SWA Poolies . . . a glimmer of hope?

[MILPILOT17]

Jump,
I don't remember Arnold dropping the F-Bomb!
You missed my qualifier, the word "few", as regards retirements/attrition. We have had some retirements, medical outs, firings, and tragically, at least 2 deaths that I know of. In any case, we have less pilots on property than we did when we stopped hiring in 2008.

The economy may be stuck in neutral, the over-60 geezers are still here, and the -800s don't mean much in the short-term, but we're adding three cities, still growing in DEN, BOS is going very well and UAL/CAL will mean more to us than getting slots in EWR. And an election season in November may blunt the damage the current leadership in DC is doing to business. I don't predict we'll turn on the spigots full blast, but can't buy the half-empty story much longer.

Good luck.
spciii

I don't know about new hire classes, but spciii's info above is 100% correct. Hang in there poolies or should I say float in there?

 

[GuppyWN]

The reserves on both sides of the cockpit are sitting whole blocks without getting used starting this month.

I just can't see needing anyone until at least spring.

Gup

 

[mt2]

August numbers looked pretty good, again.

 

[StopNTSing]

Lots of optimism from nearly everyone I spoke with while at the training center recently. To a man (or woman) they all believe once the RNP training wraps up in Dec, that new-hire classes will start in early '11. Also had an asst chief pilot on the jumpseat recently who said he would gladly trade the next twenty years for his previous twenty years at SWA...."You ain't seen nu-thin yet!"

So for what it's worth....

 

[slaquer5]

Lots of optimism from nearly everyone I spoke with while at the training center recently. To a man (or woman) they all believe once the RNP training wraps up in Dec, that new-hire classes will start in early '11. Also had an asst chief pilot on the jumpseat recently who said he would gladly trade the next twenty years for his previous twenty years at SWA...."You ain't seen nu-thin yet!"

So for what it's worth....

That is the buzz w/ the higher ups at HQ. Take it for whats....

 

[bluestreaking]

Also had an asst chief pilot on the jumpseat recently who said he would gladly trade the next twenty years for his previous twenty years at SWA...."You ain't seen nu-thin yet!"

So for what it's worth....

Yeah Baby! We're going to "Shock and Awe" the world with RNP! :uzi:

 

[Tanker Clown]

Hope you all are right. I'm hearing that the brass won't agree with the union to a one for one swap with the 737-800. If that comes to be, I've been told that hiring won't happen until 2012 at the earliest. Also heard there's trouble brewing in the union...

 

[DesertDuck]

I sit reserve and I get used every time. I have only had one whole block off one time in my 2 + years here at SWA. That was in Sep 09. I guess we'll see.

 

[scoreboardII]

Also had an asst chief pilot on the jumpseat recently who said he would gladly trade the next twenty years for his previous twenty years at SWA...."You ain't seen nu-thin yet!"

Well, yes, he probably thinks the $40ish new hire rate is 10 times more than he made, and they'll all be upgrading any year now.

 

[Whaler]

No word from our senior poolies on being called to go pee in a cup yet. We figure that will be the first indication of the hiring wheels being put into motion.

 

[The Prussian]

Gotta say, guys, hang in there...last year, there was no hope. But lately, we're sounding more positive. Just started Panama City, and announced Newark, and that's not counting CHS, and GSP. That easily should soak up what overmanning was here...Things are sounding positive...the only "fly in the ointment" would be a double dip...hang in there. (I'm just a guy that's hoping the government doesn't FORCE the economy to heal, but backs off on taxes, and allows the economy to heal)

 

[Daddy]

Hope you all are right. I'm hearing that the brass won't agree with the union to a one for one swap with the 737-800. If that comes to be, I've been told that hiring won't happen until 2012 at the earliest. Also heard there's trouble brewing in the union...

Right as usual, TC...see you on the line!

 

[Moon-dog]

Somehow I doubt it, but we will see.

 

[murano]

Funny how all the optimism comes from the guys in the left seat. Sure we're flying to new cities, but they are optimizing the crap out of our schedules and doing it with no growth. Gary has stated we purchased too many airframes in the past decade and he will replace the aging 300s with 800s. It only takes four 800s to equal the seat capacity of five 300s. We might not even need any new hires when the retirements start happening again because of the need for less airframes.

Trust me, I want you poolies on the property more than anything! But ask most of the FOs and we've got a very steep hill to climb. Let's hope I'm wrong.

 

[bmxandjets]

The reserves on both sides of the cockpit are sitting whole blocks without getting used starting this month.

I just can't see needing anyone until at least spring.

Gup

Well, wouldn't a Jan new hire class put butts in seats in the spring..? Or, are we splitting atoms here..? Or, just drinking kool-aid from half empty glasses..?