SWA news

[chase]

06-02-04 | Approaching 400!: N461WN Becomes 397th Aircraft


Southwest has taken delivery of our 397th Boeing 737, bringing our fleet closer to the 400-mark. On May 27, N461WN was delivered, becoming our 13th new aircraft of the year.

The delivery was the second of that month (N460WN was delivered May 7), with nine planned for June and 25 additional deliveries spread throughout the rest of the year. With this latest addition and the retirement of N86SW–a 737-200 that was added to our stable of aircraft on June 4, 1982–our fleet includes: 19 737-200s, 194 -300s, 25 -500s, and 159 -700s.

________

ISP is preparing to open the 4 "new" gates to replace the 3 "old" gates that are there now. The old gates will be replaced with 4 new gates within the next 18 months or so. The date that is being touted is 13 June in time for the US Open crowd. More info on the eateries below:

Anton Airfood awarded contract at MacArthur Airport
Source: Long Island Business News
Publication date: 2004-04-16

Washington-based Anton Airfood has been awarded the food-service contract at Islip MacArthur Airport in a move that will bring in such concepts as TGIFriday's, Maui Tacos and Mama Lombardi's Pizza.
Most of the eateries will be located in a new 50,000-square-foot wing at the terminal, a $42 million expansion being paid for by Southwest Airlines and expected to open in May. Other food outlets will include Ocean Bay Coffee Co., Rapidos, Maggie O'Shea's Irish Pub and an A&W All American Food, according to Mike Jones, Anton's vice president of business development.

Jones said his company finalized a long-term contract with the Town of Islip earlier this year, although he declined to discuss its specific terms. He said all of the eateries will be located in the new Southwest Terminal except TGIFriday's, which is scheduled to open in late summer, and the coffee outlet, which will replace the current snack bar.

SWA starts flying n/s from ISP-LAs beginning in late July/early Aug. Even with only 7000 ft runways, the new -700s with winglets & extra thrust will come in handy. This will be prove to be a very profitable route.

ISP will see a lot of growth over the next few years & particularly once the new gates get opne. Anyone who has been to the old station will attest to the size problem. The new terminal I also had was the first in which SWA will receive some of the concessions/money on the food distributors or at least I heard that some time ago.
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To those applying, hang in there, your time will come, to those called & waiting for the big day, continue to mentally prepare & be yourself, for those who have interviewed & waiting for the next DB good luck and make sure you have put more than one iron in the fire. You've done everything you can do at this point so start focusing on your back up plan & start formulating that so you're ready to move forward regardless of the outcome. cheers,

 

[AV80R]

Almost 400 airplanes!

Awesome news! ​

»»» the more airplanes available = the more pilots needed «««​

««« Keep ‘em coming please J «««​

 

[Cactus-Wrench]

Awesome news! ​

»»» the more airplanes available = the more pilots needed «««​

««« Keep ‘em coming please J «««​

And the more 'TLC' needed to keep em flying high=more Techs needed
Keep em coming please, please.

 

[roughneck]

Anyone who might know!!!

I start class on Monday and I hear that the deck party next friday will unveil the 400th airplane. I also hear that it won't be the "typical" deck party. I hear there are some big announcements that are going to be made at the party. Any ideas what might be in store?

New Cities?
New Bases?
More airplanes?
More Expansion?

Any Ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[OakRBust]

Of course life really is good. No more tube!


Welcome to Southwest!!!!!



Oak

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

testt

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

testing this quick reply thing.

 

[enigma]

testing this quick reply thing.

Did it pass?

enigma

 

[chase]

May Figures

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]Press Release Source: Southwest Airlines Co.


Southwest Airlines Reports May Traffic
Thursday June 3, 7:45 am ET


DALLAS, June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV - News) announced today that the Company flew 4.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in May 2004, an 11.7 percent increase from the 4.2 billion RPMs flown in May 2003. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 4.8 percent to 6.3 billion from the May 2003 level of 6.0 billion. The load factor for the month was 73.9 percent, compared to 69.3 percent for the same period last year.
For the first five months of 2004, Southwest flew 21.2 billion RPMs, compared to the 19.0 billion RPMs recorded for the same period of 2003, an increase of 11.3 percent. Available seat miles increased 5.2 percent to 30.9 billion from the 2003 level of 29.4 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 68.6 percent, compared to 64.8 percent for the same period last year.

This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at www.southwest.com .

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS

MAY

2004 2003 CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried 6,264,711 5,760,914 8.7 %

Enplaned passengers 7,139,114 6,537,711 9.2 %

Revenue passenger miles (000) 4,681,038 4,189,069 11.7 %

Available seat miles (000) 6,338,540 6,049,120 4.8 %

Load factor 73.9% 69.3% 4.6 pts.

Average length of haul 747 727 2.8 %

Trips flown 81,423 79,992 1.8 %


YEAR-TO-DATE

2004 2003 CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried 28,470,339 26,255,977 8.4 %

Enplaned passengers 32,445,092 29,840,553 8.7 %

Revenue passenger miles (000) 21,162,068 19,019,357 11.3 %

Available seat miles (000) 30,869,673 29,355,849 5.2 %

Load factor 68.6% 64.8% 3.8 pts.

Average length of haul 743 724 2.6 %

Trips flown 399,763 391,746 2.0 %




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Southwest Airlines Co.[/font]

 

[atp160]

Chase, once again thank you for keeping us Southwest hoprfuls up to date.

 

[tredding@swa]

Deck Party

Regardless of what may (or may not) "happen" at the beer garden, just be happy you are able to go to the "deck" as an employee.... the beer is cheap & your fellow employees are gorgeous and dressed for the Dallas heat.... try not to drool on yourself!! Have fun!!

Congrats on being "one of us"..... welcom to the line, glad to have you below us!!!!! THANKS!!

 

[TexaSWA]

Anyone who might know!!!

I start class on Monday and I hear that the deck party next friday will unveil the 400th airplane. I also hear that it won't be the "typical" deck party.

Friday June 18th I think. 400 year anniversary and 33rd aircraft delivery party. Or possibly the other way around.

 

[Rob Beeks]

More good news

Fresh from the mouths of the Phoenix chief pilots today....classes of twenty new hires every two weeks for remainder of 2004. Chief pilot said we would defintiely exceed initial plan of 400 new hires this year, and the numbers would increase every year thereafter. He wrote the number 784 on the board, and said that was the number of aircraft projected for SWA by year-end 2012.

Congratulations to all the pool swimmers that have recently made it on property, and good luck to those of you just now jumping in!

 

[CRJammin]

I LUV you man!

 

[jinxy]

I noticed on the Southwest web site (interactive map) that there will be new non-stops from PHL-SAN, PHL-OAK, BWI-SEA, BWI-OAK. I don't think they have officially announced these pairs.

 

[737tanker]

Prior to starting a recent trip I was talking with in the crew lounge with a Capt who does interviews, & also with an asst. chief pilot. What they told me some may call good news & some may call bad but here it is. Currently SWA has over 9000 applications on file. As far as the 2 that I talked with know not one interviewee in the last 2 months already have the 737 type already. Most applicants who passed the interview & didn't get hired were not hired because of bad references, from previous employers, when background checks were conducted. In addition to having 2 classes a month SWA wants to have a pool of pilots ready to be hired. Because of that they had 3 interview groups instead of the normal 2 for a cople of weeks last month. They also said that SWA has no problem in hiring furloughed pilots from other airlines, but it would be highly unlikely SWA would hire a furloughed pilot who had previously worked at SWA. Not that it wouldn't happen, just unlikely.

 

[Resume Writer]

As far as the 2 that I talked with know not one interviewee in the last 2 months already have the 737 type already.

Are you saying that not one person interviewed had the type rating? Sorry, I just did not understand what you are saying.

Most applicants who passed the interview & didn't get hired were not hired because of bad references, from previous employers, when background checks were conducted.

Sorry, again I am not understanding something. Are you saying these people did not get hired because they had bad references from previous employers?

It was a long night last night with little sleep, so maybe I am just not comprehending today!

Kathy

 

[ChicagoPilot]

Incorrect information

Somone is passing along incorrect information about the interviewees.

I interviewed during May (still waiting for the DB). The day I interviewed, 7 (out of 12) had the 737 Type Rating. During the interview day, we asked one another who was type rated and who was not (there is the possibility that the actual number is higher, but due to being split into two groups, I might have missed an additionally type rated individual.)

Obviously, there is a less number of non-type rated applicants than type rated applicants, however, percentage wise, it looks as though the type rated applicants are getting the nod to interview.

 

[chase]

Type folks are getting called at a higher rate than those without types. There are those getting the call who don't have types that are getting the call. Whether you have the type or not does not play into the DB process, it comes down the interviews, LOI, background checks, references, PIC time and total time. I speak like I have some crystal ball, I don't so my thoughts are no more valid than others but this is what I have heard since I arrived here & see no change in what is happening now.

If you make it through the interview process the variables then at what can keep you from making it through the DB is rather clear.

1. Background check finds something strange, negative, unusual; bad credit, FAA problems, legal problems
2. References can't be contacted because the numbers are bad, can't be found or they are not 110% supporting your desire to work at SWA.
3. Your flying experience is lacking in either PIC time, type of flying, total time, currency, etc.
4. Found information on form to not be correct, calls into question integrity & then you're dismissed because you didn't fill it out properly or with the intent to hide something
5. Negative comments from SWA pilots who recommend against hiring.

That about sums it up. What can you do about these things? Some not much, others quite a bit, take them one at a time.

1. Disclose everything....speeding tickets, legal problems, credit problems, FAA issues, military problems...putting it all on the table for them to see...we don't like surprises when we're trying to hire someone to babysit our kids, they don't like it when someone is trying to come to work for SWA

2. Make 100% ALL references, phone numbers are current & most importantly they can speak HIGHLY of you. On the contact sheet where it asks for last 5 years of employment supervisors....did this supervisor fly with you, know you very well, speak enthusiastically of you? If not, then put down the name of someone who can. The word supervisor is a bit misleading. They want to verify employment so fill the square by putting down a name of someone who did fly with you & can speak positively about you. Many CPs may know you or may not depending on the size of the company, if they can, great, if they can't then find the next most senior person who knows you well & can speak about you. Maybe someone in the training department who flew with you a lot, someone in the union or other company position but if all else fails but another capt or FO, AC or copilot who can.
Make sure all phone numbers, cell & home are CURRENT. If you can't right now sit down & have 100% certainity you can reach all of these folks you list on your form at the number they gave you, then you need to fix it immediately. The last thing you want is to find out they changed their phone number the day prior to the call. Let you contacts know you need to know if this is happening & then contact SWA immediately with the info.

3. At this point, not much you can do. If you're not flying, you better get flying soon because if you get turned down this time, SWA probably won't accept you until you are more current.

4. Be honest, fill out form completely, see answer 1 if in doubt

5. This is the dreaded fastball from nowhere that many folks dread. What can you do? Some thoughts. If you know for a fact you have an enemy, someone who will submit a negative comment on you, you have a dilemma.

Interview lists are published for all to see in a readfile. How many folks read them? Probably not that many, except for those looking to help folks or by accident. If you haven't had any contact with this person for sometime he/she may not even know you are applying. You may skate through without your nemeis slamming you. However, if they do see your name they maybe inclined to do so. That is the dilemma. If you have a 3rd party speak to the individual to assess how they would react to your application process, you may have alerted them to your interview & now they are waiting to slam you. You've awakened the sleeping giant. However, if you choose to go this way hopefully your third party person could convince them to refrain from commenting & allow the folks who do think you're a good guy to rule the day. Your third party could also offer the option of arranging a time/place/phone call for the two of you to chat (if you won't fight girls!) to iron out the differences & for you to put your mind at ease.

If however you know without a shadow of doubt that whatever you did to offend this person, no talking will make the difference, then the choice becomes rather obviously. You can take your chances & hope things go under the radar of your enemy & you get hired.

Even 5 is somewhat in your control but it is touchy. Of course if you find your list of folks that will slam you exceeds the list of folks who will speak highly of you....well, maybe Delta or American will take you

(just a little humor, no offense!...I figured I use two instead of one to show I'm not biased).

Hope that helps. Rob Beeks (the infamous) on another thread stated SWA was going to have 2 classes per week for remaining part of the year. That would result in about another 200 pilots for the year. I will check with my sources to see what I hear. Good luck to all....hats off to the interviewers also & to the PD for working so hard at getting the right folks for SWA. It is a thankless & difficult task, they are doing a great job & deserve a big round of applause for their tireless work. Hope many of you get the call soon (still lots of apps out there to sort through...I've heard around 900 with types out of the 5000+ apps) & good luck,

 

[vetteracer]

Speeding tickets?

I had my share when I was in High School.

Our state keeps them on file for three years.

So, in the last 5 years I have had one ticket.

Do I disclose them all or just the ones on my driving record. I cannot even remember the ones from High School, that was 15 years ago, and the state has no record to give to me. They may have a record somewhere. I have spoken with the state DOT and they have no idea how to research it or how to get it to me.

Mark

 

[rangridr]

Vetteracer,

If it were me, I would just write down what you remember....just say you think you had such and such number of tickets for speeding? not stopping? whatever the reason during your high school years. They know not everyone is perfect...I think they just want your honesty. Just what I think....take it for what it's worth.

 

[chase]

Vetteracer,


I concur with the above opinion. Put down everything & explain it with as much detail as you can remember. Your thoughts are the thoughts by some of those who submitted an app, were told by "others", 'don't worry, it was so long ago don't worry about it'....well, as Clint Eastwood would say, "do you feel lucky punk?"

You take the chance your experts are wrong & if they are, you'll have ZERO chance if SWA finds something in your background. What is the likelihood of it coming up from so long ago? I don't know but I do know this type of thing has kept folks in the past from getting hired.

What happens if you put it down? You're telling the whole story, you're disclosing everything & you explain yourself. SWA won't eliminate you for being honest for minor infranctions, they will eliminate you for not disclosing them because the assumption is that if you're hiding this, you're probably hiding something else...right or wrong but that is my recommendation. cheers,

 

[Pig]

The infamous Rob Beeks?

 

[apdsm]

Get a copy or your driving record from the National Driver Registry.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/perform/driver/

This is where companies check up on your driving record.

Personally, I paid for an "airline style" background check myself to make sure everything looked good and there were no surprises. I think it cost me $120 or so, but it's been a few years so I'm not sure. I think Air Inc can lead you in the right direction for a background check.

 

[737tanker]

I'm not saying that there have been no pilots interviewed who didn't ahve the type. What I said was that the Capt I talked with who does interviews, and the asst. chief pilot, do not know of any non-typed polots being interviewed. While Im sure that there have been some non-type pilots interviewed I get the impression that it is going to become extemley rare.

As for thew failure of background checks, it was not references that the person had given that were giving the pilot bad references, but previous employers. So I would say that in addition to having references that will speak highly of you make sure your previous employers won't speak ill of you. If you think that they will you may want to give a letter to the People Dept explaining why a previous employer will not think well of you.

 

[mooser]

Heard a rumor from the rumor mill today that SWA totally underestimated there hiring needs; well need approx 650 pilots by the end of next year...


can anyone back this one up???

Mooser

 

[vetteracer]

"Get a copy or your driving record from the National Driver Registry."

They don't show speeding tickets. I had the first company I worked for send me a dual copy of the NDR report.

No speeding tickets showed up. I should have had 1 on there.

I asked the Chief Pilot and he said they only showed DWI, Reckless, Careless, or class 1 driving offenses. Many driving related issues are Local Ordinances. The majority are state offenses, and the rest federal. This could be a state by state issue.

Mark

 

[apdsm]

hhmmm, I was sure speeding tickets were supposed to show up on there. I'm not sure how many years of history the NDR keeps. I think it might be 7? In that case I would also get a copy of driving records from the state DOT. I'm not sure if the airlines check individual state records, or if they just check the NDR.

 

[vetteracer]

That's just it, the state only has them for three years. I called to our capitol and asked if they could send me my complete record. They said that it may be possible, but they did not know how from the DOT

I am sure an airline can send for a copy of your state driving record. In my case, they will get a three year history.

Mark

 

[roughneck]

I have been at SWA for a very short time. What a ride! Best job ever. Having said that, I wouldn't mess around for the world if I thought it could possibly bite me in the end.



What I am saying is, disclose everything. I had some minor run-ins with the law when I was in high school and college. I disclosed everything on my application and I was never even questioned about it. (I was nervous about disclosing too much information, but in the end I decided honesty is the best policy and of course, it was) I don't know if these things showed up on my background checks, but I do know that if they had and I hadn't disclosed them I would not be here today. Just my opinion, but its not worth the chance. Be honest and up front and you will sleep much better at night.