SWA So Cal base possibility?

[Zinger]

Hello SWA fans:

I was curious to know what others thought about the possibility of a Southern California pilot base (Los Angeles, San Diego, Burbank, Ontario, or Orange County) in the future. I understand that part of the decision is based on the number of aircraft that overnight, etc. On that note...how many airplanes overnight at the current bases and how many are known to overnight in the above mentioned So Cal cities? Thanks. Make it a great day.

 

[Snoopy58]

LAX is a very busy station, and has beaucoup jets & crews overnight there. There have been credible rumors of LAX becoming a crew base in the past. Along with LAS, TPA, MCI, etc. At the moment, of course, those sorts of plans are on hold, but things will resume at some point in the future.

SAN isn't really central enough to have as much traffic as LA, although we do overnight a respectable # of airplanes there (though I don't have access to exact numbers offhand). ONT has some capacity, but doesn't seem like it's all that busy -- certainly not like our gates in LA. As for BUR & SNA, they have "issues" that make them highly unlikely candidates to ever be crew bases -- short runway at BUR, and an insane noise abatement profile at SNA.

But I'd say LAX could definitely be a crew base some time in the future.

Snoopy

 

[Heavy Set]

Don't move to LA unless you can:

a. Afford a 2,000 sq. ft home in a run-down area for $450K+ (1 bedroom condo "near" Redondo Beach sells for $250K)

B. Otherwise commute to work from long distances - say 90 min commutes minimum (most pilots would live waaaaay outside LA to be able to afford anything decent - unless your spouse is RICH)


I'd say stick to the other bases...


Cheers

 

[SWA/FO]

SWA does not like CA bases. To expensive. There will not be another CA base.

 

[singlespeed]

Snoopy58,

You mentioned a MCI base. How much of a possibility is that? I sometimes fly there in the early AM and it seems there are alot of SWA 737s there, it seems like there are alot of SWA 737 there all the time as a matter of fact. With Vangaurd gone SWA could be the next hometown airline. Kansas City is very affordable

 

[Snoopy58]

You mentioned a MCI base. How much of a possibility is that?

Great question! The bases I mentioned above are the "usual suspects" when the topic of the next crew base gets kicked around, and all have reasons that they would be a reasonable choice. You hit the highlights of why MCI would be a good choice. Unfortunately, I don't really have much insight into the current state of the decision-making process, just the very basics involved, so I can report rumors that I hear from chief pilots & check airmen & training center types, but there haven't been any of those lately that indicate ANY new base is about to open. Somewhat the opposite for at least a while.

I guess I'd say that, when "they" determine that it's time for a new crew base, it's a good bet that MCI will be considered. What the odds are that it will be it, I don't know. LAS was the "leading candidate" since well before MCO became a base, but every time I stop in there I ask about it, and to date everyone in LAS laughed & said that they don't see any signs of it.

Worst of all, the all powerful all knowing "they" who decide such things have been very bad about including me, or any of the guys I fly with, in their e-mail loop! "They" keep neglecting to ask my opinion about new bases, new jets, new classes, and such things, so I'm stuck with less precise guesstimates. <sigh>

But I'm always happy to speculate or pass on the latest rumor!

Cheers,

Snoopy

 

[greyhound]

Isn't it about the same to live in OAK, or LAX?

 

[737tanker]

I don't think that there will be a crew base for SWA in So Cal because of the problems in OAK. The 2 major problems is that every year SWA has to certify that the non-resident pilots & F/As do over 50% of there flying outside of CA, otherwise the state requires that they pay income tax to CA. The other problem is that all pilots & F/As at the crew base have to pay into the CA Workman Comp program. The rumor from the training center is that there is a new crew base in the budget for 2004. From all the rumors the choices are 1) TPA 2) LAS & 3) MCI.

 

[Flycatcher99]

MCI...

On a recent trip through MCI, I had heard that if American was to pull out of the old TWA maintenance facility there (which I believe they are considering), that SWA might be interested in making MCI a MX base, which might further increase the chances of them making it a domicile.

 

[singlespeed]

I hear alot in the news about American in Kansas City. They still have the base up there but not sure for how long. The airline I worked at in the past (not mainline) was primarily a east coast airline. I thougt the mainline devision would take advantage of MCI's cental location to expand west. They are now going with RJ's and have a different business plan. SWA has that problem solved because of LUV feild and MDW are both fairley cental locations.

I am not sure about the current mayor of KC of how aggressive they are in the aviation community. It seems that KC has let airports go away in the past and aviation is not that important until people want to go somewhere. MCI's biggest disadvantage is its location in relationship to the city. Anyone who overnights here knows what I am talking about. Its a long drive into the city and 1/2 of the population of the metro is in KS. I'll say when, not if the maint. base shuts down it will put 2000 people give or take out of work. Sprint employs about 4x as many people so you see where the importance lies in their minds. I feel that the current mayor will not go after SWA to make them a home at MCI. I hope they prove me wrong.

For me and alot of others MCI would be great!!! I don't work for SWA but as a potintial employee and a current customer I and the people of KC would benefit for having SWA here. As we all know what works for me, dosn't always work for others.

Snoopy58, Flycatcher99 and others thanks for all the info you have posted. If I hear any more rumors about American maint. base I will forward it on.