SWA/SWAPA hiring numbers..

[HOUMAN]

Well then, I guess it is a "done deal". No need to go out and get your type rating.
Whatever.
For those of you that have a brain and really want to work for SWA... go get the type rating. I would not hold my breath waiting for SWA to eliminate the requirement.

 

[wil]

If there was a job offer, then maybe. It's still on the bubble as to whether or not this is PFT. I mean I would have to go through training anyway so how does this save the company money? And don't give me the 'ol it show you want to work here B.S. A type to just interview? Nuts-

 

[RJones]

Wil, I guess you don't want to work for SWA.

 

[wil]

RJones- you are correct but not because of the type.

 

[llowwelll]

I'm getting excited!! AWESOME news!!!

 

[Falconjet]

Pool Correlation Factor

I talked to Lindsey today about getting fingerprinted in preparation for a class date sometime next year. I am number 112 on the unofficial list and she said I was about 7 classes out at 20 per class. Nothing firm yet, but if all goes according to plan maybe Mar or Apr 04, which seems to jibe very nicely with all the rumors. Perhaps the unofficial pool numbers are starting to match up pretty well with the real pool numbers.

 

[SODA]

Was it Comair or EJA that did away with the type and re embursed all the employees who had paid in the past? I think SWA will still require the type, maybe just not for the interview. That would be a nice $8000 bonus check though.

 

[Snoopy58]

Southwest recently started requiring the type rating in order to send in an application. To suggest that they're about to turn 180 and go 2 steps in the opposite direction, to eliminate the historic requirement of having a type to be hired, is pretty extreme. It's also the sort of "on-again, off-again" mismanagement that SWA doesn't usually engage in.

As far as the "better stack of applications at FedEx" idea, I can't imagine that the current batch of applicants (in the stack, and ready to submit one as soon as they start accepting apps again) is particularly lacking... if that was a concern, the time to have eliminated the requirement would have been the summer of 2001 (stiff competition from other airlines for applicants), rather than the spring of 2004 (far, far more available pilots than new jobs in the industry)!

Anything is possible, but I would be shocked if SWA got rid of the type requirement, both because of the above, and

1. Every pilot on the property had to have the type, either from the T-43 or another airline or by paying for the instruction, and eliminating it entirely would ruffle a LOT of feathers. "I had to, so dog-gone it ..."

2. Requiring the type answers a lot of questions that you don't get in an interview: do you REALLY want to be here? and, Can you fly a sim to -121 standards?

As I said, anything is possible, but I really doubt that the type requirement to interview will go away any time soon, and I doubt very, very seriously that SWA will hire anybody without the type in the next 10+ years.

Just my personal opinion.

Snoopy

 

[scopeCMRandASA]

Southwest recently started requiring the type rating in order to send in an application. To suggest that they're about to turn 180 and go 2 steps in the opposite direction, to eliminate the historic requirement of having a type to be hired, is pretty extreme. It's also the sort of "on-again, off-again" mismanagement that SWA doesn't usually engage in.

As far as the "better stack of applications at FedEx" idea, I can't imagine that the current batch of applicants (in the stack, and ready to submit one as soon as they start accepting apps again) is particularly lacking... if that was a concern, the time to have eliminated the requirement would have been the summer of 2001 (stiff competition from other airlines for applicants), rather than the spring of 2004 (far, far more available pilots than new jobs in the industry)!

Anything is possible, but I would be shocked if SWA got rid of the type requirement, both because of the above, and

1. Every pilot on the property had to have the type, either from the T-43 or another airline or by paying for the instruction, and eliminating it entirely would ruffle a LOT of feathers. "I had to, so dog-gone it ..."

2. Requiring the type answers a lot of questions that you don't get in an interview: do you REALLY want to be here? and, Can you fly a sim to -121 standards?

As I said, anything is possible, but I really doubt that the type requirement to interview will go away any time soon, and I doubt very, very seriously that SWA will hire anybody without the type in the next 10+ years.

Just my personal opinion.

Snoopy

Ok, I did not mean to get everybody fired up over this. What I posted was based on the conversation I had with these SW guys. Here is the scoopfrom as much detail as I can give.

This info is from a base chief pilot at a base EPT day--I think that is what they call it:

Hiring starts in 2004--as well as interviewing--in order to have background checks completed when the pool is dry

Indeed the 737 type requirement is under serious REVIEW. The reason, as explained to me, is that an average SWA newbie has less experiencethan his counterpart at other airlines. There are many VERY qualified pilots on the street, with years and years of airline experience, who simply are not going to go out and get the type rating. United, USAir, and Delta come to mind. All fly 737s . The mentality is that many of these furloughees have a couple years worth of experience in this jet where as many SWA new hires have about 6 sims worth of experience. I guess this is what they meant by "experience and not part 121--as I stated earlier. Sorry for the miscue on my part.

Also, they will be contacting these carriers to cerify that the applicant has indeed resigned their seniority at their furloughed carrier.

Just got off the phone and this is the scoop--take it for what it is worth. I have no dog in this hunt, as my aspirations are elsewhere. I was up till recently a lurker, and have seen the great interest in SWA on this board. I wanted to pass along some of what heard--again from a base chief pilot's mouth.

--a concerned regional pilot

 

[SWAnnabee]

Just another "what if".

IF the type requirement is going away because it is driving away "more qualified/better" applicants, and LUV in "concerned" about the quality of pilot applicants at LUV compared with FedEx, could the SUPPOSED 737type elimination be followed by an INCREASE in the required hours for PIC, TT, TURBINE etc??

 

[HOUMAN]

Why would SWA still keep the type??

I might be wrong on this, but I believe SWA gets an insurance break due to having 2 type rated pilots at the controls.

 

[SWAnnabee]

Two pilots at the controls?

Clothed or naked?

 

[Bill Nelson]

I might buy your theory that they want more "experienced" pilots from other airlines if SWA was in the business of retreading old tires. They aren't. There are enough qualified pilots with types who want to work at SWA that they don't have to draw from the furloughed guys.

(I am not saying that they don't hire furloughed guys, because they do, I am just saying that I don't think they will restructure their program to accomodate all of these folks.)

 

[thebluto]

Sorry, I'm being a smart alec

Should I go un-get my type and un-be a military guy?

 

[HOUMAN]

thebluto,
Yes, and while you are at it, start flying naked. Maybe that will give you the "121" experience that will push you over the edge.

 

[llowwelll]

From what I understand, Houman is right about the insurance break being a big part of the reason for the type. I'm not sure if flying naked does much for your chances though.

 

[Helmsmen]

There are plenty of furloughed guys who have both the type and significant 121 time. I have over 11000 121 hours and the 737 type rating. And plenty of my buds from TWA have it as well. I am not in the pool but my app. is on file and I can't wait to resign my seniority from AA for a position at SWA. Assuming that I ever get an oppurtunity to interview.

Helmsmen

 

[skirt]

For whatever it is worth, there are 100's of guys/gals at United who made it as far as the 737-200 or 737-300 left seat (and therefore have a type) and who are now facing furlough, or are already on the street. If you combine these folks with the ones who went out and bought a type, you have to have well over a 1000 PLUS the 800 or so who already have an app on file. So, that means conservatively, that there are 1800 potential applicants waiting for an interview who already are typed. If you really wanted a job at SWA, it makes sense to spend the $$ and get a type. Meanwhile, consider JetBlue too!

Skirt

 

[SWAnnabee]

number crunching

When the app window does open, how will interview selection be made? Will the typed pile get first preference? Then, of those with types will they be chosen according to #hours and qualifications or will it be based on WHEN you got your app on file(ie first come, first serve)? I am hoping for the latter. As a military guy with a type rating I feel I have some good credentials but at only around 2000TT I fear that I will never be able to compete with others who are furloughed and/or on the street. Kind of makes me wonder if its an impossible goal with no other job prospects in this job market for many years to come. Have to consider my family. Tough decision. Any words of wisdom/advice welcome.

 

[Snoopy58]

boz,

back "in the day," the rule was "first in, first called, with the typed guys ahead of the not-typed guys." If your app is already in the stack at SWA & you are typed, then I think it's safe to say that you will get called for an interview before most of the non-typed guys in the stack, and before they start calling guys who have yet to apply. SWA tends to be very fair & honor the "place in line" of people who are in their system already. What order the call will come I wouldn't speculate, but the number of apps in the stack with types isn't all that huge, so I would think it won't be too long after interviews start up again.

If you have the type but do NOT yet have your app in, then it's much more anybody's guess. However, SWA recognizes that 2000 hours of single seat tactical jet time (or teaching students in high performance jets) is not at all the same as 2000 hours in a 121 environment, and I think you can be confident that they will make great efforts to be fair to you & others in that sort of situation. (Also, I would highly doubt that they'll stop looking at 10 year/3000 hour military guys since there are "so many 8000 hour ex-121 pilots out there" -- they tend to like a diversity of pilot backgrounds.) If this is the boat you're in, by all means be READY to go when they start accepting applications...

One of the leading "killers" that I've heard about for promising, dedicated, qualified pilot applicants is getting "the call" for the interview & not being sufficiently prepared. Whether this involves an interview prep session (I highly recommend Rob Beeks) or simply home study & introspection (Chery Cage book etc) for you, it's a process that you do NOT want to rush & be doing all at the last minute. Too many guys have blown the interview by not preparing adequately for it. Don't wait until the call comes to start preparing!

all the best,

Snoopy