Ugly SWA pilots

[Bobby Orr 4]

First I am a SWA pilot and very proud of the union that represents me and the company I fly for. I fly, in my biased opinion, with the best pilots in the industry.
In my 10 years of 121 flying this this the worst I have ever seen the industry. I have several good friends losing their jobs this year. I am in a very fortunate position and do not take anything for granted.
I believe in the Freedom of Speech and once you pay your $10 on FI you can post whatever you want within the rules set out by the moderators.
It appears (to me) that there are several posts started or replies by SWA pilots that borders in bad taste. In some cases I feel that they openly take pleasure in other companies problems. I cringe when I read them and do get embarrassed by these very few ugly SWA pilots.
If you feel you just have to say something go to our forum at swapa. Wish we could keep these in house.
Good luck to all during these difficult times.

 

[Old School]

Classy post, my family members went through the failure of Pan Am and Eastern in my home town of Miami. Lots of professional and personal heartache. At the end of the day, things that affect the pilot profession are a threat to all of us. Now more than ever, we must hang together or we shall all hang separately!

 

[AA717driver]

IMO, those who got hired at SWA after 9/11 who have "that" attitude are the same ones who would have gotten hired at AA in 1988/89.

The whole "my squadron is better than your squadron" mentality.

As AA, UA, Delta, et al have proven, there is no safe place in aviation and if you gloat over the demise of another airline, chances are, your day will come.

I jumpseated on SWA from 1988 to 2001 and they are a class group of people. Every airline has their 2% of dickheads. Nice post, Bobby! Thanks. TC

 

[400ADude]

Bobby Boy, Why don't you send them a PM instead of starting this thread. How about some examples too. I haven't noticed it.

You say post on the SWAPA forum. That forum is filled with Kernals and such. Pprune is a much better forum and a lot harsher then what you see here.

 

[Noserider76]

Good post. If someone's thinking about gloating over another company's possible misfortune, think about those resposible for the heating oil collars. Without the hedges, SWA would be just a large network, fully tied to a spiraling domestic economy and skyrocketing oil. I think I'd consider myself very, very lucky and not be looking to stick it to my fellow pilots in times of unprecedented stress. We're all here trying to earn a living and support the people we care about.

 

[bugchaser]

Without the hedges, SWA would be just a large network, fully tied to a spiraling domestic economy and skyrocketing oil.

And there it is again, another business expert showing his ass.

 

[Noserider76]

And there it is again, another business expert showing his ass.

And there it is again. Another a$$ thinking there's something completely different about his flying the same people to the same places, in the same tubes using the same fuel. I've got news for you. Take a look at the upcoming earnings and let me know how operations does.

 

[The Victors]

And there it is again. Another a$$ thinking there's something completely different about his flying the same people to the same places, in the same tubes using the same fuel. I've got news for you. Take a look at the upcoming earnings and let me know how operations does.

Didn't take long for that to turn ugly. There are several d!ckhead posters on here, myself included, but I believe most of the swa posts are trying to defend against posts like this quote above. Examples like:
"when the hedges run out their toast"
"flying 10 legs a day to LBB"
"swa pigbacking everyones routes"
and on and on and on.......

 

[contrail67]

And there it is again. Another a$$ thinking there's something completely different about his flying the same people to the same places, in the same tubes using the same fuel. I've got news for you. Take a look at the upcoming earnings and let me know how operations does.

I think this is what the thread is talking about.

 

[JetFumes]

Pilots need to remember that when our fellow pilots suffer, we all suffer. The more pilots are on the street, the more precarious all of our lives become. I wish the best to all of those who are facing the f word. I sincerely hope the employment picture stabilizes for us all. The more pilots get employed, the easier it is for us all to find work. If most of us are employed, we get more bargaining power, and so on. This why I despise those who gloat over the hardships of others, because it all comes back around.

 

[FlyinGuy]

People here need to remember that this is "flightinfo". This thread is like walking into the Spinger show and telling them that they need to get a job and take responsibility for their actions. It's laughable!


Bobby, how do you know that these individuals work for SWA? Maybe they are just some kid with a PPL that is having fun starting trouble on these boards? None of us know. No one (of respectable character)wishes ill will on the pilots of other airlines. That includes your fellow SWA union brothers. Take care and quit "McCaining" your own company!

 

[Noserider76]

[QUOTE=The Victors;1630155

Didn't take long for that to turn ugly. There are several d!ckhead posters on here, myself included, but I believe most of the swa posts are trying to defend against posts like this quote above. Examples like:
"when the hedges run out their toast"
"flying 10 legs a day to LBB"
"swa pigbacking everyones routes"
and on and on and on.......[/QUOTE

I apologize for the harsh response. My point is, if you are fortunate to work for a company that is weathering this storm, realize it's not due to anything you have done. We fly people from A to B. The numerous posts lately with claims of taking over a city when X bites the dust or getting gates when Y downsizes etc are BS and belittle the fact that if it happens many have been hurt. It's not just the posts, it's the attitude of many that comes out when they let their guard down.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Pilots need to remember that when our fellow pilots suffer, we all suffer. The more pilots are on the street, the more precarious all of our lives become. I wish the best to all of those who are facing the f word. I sincerely hope the employment picture stabilizes for us all. The more pilots get employed, the easier it is for us all to find work. If most of us are employed, we get more bargaining power, and so on. This why I despise those who gloat over the hardships of others, because it all comes back around.

That is very true...something the NetJets pilots on the board need to keep in mind as well... EVERY company has its cycles, and none stays at the top. Ever.

That said, the vocal few of any sector on this board, tend to never represent the majority in real life.

 

[fletch717]

Bobby Boy, Why don't you send them a PM instead of starting this thread. How about some examples too. I haven't noticed it.

You say post on the SWAPA forum. That forum is filled with Kernals and such. Pprune is a much better forum and a lot harsher then what you see here.

The reason you have'nt noticed is you are one of the scumbags he is talking about. Do a search on yourself.

 

[SLOTH]

It could be called misplaced pride. Then again some people seem to just enjoy kicking someone when they are down.

First I am a SWA pilot and very proud of the union that represents me and the company I fly for. I fly, in my biased opinion, with the best pilots in the industry.
In my 10 years of 121 flying this this the worst I have ever seen the industry. I have several good friends losing their jobs this year. I am in a very fortunate position and do not take anything for granted.
I believe in the Freedom of Speech and once you pay your $10 on FI you can post whatever you want within the rules set out by the moderators.
It appears (to me) that there are several posts started or replies by SWA pilots that borders in bad taste. In some cases I feel that they openly take pleasure in other companies problems. I cringe when I read them and do get embarrassed by these very few ugly SWA pilots.
If you feel you just have to say something go to our forum at swapa. Wish we could keep these in house.
Good luck to all during these difficult times.

 

[DOVPILOT]

In some cases I feel that they openly take pleasure in other companies problems.

You reap what you sow, and you are cursed

 

[Dan Roman]

Well Bobby Orr, you tried to take the high road. It was still a good post.
Let me add a couple observastions.
1) I've met plenty of SWA guys on layovers and they seem like pretty cool folks to me.
2)Peoples posts usually are nothing like what they are in person. I've known some pretty rabid posters on my company's web board and in real life, they are actually pretty good guys.
3) Finally, I've known some really admirable pilots with succesful airlines and just as many admirable pilots with crap airlines, who they work for doesn't define them at all. The rest of their life defines them (Family, friends, interesting hobbies, lifestyle, whatever), in fact, the few pilots who define themselves by what airline they work for are usually pretty dorky and don't have a whole lot else going for themselves.

 

[jp1030]

Well Bobby Orr, you tried to take the high road. It was still a good post.
Let me add a couple observastions.
1) I've met plenty of SWA guys on layovers and they seem like pretty cool folks to me.
2)Peoples posts usually are nothing like what they are in person. I've known some pretty rabid posters on my company's web board and in real life, they are actually pretty good guys.
3) Finally, I've known some really admirable pilots with succesful airlines and just as many admirable pilots with crap airlines, who they work for doesn't define them at all. The rest of their life defines them (Family, friends, interesting hobbies, lifestyle, whatever), in fact, the few pilots who define themselves by what airline they work for are usually pretty dorky and don't have a whole lot else going for themselves.

Amen, my airline Brother.

 

[pipejockey]

Let me add a couple observastions.
1) I've met plenty of SWA guys on layovers and they seem like pretty cool folks to me.

Funny, because to me they come across as the most pompous, pretentious, turgid, bombastic a**es I have ever come across in the industry!

 

[Dan Roman]

Funny, because to me they come across as the most pompous, pretentious, turgid, bombastic a**es I have ever come across in the industry!

From my experience you pretty much get what you give. If you are nice most folks are nice in return, if you are rude, people tend to be rude back. Perhaps if you're pompous, pretentous, turgid and bombastic.....?

 

[pipejockey]

From my experience you pretty much get what you give. If you are nice most folks are nice in return, if you are rude, people tend to be rude back. Perhaps if you're pompous, pretentous, turgid and bombastic.....?

You may be on to something, as I am all of the above. I pretty much think everybody sucks!!

 

[400ADude]

The reason you have'nt noticed is you are one of the scumbags he is talking about. Do a search on yourself.

Scumbag. Uh uh. Right. Nice vocabulary.

You just don't recognize a friendly rivalry do you? Kinda like if you went to Michigan and were talking to somebody from Michigan State or Ohio State. Nothing is personal, just a friendly rivalry. Unless, we're talking about your scabs or management team.

 

[EMBpilot]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

 

[MILPILOT17]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

You should probably seek some professional help.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..--->Maybe...just maybe, it ain't the way you think it is.

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane--->Not a big news flash...if you come to work at SWA, you will fly the 737...if you have "big airplane envy" you shouldn't apply here. If one did his research, he would know all that...if he didn't ...he's a fool.filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash--->got news for you buddy...those same people flew on the legacy carrier I flew for years ago. They still probably fly on yours too.

See, Aunt Mabel and Uncle Herman are only loyal to the almighty dollar. If the cheapest price is on your carrier...or the one at DFW or the one at ORD or the one at MSP or CLT...they will fly on that airline.

It seems you want to go to some "myth" about the type of passengers that fly on given airlines....Lets see....35 flights per day between HOU and DAL...you think it's all tourists? Lots of businessmen on those flights....AMA-DEN, lots of folks from the oil/gas business on those full flights...SMF throughout the state of California, lots of people doing state business...you keep believing what you want to believe pal....but the facts are the facts

6 legs a day for the rest of their careers. --->Funny but my current trip isn't built like that...2 legs yesterday...1 today...and 3 tomorrow...Where?...Oh , where do you get your information?

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.--->We weren't dreaming of furloughs either...or $140 + per barrel of oil...now were we?
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!--->Obviously, someone's ego is built on having the opportunity to fly wide body airplanes...and thats fine , if that what one wants....but just remember, everyone doesn't think the same. At my former airline, they fly wide body airplanes across the ocean every day...and I'm glad I'm not there...they have more than just a B-737 in their fleet...and I'm glad I'm not there...

...and, at my former airline ( like many other legacies) they hire, until they furlough. It's like it is part of the corporate strategy. When they make money, they spend like hell, then "burn the furniture" to keep warm, when they lose money.

They also bring a new CEO every few years...which results in differrent management strategies, change in corporate directions, confused employees, different uniforms, new announcements, updated paint schemes....Both of us have seen it all before, and there is nothing to make me think they are gonna change their ways...what about you?

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.--->Nobody has "to pay" to get hired here. If they did....every applicant would be hired....dontcha think?

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job.--->Agreed

You got to use your brain to make it work....and to get the correct information

 

[Dan Roman]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

If you dreamed of flying as kid and really love to fly. Than I would think SWA is a great place to work. They do a lot of fun flying and everyone seems to enjoy working there. If you dreamed of flying a BIG airplane and having people look at you like your an airline pilot for a big airline and that's what is important, than I guess a legacy is the way to go.
Personally I just want to work at an airline that gives me flying I enjoy and a domicle I like, I could care less who is in the back or what the airplane looks like from the outside.

News flash for you though, the paxs on the legacy carriers are no better or worse than the paxs on SWA. They are all just people going somewere. However, anyone who thinks they are a "better" class of people because of what airline they fly on probably is an arrogant idiot. I have noticed a slightly lower class of paxs in first class than coach though. By that I mean that occasionally you do get that laughable arrogant attitude in first ("I'm special because I'm in first") whereas I've meet some very down to earth and succesful people in coach. And to be fair, I have met interesting down to earth people in first too, I'm just saying the lowest of the low can be found in the high dollar seats. Bottom line is though, if you judge yourself by the size of the airplane you are flying or who you are flying around, and feel the need to bash a group of pilots that make a good living and like their job perhaps a trip to a therapist would be in order?

 

[scoreboardII]

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.

Well, from a phycological stand point, you need help. Last time I checked none of the legacy guys hired in the last ten years will ever fly "big iron" the way things are going so I hope you enjoy the jungle jet...

 

[Quimby]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

You have issues.

 

[Victor120]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

Relax Guys- I think this might be my mother-in-law again.

 

[The Prussian]

Sorry, guys, I am just going to say it the way it is..

From the phycological stand point it all makes sense.
Most SWA guys had to pay for their type rating and will fly the same airplane filled primarily with tattooed, toothless white trash 6 legs a day for the rest of their careers.

It's not exactly what we were dreaming of doing when we were in the middle school.
It pinches the biggest things pilots carry around - their EGOS!

That's why SOME SWA PILOTS use every chance they get to swing at the guys living the dream or at least those who didn't have to pay $7K to get hired.

Sorry, IMHO
This is still a great part time job. You got to use your brain to make it work.

Sorry, EMBpilot, but I gotta call you on this one. I think the previous poster (scoreboard) was referring to you also. You sound so similar to a pilot I ran into quite a few years back, that I gotta recall the incdent.
Was in IAH, going to DAL maybe 20+ years ago, waiting for my inbound flt down in our Ops. Coulda cared less who's trying to jumpseat on us. When I got down to ops, there was an Eastern pilot (F/O, I believe), who trying to jumpseat on us. The way I recall it, he was sitting on the front of the station manager's desk, one leg inclined to the floor, the other reclining across the front of our station manager's desk, bent at the knee, in a (too) comfortable and relaxed position. He introduced himself, and appropriately requested jumpseat to Love Field.
I said "no problem"....and then he started to expound (pontificate) on some of his closely held(??!?) beliefs. He said, "Xxxx, I don't know why you got into this business, but I got here to make as much money as I can, for as little work as possible, and fxxx as many Flt Attendants as possible."
You gotta picture this...full head of hair is combed straight back, wearing no epaulets, unbuttoned collar, with a gold chain around his neck and his wrist, like he'd just come off a cruise boat (or porn star convention...you name it). Seemed like nice enough of a guy, however perhaps somewhat(??!?) shallow. I remember thinking to myself..."Wow,...if a good portion of the guys at Eastern Airlines think like that, who's gonna put forth the effort to keep that airline afloat???" Eastern, at the time was starting to have labor issues, followed closely by Frank Lorenzo.
Looking back on that scene, I gotta admit that most likely, the bulk of the guys at Eastern did not think that way.
However, your post sounds dangerously similar to the above mentioned attitude. You gotta realize that the bulk of the Southwest pilots here, do not wish ill on any other carrier's pilots, and when they say "IMHO", they mean just that...their HUMBLE opinion.
I will say this...we weren't always the best paid pilots, nor were we always highly thought of, but...we put forth the elbow grease that it took to keep this company from being swallowed by the giants, and the elbow grease to keep this company afloat, and I am sure that the guys at Frontier and others are doing all they can to do the same. I gotta say I hope them the best as they struggle as we have in the past. Some times it's those struggles that bring out the best in you.
As for your brain, perhaps you need to .....never mind...