To Type or not to type?

[JetFumes]

O.k. Here it goes. I am currently a CRJ captain, with 350 PIC in type. Before that I was a Captain and checkairman on a Jetsream 4100 with 1850 PIC in that airplane. I'm starting year six at Indy Air, and am being displaced to CRJ FO for an undetermined amount of time. If Indy Air bites it in the next six months then were all on the street. I personally don't know where I would go next, in the interum, maybe citation shares. Here's the problem, I've had my stuff in with SWA for months with no type and no call, but if I get the type, it may still be a long time before I get the call. Meantime I have to feed the younglings. I can't imagine it looks good to have the type and then try to get a corporate or another regional job with that on your ticket. Why would someone hire a 5000+hr pilot with a degree and a type in the 737, pay your training costs, only to lose you in a year or two? What I need is a friggin crystal ball! I could just use some thoughts! Thanks!

 

[Varmint]

O.k. Here it goes. I am currently a CRJ captain, with 350 PIC in type. Before that I was a Captain and checkairman on a Jetsream 4100 with 1850 PIC in that airplane. I'm starting year six at Indy Air, and am being displaced to CRJ FO for an undetermined amount of time. If Indy Air bites it in the next six months then were all on the street. I personally don't know where I would go next, in the interum, maybe citation shares. Here's the problem, I've had my stuff in with SWA for months with no type and no call, but if I get the type, it may still be a long time before I get the call. Meantime I have to feed the younglings. I can't imagine it looks good to have the type and then try to get a corporate or another regional job with that on your ticket. Why would someone hire a 5000+hr pilot with a degree and a type in the 737, pay your training costs, only to lose you in a year or two? What I need is a friggin crystal ball! I could just use some thoughts! Thanks!

Jet....I have the same amount of TT as you and am about 300 hours shy of your PIC turbine. Got the type in Feb 04 and have had an application in at SW since January 04 when they opened up the app process. No call here yet but getting the type was an excellent experience when you forget about the money spent. If you are serious about getting on at SW, and its not your number one choice just because they are the best game hiring right now, I would go for the type. If Delta, United, American were hiring right now, would they be your number one choice? I like the corporate culture and the type of flying SW does they are my #1 choice. Unfortunately, now I am stuck behind all these high time guys who would never have gone to SW if everyone else had been hiring because of when I hit my 1000 TPIC mark. Good luck with your decision.

 

[FlyingCricket]

SWA will not call you, even with the type, until you meet their competitive PIC min's. Back in October, the number was 1700-1800. I don't know what it is right now, but would assume it is roughly the same. Maybe someone here has the latest info regarding that.

Getting the type is a great experience and great training. However, it also costs $8000 (including food, airfare, lodging, etc). Your point about the type possibly preventing you from getting hired somewhere else is valid. Unless, you have some kind of inside track on a SWA job, I would wait until you are closer to SWA's competitive min's (maybe 300 hours or so out) to get the type.

 

[Devil Dawg]

If you do get the big F from your current carrier you could be eligible for some gov't assistance getting that type. It varies by state but I know first hand of some people who have had 5000 of 7500 (8500 with expenses) and others have had 7500 of 7500 paid. There is a lot of red tape but the money is there. That may help you make the decision. I think your times are competitive. I have also heard that 1800 PIC turbine is a good number in fact I had a friend call SWA last week and he had that confirmed. I also think that check airman thing is very good.

As far as that type hurting you with other carriers I don't think so. Just point out to them you are seeking any flying jobs and doing what you can to be competitive. They probably don't realize that you think SWA is the best fit for you. (Unless you tell them) They probably think their company is pretty swell after all that is where they work and you are trying to work!! Just think through that potential line of questioning and down play the 737 thing. Good luck.

Off the subject here but do you know who Ms. Nancy Stuke is?

 

[CaptainBrazilia]

TYPE!!

It's worth it (at least it was for me).

 

[roughneck]

Looks to me like he has 2200 TPIC (1850 Jetstream, 350 King Air) which is very competitive. I would say you have an extremely high chance of getting a call for an interview in 2005 IF you have a type. You may get called without it, but I would think your chances are much greater with a type.

I think the current competitive numbers for tpic is in the 1700 range. That doesn't mean that folks with 10,000 are sitting at home without a call and some folks with 1001 are interviewing this week, but I think 1700 is a good average for the folks getting called.

 

[FlyingCricket]

Sorry, I missed the 1850 TPIC! I only saw the 350 PIC in type. My bad!! Yes, I'd get the type. You're well over SWA's competitive min's.

 

[pilotyip]

Type will not hurt you, it is the most common type out there. I see a lot pilots applying for jobs at USA Jet who have 737 types.

 

[NEDude]

I know a guy who had nearly 4000 turbine PIC from the Navy (P-3s) and the 737 type who got hired into the Emb 170 by Chautauqua just three months ago. The type and PIC time didn't hurt him from getting on with another regional.

Was told by a guy who just got hired by SWA that competative is looking like between 1500 and 2000 PIC. Only a few hundred more hours and a type and I should be there.

 

[CF34-3B1]

1800 PIC and the type are what seems to be the magic numbers

 

[TexaSWA]

I personally don't know where I would go next, in the interum, maybe citation shares.

I did a phone interview and was offered a face to face interview with CititionShares (turned it down because I had been called by SWA) with a 737 type on my resume.

From what I hear the "competetive" time here at SWA is declining due to the increased need for this year.

Get the type, you will get the call soon. If the right things happen we will need 780 this year.

On another note, if you get furloughed, I was really impressed with Shares from my phone interview. It probably be a great place to wait for SWA if we are your main goal. Obviously the type will not stop you from getting an interview there but you will have to make them believe you wont be jumping ship when a major calls. Just keep callng until you get a hold of the recruiter (Dan?). I called every couple days for a week or two, finally he picked up, and we scheduled a phone interview.

Good luck

 

[FracCapt]

O.k. Here it goes. I am currently a CRJ captain, with 350 PIC in type. Before that I was a Captain and checkairman on a Jetsream 4100 with 1850 PIC in that airplane. I'm starting year six at Indy Air, and am being displaced to CRJ FO for an undetermined amount of time. If Indy Air bites it in the next six months then were all on the street. I personally don't know where I would go next, in the interum, maybe citation shares. Here's the problem, I've had my stuff in with SWA for months with no type and no call, but if I get the type, it may still be a long time before I get the call. Meantime I have to feed the younglings. I can't imagine it looks good to have the type and then try to get a corporate or another regional job with that on your ticket. Why would someone hire a 5000+hr pilot with a degree and a type in the 737, pay your training costs, only to lose you in a year or two? What I need is a friggin crystal ball! I could just use some thoughts! Thanks!

After very little convincing from friends, I finally got my head out of the up and locked position and decided to do the type. I'm going in March. I have 2500+ jet PIC, 4000+ turbine PIC, 4 types. No call as of yet - hoping the type will change that. I'm told by most it will.

 

[MotoX]

Spoke with the folks in the People Department today and they told me the same thing. 1800 PIC and a type is the key to a call. Only 470 more for me!