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-   -   To VSP or not to VSP? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/military/79486-vsp-not-vsp.html)

ghilis101 01-29-2014 05:48 PM


Originally Posted by BUFFy (Post 1569891)
I've been thinking about this nonstop for weeks. Can't decide. Mostly worried about family life as an airline pilot. Are there schedules out there where you can fly mostly out and backs?

Spirit. you'd need to move near ACY or FLL. Spirit is awesome, its gonna be the next SWA. Lots of Carribean turns, sleep in your bed every night, FO pay is bad but Capt pay among the best for airbus.

BUFFy 01-29-2014 07:45 PM

Wow thanks!!!

What about DFW? Heard they had a base there too...do you fly for them?

Nextlife 01-29-2014 09:26 PM


Originally Posted by MikeF16 (Post 1569973)
This is cut and pasted from the SWA application site:

"**PIC for this purpose is defined as Captain/Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls. For military personnel, Southwest Airlines will allow flight time logged as "Pilot in Command" (PIC) only if you are the Captain/Aircraft Commander, Evaluator, or Instructor Pilot. Primary time will only be considered PIC on a specific aircraft after an individual upgrades to Aircraft Commander n the appropriate aircraft. Time logged as "Other Time" will not be considered."

Because SWA only has categories for PIC, SIC, and IP any student time does not get counted. It's likely there are others but I've got so many apps in I'm not going to double check every single one.

I haven't applied, so haven't seen the application site, but the SWA website lists "Total Time" mins, then seperately lists the above PIC definition. Does the app use the same "not simply sole manipulator of the controls" along with PIC, SIC, IP wording to define total time as well? As a late rated fighter guy and having gone through CCIP in every squadron I've been in, dropping 250 hours of turbine time (UPT+IFF) hurts. Using that definition, you can have a COMM AMEL rating with zero hours countable towards SWA. (I know you wouldn't apply to any airline at that point, but it highlights the hour hit). But, if it's your company, you can set any rules you want.

Moosecall 01-30-2014 01:01 AM


Originally Posted by Nextlife (Post 1570208)
I haven't applied, so haven't seen the application site, but the SWA website lists "Total Time" mins, then seperately lists the above PIC definition. Does the app use the same "not simply sole manipulator of the controls" along with PIC, SIC, IP wording to define total time as well? As a late rated fighter guy and having gone through CCIP in every squadron I've been in, dropping 250 hours of turbine time (UPT+IFF) hurts. Using that definition, you can have a COMM AMEL rating with zero hours countable towards SWA. (I know you wouldn't apply to any airline at that point, but it highlights the hour hit). But, if it's your company, you can set any rules you want.

AA wants you to count it
This is from AA FAQ's:

Q: What are the differences between PIC, SIC and Instructor Time when logged into the Flight Hours?


A: Here are the guidelines:

PIC (Pilot In Command) = Any time you signed for the plane as aircraft commander
or solo including all instructor time.
SIC (Second In Command) = Any time you acted as second in command and/or didn't sign for the plane.
This DOES include dual/student time.
Instructor = Only the time you logged as an instructor, regardless of the time being reported in PIC.
Instructor time is PIC time. It belongs in both columns.

I have not found this on SWA's app site. So like MikeF16 said we have to carefully check each app for what the specific airline wants

tunes 01-30-2014 04:48 AM

not counting UPT time is like saying you can't count any civilian time while training before actually taking your PPL check ride.....

MikeF16 01-30-2014 03:18 PM


Originally Posted by Moosecall (Post 1570240)
AA wants you to count it
This is from AA FAQ's:

Q: What are the differences between PIC, SIC and Instructor Time when logged into the Flight Hours?


A: Here are the guidelines:

PIC (Pilot In Command) = Any time you signed for the plane as aircraft commander
or solo including all instructor time.
SIC (Second In Command) = Any time you acted as second in command and/or didn't sign for the plane.
This DOES include dual/student time.
Instructor = Only the time you logged as an instructor, regardless of the time being reported in PIC.
Instructor time is PIC time. It belongs in both columns.

I have not found this on SWA's app site. So like MikeF16 said we have to carefully check each app for what the specific airline wants

TY for this, I didn't notice that in the Q&A section, bought me around another 400 hours on my AA application.


Originally Posted by tunes (Post 1570275)
not counting UPT time is like saying you can't count any civilian time while training before actually taking your PPL check ride.....

*shrug*
Airlines get to make the rules we get to follow them. BTW, just as you said, you can't count any time prior to your PPL on the SWA application. If you happen to be competing with me though, I'll be more than happy for you to tell the airlines how dumb their application procedures are...

ghilis101 01-30-2014 08:34 PM


Originally Posted by BUFFy (Post 1570162)
Wow thanks!!!

What about DFW? Heard they had a base there too...do you fly for them?

Oh yea that's right, and DTW, but that I don't know a whole lot. I have a friend who's a captain there in ACY, and a friend who's an FO in FLL. Both love the day turns that get you home every night if you live in base (they do). Right now, the airline is growing like gangbusters, pretty much every FO on property now will be a captain in 2-3 years. Ive had my app in with them for a while (applying is really easy and takes only a few minutes, and if they like you, they send you a "long app"), but I think they wont even talk to you without meeting them at a job fair.

ghilis101 01-30-2014 08:38 PM


Originally Posted by MikeF16 (Post 1570745)
TY for this, I didn't notice that in the Q&A section, bought me around another 400 hours on my AA application.



*shrug*
Airlines get to make the rules we get to follow them. BTW, just as you said, you can't count any time prior to your PPL on the SWA application. If you happen to be competing with me though, I'll be more than happy for you to tell the airlines how dumb their application procedures are...

Im confused... those guidelines DO allow you to include UPT hours as SIC time, since its considered Dual/Student. Which airlines do not allow you to log UPT? Pretty sure every airline on airlineapps and AA, SWA, Fedex, and UPS do. So who doesn't?

tunes 01-31-2014 03:08 AM


Originally Posted by MikeF16 (Post 1570745)
*shrug*
Airlines get to make the rules we get to follow them. BTW, just as you said, you can't count any time prior to your PPL on the SWA application. If you happen to be competing with me though, I'll be more than happy for you to tell the airlines how dumb their application procedures are...

actually it doesn't say that anywhere......

all it says:

Flight Experience: 2,500 hours total or 1,500 hours Turbine total. Additionally, a minimum of 1,000 hours in Turbine aircraft as the Pilot in Command is required2. Southwest considers only Pilot time in fixed-wing aircraft. This specifically excludes simulator, WSO, RIO, FE, NAV, EWO, etc. NO other time is counted.3

1 A Candidate may apply without a B-737 Type Rating. If a candidate interviews and successfully completes the entire selection process, he/she has six months from the date to obtain a B-737 Type Rating to be eligible for hire.

2 PIC for this purpose is defined as Captain/Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls. For military personnel, Southwest Airlines will allow flight time logged as "Pilot in Command" (PIC) only if you are the Captain/Aircraft Commander, Evaluator, or Instructor Pilot. Primary time will only be considered PIC on a specific aircraft after an individual upgrades to Aircraft Commander in the appropriate aircraft. Time logged as "Other Time" will not be considered.

3 Military Conversion: When converting taxi time a conversion factor of .3 or 18 minutes, per leg/sortie should be used. These guidelines are imposed by Southwest Airlines for the purpose of standardizing the calculation of flight time.

MikeF16 01-31-2014 05:20 AM


Originally Posted by tunes (Post 1571053)
actually it doesn't say that anywhere......

all it says:

Sorry, I'm not smart enough to quote quoted text...

"2 PIC for this purpose is defined as Captain/Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls. For military personnel, Southwest Airlines will allow flight time logged as "Pilot in Command" (PIC) only if you are the Captain/Aircraft Commander, Evaluator, or Instructor Pilot. Primary time will only be considered PIC on a specific aircraft after an individual upgrades to Aircraft Commander in the appropriate aircraft. Time logged as "Other Time" will not be considered. "

The very 1st sentence says sole manipulator of controls does not imply PIC for their application, it could be a little confusing if this applies to all applicants or just mil. The 2nd sentence then gets specific to military personnel where there is absolutely no gray area. For me it was <30 hours so not worth arguing over. Listen, this debate is fruitless -- I can fill out my application and you can fill out yours. SWA is renowned for confronting people on their log book. If you feel you can justify what you put down on the application in the interview process then go ahead and do it.


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