Thanks robxjt27!

 

SWA Job Offer

Total: 4000
Mil Turboprop: 2000
Mil Turbine PIC: 1700
Mil Jet: 600
Part-121 SIC Jet: 600
CFI/CFII/MEI Piston: 800
Bachelors Degree
Masters Work (not finished)
NATOPS Evaluator
A little volunteer work here and there
Mid 40's (like a nicely aged wine)

This was my third time interviewing at WN over several years. Spent a little time at two different regionals getting back in the saddle. All I can say is that perseverance pays off. Very happy to be starting what I hope will be my last airline job at a great company.

 

Congrats, well done!!

 

Hired at SW!

10500 TT
4500 TPIC
Heavy jet international
Regional before that
Bachelors
737 type

This was also my 3rd interview.

Can't wait to start and actually fly again!

 

Congrats ROFF. See you in class.

Thanks Rhino!

 

Congrats CODs and ROFF! See you there!

 

I took your advice and googled Pete Fernandez. Great guy and an amazing pilot, but that "lowly high school graduate" was essentially forced to retire from the USAF because of academics. Dude never took college-level math, cheated on a calculus exam while in test pilot school, and then his career was **** canned for academic dishonesty. Great example (as in, worst ever) of what high school grads should aspire to, Ronjo.

There are plenty of amazing pilots without college degrees. I'm a military guy retiring and transitioning to the airlines (hopefully) and I can say without a doubt I've seen a lot of highly skilled army aviators without college degrees over the last twenty years, many of whom instructed and mentored west pointers. Getting a degree doesn't make you a better pilot or person. With that said, a lot of airlines want you to have a degree. Why not just do it and get it over with? You can get an online bachelors in a STEM field (or basket weaving) from several very good brick and mortar schools (Arizona State, Oregon State, University of Maryland, London School of Economics, to name a few). An online BSc in Mathematics from the London School of Economics, even as an American student, costs about $12,000 USD total and takes 3-4 years part time via correspondence courses. An enlisted guy in my squadron did it, went to OCS and is in flight school right now. Just get it over with instead of raging about how unfair it is.

 

Do you think a 737 type rating would help out at all. I'm army but all my time will be in the King Air 200/350. Should be around 2,000 ish hours when service obligation is finished. I'm going to get my ATP before I get out in order to give myself an oppourtinity to maybe get picked up at a LCC, major, or hopefully a legacy. All seem like better options than starting the journey into the 121 world at a regional. And now I'm trying to figure out if a 737 GI bill funded type rating would help this out at all for what it's worth.

Thanks

 

Don't waste time and money on the B737 type. Put some time in at a regional and acquire a type rating and ATP while you are being paid for your piloting skills. With your military aviation background, you will have your choice of which legacy/LCC that you want.

 

Uncle Sam will pay for his ATP. There's no reason for him not to get it, and if that means getting a 737 type out of the deal, then so be it.

ArmyFW, get your ATP for free while you're in. I don't know how much the 737 type will help though.