SWA Poolies (3)

[4 Fan Trashcan]

Under promise, over deliver. Old school SWA ?

Smoke, mirrors and obfuscation....it's sure as hell working on us. No doubt it's working on the competition too.

 

[Captzaahlie]

If all of this is true the future CP of DEN is call fellow pilots, "butt darts". LOL

 

[MILPILOT17]

I'd put money on it.

I wouldn't put good money on it.

 

[Captzaahlie]

I wouldn't put good money on it.

How 'bout other peoples money that seems to be the trend these days~lol

 

[Daddy]

This thread sucks already

 

[4 Fan Trashcan]

This thread sucks already

So, back the thread. To the SWA guys. How has this summer compared to last summer in terms of flying? More/less/same in terms of OT/VJA/JA?

 

[waveflyer]

More...

 

[chase]

4 Fan,

A couple of factors are in play that are unique to the current situation resulting in much higher reserve utilization on both CA and FO side and more voluntary junior assignments (1.5 pay) and junior available assignmens (2 x pay).

1. All 5800+ pilots are undergoing extra 2 days of training in the sim with the RNAV flying training, step 4. After this training, SWA pilots will after a phase in period have the ability to fly all types of RNAV arrivals and down to the lowest possible GPS/RNAV approach mins. Training concludes for all Dec '10. This additional training requirement has removed the pilots from being available to fly exta and put more flying that is uncovered back into the schedule for other pilots to fly.

2. Optimizing of schedule....this translates to more flex and ups/downs in the schedule...right now the trend is greater utilization of the aircraft...over 11+ hrs a day...not our max by any means but greater than last quarter....more flying, fewer available pilots but this equates to more money on the bottom line....good thing for the long term.

However, this new optimization of schedule has caused the previous metrics in which scheduling gurus, SWA and SWAPA, to become a challenge. What used to be trend lines are not out of whack because of the large ups and downs in the schedules, seasonal flying, that other airlines have done for some time but we are now incorporating with our own unique SWA modeling tools. Consequently the schedule will see greater swings in manning needs/excesses, right now there is a shortage...this fall, probably less of a shortage...1Q11, maybe slightly overmanned (no more RNAV training, pilots great availabilty and reduced seasonal flying) but much less overmanned than a year earlier.

SWA's current schedule is through Feb '11...good news is SWA can and has added flying even after the initial schedule has come out. 3&4Q/10 are 2-3% more ASMs than '08. Two new cities announced for next year...revenue trends upward...$1B extra cash that GK needs to sort out what he wants to do with.

Not a slam dunk by any means but certainly the movement is in the right direction to get some new folks on board in '11.

 

[MILPILOT17]

4 Fan,

A couple of factors are in play that are unique to the current situation resulting in much higher reserve utilization on both CA and FO side and more voluntary junior assignments (1.5 pay) and junior available assignmens (2 x pay).

1. All 5800+ pilots are undergoing extra 2 days of training in the sim with the RNAV flying training, step 4. After this training, SWA pilots will after a phase in period have the ability to fly all types of RNAV arrivals and down to the lowest possible GPS/RNAV approach mins. Training concludes for all Dec '10. This additional training requirement has removed the pilots from being available to fly exta and put more flying that is uncovered back into the schedule for other pilots to fly.

2. Optimizing of schedule....this translates to more flex and ups/downs in the schedule...right now the trend is greater utilization of the aircraft...over 11+ hrs a day...not our max by any means but greater than last quarter....more flying, fewer available pilots but this equates to more money on the bottom line....good thing for the long term.

However, this new optimization of schedule has caused the previous metrics in which scheduling gurus, SWA and SWAPA, to become a challenge. What used to be trend lines are not out of whack because of the large ups and downs in the schedules, seasonal flying, that other airlines have done for some time but we are now incorporating with our own unique SWA modeling tools. Consequently the schedule will see greater swings in manning needs/excesses, right now there is a shortage...this fall, probably less of a shortage...1Q11, maybe slightly overmanned (no more RNAV training, pilots great availabilty and reduced seasonal flying) but much less overmanned than a year earlier.

SWA's current schedule is through Feb '11...good news is SWA can and has added flying even after the initial schedule has come out. 3&4Q/10 are 2-3% more ASMs than '08. Two new cities announced for next year...revenue trends upward...$1B extra cash that GK needs to sort out what he wants to do with.

Not a slam dunk by any means but certainly the movement is in the right direction to get some new folks on board in '11.

TT, I mean LS in 5-4-3-2-1...................

 

[4 Fan Trashcan]

Chase,

Thanks on behalf of the poolies for a no-BS update.

4 Fan,

A couple of factors are in play that are unique to the current situation resulting in much higher reserve utilization on both CA and FO side and more voluntary junior assignments (1.5 pay) and junior available assignmens (2 x pay).

1. All 5800+ pilots are undergoing extra 2 days of training in the sim with the RNAV flying training, step 4. After this training, SWA pilots will after a phase in period have the ability to fly all types of RNAV arrivals and down to the lowest possible GPS/RNAV approach mins. Training concludes for all Dec '10. This additional training requirement has removed the pilots from being available to fly exta and put more flying that is uncovered back into the schedule for other pilots to fly.

2. Optimizing of schedule....this translates to more flex and ups/downs in the schedule...right now the trend is greater utilization of the aircraft...over 11+ hrs a day...not our max by any means but greater than last quarter....more flying, fewer available pilots but this equates to more money on the bottom line....good thing for the long term.

However, this new optimization of schedule has caused the previous metrics in which scheduling gurus, SWA and SWAPA, to become a challenge. What used to be trend lines are not out of whack because of the large ups and downs in the schedules, seasonal flying, that other airlines have done for some time but we are now incorporating with our own unique SWA modeling tools. Consequently the schedule will see greater swings in manning needs/excesses, right now there is a shortage...this fall, probably less of a shortage...1Q11, maybe slightly overmanned (no more RNAV training, pilots great availabilty and reduced seasonal flying) but much less overmanned than a year earlier.

SWA's current schedule is through Feb '11...good news is SWA can and has added flying even after the initial schedule has come out. 3&4Q/10 are 2-3% more ASMs than '08. Two new cities announced for next year...revenue trends upward...$1B extra cash that GK needs to sort out what he wants to do with.

Not a slam dunk by any means but certainly the movement is in the right direction to get some new folks on board in '11.