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DieguinhoFlies 02-09-2020 12:35 PM

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!

Texasbound 02-09-2020 01:04 PM

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?

TheBlueBaron 02-09-2020 02:22 PM


Originally Posted by DieguinhoFlies (Post 2973858)
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!

I flight instructed for a year. Flew checks for a year. Spent 2 years at regional #1 and 16 years at regional #2. I was part of the lost decade with 9/11, age 65, Great Recession, consolidation, etc... Been at SWA 2 years now.

Best of luck to you.

pilotrob23 02-09-2020 03:09 PM


Originally Posted by DieguinhoFlies (Post 2973858)
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!

I got my private in high school, then went to university and finished up all my ratings and degree. Went to a regional airline, where I spent 7 years. I got my 1000 hours of PIC the same week as my Type, but soon after, we went into bankruptcy, and furloughed a bunch of people. So I lost the left seat, and downgraded. Figured I needed to keep working towards the goal while things were stagnant, and went over to Emirates for four years on the 777. Learned a ton from some incredible people, and the family had a wonderful experience. Kept updating my SWA info, and finally got the call for an interview. Been here almost four years, and enjoy the people and job immensely. That is me in a nutshell. Best of luck.
Rob

CommuterForLife 02-09-2020 03:17 PM

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!

ZapBrannigan 02-09-2020 03:54 PM

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

SkyJunky 02-09-2020 07:12 PM

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.

NVPilot 02-09-2020 07:18 PM

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.

ackeight 02-10-2020 06:55 AM

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.

at6d 02-10-2020 08:30 AM

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.


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