SWA or Bust
 

Hello all,

Please excuse the intriguing title to my post! Just wanted to grab some attention and hopefully some advice. I am in my early 40s and truly desire to complete my aviation career at SWA.

Got a late start to my professional flying career due to serving in the USAF and shortly thereafter 9-11 happened. Flew for a regional for about a year back in 2007 and did some 91 flying off and on over the years since. Currently flying as an SIC in a small business jet in the part 135 world.

Happy where I am currently, but when the time is right, want to put my stuff in at SWA. TT sitting right around 1100, 750 ME Turbine, 200 PIC (NON TURBINE). I also have about 200 hours that can be applied to my TT, from my years as a Flight Engineer in the service. So TT around 1300 right now. I also hold A&P and Aircraft Dispatcher licenses (heard that SWA point system for applications takes these things into consideration).

Big thing I lack is PIC Turbine obviously and of course need more TT. In my current gig, I am logging around 50-60 hours per month.

Few questions for SWA pilots out there:

1) Should I go to a regional to build time faster once I meet ATP mins or stay where I am?

2) When (Hours/experience wise) should I submit my resume at SWA?

Truly love the SWA culture and BWI is 45 min from where I live. Much better than a commute to Philly or DC and I want to live in base. Wife and I do not really want to leave Maryland.

Any advice is much appreciated.;)

I would get on with a regional with AA flow, or Endeavor (if JFK/LGA is drive-able) if you could get interested in Delta. PSA and Piedmont have bases in your area. Another option, Commutair has an agreement with United, and has an IAD base.

You should put your app in at every airline as soon as you meet their minimums.

Southwest can be your first pick but you should apply at all of them.

Republic has a DCA base and should be signing a new contract with a nice pay bump in a few months.

Thanks Prox! Appreciate the advice. JFK/LGA would be too far unfortunately. I have no issue with going to the regionals again, as I will build time quicker that way. Was actually looking at Republic as one option as well. Philly or DC would not be my preference, but I realize I will have to suck it up for a few years in order to be competitive at any major or legacy carrier. SWA is the preferred final destination though, for many reasons. Just need to map out the best path to get there, with a plan B of course, if SWA never pans out.

Thanks dash8driver....Republic seems like one of the top choices for a regional right now. Who did you fly Dash 8's for??

Flew them for both Piedmont (-100, -200 and -300) and Republic (Q400). I’d recommend DCA over PHL. PHL has been steadily shrinking. DCA has stayed about the same and flies for all three code shares (UAL, AA, DAL).

When did you fly for Piedmont?? PM me if you want...

Sure, just PM’d you.

I think you are on the right track looking for an airline that supports an easy drive to work. I would probably jump ship to a regional where you can check the 121 box and build hours faster. I believe most of the legacies and SWA have dropped their pic requirements (someone can correct me if I’m wrong). With your mil background and certs in conjunction with 121 regional time I would bet you would get an interview sooner rather than later.

Thanks RckyMt...yeah the short drive to work is the way to go for sure! I hope that my background, military, other FAA licenses, etc. help with SWA.