SWA mins - competetive?

[El Cid]

I went to the last AIR INC conference in Dallas and they were putting out that SWA and AWA minimums are competitive and that you should apply if you meet them.

I meet the mins with 1500 T-34 PIC SE turbine (all USN instructor time if that's any help), and 2800+ total turbine (1100 SH-60 helicopter). Reality check... am I smokin crack to even think about SWA with zero ME (except for the ATP)? I tossed around the idea of getting typed in the 737 to make myself more competitive, but that's a lot of cash for a guy who's possibly a few months from collecting unemployment checks and has mouths to feed.

So here's my question: Am I nuts for contemplating the type rating? I was told that SWA policy is to interview anyone with the mins, and that they base it more on whether you are personally a good fit (they like you) with the company. I've even heard rumors that SWA does not like to hire former helo pilots. If I interview and don't get an offer am I prohibited from interviewing again for two years or something? Should I bag some ME time first in the reserves before interviewing?

Also if any SWA bubbas know Tim Simcox or Dave Smithers, I'm trying to get in touch with them. Thanks!

 

[rumorcontrol]

Interviews are competitive

SWA has not committed to interviewing everyone who meets their minimums. The interview selection will be done on a competitive basis (only they know their needs and definition of competitve).

Good luck

 

[Snoopy58]

Your numbers are absolutely in the ballpark, and I'd waste no time in applying if you think SWA is something you'd like to do. I wouldn't worry overmuch about the lack of ME time. Sure, if you get offered a job flying somebody's KingAir around for a while, I'd certainly take it, but there's nothing to be gained by delaying your app.

I don't think SWA has anything against helo pilots, but they don't count helo time for anything... but it's not a liability.

If SWA is something you really, really want, then a type rating will make all sorts of difference. True story: two guys apply to SWA, and are called for interviews within a month or two of each other. First guy to interview has the type rating when he applies, and gets a class date a couple months after the interview. Other guy gets his type as soon as he gets out of the military, and ends up in class over TWO YEARS later than his buddy. He'd also applied several months before the typed guy. Guys in the pool can probably provide similar stories.

Obviously, this is old history, but the pilots with the 737 type will get called much sooner than they otherwise would; if flying for SWA is a "it'd be nice if..." sort of deal, apply. If SWA is THE PLACE that you want to work, apply now but find a way to get typed!

Cheers,

Snoopy

 

[chili]

Check with the Navy Education coordinator on base to see if you qualify for some VA bucks. The rumor I hear around here is if you have 2 yrs to go til MSR, they help you with money close to GI bill $.

 

[PTinbound]

That Whop-Whopping noise you hear is the sound of freedom reverberating through the halls of the People Department.
So yes, they like helo guys. The time doesn't count on the official chart, but I'd bet it has some subjective value. If you want to work for SWA with every fiber of your soul and any other airline is just plan B, then get your type and be yourself in the interview.

 

[speedbird1974]

What are the competitive minimums at SWA?

 

[El Cid]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. Yes, SWA is my hands down #1 choice.

I noticed that the unrestricted type rating requires 500 ME. So even though SWA doesn't have ME mins, I don't think there's any way around it.

 

[46Driver]

Just as a heads up, some of my buds are applying at Southwest as well as AirTran, JetBlue, America West, and ATA. Previously, it sounded as if they were not going to count T-34 time but after returning from an Air Inc conference, it sounds as if they are going to say the T-34 qualifies. Most of them had 1000+ RJ hours to go along with their T-34 time (they are VT reservists). Anyway, good luck with Southwest and congrats on getting North Field, it does make life easier.....

 

[slinky]

howdee

El cid?
thats rich
Yup I still think the type will only help. It is telling the company that you are real serious about them.
v/r
slinky

 

[Falconjet]

Nobody knows (except maybe the People people with all the records in front of them) what the "competitive" mins are. If you have the mins you should apply. I doubt that you would get called in during the first round of interviews with that little fixed wing time, but never know. In the meantime, I would be trying to get either a ME fixed wing reserve job or a regional airline job. Start building 121 time, ME time, and hopefully more PIC time. That path has been paved several times by former helo bubbas. It just might take a little more time to get there.

On the other hand, there is no way to get in without applying, and everyone knows stranger things have happened, you might get a call for an interview and skip the regional part altogether. I would definitely apply, but I would also get the type rating as soon as I could swing it financially. I think that makes a huge difference in terms of being "competitive". Just one opinion of the many.

Good Luck.

FJ

 

[Swerpipe]

What's competitive?

Speedbird,

Unless you work for the People Department, that is an almost impossible question to answer. I think that when people start getting called for interviews, there will not be a pattern nor will you be able to discern what competitive minimums are. Why did he get called and not me? All signals and messages about what "competitive" means have been vague at best. Obviously for a good reason: Southwest wants to reserve the right to exlude and/or include ANYONE they deem appropriate for the job. They have said that they will look at the totality of the individual and decide which folks are the most competitive or ,in their estimation, make the best fit for Southwest.
It suggests that there is no single qualification such as TT,type,PIC turbine time, degree, orginal date of app, # of type ratings, etc... that will be dominant, but there will be an assessment made about how well you fit what Southwest deems to be a competitive candidate. Keeping in mind than in 4-5 years they want you to be a dedicated/happy/productive Southwest Captain.

A)Southwest will:
Train you in their procedures, CRM and company OPS

B)Southwest will NOT:
Teach you to be a team player, leader, dedication for the company, study, safe pilot, fit the culture

Therefore to be competitive you need to show that SWA can give you A) and that you bring B) to the table

My speculation but the message from PD has been very consistent. We will find out soon...

 

[JJJ]

Stay tuned, when the interviews start we will find out what is competetive to get an interview.

 

[walleyevision]

El Cid,
Get into a reserve unit - either VT SAU or VR - and keep getting more fixed wing time. One of the guys in my class was an ex Cobra guy, and a guy in the class behind me was as well (they also had fixed wing time galore to go with their helo experience). Prior to 9/11, once you had the 1,500 T-34 IP time, you were as good as interviewed. Now, with the competitive computer rankings, I'm not so sure. Obviously the type helps if you can somehow manage it. I've got a lot of SH-60/CH-46 buds from San Dog that I'd love to see at SWA. One with ACA, two VR C-130 (one UAL furlough) and one NG KC-135. So, whatever you do, stay flying, stay reserves (the difference between $41K first year and $66K first year) and, if possible, get the type.
WEV

 

[Benhuntn]

I have a feeling the type would make you more competitive. That may make a huge difference as to when you get called. More importantly ( I speak form experience) if you have the type and get hired it will get you a job sooner. I was hired in Jan. 02 I didnt get typed until Apr. of 02 because I did not invest in myself until I was hired I allowe maybe 50 pilots to move ahead of me in the pool. That is two classes and alot of line numbers. So if SWA is what you want to do, find a way. I used my VA benefits to cover most of the cost. You may need to take out a loan, but I wish I had gotten my type sooner especially now as all of my peers will be in class in Mar. and I will be bass fishing.

Hope this helps

Benhuntn

 

[HOUMAN]

Just my 2 cents, but I believe the type will be a BIG factor in the intial interview call outs. The pool will be drained by the end of May if they start classes March 1st and do them every 2 weeks. This means SWA will need fresh poolies available for class at the end of May or beginning of June. Hiring somebody and then having to wait 6 months for them to get the type, does not flow well into the SWA hiring plans for this year. So, IMHO, having the type makes you VERY competitve.

 

[CoopDog]

Good point

Houman,

Excellent point....especially if they start interviews around the first of April. Heck, even if they start interviews in March, it'll take the usual 4-6 weeks for the CP review board, then the usual several weeks notice from Lindsey for a class date.

If a candidate w/o a type is selected early on in the process, and waits until "....Congratulations, we're pleased to inform you that you've been selected for employment at Southwest, etc...," then that "new poolie" won't even have time to get his toes wet. It'll be a mad scramble to go pick up a type rating, unpack, do some laundry, re-pack, say goodbye to the wife and kids (or significant other) and get down to Dallas for new-hire class. And forget about giving their employer the usual 2 weeks notice. And, oh yeh....this assumes the background check goes like clockwork.

Just a hunch, but if the current pool is drained by the end of May, and they continue hiring new classes w/o a break in the action, I seriously doubt that the first half dozen or so "new poolie" classes will be composed with anyone hired w/o the type at their interview. At a minimum, selecting a candidate w/o the type would add 3 to 4 more weeks to the process.

But then again, maybe there's some new features in place in the whole new selection process that will allow for a very quick selection and notification turn-around time.

Want to wish everyone who wants to be there good luck.

Coop

 

[Launchpad]

FYI... RK told us in class at HPA the otherday that they will do March interviews for June classes. She added some variables like poolies and so forth.

L8TR-