Southwest Airlines Training

[SkiMoguls]

This post is for past and present pilots that are in class in DAL or have been through training that can offer their training experiences and advice for us waiting for a class date.

I, like many others this month have gotten the call to continue and would like to know quite a few things before we start our new careers with Southwest. Some of the questions that I'd like to have answered are... how long training is in DAL? How long after you are finished training, are you given an IOE line? Are you paid a guarantee while in class? I know it's Monday-Friday after the first week, but am pretty vague as to any details. Do they invite your family to come with you the first day of school? So when you got the call from the PD department for a tentative class date, did you let your company know right away so that you could have some time off before you went to training? Do you need this time off to start studying? Does the training department send you your books before you get there? Did anything happen that made you say to yourself "I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS GOOD!" while you were there. And lastly, but not necessarily the most important, when is happy hour at "The Cockpit"?

If I didn't think of something that you would like to mention, or have answered, post it here.

Let's keep this post fresh on the first page simply by adding your thoughts and experiences of when you went through class. Thank all of you ahead of time for your posts, advice, and thoughts/experiences and contributions!

I hope to see you on the line soon. I can't wait to get there! Truly a dream coming to fruition...

 

[airlinepilot]

Training

Training is about 6 weeks...depends on the sim schedule. IOE for most people was with 5 to 6 days of finishing your loft (loft is usually day after your sim check. Pay while in training is basically $3000 a month. The wife (or significant other) is invited for the first two days(leave the kids at home). The training department will send you a CD with the memory items, limitations walk around and I think flows...checklist. If you learn all that stuff you will be more than ready. The course is really "cooperate and graducate"...just do what you are told.

 

[Flying Freddie]

Just do what you are told. Sorta like being married.

 

[TexaSWA]

...when is happy hour at "The Cockpit"?

24/7/365

 

[SkiMoguls]

Training ...to be continued

This is a compilation of guys who have posted before and have been through training.

Tidbit for SWA New Hires



For those of you guys/gals just finishing up. "This is technique only," but if you don't happen to get your first choice of base you may want to consider the following. Imagine you wanted MDW for August (because you live there), but you got OAK(because it's junior). If your schedule allowed you could try to have a MDW trip overlap as far as possible into August, causing a potential overlap problem, and potentially one less commute to OAK. This must be done sometime prior to the award of the August lines (probably 12 July).



Where do you get this MDW trip?

Ideally, if you were lucky enough to get MDW as a temporary base for July, you would attempt to use LITT to move one of your July trips as far to the right as possible.



If you're not that lucky, you'd need to pick-up (from TT/GA) in MDW. As previously mentioned the longer/higher block the trip the better. However, don't overlook the trips in GA by fellow probationary pilots. If you're able to pick-up a trip from a probationary pilot, that pilot is then open to picking up some 2nd year pay, a favor that will definitely be appreciated.



This "technique" can be used until your assigned base is your first pick. Therefore guys desiring someplace like Dallas or MCO can get alot more mileage out of this "technique" than someone wanting OAK or BWI.



The hotel is paid for by the company. Uniforms vary depending on what you order. You have to order 3 pair of slacks, $79each, eppilets(sp)$12, blazer $179, leather jacket (optional, but you will want to get it) $350. Purdy Neat bags are roughly $270 and the duffel is an additional $50. You can payroll deduct the uniforms. I think it comes out to $30 per paycheck until the balance is paid off.



The first week of class you go M-S. After that it is M-F. the instructors will work with the class to let you out early on Fridays so folks can go home. (Start early and work through lunch)



BTW, you will spend more money on $1 beers at the bar than you do on anything else. Bring a spare liver and get ready for some fun. This place is great. All the food at the hotel is %50 off too.



Get some B-737-300 panel posters before you go. Just do a search on the WWW like I did. I picked up some posters from AvSoft for about $22. It helped a great deal during class. The compnay will provide a 737-700 poster, however. I thought it a great deal easier to look at it during class to reference the panels while the instructor spoke. Also, get the PASS cards get the PASS cards get the PASS cards!!!! I swear to you guys. That was the ticket. I had most of the cards memorized by class and it was really all you'll need to pass the oral, really. They are that thorough. Get them. I have no affiliation to pansmith, however his cards helped a great deal.



I got hired March 1st, and I think my first paycheck was on the 20th. About $1500 take home, but then it goes to around $1300 take home every 5th and 20th after deductions kick in. Once you are online, you can work as much as you want, plus you get 5-600 in per diem. The 20th check includes per diem and any over time from the previous month. May was my first month online earning more than training pay, so just a couple days ago I got my first payday of more than the $1300 take home. Many new hires will have to do a month in OAK like I did, but some will get BWI right out of the gates. BWI is very junior and expanding, OAK isn't really expanding. For July I could hold OAK, BWI, MDW, or PHX but not MCO, HOU, or DAL. I did the "green line" in OAK in May, just one month of reserve (15 days off) in BWI in June, and a hard line (Blank line, but a line nonetheless) in BWI with 18 days off in July.

There are computers in the training center you can use on breaks. You could get by without a laptop but you'd probably like it better if you had one. The hotel was starting to put high speed access into the rooms when I left in April. Bring a car if you can. Bar food is semi expensive and really slow, and you can't walk anywhere.

Medical stuff - You and your family are immediately covered on some kind of a "basic plan" from day one. I forget all the details, but it's not all that great. This goes on for 30 days. During your first month, you will fill out all your election forms for various benefits. I pretty much maxed everything to the hilt and pay around 100 bucks a month for everything. The good coverage kicks in after your first month. Hope this helps! Welcome aboard, everyone.



Training pay is 3600 per month before tax. Pretty tough to call that "training" pay if you ask me. Everything is great.