Chinabug

I'm a military pilot retiring in the next few months, a couple questions on the Southwest application process:

1) What's the internal and external recommendation process? I saw on pilotcreds a tab to submit a recommendation. I was also told internal recommendations are submited AFTER an interview is granted? Obviously different with each company...

2) Thoughts on getting the B737 type rating before a potential interview? I have ZERO heavy/transport time, only fighters. Just wondering if the SWA HR team looks at this favorably when crunching records?

Thanks all, looking forward to starting my second career. Love to work for SWA!!!

Dakota Kid

I think that if you do a little work you can find a lot of info on this forum that will answer your questions.

HuronIP

You dont need any recommendations until you get called for an interview. After that I think you only have to bring 3 letters to the interview. I took several letters from buddies at SWA and my Commanding Officer at the time.

About the type.....I know that you had to have the type rating to get called in for an interview the last round they did. If you have the GI Bill they will pay for 60% of it and I think if you transition to the post 9/11 GI Bill they will pay for 100%. If you don't have your ATP you can get it at the same time you get your type rating as long as you have taken the ATP written at no additional charge. I recommend going to sheppardair dot com for gouge for the test if you haven't taken it yet.

Since SWA isn't interviewing right now and with the whole Airtran thing going on I don't know if SWA will get rid of the type requirement or not. If you have the GI Bill I would say it's a no brainer to get it. If not then it's a bit of a gamble but I can assure you it's money well spent once you get on