SWA Feb Decision Board...

[Swerpipe]

The opposite is true

They (SWA) grew to greatness on the backs of pilots who were hired during times that allowed most of the "top guns" of the world to go to what we now call legacy carriers.

Hey Calvin,

You make is sound like Southwest built itself while hiring a bunch of unqualified clowns but the opposite is true. Southwest has always had one of the higher hiring minimums and a more selective hiring process than most of the Legacy carriers. Can you tell me which Legacy has had higher minimums than SWA and what they were? What I had heard in the 90s was complaint by many pilots about how high the Southwest hiring minimums were. There have been many furloughed Legacy pilots that did not meet the SWA mins when they were out of a job after 9-11.

 

[Pseuodopod]

Hey Calvin,

You make is sound like Southwest built itself while hiring a bunch of unqualified clowns but the opposite is true. Southwest has always had one of the higher hiring minimums and a more selective hiring process than most of the Legacy carriers. Can you tell me which Legacy has had higher minimums than SWA and what they were? What I had heard in the 90s was complaint by many pilots about how high the Southwest hiring minimums were. There have been many furloughed Legacy pilots that did not meet the SWA mins when they were out of a job after 9-11.

All I can offer you is my own experience. Prior to 9/11, most of the pilots I knew/talked to/overheard/heard about who were getting out of the Air Force and heading to the airlines, looked upon SWA as a second-rate option. I distinctly remember, in Aug 01, an instructor of mine who was planning on leaving the Air Force soon, lament over the fact that America, Delta, and United had not yet called him for an interview. I asked him what he was going to do. He mentioned that, oh by the way, he had been hired by SWA but that he would probably end up staying in the Air Force a while longer instead of going there. I honestly cannot remember anyone during that time period being excited about the prospect of going to SWA.

 

[Swerpipe]

I have heard that too

Pseudopod,

I agree with you. Southwest didn't used to be as attractive before. However, that didn't mean they were not selective. They were selective by their mins(1000 pic turbine), type rating and process. Before, they did not have as many jobs to offer (i.e 400/yr). Rejection letters back then didn't cause an uproar. Now, they feel that preserving their culture is of paramount importance, even more so than before, given their size.

 

[SWA/FO]

I distinctly remember, in Aug 01, an instructor of mine who was planning on leaving the Air Force soon, lament over the fact that America, Delta, and United had not yet called him for an interview

A common Military belief, "what the @^ck! I just applied last week - how come they have not called yet?". I think, there might be some unit pressure, from the squadron buddies to follow the leader. I have heard many stories about ex-mil guys, now captains at SWA on how their budddies laughed at them for coming to Southwest. These same people are now full-time guard flyers.

Rejection letters back then didn't cause an uproar. Now, they feel that preserving their culture is of paramount importance, even more so than before, given their size.

TRUE, the interview team and I, will make sure we preserve the culture!

 

[Benhuntn]

I am happy to work at SWA, build my night/instrument time and wait to get on with a major...Then life will be really good. I will fly 10 hrs a month and make huge bucks. Can I get an AMEN SWA/FO?

 

[SWA/FO]

AMEN! Brother, see you on the golf course! 150 block hours a year.

 

[:-)]

Hey Calvin,

You make is sound like Southwest built itself while hiring a bunch of unqualified clowns but the opposite is true. Southwest has always had one of the higher hiring minimums and a more selective hiring process than most of the Legacy carriers. Can you tell me which Legacy has had higher minimums than SWA and what they were? What I had heard in the 90s was complaint by many pilots about how high the Southwest hiring minimums were. There have been many furloughed Legacy pilots that did not meet the SWA mins when they were out of a job after 9-11.

Hey Swerpipe, let me repost the verbage in question.

"They (SWA) grew to greatness on the backs of pilots who were hired during times that allowed most of the "top guns" of the world to go to what we now call legacy carriers. I know of very few pilots who put SWA on top of their list during the 80's and 90's. Most of the "best" wanted to be able to fly whales international (insert any of a number of cool/high paying types of flying) at some point in their career and considered SWA nothing more than a commuter that flew narrowbodies."

A careful read should show that I did not accuse SWA of hiring "unqualified clowns". I stated the obvious, and I'll state it again. Most pilots did not place SWA on the top of their list prior to 2001.

Also notice that I places quotes around best and topguns in an effort to indicate that those words are subject to question. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

Here's the relevant point. SWA achieved success with the pilots they hired in those times. Read this carefully please........I'M DEFENDING THE PILOTS HIRED IN THE PAST. I'm giving them credit for creating, or at least helping to create, a successful organization. I'm questioning the concept that the HR controlled hiring processes used by a lot of other carriers do actually identify the best pilot/employee.

Now, I have a question for you. When did the PD take over the hiring process? In short, I'm suggesting that the core of the SWA pilot group was hired using a different process than the one in use today.

Why change a successful process? What's wrong with pilots hiring pilots?

It's late, maybe I'll add more later.

 

[Swerpipe]

Not run by pilots anymore?

Now, I have a question for you. When did the PD take over the hiring process? In short, I'm suggesting that the core of the SWA pilot group was hired using a different process than the one in use today.

Why change a successful process? What's wrong with pilots hiring pilots?

Hey Calvin,
I get your point now. But why do you say the process is not run by pilots? I just interviewed in Jan and my impression is that the process is largely dominated by pilots. I had 1 out of 3 interviews wth an HR guy and the rest including the LOI were pilots. So, at the end of the day 1 out of 5 people pitching in would be pilots. Given, if I bombed my interview with the HR guy I would be in trouble. How is it an HR process? Finally, the DB (most of them CPs) is also a pilot dominated process! I felt like the interview team really wanted me to succeed. If I don't make it in I'll blame myself because I know I wasn't perfect and I can see how I could have done better in many of the questions and/or the LOI (hindsight helping me now). I waited 4 years for the interview and if I don't make it in I'll be back. By the way, if I don't make it in I'll think that the pilots, not HR ,turned me down.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

All I can offer you is my own experience. Prior to 9/11, most of the pilots I knew/talked to/overheard/heard about who were getting out of the Air Force and heading to the airlines, looked upon SWA as a second-rate option.

Really???? Well, from my experience, all the T-43 guys I knew were talking about nothing else but SWA. Including a few I knew from Casino Express, some from America West....all Air Force guys who were well thought of in their squadrons...

Tejas

 

['72Gremlin]

If I recall, eight years ago, SWA guaranteed that they would interview all of their applicants. Was it just too easy to get a job at SWA, and people were holding out for a "higher-paying, more benefits, legacy job?" Times have changed.

 

[SWA/FO]

Or did they just want to interview everyone to get all the right people? There is more to life then money, a lot of furloughed folks are learning that everyday.

 

[Fly_Navy146]

Any updates to the board meeting date? Heard the 15th now which would be on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure the board meeting in January was on a Wednesday too.

 

[knelson]

Jan board was for 2 months worth of interviews, so it actually ran 2 days, Wed and Thur. Feb 16 (Thur) is last I heard for Feb board. Good luck!

 

[unwashed]

I don't know if that is correct. I know a person who interviewed about the 20th of Dec that was not included in the Jan board. He will be in the Feb board.

 

[Fly_Navy146]

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Today's the Date......good luck everybody.
Cheers