SWA 6 July F/O class

[Skeet Shooter]

Has anyone received a call for the 6 July class?

 

[Buzzed]

I just got the "call" today and I'm jumpin' for joy! I am off to Higher Power soon to get the type.

Take care and congrats to all the SWA newhires. Sounds like the pool is drying up!

-Buzzed

P.S. Interviewd on May 16th, hired today.

 

[Captain Overs]

Buzzed,


Are you saying you got the interview without the type?

 

[Tank68]

got the call also

Just got the call today. Interviewed 17 May. Kim said 6 July is possible. Congrates Buzzed, hope to see you in Dallas soon. Doin the LUV dance!!!!!!

 

[miles otoole]

Buzzed,


Are you saying you got the interview without the type?

No, I think he meant that he was going back to HPA to do his type over. You missed the logic bus, huh?

 

[SWA GUY]

Way to go Buzzed! Now hurry along to class!

 

[Buzzed]

Yeah man! It is possible to get the job without the type. I have a couple of buddies who have done it too!

-Buzzed

P.S. Fly safe!

 

[Buzzed]

Thanks SWA GUY!

-Buzzed

P.S. LUV that paintjob! Can't wait to fly Shamu!

:')

 

[Juvat]

Congrats guys! See you when you get here. You're gonna luv it.

 

[JetFumes]

How does SWA pass on guys with types, PIC time, and years of experience to get to these guys? Nepotism, affirmative action and all that entails, what?

 

[Hooch]

Keep 'em coming...!

Congrats fellas! It really is the best job on the planet.

Now take what little time there is between now and class to enjoy the important things in life...foremost your family, but perhaps a good trout stream, a ride through the mountains on a softail Harley, or catch up on reading anything OTHER than B737 related material. There is more than enough time in DAL to take care of that stuff. Know the memory items going down there...the rest you will absorb at the training center.

Clear skies, smooth air & tailwinds,

Hooch

 

[miles otoole]

How does SWA pass on guys with types, PIC time, and years of experience to get to these guys? Nepotism, affirmative action and all that entails, what?

A bit more than raw time matters here. If that weren't the case, fighter pilots wouldn't be very qualified.

If you really want to be here, you might want to be excited for those who have gone before ye. Your time will come-please don't be bitter about what you don't see. The PD know what they are doing.

 

[jhill]

How does SWA pass on guys with types, PIC time, and years of experience to get to these guys? Nepotism, affirmative action and all that entails, what?

You missed attitude, personality and character

 

[Tank68]

I am Herb's love child, but I am sure that has nothing to do with getting the call.

 

[Buzzed]

Tank, Jhill, Miles, Hooch, Juvat... You guys rock! Can't wait to work with you!

-Buzzed

P.S. Thanks for the encouragement and enthusiasm!

P.S.S. Jhill, LUV your post!

 

[Skeet Shooter]

Buzzed and tank68 - welcome to the pool.

Now that all the back-slappin' and "atta-boys" have been issued, let me ask
Buzzed and Tank68 a question for clarification: did ya'll OFFICIALLY get assigned to the 6 July class, or were you told "probably"?

I'm very interested in anyone who has been called to be in the 6 July class. I interviewed in November and have been a poolie since January (due to AF commitments) but can finally start in the 6 July class. PD usually calls to fill classes NET a month prior. So....do you have an official slot or is it just a maybe?

 

[Captain Overs]

Congrats to the new guys who were hired. I have many friends at SWA who "Luv" it. I'm sure you will as well.

 

[Tank68]

Kim said a 6 July class was possible. I still have to have the background check, the drug test, and try to get the paper work done to get out of the AF. So as far as I am concerned I have not been offered any class slot yet. But I LUV being in the pool!!!!!!

 

[johnny taliban]

You missed attitude, personality and character

The PD folks can tell all that just by looking at someone's resume? Please, Capt Overs asked a legitimate question. It is possible to have a good attitude AND question how SWA determines what canditates to call for an interview. Obviously there are many who have been waiting a long time for a shot with SWA and are simply frustrated. When someones "percieved" qualifications are less then what is normally posted on this board it makes some of us wonder if the phone will ever ring. Having said that, congrats to Buzz. Anyone who flew the Lear 24 has got my respect.

Johnny

 

[ivauir]

How does SWA pass on guys with types, PIC time, and years of experience to get to these guys? Nepotism, affirmative action and all that entails, what?

It is rare for guys to interview without the type these days, but it is hard to tell from someone's flightinfo profile what their qualifications really are.

I'd love to counter all of your charges, but the fact is ... we don't have the facts. I know you are frustrated by the wait, but however the machinations of the hiring department work, they work for us. Focus on what you can do to become a better candidate and improve your resume. I think SWA has done a great job of interviewing and hiring a wide cross section of pilots. I know that the folks in the PD work very hard to make it fair while serving the hiring needs of the company. But I won't begin to claim it is perfect or perfectly fair. Instead of lashing out at the soon to be new hires, why not ask for their stats? How about it guys? If you don't mind would you tell us:

Total Time
Turbine PIC
737 type
737 hours
airplanes flown
military?
check airman?
Application Date
Interview date
Any other qualiification you have that might have swung things in your favor

Thanks

 

[flynlow]

I know there were several untyped pilots there during the day I interviewed. Most if not all of them were furloughed ATA guys. On the positive side there is a relatively small number of furloughed ATA guys/gals.

 

[Tank68]

Total time: 3600
PIC jet: 2000
737 type @ HP: Oct 04
Application date: July 04
All military time
2 months at AA in the 727 FE program never hit the line
Stan/eval and instructor in KC135


I know there are guys out there with better numbers, can't tell you why I was picked to interview or why they called me over others. It seems to me military guys sometimes have an advantage in the jet PIC time over civil guys. From what I understand that is the big ticket item now. Good luck to jetfumes and everyone else in this business, I think we can all relate to being frustrated at one time or another in this crazy process.

 

[BunsenHoneydew]

Called today. Here are my numbers. Hope it helps.

Total Time - 4500
Turbine PIC - all but 80
737 type - No (Scheduled for real soon ...even sooner now that I got the call)
737 hours - 0
airplanes flown - see profile
military - Yes
check airman - Yes (Mil only)
Application Date - Nov 2004
Interview date - May 2005
Furloughed ATA

Feel extremely lucky and fortunate to have had the opportunity to fly with all of the great folks at ATA.......even if it was way to short. Good Luck to everyone over there and "THANK YOU!!" for all of the great experiences.

BH

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Those of you fearing nepotism and other shenanigans at SWA...It might happen but is FAR less a player at SWA than anywhere else. IMHO

These non-typed folks were check airman in the military. You commonly get very good supervisory roles and are on the fast track if you are one of those. You are being groomed for bigger and better things. These folks are more than likely EXTREMELY sharp with the resume to prove it.

That said I don't pretend military folks are better than civil. Just different. We are typically older (more captain like) with fewer hours and often have varied experiences that look good to SWA.

While I don't know SWA's actual hiring process I believe they like to get a mix of 121, corporate and military. Maybe its just a mix of civilian vs. military. In the civilian group the competition may be very different. Military folks are choosing to stay in right now and the pool of uninterviewed applicants may be shrinking.

I know its tough out there, but I'm sure your turn will come at SWA.

 

[JetFumes]

Sorry guys, I truly am happy for those getting the call. I myself do not have the type yet, so I'm not worried about myself. I just know many guys and gals, both military to civilian, and civilian only, who have lots of turbine PIC time and types, who can't even get a call. Maybe some of them have black marks I don't know about, like a dui in their past. Anyways, there just doesn't seem to be a set formula, which I guess can be a good thing.

 

[Skeet Shooter]

Thanks ivauir for guiding this thread in a more constructive direction.

Here are my "stats":
Total Time - 2500
Turbine PIC - 2000
737 type - yes, HPA June/July 04
737 hours - 0
airplanes flown - check bio
military? - y
check airman? - n
Application Date - July 04
Interview date - Nov 04
Hire date - Jan 04 (waiting to expire AF commitment to start)
Any other qualiification you have that might have swung things in your favor - in my opinion (nothing official), being a U-2 pilot helped. We have a disproportionate amount of former drivers in SWA and they seem to be happy with us (despite our character flaws). Also, I am young, and in my opinion that may have helped. Although the app doesn't ask for your age, they could easily figure it out (by looking at college grad date, etc.). In my opinion, if someone has the minimum hours, and solid, challenging experience, then being young is a bonus. I mean heck, I'm going to be giving SWA 30 years of service! We both win big time in this deal!

Now from the PD I've heard official statements such as, "95% of those that get called for an interview already have the type rating. Those that don't are typically ATA or USAir pilots". Also, I've heard them say that they DO try to keep a mix of military/civilian, and sometimes one group will be favored as waves and cycles occur over time.

I often wake up at night and wonder if I'm dreaming and if they really did hire me. I don't know why - but they did. I wish I could shed more light on their logic and processes, but that's all I know.

Best of luck to those who are waiting for the call!!!

Tank, bunsonhoney, and buzzed - let the pool party begin! Come on in boys, the water is fine!

 

[scate737]

Im one of those "low time guys" that was called for the interview as well. What happens from here remains to be seen, but I am excited and thankful for the opportunity. Its obvious that there are a ton of extremely experienced guys out there that deserve the call, I can only tell you my numbers and wish everyone luck.

TT - 3050
Turb. PIC 1630 at the time of the call
737 type - Dec 02
737 - 700 (590 pic)
737 Eval/Stan pilot
Military mostly
707 Tanker Capt. on the side
app. date Dec 04 (12 mos from discharge date)
int. date 13 June

I dont know what the special ingredient is in the recipe. I have been to HPA a couple of times since my type and got a chance to talk with some of the PD folks, maybe part of it is name recognition. I will say this: dont be shy about calling the PD if you have a legitimate question about the process. I have done this and they are helpful and seem genuinely happy to talk to you despite their workload.

Good luck to ya all.

Scate

 

[miles otoole]

Those of you fearing nepotism and other shenanigans at SWA...It might happen but is FAR less a player at SWA than anywhere else. IMHO

Not sure what your definition of nepotism is, but if it is simply showing favoritism toward a family member who is qualified, then yes, it is alive at WN. With most things being equal, WN likes to hire qualified family members. Why shouldn't they and why should it be seen as "shenanigans?" Should they give the nod to a qualified family member versus someone "more qualified?" Is someone with 1,500 PIC and 5,000 hours of right seat 121 737 time, but no 737 type less qualified than a 1,500 hour military centerline thrust, 737 typed guy?
A 737 type might show commitment, but more commitment/desire to work at WN than a son/daughter of a 25 year WN pilot? No, I wasn't one, but I believe they should all go to the head of the line once meeting hiring mins. They are after all, the family airline. Haven't you seen the TV series?

 

[Buzzed]

My numbers:

6037 TT
5000 Multi
1010 B-737-800
1900 Multi-PIC Turbine (1374 121 PIC)
Close to 5-years at a 121-regional (Left Coast)
10 LOR's (4 Internal from SWA buddies)
ATA Furlough (Almost made it 2-years)
8-Years USAF (Enlisted)
BS in Aeronautics
No Type yet (But studying for it)
The Lord on my side too!

What can I say? I feel blessed! I still can't believe it, but I do know this; If you really, really want it, then make it happen. Persistance and determination is the key. Look at me! I'm 37 and it's my 7th job in aviation and it finally happened!

Fly safe!

-Buzzed

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Not sure what your definition of nepotism is, but if it is simply showing favoritism toward a family member who is qualified, then yes, it is alive at WN. With most things being equal, WN likes to hire qualified family members. Why shouldn't they and why should it be seen as "shenanigans?" Should they give the nod to a qualified family member versus someone "more qualified?" Is someone with 1,500 PIC and 5,000 hours of right seat 121 737 time, but no 737 type less qualified than a 1,500 hour military centerline thrust, 737 typed guy?
A 737 type might show commitment, but more commitment/desire to work at WN than a son/daughter of a 25 year WN pilot? No, I wasn't one, but I believe they should all go to the head of the line once meeting hiring mins. They are after all, the family airline. Haven't you seen the TV series?

If you aren't a family member at FedEx or UPS just try getting an interview without being walked in to the Chief Pilot. FedEx has a pilot board BEFORE the interview. Try getting an interview at JetBlue without a Blue Dart.

That is not how things are done at SWA. Recommendations are given after the interview is scheduled.