I'm starting new hire FO training 28 Nov 17. Can anyone offer insight as to the typical SWA holiday (Christmas/New Year's) training schedule? Any time off on/near those holidays for planning purposes (I'm sure it's not much-better get used to that, right?)? Thanks.

 

We got 2 off for Xmas and New Years a couple years ago. You’ll get your schedule day 1 so you’ll be able to plan a little bit anyway.

 

Hope you are thirsty.

 

Get ready for about four weeks of training packed into eight weeks

 

 

Bingo. You will know when you need to buckle down and study. Until then, enjoy yourself. Granted, it’s a new training program since I did it, but it’s not hard.

 

You will not work Christmas nor probably the day after. I think there is contract language that limits how late you can work Christmas eve and it is likely you will have the day off. (Likely being the keyword there but Christmas IS a day off.)

-Standard new hire schedule is written out below.

-Monday Night, a welcome dinner for yourself and a guest. Good food and you get your wings.
-Tuesday: Official indoc if you will. Introductions for yourself and spouse if you bring him/her. You get all your paperwork in and get your ID and get lunch and hear from management and SWAPA and get your EFB (IPad)
-Wed: Lesson in how to use your EFB, free lunch, uniforms and training center tour so you can find stuff.
-Thursday: Security day.
-Friday: Emergency stuff. O2 masks, life vests, fire extinguisher, life rafts, emergency slide etc
-Sat: QRC/QRH usage, flows, callouts
-Sunday off

Week Two

-Monday: Fly Day. Basically a day about SW culture with other new hires from all departments. Free lunch.
-Tuesday: Computer based training, CBT, on systems (Done on EFB)
-Wed: Senior leadership breakfast in the morning along with drug and alcohol policy and crew planning. More systems CBTs in the afternoon.
-Thursday: Systems CBTs all day. (Can be done wherever you like.)
-Friday: Systems review for all the CBTs in the AM the afternoon is self study and many use this chance to get one of the required jump seat rides and go home as you get Friday and Saturday off.

Week Three

Monday through Thursday: Systems procedures trainers. Basically a review of all the systems in a virtual cockpit.

The next six days you will get an oral review and the oral. Those with type ratings won't get the oral but will still be scheduled for an oral review.

Week Fourish

-Thursday through Wednesday various classroom stuff in various places.
-Friday: off.
-Sat: Automation class
-Sun: Automation class
-Mon-Wed: Automation procedures trainers
-Thur: Off

-Friday:Class 8 to 5
-Saturday: Class 8 to 5

Done with classroom stuff

You will get two FTDs, (Non motion sims) Six sims, one PC, two LOFTs

Done and off to IOE. You may not do IOE at your final domicile.

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That is the gist of the standard schedule. Having that over Christmas may change things up a bit and as always things can and do change at anytime.

 

I was there over Christmas and New Years last year. I had 4 days off for Christmas and 3 for New Years.

 

What's the time frame between ending training/type ride and starting ioe?

 

It varies. I had a week; my sim partner had 3 days. A couple guys had just one day off. You can make requests that they'll try and take into consideration when building the IOE schedule. (I asked for "a little time off" as I wanted to reset after two months away, and got the week off.)