Southwest Hiring...

[SELFloadingCRGO]

Seems like only a few months ago I was telling you guys that SWA was more likely to furlough in '09 than start draining the pool. From what my buddy tells me, SWA won't be back up to 2008 seat levels until well into 2011 maybe even the start of 2012. I imagine SWA hiring will start in 2012. That's what my friend is saying anyway.

Wow...can you ask your buddy what short term stocks I should buy in the next 2-3 years? He should sell this ability to look into the future.

Also, is he the one telling you SWA is overstaffed by 500 pilots? I'd like to know where you got that number.


SLC

 

[Tanker Clown]

My buddy told me that number. He was a big wig in your union a few years ago and is has some real tight ties with the leadership in Dallas. I also have a couple of check airman friends that have pretty much heard the same thing on different trips though the big D.

 

[Scope out RJ's]

So is sticking your head in the sand.

What about sticking your head up the colonel's ass?
Isn't it about time for his nightly coffee and foot massage?

 

[The Prussian]

Check your radars on...couple of big turd floaters out there...

 

[contrail67]

Source?

Does any one on here ever have a source????

 

[FR8dognit]

We may be over staffed...but I have been JA'd once and VJA'd a total of 4 times in the last 2 months. A matter of people not wanting to work certain times...maybe...I do know we are a bit heavy on pilots right now....But not 500 heavy.

 

[Tanker Clown]

He was saying around 250-300 over staffed now. And after the scheduled cuts in the fall, then that number close to doubles. Will there be further cuts to the schedule? That's where it will get ugly.

 

[Colonel Savage]

My buddy told me that number. He was a big wig in your union a few years ago and is has some real tight ties with the leadership in Dallas. I also have a couple of check airman friends that have pretty much heard the same thing on different trips though the big D.

Hear that, SELF? The Clown has a buddy that was a bigwig in the Big D union!

 

[Super Monkey]

This message is hidden because Tanker Clown is on your ignore list.

 

[Widow's Son]

SWA will hire again the day after a competitor craters. Which could be tomorrow, or the next day, or years from now. I am thinking more sooner than later.

 

[The Victors]

We may be over staffed...but I have been JA'd once and VJA'd a total of 4 times in the last 2 months. A matter of people not wanting to work certain times...maybe...I do know we are a bit heavy on pilots right now....But not 500 heavy.

Agreed. I don't buy this "overstaffed" crap. I've been called for vja and ja last weekend and this weekend. I had a reserve line in april (bid it like an idiot) and they flew my ass off. Ended up with 98.5 flying hours. So maybe swa would rather have 100 or so less pilots on property, but I wouldn't expect any furloughs. GK might be shortsighted, but not stupid. btw, did anyone catch in the new TA that all/any open time is paid at 1.5 tfp with any pilots on furlough? Think that might be a little bit expensive vs money saved furloughing 100 guys??

 

[FlyinGuy]

Overstaffed....yes
Furloughs....I doubt it! (possible fear for TA passage)
RNP training starts in the Fall and that will neutralize the fall schedule reduction.....
So we will continue at the approx 300 overstaffed for about 1.5-2 years....unless....well something changes.

 

[RedDogC130]

they tried to JA me today....

 

[SELFloadingCRGO]

He was saying around 250-300 over staffed now. And after the scheduled cuts in the fall, then that number close to doubles. Will there be further cuts to the schedule? That's where it will get ugly.

Your buddy better check that magic 8-ball. Like FlyinGuy said we have RNP training starting in the fall and that will mitigate some of the overstaffing. Guess he forgot to tell you that...


SLC

 

[texman]

Lampshade your source is wrong.

The "furloughs" rumor is a gross exaggeration on our current level of staffing, which would be "overstaffed" according to many respectable sources. I can't remember where I saw it, but we're probably overstaffed by 300 or so pilots if you do the math.

In an airline with about 6000 pilots, that's not that big of a number, and when you aren't really losing any (or much) money, furloughs would be hard to justify. Also, our current contract has some flexibility as far as hard line block time (compared to a bunch of legacy carriers), and there are many methods of dealing with massive overstaffing that are easier for all than furloughs, so I don't think we need to worry about furloughs at SWA unless things get horribly bad.

I kinda wonder the motives behind the people who started this rumor... and it's not just flamebait on FI. I'll be optimistic and say they're just ignorant and misinformed.

Yea have to agree. Were 300 fat. I know because i am of one of them. I was told during the 9 month review, RNP training kicks in this fall we will be 150 Fat. hope for the best.