YB,
Did you receive a call or an e-mail. I've had my app in since 07 too, 10 yrs AD Air Force so I am hoping maybe to hear something.

 

Of those called for the interview thus far, 95% of them have the type rating.

 

Hey amigo

I received a call 2 weeks ago. the e-mail was later and had the pertinent forms required for the interview.


ACEFLYERSWA- thanks for the input, I wonder how often they look at non-typed guys and what criteria is used to bring them into the interview stack of apps.

 

With all the guys on the street that already have types they have their pick of the litter. I will just keep on trying. You can't fail if you don't quit.

 

I want to make the move and get the type but have a few questions about the schedules for SWA new hires and beyond. I understand that the East Coast bases are not in the cards right now, but what are examples of the schedules at other bases? I have 26 years in my current gig and am clueless about airline work schedules.

TD

 

I have been at SWA almot 11 months. I have spent most of my time on reserve due to the slow down in hiring last year. Your first month they give you a hard line to get your hours up, which I flew out of Dallas (October). November I went to Vegas and sat on reserve. In December I went to Phoenix and sat on reserve out there until March. In April I figured out I could hold a line in Oakland so I went out there for a month. The commute was too long from DAL so I bid back to Phoenix in May where I had a blank line. That is where you are awarded trips that people droppped for MIL leave or vacation. June I bid to Houston and I'm currently sitting reserve there at the bottom of the list. I could currently hold a line in Phoenix, Vegas and Oakland, but prefer the short commute to Houston. When you go to a more senoir base you lose senority so your schedule quality of life decreases.

For reserve you get a minimum of 15 days of a month and you can plan on working weekends for the most part. You can't be JA'd if you are a reserve lineholder unless it is an extreme circumstance, then I believe they have to give you a day off to make up for it later in the month. All the months I have sat on reserve I have flown every single day. If you have a 3 day block then you normally get put on a 3 day trip. My experience with 4 day blocks has been mixed. Sometime you get a 4 day trip or a 3 day trip and a turn or 2 2 day trips.

At the end of June I will have blocked a total of 410 hours. As of June 20th my gross pay was $34,400 plus another $2,900 in per diem. I pick up extra flights sometimes on my days off. The benefit of doing this is they pay you 2nd rates which is $77.45 vice $45.90. I'm in the reserves, so I typically drop 1 3 or 4 day trip per month, so that cost me some money at SWA.

A lot of people on this forum bash SWA for making you pay for your type rating. I'm not bashing other airlines, but if you look at the figures above you will more than make up for the money you spent getting your type rating with SWA's 1st year pay.

 

No doubt that the job is worth the cost of getting the type. In my shoes it is just hard to justify the cost in hopes of an interview. Unfortunately my last furlough, a new baby, and a wife wanting to be a stay at home mom puts a strain on the budget. I would have the type within 2 weeks of a job offer though. Would have to rob my 401K to do it though.

 

Have to be honest...now's the time to get your type. Because of slowdowns, I hear higher power and K$S are lowering prices(anyone got any gouge). Hell throw it on a credit card if you have to. Having a type rating in any aircraft is only a good thing for further interviews and will help move you towards the front of the line here. It's also tax deductible and who knows when we'll be hiring again.

 

I hear you and agree. I will have to find the funds somewhere.

 

One other note....I have heard of both companies faxing your type to SWA the day you get it and in some instances the guys have been called for an interview the next day. I actually think I've read that on hear a few times. Hopefully, that is the case.