SWA to train 48 newhires in next 2 month

[OPIE01]

I just got off the MSN Messanger chat line with a SWA bud who just completed recurrent training in Dallas. He said he was told they were set to train 48 new hires during the next 2 months.

He didn't know if that included the July 15 class or classes starting in Aug.

 

[SentryIP]

New Training Classes

OPIE01,

Sure hope you're right. Fly safe.

 

[tredding@swa]

rumors

Great fodder for us wrinkled souls paddling around in the ol' cement pond....

Whatever the reason(s).... just start training folks so we can start our careers!!!

Thanks again to all who are active on this board - see ya soon in DAL! Regards - K

 

[swaforme]

Just flew with a check airmen today and he said. " 9 a/c to be delivered the remainder of this year. Two classes per month starting in Aug".

 

[RightBettor]

Ya know... I reaaaaalllly hope that information is accurate.

Just how many pilots will they need to staff 9 airplanes? Anyone care to take a WAG or does someone know that magic number? I thought it was 5 crews per airplane (5 CA & 5 FO) that's about 90 new-hires by year-end. (Hey... I can do fancy math. Let's see, if the point is 4 or 10, I get 2 to 1 on my odds with a pass line bet... if I place the 6 or 8, I get paid 7 for 6... yada yada yada.) Then again, there are six ways to "seven out."

Regards,
RightBettor

 

[LUVStruck]

Vegas baby, Vegas...

I think RightBettor is a shoe-in for that Vegas base I keep hearing about...

 

[tredding@swa]

C'mON 7!!

Bettor - the #s I have heard for crew:airframe mix are between 11 & 12. (11.x has been what I hear regularly)

SO - 99 to 108 damp bodies is a good guess, or a good place to start...? Sure makes for some sweatly palms when you are at #90 on our Poolie List!?!?!

ANY movement is good.... and this is SO much fun anyhow - everyday brings more great rumors.... I can't wait to log in to see what has been stirred up since the previous day!!!

Have a great day to all fellow poolies.... off to the pool for me, gonna be 104 today in PHX!!

Regards - K

 

[Slug]

Frequency is the key

Tredding,

If you are only checking once a day for new rumors to be dredged up then you are not checking frequently enough. I'm on the 4 hour schedule. It gives me plenty of opportunity to waste the maximum amount of time per day.

Slug

 

[tredding@swa]

wastin' time

Slug-

Unlike some of you... I am quite happy to report that I am VERY gainfully employed. Even too employed at times.

Have been flying many owner trips, and mucho charters on the jet the last couple of months.... I would go NUTS if I had to sit around and wait for SWA to call, and NOT be out flying!?!?!

Yikes! The thought even gives me the "willys"

Can't wait to bid for (and FLY) a line! Not wearing a pager/cell phone, not get called out in the middle of a movie, concert, the 14th green, a jog on the beach, or any other event in my life will probably freek me out for at least a few months. My career as a pilot has always been "on call", NEVER had a schedule, almost can't imagine being a pilot without all of the uncertainity.

I hope that some of you on either side of me (#90) will be in my class, I look forward to meeting some of the folks I have had the opportunity to "meet" here in this forum!

Have fun reading postings 6 times a day Slug.... just curious, do you set alarms during the night to wake up and log on - or do you just wake up on schedule like pulling watch!?!?!

Later - Tredding

 

[Slug]

Flying is phun

No, don't get me wrong. I am flying and still loving it. I just finished up a 3.0 basic formation sortie with two pretty good studs. Its paying the mortgage and grocery bill, although 12 days in a row is a long time to be in DelRio (if you don't live there). Tomorrow is and out and back (all basic formation) for lunch in some exotic location (LBB? ABI? AMA? MAF?) Either way can't wait to meet all of ya'll in the future.


Slug

P.S. with a name like slug do you think I get out of bed to check the message board?

 

[swaforme]

Hey Slug,

Just curious, if you were called back to UAL and offered a class date with SWA the same day, which would you take?

 

[Slug]

PM

SWAFORME,

Check your PMs.



Slug

 

[chase]

Two more classes in Aug

To all readers,

I am going to confirm with my chief pilot tomorrow & the PD about the word I heard today, 2 more classes are firmed up for Aug!!! The captain who told me got the word straight from my chief pilot so I am willing to go ahead & confirm what has been reported by others above on this subject but will talk to him personally tomorrow about. Don't know class size or anything else but will get details tomorrow. Just got back from a 4 day trip after weather problems over Houston last Saturday that resulted in getting the airplane in DAL 8 hours late. Everything else was fine but a great lesson to pass along to everyone out there.

I flew with several Capts (I was on reserve & they come & go sometimes) but two of them are folks others don't really care to fly with, or so their rep is. Well in fact, the first guy I had a great time with & while he was a little short with the FAs at time otherwise he turned out to be just fine. In fact I ended up talking about his "rep" & the fact that many folks who add to the "urban legend" I have found out haven't flown with him when I've confronted them about the guy in the past. The 2nd guy is somewhat the same way but again it turned into a Mutt & Jeff show all day today & made the day go fast. You'll be asked about how you deal with difficult capts with reputations that maybe less than sterling & be prepared to talk about how you handle it.

Sorry for the rambling, I do enjoy the people here as you can tell. Hope many of you will be able to join us soon. Continue to be patient & focus on what is important in your life, family, friends, faith & whatever else you find important. Take care & God Bless, cheers,

 

[RightBettor]

Yeah!!

Now wouldn't that just be Jim-Dandy!!!!

Let's hope it's true... I'm running out of sunscreen and there's some folks in the deep end who need to touch bottom and take a break from tredding. Keeping fingers crossed for more good news. Thanks Chase for keeping us as informed as possible.

Regards,

RightBettor

 

[T1bubba]

Chase,

You made my day, thanks for the update!

Now if I can just make one of those classes... It's getting a little old driving by BWI every day on the way to my desk job, watching all those jets come and go.

T1bubba

 

[chase]

More intel

I've confirmed with the folks I trust that the "near" future looks bright for new hires at SWA.

Back in June I believe when the first word of the July class was confirmed I was told there were 2 more classes tentatively scheduled for Aug. This appears to still be the case, no the PD aren't filling classes so pls don't call them to confirm/deny this. Again, THEY ONLY DEAL WITH THE NEAR TERM & NO RUMORS (had to put that in for Jenn, Amanda, everyone's sake there!!!)

Additional indicators are that the flight ops side is readying itself for a sudden & rapid increase in the number of new hire training. I won't go into detail but one of those factors is the outcome of the new contract extension that is being voted on & will be concluded around 19 Aug. Once that is finalized & other factors firm up hiring will increase again. No idea on numbers in classes, dates or anything else, too soon to get that specific. The good news is that things will pick up for those in the pool & this is very important, FOR THOSE WISHING TO INTERVIEW ALSO!!!

Again I have no idea when interviews might start again but certainly sometime in the fall would be realistic if classes are to be filled with current poolies. There is enough poolies to keep classes filled with bodies probably into late this year & early next year.

I don't usually put out news unless I feel pretty confident that it will turn out to be true & while there are obviously factors out there that could change this forecast the future as always looks bright for SWA. 2Qtr results come out tomorrow & will show a profit, the analyst say around $80M, we'll see. That obviously bodes well for us also.

Continue to keep the faith & hang in there. If you have specific questions don't hesitate to PM or ask on here. But again I don't have specific dates, numbers or other details just that more info should be forthcoming soon from flight ops & after 19th Aug when the votes are counted. Good luck & God Bless,

 

[tredding@swa]

thanks chase...

The "inside" update is mucho appreciated.... just sent my wife out to the boat store to pick up a spiffy , new,comfy Sterns life vest as I am starting to look like a frog with these HUGE legs I am getting from all of the tredding going on here!!!

While we are on the topic of the extension of the existing 2004 contract date... how is the voting coming along?? Last I heard it was running about 60/40 FOR.... still running about the same???

Have a great day all!! More good news is ALWAYS nice to hear - even if it is just rumors, at least they are happy rumors!!!!!

Regards - Tredding (chlorine drinker #90)

 

[F/O]

Just curious, if you were called back to UAL and offered a class date with SWA the same day, which would you take?

Slug

Do you mind sharing with us all?

 

[shootr]

And possibly burn a bridge? Don't be surprised by who reads this board and how easy it is to figure out who is typing! I don't know Slug but I can guess his answer. I'll bet he's smart enough not to answer on a public forum, though.

Good Luck All,
shootr

 

[F/O]

I'm not sure there is any bridge to burn. Slug has a number at UAL and he's in the pool at SWA, having jumped through all the hoops and been approved for hire.

I suppose I am venturing off from the original thread but I am interested in opinions about the long-term, rest-of-your-career prospects at UAL/DAL/AA/NWA vs SWA from anyone who has been hired by both.

 

[BeerNear]

For ya'll going to training..

Howdy,

For ya'll goin' to training, I thought this might get ya fired up.

http://www.melaman2.com/tvshows/D1.html

Select DALLAS on that page.

Take care and fly safe,

BN

 

[tredding@swa]

9 additional planes?

Hey swaforme,

Your post;

"Just flew with a check airmen today and he said. " 9 a/c to be delivered the remainder of this year. Two classes per month starting in Aug"...."

Would that be 9 NEW planes in addition to the previusly deferred 19. 19+9=28 planes in 2002. OR, are we referring to the same 9 planes that are part of the batch deferred post 9/11????

While we are asking, 2 classes/mo. starting in Aug & ending when?????

To anyone else who is SWA employee.... any recent news on how the Aug 19th voting is coming along??? A SWA F/O bud of mine seems to think the extention will pass by a "slim" margin... any thoughts/opinions????

My retired DAL buddy thinks IF the pilots vote YES, training and growth will being asap.... could be one of those times in history that SWA decides to grow greater than 10% to capture opportunity in the industry?????

Thanks for any input on these issues.... this board is GREAT!!

Have a great day fellow bathers & all spectators as well!!!

Regards - tredding

 

[CoopDog]

4 more -700's coming from Boeing

Hey Tredding,

This scoop is from the 2nd QTR results live web-cast from last Thursday. SWA has taken 14 deliveries so far this year from Boeing. They are taking 4 more this year (2 in 3rd QTR and 2 in 4th QTR) for a total of 18 in 2002. To summarize the rest of the interesting info, they are looking at "cautious growth", with next year being in a "state of flux - no additional plans", and planning 14 a/c deliveries next year. Also, no new cities this year.

From an article I read the other day from "Airline Pilot Careers" magazine, SWA CFO Gary Kelly said in May, "It's as fluid for us as it has been for many years. I don't know whether that's going to be the right number or not". In 1990, Southwest had about 100 B-737's in its fleet, and in the ensuing period took on 60 more than expected, he noted. "This period feels similar to that. I would certainly admit that we have to be thinking about [buying more aircraft]."

My personal opinion:
I would be interested to know right now if SWA is looking at Midways ex -700's. If they're going to be parked, I'm sure a deal can be made to benefit both parties. Midway gets much needed cash for the pending US Airways Express deal, and SWA gets some fairly new -700's at a great price, w/o changing their delivery schedule with Boeing. Meanwhile, 50-60 poolies get out of the water sooner than expected. Just a thought.....

I'll toss you a towel.

 

[LearAv8r]

midway had the -800's......doesn't fit into swa palns....

my .02

LearAv8r-

 

[airlinepilot]

Midway 737's

I was in the first class of FO's for the Midway 737's.....Midway had 700's not 800's. Only difference is they didn't have the same displays (SWA has the round gauges vs the square ones).

 

[LearAv8r]

my mistake, i thought they were the -800's. I was on the RJ so that should explain it I guess. I do know that they had the auto throttles and different cockpit setup... been so long since I was in RDU.


LearAv8r-

 

[CoopDog]

Don't count out -800's at SWA.....

For what it's worth, I have heard that SWA is "thinking" about a larger long haul version. The -800 or -900 would fit nicely into their long haul markets.

If the new SWA long haul markets prove to be successful, and why wouldn't they? - I would say the possibilities are very good of seeing the stretched 73 in canyon blue. An OAK - HNL pairing could be in the works some day.

"Let's book 'em Danno."

 

[tredding@swa]

new planes

Thanks for the "replay" of the recent web cast data concerning airframes!! I was out that day, and don't have the bandwidth on the laptop to listen to the archived broadcast.

While we are voicing opinions...

It seems to me that SWA could be in a position to take advantage of;
A. the recent reduced capacity
B. trend of pax wanting cheaper tickets

During the early '90s, post Gulf War & MINOR recession in '94... SWA moved rapidly to expand into markets where low cost was needed. It would not shock me if they decided to do much the same now. After all, the core Biz model WORKS, the current model at UAL, AA, DAL, NWA, CO & USA is being tweeked and is still bloated, (not to mention some pretty poor management at some of these carriers) so why not take advantage of the competition?? I would!

Also - On a recent trip to BFI I did see a few Canyon Blue paint jobs on the Boeing ramp.... if anyone else is in the area, give us a fresh count!?!?

Have a good evening Ladies!!

Regards - Tredding

 

[flint4xx]

According to Boeing's website, the 800 and 900 have less range than the -700. I heard that Boeing is giving up on the 900 too.

I think some minds are likely to change given the current stock price. We'll find out on Aug 19th.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Midway had 737-700s..Not 800s.

MLBWINGBORN
Former Midway FO 737-700 NG