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SWA Rumor Control

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ATA75Pilot

ATA75Pilot

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 26, 2001
Posts
67
Was jumpseating on SWA yesterday and got talking to the First Officer about the hiring situation.

He told me that while flying with one of the Regional Chief Pilots recently he was told that SWA would only be calling applicants that possesed the type rating.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

-ed
 
Think of this answer within the perspective of pre-911 & post-911 applicants. Prior to 911 the number of applicants w/types was not sufficient enough to fill all interview slots (which were planned for 3 weeks in Oct/ 2 wks in Nov (approximate). So folks without types were getting called. Things changed dramatically post 911.

Interviews being arranged for Jan are interviews that were previously scheduled prior to 911. Both types & non-types are being called for these interviews since interviews scheduled then included both. ANYONE who had a hard interview date PRIOR to 911 who HASN'T been called needs to call the People Dept. The People Dept is calling all these folks but if you haven't been called, do so, its your only "get out jail free card" you'll have, use it. The few remaining slots will be filled with applicants who had not been called prior to 911. BTW, 3 weeks of interviews in Jan. Feb interviews will be arranged in early Jan.

Now, what about types. SWA's policy has always been to interview folks who meet all the qualifications + have a type first. The following factors result in only typed folks being called to fill the few remaining slots in Jan & those in Feb most likely.

1. Applications (w/types) who had not been called for interviews but that have been sitting in the People Dept since 911 waiting for the call.

2. Many folks w/o types prior to 911 who either prior to 911 or after 911 have now gone out to get their types because they realize the best way to improve one's chance to get called for interview is to get a type. That urgency wasn't there prior to 911, it has become a market driven reality post 911.

3. MANY, MANY other furloughed pilots who have applied w/types after 911 (and some even prior to 911).

These three factors are adding to the long wait before folks with types get a call for interview. This is only my guess after talking to the folks in the People Dept but a 5-7 month wait is not unrealistic to expect before a call will be made for those w/o types & it could go longer as other applications are received.

If you have an application (w/o type) in right now & 3 weeks from now someone with a type applies, they will get the call before you most likely. However, this DOES NOT mean you WON'T get an interview. On the contrary, SWA is the only airline that guarantees an interview. All applications that meet the minimum requirements will get called for an interview, the only factor affecting the timing of the is whether you have/get a type rating.

I'm not trying to pump up the various schools out there who give types, I'm just trying to convey what the reality of the situation is. Once in the interview, having a type or not having one has no bearing on whether you get the job. Sorry for the long answer, hope that helps. Hang in there, I believe (no confirmation) more interviews will occur in Feb. Remember our new schedule goes into effect come 5 April. I expect some growth to occur out of that which will have to be met with more pilots down the road, meaning more interviews. Realize 95% of this has been bad news possibly to the non-type folks but hopefully the last 5% will provide some additional signs that things will continue to improve for SWA, i.e. hopefully you too.

chase
 
Thanks for the reply chase.

I'm in a unique situation in that I was called for the interview for September but was unable to schedule one that month (pre 9/11). I was told by my contact person that I would be called for October.

After 9/11 I checked back with her and she said that I was at the top of the list to be called after those with scheduled interviews in September were rescheduled.

Of course I do not have the type and that was the reason for my first post since I haven't heard back yet.

Guess it's time for me to make a call or two.

Thanks Again,

-ed
 
if you were contacted already, i would most definitely call them up and push the issue. the people in that office are really cool and go out of their way th help.
best of luck.
 
Looks like late 2012 will be the earliest. My friend says that they'll probably have to reinterview the whole pool and do some checking on currencies/backgrounds.
 
Tanker Clown said:
Looks like late 2012 will be the earliest. My friend says that they'll probably have to reinterview the whole pool and do some checking on currencies/backgrounds.
Click to expand...

Has anybody killed this tool Tanker's resume yet??

Nevermind....I hope you guys hire him so I never have to fly with him.....
 
This thread has more tools than a Home Depot store. LOL

What a bunch of nerds you boys are. Probably all have small ones 4 sure :-) LOL
 
Pocono Pilot said:
This thread has more tools than a Home Depot store. LOL

What a bunch of nerds you boys are. Probably all have small ones 4 sure :-) LOL
Click to expand...


Fat girls need a big one don't they? Gotta get thru all of your blubber. Say, how'd the whole Rochester divert work out for you in the end? As you like to say, "LOL".
 
A buddy of mine over there says they're talk about a 'big announcement' next month.
Intimated something have to do more with staffing rather than new cities, etc.
What are you guys hearing?
 
In 2001 SWA was a place you went to build up your time to get on at a really good airline like UAL, AAL, DAL, or USAirways
 
BILL LUMBERG said:
OH Yeah?? Well I have a really big WATCH!!:cool:
Click to expand...

And you have a really small paycheck. :laugh:

When are you guys going to get a raise? Mesa guys make fun of Song...er Delta guys. You guys just trying to build time until AirTran calls?

p.s. Answer your radios....and please....please....land on a runway.
 
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pilotyip said:
In 2001 SWA was a place you went to build up your time to get on at a really good airline like UAL, AAL, DAL, or USAirways
Click to expand...

And in the 1960's Pan Am and TWA were the top of the pyramid, Braniff was THE most profitable airline in the 1970's, at one point EAL was the largest airline in the 1980's. We all live in glass houses, some just don't realize it.
 
and Tanker clown, aviation is a small world, if anyone knows who you are you can forget about getting an interview at SWA, and if no does one know you, I think it's safe to say can really still forget about getting an interview. Your posts are indicative of the kind of person all airlines try and avoid and if they get stuck with someone like you, they try and get rid of.
 
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Dan Roman said:
and Tanker clown, aviation is a small world, if anyone knows who you are you can forget about getting an interview at SWA, and if no does one know you, I think it's safe to say can really still forget about getting an interview. Your posts are indicative of the kind of person all airlines try and avoid and if they get stuck with someone like you, they try and get rid of.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure he's been a SWA guy for quite some time - just likes to stir the hornets nest for entertainment. Can't really blame him it's about all FI is worth.
 
nightfr8er said:
Crashpad,

What did your buddy say about the staffing for next year? Any hints?
Click to expand...

If you are asking about SWA staffing...we are overstaffed right now and it will be that way for awhile. Reserves are sitting around, open time is sparse, line averages are down, etc. I have moved backwards in seat in my domicile. No good news except that we have not furloughed yet.
 
I wish we would just get rid of the type requirement all together. Our selection process is just too flawed.

When i was brand new I didnt buy all the "thats alot of money for a 25% chance..." rhetoric. I thought if you were a good pilot and a well rounded individual, you were in. I was wrong!

Since then I have seen way too many turned away that should have been kept, and a few more that have slipped through and made it in that shouldnt have.

Its painful to think of the good ones that were turned down after paying 8K, only to be told "hey, you only have to wait a year." Yeah right, what year?
 
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