SWA Pilots........A Little Help Please

[chrtrplt]

I'm just about eligible to apply to SWA and interested in getting typed on the 737. From previous posts it appears that the differences between HPA and K&S are small, both very good at what they do. I am wondering if getting it done on a -300 will make a difference or is the -200 just fine? Cost, of course, is going to be a contributing factor. I think K&S are the only ones to offer the -300. Is this correct? Any recommendations?

As most every pilot is, I am interested in a good QOL. Does SWA allow pilots to drop some flying out of the month if they don't feel like flying or need a few extra days off to take care of things? And, if a pilot wants to fly a little more is it pretty easy to pick up extra flying if one wants too? I ask because I am reminded of the time at a regional when, after two conversations with the chief pilot I had to call in sick for my own wedding. Does the company work with you on stuff like this? Comments?

Finally, any OAK and/or PHX based pilots care to comment on the type of trips out of these two cities? I don't know how junior each are at the moment, but being based at one or the other would be nice for commutability purposes. Anyone care to share an old bid packet from March or perhaps April after bidding is done? If so, please PM me. I know schedules change month to month, but I would like to see trip lengths, overnights, days off, legs per day, commutability, etc. just to get an idea. Also, can anyone give me a quick rundown on how reserve works at SWA? 2 hour callout? Min days off?

Thans very much for any replies.

 

[Guam360]

Dude
I can only comment on the type.

Higher Power Aviation offers the -300 at no extra cost, soon the whole program will be based on the -300. You could choose the -200, but why, if you fly anything with a seelector panel like most RJ's or the Saab I am not sure about, but the -300 is the way to go, it was a great experience at HPA and the -300, well worth it, I have heard good things about K&S, but my choice again would be HPA!!!

don't think twice about evening considering SWA, just go for it, it has to be better than where you are now, it is where i am.

laters,
Guam

 

[mdf]

I got my type in Phoenix on the -200. I did this because it was cheaper. When I was hired we no longer covered the -200 in initial training. By the time I had a class date it was almost 2 years since my type, so in essence it was like starting over anyway. I would just get the type, and not sweat what model it is in. I find we have a lot of flexibility with our schedules. This is the only airline I have flown for, so I have nothing to compare to. We can trade with each other, or with crew scheduling through line improvement. As far as dropping trips goes you would have to put them in giveaway, and see who wants them. It seems like turns go really fast, and reserve stuff never goes unless it is a partial block. I did have someone pick up a high paying 4 day once. I can speak of my junior experience in OAK. Being a highly commuted junior base makes it difficult to give away trips. This is all of course on the FO side. The CPT side seems to have it's own dynamic. Sorry about the unorganized ramble. Just sitting in the hotel, and thought I would throw sumthin out there.

 

[chrtrplt]

Incidentally, if there is any PHX based SWA pilot that has nothing better to do than answer some more questions about the company, I'll be at Cutter Aviation from 1600 to 2100 local. Maybe I'll buy a cold one for you.

 

[Indapool]

I'm just hitting year 3 as a PHX FO. Send me an E-mail and I'll hook you up.

 

[bestpilot]

I'm just hitting year 3 as a PHX FO. Send me an E-mail and I'll hook you up.

So, your name is "Indapool"? Duude, I was thimkin dat you were still IN-DA-POOL!

You been like OUTTA-DA-POOL for 3 years, right? He Bro, dats freaking fabulouso, congrats, Dude. How you likin the SWA, Bro? Was it worth the wait? I'm thinkin your gonna say that Yah Mahn, mo debinitly, but I'm wantin to hear from the source of course (unless of course that source of course is that famous Mr. Ed--Ma and Pops made me watck the talkin horse show as a tyke--kinda freaked me out, dude).

So, Dude, if your OUTTA-DA-POOL, then why don't you change your name from Indapool to sometin diffrent, like maybe, hmmm, I don't know, but like just maybe,
OUTTA-DA-POOL!

Are you like more proud dat you were in the pool or more stoked dat your OUTTA-DA-POOL?

Just wondrin.