Southwest "Poolie" calls are going out

[Full of LUV]

Personally, I read "Nuts!" but only made it through about 3/4 of it because the rah-rah stuff seemed a little hard to believe. Then I read "Hard Landing" and got a more objective picture of the industry that I aspired to, and it substantiated a lot of the claims that I thought were a little too good to be true in "Nuts!". And that is why (in 2000, when everyone was hiring) I moved SWA from the bottom of my wish list to the very top. When I got the call I was hired (June 2000, class date in 2001), I tore up the United application I had been working on, and canceled the Northwest interview I had coming up. I held on to the American interview 'til the second day of class, then I called them up and left a message that I wouldn't be there - and then handed my phone to another classmate of mine to tell them the same thing, lol. True story.

Fraternally,
PapaWoody

PS SWA has lived up to every one of my expectations. It really is a great place to work.

I agree, "hard landings" is a great book to read about the history of the industry especially just prior and during deregulation.
Ironically, I think SWA doesn't even follow the "nuts!" formula anymore, so it is just a historical perspective as well.
Flying the line 1 and 2 are great reviews of the airline industry from way back to the beginnings of mail carriers through todays present majors. Won't be helpful for any interview, but is an interesting read, especially if your not convinced that a union had a place in the pilot profession.

 

[FR8dognit]

Heard the same thing Chase said from two different sources today.

Hope to see lots of new faces very soon.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I wonder if Jake the Bachelor is one of the turned down few. I heard on the radio this morning that he is back flying at "DELTA".

 

[Bigoober]

I don't think he came back to reinterview but that is partly conjecture on my part.

 

[Quiet Flight]

I don't think he came back to reinterview but that is partly conjecture on my part.

We'll know soon enough. Class rosters will be published soon.

 

[ivauir]

Great news!

 

[ultrarunner]

...Our training program is designed around pilots who are already typed. It will be interesting to see how they handle the 737 pilots.

So....hmmm.....

You're saying that some new-hire guy with a brand new 73 type and ZERO time in the plane would fair better in training than a Tranny FO with plenty of line-experience in type?

I'm thinking that Tranny FO should handle your 'type-rating-designed-training-program' just fine...

What am I missing?

 

[ivauir]

So....hmmm.....

You're saying that some new-hire guy with a brand new 73 type and ZERO time in the plane would fair better in training than a Tranny FO with plenty of line-experience in type?

I'm thinking that Tranny FO should handle your 'type-rating-designed-training-program' just fine...

What am I missing?

Ultra,

My point is simply that the FAA approved our training syllabus based on certain prerequisites. I certainly don't mean any slander, or to diminish anyone's skills or experience. I'm sure that whatever they come up with will be no big deal for the AirTran pilots, I was commenting more about hot it will be different from how it is done now, and I'm curious how they will choose to do it.

Sorry if I offended anyone - not my intent.

 

[737tanker]

ivauir
When the Morris pilots came over some of them came without the 737 type. The training for all the Morris pilot and all new hires was the same. In fact most new hire classes during that period, and my class was one of them, had 6 Morris pilots per class and by the way training was done you couldn't tell the difference. From talking with an instructor the current plan is to have all the AirTran pilots go through the full new hire training. But things can change in 2 years.

 

[nightfr8er]

The good news calls are indeed going out today! I got mine! Wooo-hoooo! See everbody in DAL Jan 12!!!!

 

[ivauir]

ivauir
When the Morris pilots came over some of them came without the 737 type. The training for all the Morris pilot and all new hires was the same. In fact most new hire classes during that period, and my class was one of them, had 6 Morris pilots per class and by the way training was done you couldn't tell the difference. From talking with an instructor the current plan is to have all the AirTran pilots go through the full new hire training. But things can change in 2 years.

I'm not so sure our current POI will be so gentle.

 

[Whataburger]

I agree, "hard landings" is a great book to read about the history of the industry especially just prior and during deregulation.

What's up with reading airplane books on days off?

Read a real man's book:

"Tommyland"

You're welcome!

 

[Bigoober]

The good news calls are indeed going out today! I got mine! Wooo-hoooo! See everbody in DAL Jan 12!!!!

Congrats, fr8er! I should be in the group hosting your party. See you then.

 

[TZtoSWA]

Congratulations to the new hires. However... I hope you do realize that you will possibly be stuck in the junior base for a very long time (OAK now but may be ATL after the SLI but who knows for sure). If you choose not to live there, the long term commute to the junior base for one of our real choice junior reserve schedules can wear you and your family down. There has been lots of good news cool aid spewed out on here about growth, SL movment, etc. Right now though, things are still very stagnant and there are a lot of variables that can affect our collective futures.

 

[Flyarcticcat]

I would say that they will not be stuck in the junior bases as long as the guys that are currently sitting there. Age 65 will have less than 2 years left by the time the next new hires hit the line so with no growth we will hire more for retirements then. I am hoping for more growth sooner than that.