SWA newhire knowledge

[P3 Tweek]

Greetings Newhires,

I completed my B-737 type rating with K&S nearly a year ago. There we learned both the SWA FO flows and Capt flows for the FAA type rating checkride as a Captain.

QUESTION: Are Southwest newhires trained initially ONLY on SWA FO cockpit flows in the beginning classes at DAL prior to their IOE?

Thanks! Any information would be helpful.

P3 Tweek

 

[kelbill]

I'm not sure I fully understand your question, but let me try. When you go to Dallas for training as a new hire, you learn ONLY FO flows the way SWA wants you to learn them because you are only a FO at SWA. You won't even look at Captain flows except for when you read the checklist. Forget everything you were taught about left seat flows because you don't do them. Besides, SWA keeps changing the flows and checklists, so why bother learning a future bad habit. Good luck.

 

[miles otoole]

FWIW,

Both K&S and HPA use the new WN flows.

 

[P3 Tweek]

Thanks `kelbill'

You understood my question completely, `kelbill'. Thanks a bunch. I appreciate your help.

I'll concentrate my efforts on SWA FO flows in my spare time.

http://www.PASS737.com has some excellent study materials I may invest in. This was the reason I had asked the above question. I had been given a set of PASS CARDS from a SWA Capt friend of mine several weeks ago. They are excellent reviews. Upon looking at the PASS737.com website, I noticed they have very detailed Capt and FO flow diagrams along with an FMS book and general knowledge book on the 3H4, 5H4, and 7H4 aircraft. All look very good.

Per your advise, I'll ignore the `Capt flows' diagrams.

Tweek

PS. Also, thanks `miles o'toole'.

 

[Flycatcher99]

Things must have changed a bit here, Kelbill, but speaking as a newhire F/O, I can say that the instructors have indicated that we should have some knowledge of the captain flows. We aren't expected to have them mastered (like the F/O flows), but they've said that we should know them to have a good idea how to run things with our partner in the sim, and also because we'll be captains before too long.

I won't argue, though, that it probably would be better to concentrate on the F/O flows, as they really want newhires to have those down.

 

[P3 Tweek]

Flycatcher99

Hi Flycatcher99,

Thanks also for your input. On second thought, from your advise, I'll keep reviewing the Captain flows. I had to learn them once for the checkride so I might as well stay familiar with them on a lesser level.

Thanks again and CONGRATULATIONS on being a newbie SWA FO. I'm sure you must LUV it!

Tweek

 

[kelbill]

OK, I admit I might have spoken a little too definitively. I would definitely take into account what the new hire FO says who is currently in training, BUT, from my memory, here is what I would do:

1. Study the FO flows that they teach you (or give you in the handout). Know them cold, as it is what you are in training for, and makes the sims/CPTs go that much better. Not having them down is what will get you in trouble at training. It takes up time and makes you look bad in front of the instructors, especially if your sim partner has them down.

2. After mastering the FO flows, sure, go ahead and work on the CAPT flows, but the main reason you are doing this is to expedite getting the sim ready for its workout and helping the FO trainee with the checklist flows. I never got the CAPT flows down in training, but yes I did try to put the CAPT switches in the right place if I could remember. As for needing to know CAPT flows because you will be a Capt sooner than you think, I've been here over 4 years now and have probably 1 1/2 more to go before upgrade, and in that time SWA has chagned the checklist two times, and the flows once.

3. I went to training in Fall 2000, so things have changed, and for the better, with the new sims and training devices. Bottom line, you go to training to learn to fly the 737 the SWA way. To accomplish this as an FO, you need to know the checklist and FO flows. Capt stuff is gravy. Trust me, guys going to upgrade here usually have to cram to learn the Capt flows because unless you are doing it, it doesn't stick in your head.

Good luck again.

 

[firstthird]

And for goodness sakes, don't study too much or you won't have anything to do during training (well, besides have a few brews in the bar downstairs). Really, the training is well paced and there is no need to show up having everything memorized and the FOM read twice already; if you do, I would posit that you'll be sick of studying by the time you hit sims and that is when you start learning the meat of what will get you through your checkride.

Limits - good
FO's flows - pretty good but be careful if you don't know what something means, it is much easier to learn something correctly once than to learn it wrong the first time and have to relearn it a second time the correct way.

Most everything else - don't worry about it until you are in class, enjoy whatever time you have off before starting training because once you do start, you may not be home in a while.

In case anyone hasn't heard, this summer looks to be a busy one for the airlines load factor wise so getting home on weekends jumpseating may not be easy or even doable, thus, spend your time now with your family, not geeking out. IMHO. (and granted, I'm just a new hire FO who just completed my 100 hour post training consolidation yesterday, so I'm no expert)

 

[P3 Tweek]

Thanks guys!

You guys (firstthird, kelbill, miles otoole, and flycatcher99) have been very helpful. I appreciate your taking time to respond to my question.

So far I haven't been contacted for an interview. Original app in 2002. If and when that day happens and I'm fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to serve with you guys, I want to be prepared to the best of my ability and I will be.

I fly a company Cessna Citation SII (soon to have a new Citation Encore). While out on the road I often review what I had learned at K&S. As a corporate pilot there are usually many hours to burn while wating for passengers. Some of the B-737-3H4 knowledge has faded in my memory, in the past year, but it ALL generally comes back when reviewing. The `FO Flows' study guide from http://www.PASS737.com looks very good - much better than the materials we received at the K&S ground school. The `PASS Cards' are very good. These flow guides incorporate the new procedures at Southwest. I will invest in these soon.

P3 Tweek

PS. A few brews downstairs is something to look forward to. San Miguel???????