I currently have
7200TT
4500 PIC in a E-145
a AS degree in aviation.

My question is if i go get a 73 type and have just an Associates would I still be watching my phone not ring? I am currently working toward my BS online and take around 15 hrs a semester. I desperately need to get out of my regional and only have two airlines in my sights. Obviously this window has come and gone but the next one ill have the type. Im also afraid after the AT deal they won't require the type and or will not be hiring.

Thoughts.
paidpnuts

 

For what it's worth, I heard from a good source that a guy without the type got the "Thanks try later" email today after updating pilotcredentials. He had a smokin' resume and experience. I get the feeling that during this round they are eliminating those without the type...again. Didn't they do that last time?

 

I have no type. 8800 TT no degree (working on it 80 credits) no, no thanks letter YET. I expect one, but not yet.

 

It has been general knowledge that having the type rating puts you at a higher chance for an interview since SWA has been SWA. I doubt that is going to change.

Unless, they dump the 737. Then they will just require a type on the next plane.

 

I'm new to this, what's the definition of a "smokin resume and experience"? Is that XXXX hours PIC in RJ's? Military KC-10 IP? Fighter guy with lots of dynamic flying experience? DO / CO of a military squadron?

I suppose that definition lies in the eyes of HR, especially with SWA being a company that understands people-skills actually matter.

For the group, no rejection letter here yet...4yr BS, almost mil retire, current, no type.

 

SWA formula = 121 or Military turbine check airman / standards experience.

4-year degree.

Whatever personality they think they want.

2-year degrees technically meets their mins, but you had better have powerful friends.

 

An Ameriflight pilot in another thread was supposedly hired at SWA with only 135 time after saving money to get the 737 type. Not sure if he had a 4yr or not.

 

I've heard of that, but not very often.

 

Just an observation from a guy 4 years removed from the hiring process. First, I think the 737 type is more of a deciding factor than a bachelors degree. Second, I don't think it's about whether SWA would view a guy without a bachelors degree (or type) as qualified. It's more about who they think is the most qualified among the thousands applying for the few training slots that periodically come up.

I'm guessing that about 98% of the guys/gals who apply meet the minimum requirements to get hired. So if everybody meets the minimums, then you have to have some other discriminators, like 737 type, bachelors degree, PIC time, instructor/check airman time, availability, etc. The more of these you have the more competitive you are against your fellow applicants.

While the type rating is not required for an interview, you do have to realize what timeline the company is working under now. No hiring pool means they will want guys who are able to start training ASAP. That will naturally drive the PD to consider all those with 737 types first. Until we start hiring in large numbers and/or reinstate the hiring pool, I don't see this changing very much. Again, just my humble opinion.

 

I was just curious looking at your flight times. If you upgraded to the 145 with 2700 hours...how long had you been in the right seat? Maybe a couple years? Were you able to start at a regional with under 1000 hours? Are you a Mesa guy from the ab initio program...is that where the associates degree is from?

If thats the case, I know a bunch that eventually got to SWA. They got hired several years ago when there were many other airlines hiring at the same time. The handful that I knew all had the type rating before they interviewed, too.