SWA Pilot Stories
02-09-2020, 12:35 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 4
SWA Pilot Stories
As a current time builder with aspirations of one day being able to fly for Southwest. I'd like to read some career stories of the paths current SWA pilots took to get there. How they built their time, who they flew for, etc. Going through this forum and reading similar post is very motivation and helps keep the dream alive specially through sometimes very difficult months of time building and discouragement.
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
02-09-2020, 01:04 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 414
I once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends, and... uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi.. Before that I flew for an airline...
Then later:Mother: Navin, it's your birthday, and it's time you knew. You're not our natural-born child.
Navin R. Johnson: I'm not? You mean I'm gonna STAY this color?
Then later:Mother: Navin, it's your birthday, and it's time you knew. You're not our natural-born child.
Navin R. Johnson: I'm not? You mean I'm gonna STAY this color?
02-09-2020, 02:22 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: The right seat
Posts: 257
Originally Posted by DieguinhoFlies
As a current time builder with aspirations of one day being able to fly for Southwest. I'd like to read some career stories of the paths current SWA pilots took to get there. How they built their time, who they flew for, etc. Going through this forum and reading similar post is very motivation and helps keep the dream alive specially through sometimes very difficult months of time building and discouragement.
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
Best of luck to you.
02-09-2020, 03:09 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: Phoenix
Posts: 732
Originally Posted by DieguinhoFlies
As a current time builder with aspirations of one day being able to fly for Southwest. I'd like to read some career stories of the paths current SWA pilots took to get there. How they built their time, who they flew for, etc. Going through this forum and reading similar post is very motivation and helps keep the dream alive specially through sometimes very difficult months of time building and discouragement.
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
Thank you guys for sharing! Cant wait to read the post!
Rob
02-09-2020, 03:17 PM
#5
New Hire
Joined APC: May 2018
Posts: 8
I took my sophomore year off of college and went to a flight school in Florida. Came back after a year away and flight instructed at a local flight school while finishing my degree. Shortly after graduation I got a job flying cargo, the corproate, then charter - laid off - flew for a regional for a couple of years and then aerial survey, and more various corporate gigs for 11 years (one of which paid for a MBA) before getting on with SWA. Very happy here. Good luck!
02-09-2020, 03:54 PM
#6
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,795
SWA Pilot Stories
1. Around 26 years ago... College - flight instructor
2. Night freight (checks) - furlough #1
3. Commuter Airline
4. Low fare carrier - furlough #2
5. Back to same Commuter Airline
6. Legacy airline
7. 9/11 - furlough #3
8. Startup carrier - furlough #4
9. Different commuter - furlough #5
10. Regional airline (like a commuter but with tiny jets)
11. Fortune 500 flight department - golden handcuffs
12. Turned down by SWA in 2011 and went to yet another LCC
13. Been at SWA for 6 years and just wish I got here earlier.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2. Night freight (checks) - furlough #1
3. Commuter Airline
4. Low fare carrier - furlough #2
5. Back to same Commuter Airline
6. Legacy airline
7. 9/11 - furlough #3
8. Startup carrier - furlough #4
9. Different commuter - furlough #5
10. Regional airline (like a commuter but with tiny jets)
11. Fortune 500 flight department - golden handcuffs
12. Turned down by SWA in 2011 and went to yet another LCC
13. Been at SWA for 6 years and just wish I got here earlier.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by ZapBrannigan; 02-09-2020 at 04:07 PM.
02-09-2020, 07:12 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: Gear Puller
Posts: 103
Got my private in High School.
Took a semester off in college to get my ratings from ATP in 2005
Went back to school and also flight instructed at a mom and pop flight school.
Started flying corporate and flight instructing.
Corporate: PIC in King Airs and Conquests, SIC in citations.
Went full time flying SIC part 91 for an energy company in a Sabreliner 65.
Upgraded to PIC a couple years later
Upgraded to Falcon 50 PIC a few years after that.
Eventually became flight department chief pilot and aviation manager.
Left to fly G-IVs on 135.
Left that trap to fly G-IVs part 91 for a bank and also contracted for various companies flying G-IVs and Falcon 50/900s.
-
Came here July ‘19. Had been applying for 4 years.
Took a semester off in college to get my ratings from ATP in 2005
Went back to school and also flight instructed at a mom and pop flight school.
Started flying corporate and flight instructing.
Corporate: PIC in King Airs and Conquests, SIC in citations.
Went full time flying SIC part 91 for an energy company in a Sabreliner 65.
Upgraded to PIC a couple years later
Upgraded to Falcon 50 PIC a few years after that.
Eventually became flight department chief pilot and aviation manager.
Left to fly G-IVs on 135.
Left that trap to fly G-IVs part 91 for a bank and also contracted for various companies flying G-IVs and Falcon 50/900s.
-
Came here July ‘19. Had been applying for 4 years.
02-09-2020, 07:18 PM
#8
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 47
College flight program, contract CFI for airforce teaching initial flight training, 9 months regional#1, 9.5 years regional #2, 8000+ hours 1500ish tpic average line swine waiting for a LCA slot to open in my domicile. Luckily got hired before that happened. I have been here just over 3 years.
Last edited by NVPilot; 02-09-2020 at 07:19 PM. Reason: Add info
02-10-2020, 06:55 AM
#9
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 84
Went to college with aviation program and instructed there till graduation.
Flew checks for a little over a year. Barons/caravans
Flew medical for a large diagnostic company for about 3 years. Barons, tbms, pc12’s and phenom.
Flew charter for about 4 years. Phenom, hawker, falcon 2000.
Flew for a great pt 91 in challenger for a year.
Left to my final resting place hopefully SWA 3 years ago.
That’s it in a nutshell. As you can see there are many ways to get here. Lots of backgrounds. I would have no shot of getting at AA without prior 121 experience as they don’t hire very many corporate guys. They were my #2 choice anyways.
Flew checks for a little over a year. Barons/caravans
Flew medical for a large diagnostic company for about 3 years. Barons, tbms, pc12’s and phenom.
Flew charter for about 4 years. Phenom, hawker, falcon 2000.
Flew for a great pt 91 in challenger for a year.
Left to my final resting place hopefully SWA 3 years ago.
That’s it in a nutshell. As you can see there are many ways to get here. Lots of backgrounds. I would have no shot of getting at AA without prior 121 experience as they don’t hire very many corporate guys. They were my #2 choice anyways.
02-10-2020, 08:30 AM
#10
Strike averted!
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: B737
Posts: 3,638
Private in high school. Went to college and worked local airport ramp and fueler while getting my ratings.
Graduated with bachelors degree and went off to get my CFI. Was offered a job instructing. Instructed for 1200 hours. Applied to regionals in 1999, hired by Eagle.
Spent seven plus years there without upgrading, yet flying all four fleet types. Funny how that works. Lost decade story #8,634.
Bailed to corporate for 8 years where I built PIC time, earned type ratings, raised kids, saved my marriage, etc.
Saw writing on the wall when sister companies flight departments and pensions were terminated.
In my fifth year here. Didn’t apply anywhere else.
Graduated with bachelors degree and went off to get my CFI. Was offered a job instructing. Instructed for 1200 hours. Applied to regionals in 1999, hired by Eagle.
Spent seven plus years there without upgrading, yet flying all four fleet types. Funny how that works. Lost decade story #8,634.
Bailed to corporate for 8 years where I built PIC time, earned type ratings, raised kids, saved my marriage, etc.
Saw writing on the wall when sister companies flight departments and pensions were terminated.
In my fifth year here. Didn’t apply anywhere else.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
