WHACKMASTER

There is no way in today’s hiring environment I would touch this program. If I remember correctly it doesn’t even get you a guaranteed SWA interview so why bother paying the extra expense?!

Also, if you enroll and don’t eventually get hired at SWA, you now have this program on your record/resume and other airlines recruiters will have some pointed questions for you. Think about that for a second.

Back when SWA required the B737 type rating there were those that went out and bought it, didn’t get hired at SWA, and then had that as a “ding” against them when trying to get hired at other carriers (or at least had some explaining to do in non-SWA interviews).

The 2020s going to be a decade of massive retirements and you can be positioned to take advantage of that, so I’ll give the same advice I’ve been giving to others in your shoes:

Enroll in an accelerated program such as All ATPs and go full bore for nine months. You’ll come out 70K in debt but with all of your ratings and a job at the school as a CFI building time very rapidly. Some of the regional airlines have programs to help you with the tuition. They’re desperate to keep the supply of pilots available to them.

Instruct for a year to a year and a half to get your 1500. Again, the regional airlines are desperate (mostly their fault for the way they treated and compensated us in the past) and some basically promise you a job if you get your ratings and instruct in their programs.

Many regionals have flow-throughs to the majors and legacy carriers and if it’s anything like today by the time you get your 1500 hours, you’ll have your pick of which regional you want to go to.

So 2-2.5 years from zero to regional airline FO and about 70K in debt. If you love flying it’ll be the best decision you ever made to earn a living this way, but for crying out loud don’t enroll in that stupid 225 program. It’s over priced, doesn’t even guarantee a SWA interview and of DLA, AA, UAL, SWA, FDX or UPS, SWA would be my last pick.

ZeroToHero

I reached back out with D225 peeps and they told me that you interview to join the program. Once that is done there is no more formal interview process. Once you hit minimums and pass aptitude tests you essentially await decision board and class date. They said D225 graduates will not have to formally interview again. Just food for thought I suppose.

ZeroToHero

According to D225, it is actually XoJet and JetLinx that pay for your type ratings and you will be committed to them for 36 months. So their view is, schooling out at CAE in Mesa, AZ, CFI, then 36 months minimum at either of those airlines until you hit minimums and then transition to WN.

ZeroToHero

The lifestyle is something that isn't a huge concern. The payoff on the other end is worth it imo - longer stretches at home when you ARE off and pay is obviously lucrative. I don't discount you saying that it might be worth going PPL first. The D225 program, however, doesn't discount at all if you already have it, though. Would be a waste of $8k if they essentially teach you from zero again and all you get to skip was the checkride.

Then again, going $100k in debt into a program that you end up not liking or succeeding in would be the bigger sucker move so point taken.

WHACKMASTER

Sounds like you’ve got a good head on your shoulder and are capable of critical thinking. You’ll do fine in life.

flyguy81

Just finished CQT. There were some guys getting a tour of the sim building that were interviewing for the 225 program.

Sounds like if they pass the aptitude test and get hired they go to CAE. Once done with their training they go to the fractional and then get slotted into our list. No add’l interview and there’s contact all along the way with our people to make sure they’re progressing how we want, etc.

Whether that’s worth $100k for a “guaranteed” spot on our list in 4-5 years is up to the individual. Took me 15 years from hour 1 to get here so another 10 years here is worth way more than $100k. YMMV.

WHACKMASTER

If that’s the case it’s DEFINITELY worth it. The concern of the line pilots is that those that come through the 225 program will be fed the SWA Kool Aide from the start and will be the “Aw shucks, I’m just happy to be here types”.

We already have plenty of those (mostly they’re the ones with a full military retirement) and don’t need more of that weak mentality on property, especially considering how big of a battle Contract 2020 is going to be.

flyguy81

Understandable. It’s not a replacement for how we do hiring. Just a supplement to help with the “shortage”. Since it’ll be these new hires first 121 gig it’s up to the vets to educate them about SWAPA once they show up.

ZeroToHero

To be fair, by the time the Cadets "graduate" and get all the way through the Program it will be about 2024/2025 at the earliest

jetset

I read that they plan to hire only 700 over 10 years from the 225 program. Not a lot considering how much hiring there will be.