SWA ground school question

[Turbojet]

SWA sent me the packet with CD ROM and Memory items and limitations. I was wondering for those who have just been through the course, to what level should these things be studied before going to class. Is there a quiz on them when we go through the door or is it just to give a head start for the busy schedule? I am studying and I will be prepared, I guess I am just more curious than anything.

What can I expect as far as testing throughout ground training?

Thanks,
TJ

 

[chase]

Turbojet,


Haven't been through new hire training in awhile but I'm not aware of any test on entry to see how much you have studied. The program was put in place (the CD rom) originally to give a head start to the poolies sometime ago that had been away from flying for some time to get them back into the books. It has become the standard now & studying it ahead of time will make the process easier for you. This is a "big boy/girl" approach....sounds like you are taking the right approach, studying it, reviewing it & becoming familiar with it. Congrats on your selection & to the other folks also...SWA is fortunate to have so many good folks coming to us with many different backgrounds...again congrats.

 

[J3CubCapt]

The Cd is only a headsup. There will be no test on the material upon your arrival. All of the material will be covered in due time during groundscool.

Limitations
Memory Items
Call outs
Checklist responces
Flows
Profiles

These are the big items for training. Anything you can do before you get there will be gravy.

J3

 

[Turbojet]

Thanks alot guys!

I would rather enjoy my family this weekend, rather that hide in the office going over the CD rom. Cant wait to hit the books hard in the comming weeks though.

Cheers,
TJ

 

[Indapool]

What you need to know when you arrive in DAL....NOTHING!



What you need to know after 6 weeks of initial...



How to get the 1/2/3

How to get ALL of your beer paid for while on probation

How to avoidance bid the Kernals

How to work ELITT like a pro

How to fly 70 hours and get paid for 150 trips

How to NOT answer the phone when it is "unavailable" or "out of area"



But seriously..



*Limitations..you won't need to memorize all of them..your new hire handout will tell you which ones you need to know. Having a working knowledge of the others is helpful but you WILL NOT be required to regurgitate them



*QRH...know the BOXED items cold



*Call outs..it's a script ..EASY



*Checklist Responses..will take a few hours and a 12 pack to memorize them..knowing the Capt responses will make your life easier in the sims



*Flows..have them down cold prior to entering the sim..this ensures adequate time for beer drinking



*Profiles..Know where you need to be, when you need to get there and how your going to do it..Don't sweat it...They will spend plenty of time teaching you how SWA wants it done



DO NOT spend on inordinate amount of time studying before you go to initial.



You will have MORE THAN ENOUGH time to get up to speed. You WILL NOT need to build the 737 at any time.



Get a good handle on these items during your initial 6 weeks and that’s all you need.



Above all make sure you devote a large percentage of time drinking beer and having a good time with your classmates.



I'm not kidding...They will tell you exactly what you need to know. It isn't a test..you already passed that..your on the property..have a good time.

It's like this...When you are in ground school...talking to your classmates..and your all astonished that the instrucors are telling you "THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR CHECKRIDE" and you are all wondering if that is really all you need to know..IT IS! If you want to be able to build the 737 good on ya! But nobody will ask you to do it.


And ALWAYS remember...Cooperate & Graduate

 

[tytl]

Great post, thanks. Can you explain what these two items are?
"Avoidance bid the Kernals" and "Work ELITT like a pro". Do they have to do with the bidding process?

Thanks,
tytl

 

[mach zero]

ELITT - Enhanced Line Improvement Trip Trade. Part of our bidding system that allows you to trade your trips for what might be another trip that is more desirable. There are lots of rules for using it that I won't bore you with. Bottom line...it really won't help you while you are on reserve commuting to OAK as a junior newhire but later on after you have some seniority it will.


Avoidance Bid - You may find that flying with a certain few of our Captains (definitely a minority) is such an unpleasant experience that you do not want to fly with them ever again. You may put them in your Avoidance Bid and you will not be awarded a schedule that involves flying with them.

 

[tytl]

Great, thanks!
tytl

 

[Rex Kramer]

You all rock!

We had a family emergency last week preventing me from doing all but a little bit of studying. Class starts Monday and I was very antsy I hadn't done enough. Thanks for the heads up.

CX

 

[gjxjet]

man, I want to work there. maybe they can't find my phone number.

 

[RideTheWind]

Gosh darn't, I want to work there too.

 

[SWA GUY]

ELITT is very important to learn as a new guy. The reason being is you may be assigned a base out of training such as OAK. Well, let's say for argument sake that you live in HOU.

You are thinking at this point, I'd sure like to be based at home in HOU and not commute to OAK. However, being the junior guy you are, you may hold HOU very quickly, but not as a line holder, but rather as a reserve. ELITT doesn't work for reserve in the manner it does for a line holder.

At SWA we pay a 1st year pilot second year wages for extra fly, or daily open time. We also pay 1.5 X 1st year rate for junior assigned(JA) and 1.15 X 1st year rate for volunteer junior assigned(VJA). 2nd year rate is higher than both JA and VJA.

Here's the thing to do to make money. Choose a base away from OAK where you can hold a line immediatly, say PHX for instance. Now, in PHX you have a line so you can ELITT down to 65 trips(the min) for pay(1st year trips), then put everything on your board in giveaway. This does two things for you. It reduces the times you have to commute to PHX, you may not have to go to PHX at all. And, it allows you to pick up HOU trips on extra fly or daily open time(2nd year rate).

The difference in earnings is staggering. I do mentoring for newhires and have them earning $80,000.00 or more their 1st year, rather than $45,000.00 to $50,000.00

Yes, you may not be able to give away ALL your trips out of base and you may have to commute once or twice a month, but look at the difference in money.

Obviously I didn't start this program, but I've been able to help others(newhires) make their finances more managable. And at the same time gain a better quality of life.

I'm sure your newhire mentor will help you in the same way.

 

[gjxjet]

oh, great...now I really want to work there.

 

[FracCapt]

What you need to know after 6 weeks of initial...



How to get the 1/2/3

Now that's what I'M talkin 'bout!

The difference in earnings is staggering. I do mentoring for newhires and have them earning $80,000.00 or more their 1st year, rather than $45,000.00 to $50,000.00

When I get hired...I'm gonna look YOU up!

 

[T1bubba]

At SWA we pay a 1st year pilot second year wages for extra fly, or daily open time.

And monthly open time. I made a fair bit by picking up 2nd year pay trips my first year without ELITT, I can't imagine how easy it would be to work your schedule with it.

Indapool is right on, just relax and enjoy your time at home before you get here.

Welcome aboard, we're all happy you're here!

 

[SWA GUY]

FracCapt,

Bring it on brutha. Oh and by the way did I mention my "grafting program"?

T1Bubba,

Yep MOT will get you good money also, I didn't want to confuse the issue too much however.

 

[Yahtzee]

Choose a base away from OAK where you can hold a line immediatly, say PHX for instance.

Unfortunately...that's the hard part. Guys in my June 21 class are still on reserve for every base except OAK for the month of Jan. One guy did geta line in Jan for MDW, but others are still on reserve there. Feb will probably be the first month anyone in my class based in MDW can hold a line (starting our seventh month on the line).

We finished IOE in late July or early Aug. Some folks got hard lines in NOV & DEC due to the holidays as more senior FOs bid Reserve to get Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's off...but now it's back to Reserve for the most part.

For those interested, here are the most junior pilot's DOH are at each base:
OAK -- 15 Nov 04 (starting IOE next week)
PHX -- 20 Sep 04
MDW -- 20 Sep 04
BWI -- 2 Aug 04
HOU -- 21 Jun 04
MCO -- 7 Jun 04
DAL -- 15 Mar 04

Getting off reserve seems to be more of a function of the number of guys IOE complete behind you. At the moment our class has five classes on the line behind us. As the training center starts cranking guys out the door, the seniority will improve and the time to get off reserve should be shorter than for our class.

Not complaining, but just giving guys an idea of how long it may take to get a line somewhere other than OAK.

Welcoming all you newbies aboard, and looking forward to using ELITT before my probation is over.

Yahtz

 

[tytl]

Great info guys, thanks. Can anyone tell me if Sat to OAk is a hard commute? I expect a Feb class, and will have to commute from SAT. Thanks,
tytl

 

[SWA GUY]

Yahtzee,

I didn't realize how hard it was to hold a line these days. My most junior mentee is a 10 May hire. He did his hard lines(2) in HOU, month 3 in OAK and held a line in PHX month 4.

He's in his 8th month and still in PHX because he is too junior to be a line holder in HOU. He commutes once or twice a month. The rest he flys out of HOU.

 

[CatYaaak]

What you need to know when you arrive in DAL....NOTHING!



*Limitations..you won't need to memorize all of them..your new hire handout will tell you which ones you need to know. Having a working knowledge of the others is helpful but you WILL NOT be required to regurgitate them

Wow, that sounds pretty slack-assed. My kind of place.