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Southwest Airlines Pilot Open House

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What a goofy outfit!! First they require a type rating then they jack up the mins!! No wonder they're having a hard time finding people who are interested!! I'm sure there are a lot of people applying, just not the ones they are looking for!!
 
actually its an average of 8 1/2 hours a day with a minimum of 15 days off. But that doesn't sound as good to a guy with a chip on his shoulder
 
The kind of flying that they do is what I like, work me like a dog when I'm at work and then half the month off. Regrettably, I feel very strongly about PFT outfits. Oh well, guess SWA is not for me.
 
DP.. PFT is when your money goes to the company that is going to employ you.Thats not the case at SWA as you still go to a full initial course once you are hired.Somebody 33 yrs ago decided you need a rating to get a job and it seems to work well for them.Seeing its their football if you want to play.....
 
Did you have to buy a type as a requirement for them to employ you? If the answer is yes, It is a PFT outfit. If you want to put a spin to it so you can feel better about the monthly payments you are making on the loan. Then OK, it isn't PFT then.
 
No as a matter of fact, I didn't have to buy a type. It was provided by a previous employer.

Did you have to "buy" your ATP or other qualifications in order for a company that requires them to employ you? Man, I hate those PFT outfits.
 
For all you PFT crybabies

Should I buy a new car?
Only if there's no PFT! I hate PFT!

Should I go to the store today?
Only if there's no PFT! I hate PFT!

I want a job!
OK, but don't PFT! I hate PFT!

The sky is blue.
Yea, but I still hate PFT!
Whaaaaaaa...I hate PFT! In case you didn't know, I hate PFT.

I don't think you should spend $8000, since I'm too scared to try. I know, I'll pretend it's PFT; that way I have the perfect excuse! I'm so smart.

Ugh, unless SW hires me...then, nevermind.

Sheesh....:puke:
 
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Wanna fly the guppy for 12 hours a day the rest of your life? Here's your 1 in 10 chance. Now if you can just find an extra $8,000 laying around, you'll be all set
Click to expand...

:crying:
 
Yah, I am sure all the "I hate PFT" people were born with private, commercial, multi, CFII, MEI, with 1200TT and 200ME. They have never paid a dime to advance their career and never will.


Right.
 
omg wahh wahh wahh, next it will be a gulfstream bash..
 
No as a matter of fact, I didn't have to buy a type. It was provided by a previous employer.
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Of course they did provide you with the type, this is the norm

Did you have to "buy" your ATP or other qualifications in order for a company that requires them to employ you? Man, I hate those PFT outfits.
Click to expand...

Sure did, in 1991. In 2006, not another cent.

Peni$ envy is a MOFO
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Thank God, Money is not an issue. My side business and my wife's business are going very well, Its just principal for me. I'm not criticizing the policy, I'm just saying is not for me. Then again, flying at night for the rest of my career (Hopefully not much longer) is not for me either, so that knocks off FedEx and UPS. One less resume to compete, right?
 
flying4food said:
What a goofy outfit!! First they require a type rating then they jack up the mins!! No wonder they're having a hard time finding people who are interested!! I'm sure there are a lot of people applying, just not the ones they are looking for!!
Click to expand...

WTF?!?! Are you for real dude? You think just cuz there is an open house they are hurting for people? Do you have any clue how many apps. they take and how many get in? It's people like you that bash, and then show up to these things. What a shame. Pick up the phone... your noon intro flight just cancelled.
 
flx757 said:
So I guess this blows your "SWA is PFT" argument all to hell. See Ya....:rolleyes:
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Hum? No. You actually helped prove my point. You came from an outfit that wasn't PFT
 
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Big Slick said:
Wanna fly the guppy for 12 hours a day the rest of your life? Here's your 1 in 10 chance. Now if you can just find an extra $8,000 laying around, you'll be all set.

http://www.southwest.com/careers/pilot_open_house.html
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Big slick,

As a SWA Captain, my W-2 for 2005 showed a gross salary of $247,000. $30,000 of it was due to exercizing stock options. Yes, about every other month I did pick up an extra easy turn or two or listed myself for premium pay flying on a few days. Usually I was flying a new -700 which very much reminds me of the 757 I flew at a previous carrier. I enjoyed this pay while probably flying fewer days last year than any other passenger carrying airline pilot not on reserve. Many of my days are only two legs across the country or a one leg BWI-SAN or easy SAN-OAK-SEA. All this with little concern for my job security or worry about being downgraded and while working with happy co-workers. When I check in for a trip I hear talk of fishing trips, new homes, or the congratulations for a guy who's going to upgrade instead of listening to bitching about the next pay give-back or furloughs as my cohorts at most other airlines have to do. My buddy who came over from USAir is even embarrased to tell his friends back at USAir how good it is to fly at SWA because he hates making them feel bad. He just tells them "it's ok". With all this, I have little concern that I fly "the guppy" but another buddy who some years ago also said he didn't want to fly the "guppy" the rest of his life went to UAL even though he could have come to SWA and he now admits he wouldn't care what he flies if he had what I have. He's getting worked to death at 70% my pay rate and wonders what notice he'll find in his mailbox each week he goes to work informing him what benefit he'll have to give up next.
 
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As another SWA Captain I'll add my retirement situation for 2006 for perspective. 401(k)- I'm contributing 11% of my pretax income to the plan. I'll max it out in July or August at $15000. The company contributes at a rate of 7.3% of my pretax income. This will max out in December at $15000 as well. Profit sharing was something like 7.5% last year and this year is shaping up to be just as good or better. I'll estimate my gross earnings for 2006 to be about $210000. At an estimated 7.5% profit sharing rate, another $15750 will be added to my wealth. A total of $45750. The ERISA limit is $44000 this year. I'll get a 415 excess check for the difference and put that into my kids 529 plans.
$44000 this year and about the same last year and so on. PFT expense in 1996 was about $5500. Pretty good ROIC don't you think?
 
Good on ya Mach 80!

I'm very happy here, I'm glad that some of the bashers dont want to work here. SWA is different and for a good reason.

J3
 
Dumb Pilot said:
Hum? No. You actually helped prove my point. You came from an outfit that wasn't PFT
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And wouldn't have to "PFT" to work at SWA. Now, what point is that you are trying to prove again? I think your username is very appropriate in this case.
 
Dumb Pilot said:
Did you have to buy a type as a requirement for them to employ you? If the answer is yes, It is a PFT outfit. If you want to put a spin to it so you can feel better about the monthly payments you are making on the loan. Then OK, it isn't PFT then.
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Dear Dumb, first excellent user name, fits perfect. Second, did you pay for your private pilot certificate? Welcome to your definition of PFT Dum-bass.
 
Dumb Pilot said:
Yes, SWA is a great (PFT) outfit. That is without a doubt.
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Its a choice. So was getting my private, commercial, multi, CFI and ATP. Certainly no guarantees attached to those ratings either. My brother spent 100,000 bucks on med school. He didn't get any guarantees.

Your trying to inflame something that everyone successful does. And thats take a risk on their future.

I'm in my eleventh year and thanks to Southwest Airlines not only do I have an incredible place to work, I am now a millionaire.

Best 5 grand PFT investment in myself I could never imagine.

Good luck to all. Its worth the risk. Something you obviously don't think your worth taking.
 
Is BWI and MCO still considered junior bases a new hire can realistically get?

How long is expected upgrade?

What are realistic salaries as an F/O?

Thanks, in advance!
 
Helos2Galaxy said:
Is BWI and MCO still considered junior bases a new hire can realistically get?

How long is expected upgrade?

What are realistic salaries as an F/O?

Thanks, in advance!
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1) Yes. The June vacancy bid shows brand new FO's going to both BWI and MCO right out of training.

2). I've been here almost a year. I bet I have 6 more years to go. If age 60 goes away, all bets are off.

3) You could make 60K (w/o per diem) as a new hire pretty easy if you're willing to pick up an extra trip or two a month. For new hires, OT pays at the year two rate, so it's a nice incentive.

Going into year 2, I expect to break 100K with maybe an extra trip here and there. Using an average of 100 TFP(which is not anywhere near 100 block time), with the contractual raise in August, I estimate I'll be at about 93K year 2 w/o per diem. HTH.
 

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