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Starting class at SWA in a couple of weeks

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Nothing cosmic brother. If you can show up knowing the boxed items and checked items you'll be miles ahead. After that don't make it hard. Learn what they tell you to learn, listen more than you talk, smile alot ... if you have a SO make sure they come to the first two days, everone seems to enjoy te experience.
 
What IVAUIR said.

No kidding, don't sweat the small stuff. If you can watch the CD that they send you, just once, you will be way ahead. Boxed items and checked limitations. That's about it. Have fun and be professional when you get there. Just finished at the training center and do IOE this week. Training is great, staff is excellent.
 
Significant Other ...

My SO is by no means a Second Officer ... she is a saint for putting up with all my BS over nearly 20 years.

I am reminded, each time I see a posting from a new hire, about the time one of our classmates (the quiet one) in the group got hammered at the first night beer . Wild Turkey fest. He showed up an hour late for the welcome aboard briefing at the school house. The VP of Flight OPS was giving his speech and this guy walks in with his his head bowed waiting for the inevidable dress down. The VP just giggled ... asked him how he was feeling and went on without missing a beat. It should have been one of those 'Priceless Commercials' for Mastercard ? / VISA ?

Best of luck ... get some sleep ... get some exercise and be glad you are learning the new procedures with the -700 as being the base airplane. When I started we had to learn 3 airframes (200, 300/500, 700).
 
1 - 2 - 3 thats all you need
 
PSL said:
Significant Other ...

My SO is by no means a Second Officer ... she is a saint for putting up with all my BS over nearly 20 years.

I am reminded, each time I see a posting from a new hire, about the time one of our classmates (the quiet one) in the group got hammered at the first night beer . Wild Turkey fest. He showed up an hour late for the welcome aboard briefing at the school house. The VP of Flight OPS was giving his speech and this guy walks in with his his head bowed waiting for the inevidable dress down. The VP just giggled ... asked him how he was feeling and went on without missing a beat. It should have been one of those 'Priceless Commercials' for Mastercard ? / VISA ?

Best of luck ... get some sleep ... get some exercise and be glad you are learning the new procedures with the -700 as being the base airplane. When I started we had to learn 3 airframes (200, 300/500, 700).

Amazing, because such behaviour would get you kicked out of F/A training. Something about hooting with the owls and soaring with the eagles comes to mind.

Although I appreciate the story and the way it reflects the warm atmosphere there, I wouldn't put that out as an example of acceptable behavior because the next one might not be so lucky.

I doubt the company wants that type of behavior touted on the internet as being ok either.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of a good party and understanding bosses, but showing up late and hung over for the second day of training is pretty lame.

JMHO

FJ
 
Falconjet said:
Amazing, because such behaviour would get you kicked out of F/A training. ...
Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of a good party and understanding bosses, but showing up late and hung over for the second day of training is pretty lame.

Pilot aren't flight attendants - the training is different too.

That being said I do not advise anyone to show up late for anything. Just beause this guy got away wth doesn't mean you will, but attitude is everything. SWA will forgive all kinds of mistakes, but you need to have a great attitude and NOT LIE. Every story I've heard of someone being fired has involved attitude and or lying.
 
FJ:

I'd say you had to be there to appreciate the story.

Having said that ... you are correct about F/A training. I have heard stories that the door is locked at the report time after breaks and if you aren't in the door you are out. While this type of regimentation has its place, I find it hard to believe a pilot being hired at a major airline needs to be treated this way.

There are enough checks and balances during the background investigation to weed out habitual anti social behavior.

I am sorry you don't find the irony in the above story ... it happened ... it taught me more about our culture in 30 seconds than could have been learned during any lecture.

Look ... the pilot in question obviously realized he partied a bit beyond his means ... he was remorseful and the boss could not have taken a more appropriate response.

The behavior certainly wasn't condoned and is/was not encouraged, but if you are going to crucify a pilot who celebrated (too much during) the happiest professional day of their lives ... you don't get it and probably never will.

Read NUTS ...
 
FJ,

Sounds like you mean well....


But the F/A's are in a competitive environment. It's almost like they are still in the interview. Not all of them will make it.

The pilots are not. But I would never advocate hanging it out like that in training.

Save that for IOE when you can party with the F/As!!!!!
 
Falconjet said:
Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of a good party and understanding bosses, but showing up late and hung over for the second day of training is pretty lame.

JMHO

FJ

Oh I agree, and it wasn't the second day of training.... it was the FIRST DAY (the wild turkey party is the night before day 1 and is a private, non-SWA sponsored party by the previous class.)
 
Wow: I guess I didn't make my point very well. Let me summarize:

I AM ALL FOR PARTYING LIKE ITS 1999!

I realize that pilots and FAs and their training is different. I find it ironic that FAs are locked out if they take a break too casually (true story also, happens every day, and I understand that) while a newhire pilot not even on the list yet gets a pass for showing up late the first day due to too much partying the night before.

I AM OK WITH THAT.

I WOULD NOT POST STORIES ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET.

It is a great tale and I am truely impressed with the culture at SW, that is why I have stated numerous times how much I would love to have worked there (I have read NUTS!, I have been through the interview, and spent 26 months in the pool) and that is one reason why.

They seem to have to have a great culture and one that I would have loved to be a part of. I wouldn't encourage other newhires to try to VP's patience with similar antics however. I would say the the guy dodged a potential bullet.

That is all I meant, sorry if it was misconstrued.

FJ
 
Ok, forget the comparison to FAs. I wasn't in any way trying to equate the training or the career paths of FAs and pilots.

Partying hard and showing up on time is honorable. Partying and showing up late is lame. Good on the VP for being understanding. Great company.

It is still a story I would keep off the internet if it were me.

FJ
 
Falconjet said:
Partying hard and showing up on time is honorable. Partying and showing up late is lame. Good on the VP for being understanding. Great company.

It is still a story I would keep off the internet if it were me.

I totally agree and I work at SWA.
 
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