SWA Latest Rumours

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Here is what I just heard, from a guy who claimed to know what is going on with SWA.

He talked really fast, and I didn't write anything down, so I'm giving it to U as best I can recollect.

First of all, he said that the type IS required to get an INTERVIEW.
I just read a thread that said this had changed (on the SWA website) back to how it was a year or so ago-U just neede a type AFTER you were hired.
I went to the website and it did say you ONLY needed a type to get a CLASS DATE. So, on this point, what is correct? Has the website just changed, or is it very old and left over from 6+months before, with the old info that is now wrong?

OK, he went on to say that SWA will drain their pool completely by Apr/May. He said after the pool is drained they will hire about 400-450 through the end of 2004.

He went on to say SWA will hire 600-750 in 2005.

He said all of the options for 2004 and 2005 had been converted to firm orders.

He said if U want to fly SWA, get your resumes in NOW!

Fire away.

Good luck if U R trying to get to SWA. I hope U make it in the next year or so.

Cliff
DTW

 

[learjetguy]

conflicting thread alert!!!

Okay folks, Im a little confused now (this seems to happen to me alot!!). I just read in one thread that SouthWest changed the type requirement and this seems to be in conflict with ATPCliff's info. Anyone care to enlighten us wannabees???

please type slowly,
Learguy

 

[enigma]

Learjetguy, the SWA website recently changed. It now indicates that a type rating is no longer required to apply. It really doesn't seem to make sense that they would have changed the requirement at this time because they are not currently accepting apps. Maybe it foreshadows a rapid return to interviewing, or maybe it's just a computer glitch. I assume that we'll all know soon enough. In any rate, if you want to fly for SWA, my contacts still tell me that those with ratings will always get preference over those without. So support your local type schoola and get rated!!!!!!!!!!!

regards,
enigma

 

[chase]

NO TYPE REQUIRED FOR APPLYING

Spoke to LL twice in the last 2 days, the SWA website is correct:

Southwest Airlines New Pilot Requirements Licenses / Ratings:
U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Non Restricted U.S. TypeRating on a B-737 not required for interview but required for employment.

A candidate may apply without a B-737 Type Rating. If a candidate interviews and successfully completes the entire selection process, he/she has 6 months from that date to obtain a B-737 Type Rating to be eligible for hire.

Pretty simple & straight forward.

 

[intel33]

Is this recent change a possible indication that they are going to start taking applications again? Any word on the status of the online application process?

When I spoke to LL a while back she said that part of their plan was to have people complete back ground check info and finger printing during the interview process to avoid a trip back to the big D to do it all later. I suppose they would hang onto the info and then process it after the decision board.

Either way, my money is (was) on getting the type rating. I did it at K & S in PHX and I was very happy with the training. And I did it a year an a half ago, so I plan to be at LUV long before those of you that are still deciding what to do!

 

[Pig]

Chase or any one else,

Will SWA continue with their previous interview policy of interviewing all the typed applicants before the non-typed, or at least give a heavy weight to the type in the competive review of app's for interviews? That is the question those wondering whether or not it is worth being typed need answered. It will make a big difference being in a stack of 800 instead of 3300. But no point in spending the money before being offered a job if the type won't get you interviewed much sooner than an applicant with the same qualifications without a type.

I hope SWA clarifies their policy soon.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Yes, the info that you DON'T need a type rating to get an interview is in DIRECT conflict with what this guy told me, so I don't know how much of what he said I would believe.

Cliff
GRB

 

[CoopDog]

DAL pilot base

According to the DAL pilot base web-site:

Southwest Airlines New Pilot Requirements
Licenses / Ratings:
U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Non Restricted U.S. TypeRating on a B-737 required for interview effective 11/1/2002.

I know this is in direct conflict with what www.southwest.com says now, but I don't know which website is correct on this issue. Maybe the DAL pilot base site is not up-to-date yet, if this is a recent change.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

This really changes nothing. Go get another beer.

 

[G4G5]

IMHO

SWA realizes that their is a tremendous amout of skilled labor out their and a large majority of these folks may not be in the financial position to spring for the 737 type. The furloughed pilot.

What do they care if you get the type now or 6 months after the interview? For them the bottom line is the same. It's still required to get the job, just not the interview.

The diffenence is they now have the opportunity to look at everyone. They also realize that if someone (the furloughed pilot) were to be lucky enough to get on with SWA. He/she would not go jumping back to UAL/AA or DAL so quickly. LUV's financial history and their current hiring projections speak loud and clear.

Again, IMHO. If you didn't have a previous type rating. Then I would get one. To show that I had the ability to pass a rating ride and to get onto a level playing field with the folks that already have a type rating. But, if you have multiple type ratings already and have competitive numbers, getting a 737 type doesn't really do that much for you.

In fact I have even seen cases where it has hurt people. I have seen folks who haved applied to majors and corporate jobs, who have been placing all their eggs in one basket. One question asked on a DAL interview. Why do you have a 737 type and no time in the aircraft?
Answer: Because I wanted to work at LUV.
Do you still have an application on file with them?
Yes.
So tell me again, why do you want to work for DAL?
Next.................................

Or another case I remember.

Corporate job interview. Same question.
Why do you have a 737 type and no time in the aircraft?
Answer: It was required for a SWA interview.
Did you ever get the interview?
Yes.
Did you get hired?
No
Care to explain why you didn't get hired?
Next..........................

Or Did you get the interview?
No.
Will you leave if they call?
Next applicant please.......................................

My point is for some folks getting the type will help, for others it may not. It depends upon your situtation. The nice thing is, it's no longer required.

 

[Snoopy58]

G4,

You raise valid concerns, and a wise job-seeker needs to consider his ability to answer questions such as the ones you pose, but it can be done.

"So, tell me again why you want to work at DAL" is not all that much different with a type rating than the same question following after "So, where else have you applied?" In the best of times, I think it was generally understood that the vast majority of guys applied to several places rather than putting all their eggs in one basket. Just the prudent thing to do. In bad times, getting a type to be more competitive at one of the few airlines that is hiring makes even more sense, and an interviewer should understand "I want most to work for Delta, but when there wasn't much hiring, I got the type so I could be competitive to fly for a major. But, now that you're hiring, I'd go to you without hesitation if Delta & SWA both gave me offer's. Here's why..."

"Care to explain why you didn't get hired?" Well, a thoughtful interviewee SHOULD have a good explanation for all such things! Examine what you did wrong in the interview (unless every answer was pure perfection, of course). Were your hours competitive? Did you make mistakes in the background check part of the app? Did you try to get by with only the minimum number of letters of recommendation? What else could you have done better? AND, DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE? Did you come to realize that ___ is a better type of operation & really where you'd rather be? Are you able to say with sincerity, "yeah, seemed like a good idea at the time, but it wouldn't have been a good fit, and they saw it before I did. Now I realize that ___ is where I belong, and here's why I say that..."

"Will you leave if they call?" The same question can be asked without the type rating immediately after "so, where else have you applied?" Same idea as the above, tempered with a large dose of honesty. If you're interviewing with a place that expects you to work there for the rest of your career, and you can honestly say "I honor my commitments, and I'm not a job-hopper... if I can work here for the rest of my career, I'll be happy to do that & not look back at the coulda-beens and mighta-beens. If they'd called me back when, I'd have gone with them, but once I get on with you, that door is, in my mind, closed." On the other hand, if you're interviewing with a regional, that sort of answer may not fly, but they're kidding themselves if they expect every young guy who gets on there to stay to age 60! At that point, your obviously honest answer is to say that you'd have to evaluate everything & possibly go, or not, but such a call would be quite a ways off at best, seeing as how SWA has 300+ guys in the pool who've been waiting for 2 years now, etc etc, so even if I do eventually get called for an interview & then for class, I'll be here for at least ___ years, and I'm ready to give my all, fly hard, charge that hill, etc etc etc.

Guys (pilot interviewers, anyway) can respect a desire to move up, and for most pilots it's disingenuous (with or without a type rating) to claim that you'd happily fly an RJ for 20 years instead of going to a major at some point in the future. The type simply says "my eye is on SWA" instead of whatever other major your eye might be on. If the interviewer wants an absolute loyalty check, he can ask EVERY applicant: "so, suppose you've been here 5 years, you're an RJ captain with 1200 hours PIC, and AA/UAL/FedEx/whoever sends you a letter asking you to apply -- what would you do?" If "I'd blow off a job at a major to happily fly my RJ forever" is the answer he's looking for, he's either an idiot (yes, they're out there, though rare), or it's an integrity check question (are you really going to try to snow me with a line of bull), or maybe you're one of the few who WOULD rather fly an RJ to age 60 -- but you need to have a GOOD explanation why!

As I said, answers to questions like this absolutely have to be considered, and there are times & places that a 737 type will do more harm than good (say, if you have very little turbine PIC but are looking to apply to corporate jobs that expect long service from those they hire). But for many guys, there are good answers to such questions that can be delivered with sincerity & honesty. A healthy dose of introspection is necessary, but it isn't necessary (or productive, usually) to try to "snow" the interviewer -- just present yourself in a positive & enthusiastic light, and let your credentials & attitude speak for themselves.

 

[na265]

Ok, if they are going for the furloughed pilot from other companies, will the 1000hr PIC req still work? I have heard of many pilots with other carriers who had alot of 737 time with little or no PIC time. It seems to me that many of the pilots on the street are junior pilots and they may not have the magical 1000. Maybe this is just hopeful ramblings of someoen who wants to go back.

 

[stb]

SWA requires furlough pilots to..

give up the senority number for employment.

Something else to think about.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Re: SWA requires furlough pilots to..

give up the senority number for employment.

Something else to think about.

And this is a bad thing?

If you dont want to work for SWA bad enough to give up your number then maybe you need to look elsewhere..

Im sure that there are several airlines that are currently hiring that wont mind if you keep your number..

You know..Just in case..

Mike

 

[KingAirGuy]

Type or No?

Ok when I applied in Nov 2001 (I know great time to be looking for a pilot job eh?) SWA had no requirement for a type to recieve an interview. This changed some time around Arpil or May 2002 (help me out here guys) they announced they would not accept applications from non-type rated pilots. Then they stopped accepting apps all togeather (I believe they are still not accepting apps).

I have talked to LL every month since my App was processed and those who were in before the change are still grandfathered.

I know and accept that I may not be interviewed first, but as many of you have stated, its an 8K toss of the dice. I could scroung up the 8K I su[ppose, but I'm not much of a betting man, I'll wait. If they offer me a job, I'll get the type. If not, oh well.. Dynacorp is looking for Caravan Pilots in Columbia *sic*

From my sources inside (newbie pilots) SWA is going to be hiring and doing it in a big way in 2004. They have plused up the training department and accelerated their aircraft orders.

I hope to see you all in Texas soon!

 

[reepicheep]

I applaud Southwest....a type rating or college degree is something you can go out and earn and make yourself more hire-able unlike many carriers where it's a toss of the dice - if your buddies got hired there they can get you in otherwise you have no chance regardless of your quals.