Getting a B737 type for SWA
 

Hey yall,

I have a question about getting a type rating for an SWA interview. Do they prefer a 'New Gen. EFIS" type (700 and 800 series), or the "Old Gen. w/ round dials? I have seen that they fly both...I am just curious. I am no where near that stage in my career, but it is something I would like to look in to about 3 years down the road, and I am a nerd and I like to check things out WAY ahead of time so I can plan out financially what I need to do to reach this goal of mine - to get hired by SWA.

Let me know what you think...
D

Laxrox, there's nothing wrong with planning ahead. So far as the type, it doesn't matter. Your ticket will only indicate B737 on it. We currently have 221 'classics' (300/500) and about 225 NG's (700). In three years we'll have about 350 700's. Best wishes with your career.

Thank you Sir,

As a Captain, do you find it harder for the 'newbies' to work with the EFIS, or round dials...or doesn't it make a difference? I guess what I am trying to say is, would it be benefitial for the transition to go to NG school rather than Classic school? (Because on the NG as to the Classic, you are not only learning the systems, but you also have to learn the EFIS)

D

Laxrox, I see where you're coming from. Classic round dials would be better as we do not use true EFIS presentations on our NG's. As the launch customer for the -700, Boeing guaranteed that we would be able to fly all of our four models (2,3,5,700's) interchangably. In doing so, they developed a 'glass' presentation of our classic fleet instruments..ie.. our glass panels present round dials instead of tape guages as you might find in all other non-SWA NG's. There is a plan in the future to put 'glass' in the classics, but as long as we have any remaining with round dials, then I do not see us flipping the EFIS switch. Hope this helps.;)

Rodger Dodger - thanks for the insight! Happy flying - maybe I will see ya on the line in a few years?

D