPA and this ball is rolling. I am sure I will have more questions. Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[saabcaptain]

Whats the pass rate like. It would suck to fork out themoney,and of course, study your @ss off, to get a pink slip for 8500bucks.

well over 90% at HPA. if you work hard you will pass.

 

[Frontier1]

How bout quit PFT'n and make SW send you themselves? Just an idea. Look at pro sports, they know how to hold out.

 

[qmaster3]

How bout quit PFT'n and make SW send you themselves? Just an idea. Look at pro sports, they know how to hold out.

He's got a point She is a Capt. for 3 majors....Good one Frontier.

 

[Dangerkitty]

How bout quit PFT'n and make SW send you themselves? Just an idea. Look at pro sports, they know how to hold out.

You need a B-737 Type Rating to play Pro Sports??