Quote:
Originally Posted by paxhauler85
SWA also has an "up or out" policy, where when the time comes, each F/O must enter the upgrade process. Their policy, as I understand it, allows each pilot to fail the upgrade process once, and return to the right seat. After at set amount of time back in the right seat, the F/O must re-enter the upgrade process. At that point, unless he/she can complete the course, that pilot is fired.
That's not Up-or-Out.
That's Up-Fail-get another chance at some point down the road, after the dust has settled.
In my case, Up-or-Out meant exactly that. I failed the training event, and the policy is clearly written out in SP-315... you're fired if it's an upgrade.
However, FO transistion to another airframe, or CA transistion.... No problemo.... you go back to your previous equipment, and even get another shot at it, IF YOU so desire. Not for an upgrade.
FO's at Southwest are flying the exact same equipment that they'll upgrade on. So, there's really two parts to the equation. Being successful as a captain,
and checking out on the equipment.
Clearly, checking out on the B737 (or any plane) should be a no brainer, if you've been an FO on it (although, I'm confident there are failures). I attempted to checkout in a plane (actually, a whole type; turboprop) that I had never flown, and failed.
I never really got to the "captain" part of training, never flew the plane. Personally, I still think I would do quite well at it, and certainly I think I could have easily flown the CRJ from the left seat. But, I thought it would be "fun" to fly the EMB. It wasn't.
So, I have a PRIA entry, fired from a part 121 airline and pretty much black listed from getting a job at any US airline. With almost 4000 hours, I couldn't get an interview at CRJ operators that have been hiring (and I was still 90 day current in the CRJ until Oct 1, 2008).
Heck, try and get a job anywhere in this economy doing anything after you tell them you just got fired from your last (to them, "big time") job. I got a bill from SkyWest for $5 for shipping some documents.... with a threat for collection if I didn't pay on the very first bill. Treated like I imagine they might treat somebody who had been fired for stealing something, or drunk flying, or beating up flight attendants, or talking trash about the company.