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!

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?

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.

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

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!

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.



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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.

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.

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.

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.

Went to 141 school/college to get ratings. Flight instructor and part 135 flying for 2 years while getting bachelor's degree.
flew in AK for 5 years for 121 cargo company. Went to a ACMI for 9 yrs, lost decade. Couldnt get a call so got masters in 1 year while at ACMI and finally got calls. Went to SW. Been applying here for 10 years before I got called.

Private in H.S.
ERAU
ACA
91 Department for 10 years. Great place to hang for the lost decade.
SWA for past 4 years. Wish I got here sooner. Drive to work and couldn’t be happier.

Around 2006 Finished my ratings
2007-8 Instructed
2008-2010 Spent time as an intern at FSI in various Citation sims.
2010-2019 Charter guy for 2 different companies flying all sorts of Citations, Hawkers and Falcons.
Started applying to SWA in 2014/15
2017/18 Became LCA/ACP
2019 Finally got the call to interview and got hired!

/Cliff notes

Awesome thread, many thanks to the OP.

I respect the dedication of you civilian guys, especially those that slugged it out during the lost decade. I don't know if I would have stuck it out. College - Marine Corps - SWA seems easy by comparison.

Of course you only remember the good times...

Haha! I did Army-SWA. Super easy, no hard work or sacrifice. Everything handed to me. Applied once. Invites to DAL and SWA. Went SWA. Glad to be here.
-Flag Tie Guy

College
CFI for 1.5 years
Regional for almost 11 years (had a 4 year plan...didn’t work out)
SWA (after 8 years applying)

True.

The Corps is where I wanted to go (with my friends) but in 1993 they were like “airplanes? Color waiver? GTFO.”

Timing is everything.

Small technical school in the Rockies for college, got my PPL there.

AF Flight School.

10 years on AD, got to see a lot of the countryside of Iraq & Afghanistan.

Reserves.

Offered a job by 4 big pax companies, 1 cargo company. Chose SWA. It’s been the best decision for my family, so far. Been here almost 5 years.

College
Flight instructed and flew tours 4 years til 2010 (latter end of lost decade)
Part 135 charter 4 years
Sun Country 1.5 years
Finally got calls from Swa and Delta. Chose Swa. Happy so far and living in base

College Degree
Worked in Public Relations for multiple years before I decided I wasn't cut out for corporate America.
Flight Instruction
Tours of the Grand Canyon
Small Plane Freight - Ameriflight
Regional Airline for 8 years during the lost decade
Applied to SWA for multiple years without getting the 737 type rating
Finally got an interview without the type and a job offer before investing in the type rating
Never looked back.

It is a great job and I work with lots of fun folks.

Damn Zap, you’ve really been through it. Kudos to you for sticking it out.

Thanks man. It’s been an adventure! Still another 17 years to go!


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4 year degree age 21
worked
private pilot age 25
Air Force OTS, UPT
AF 7 years - early out 1992
SWA

I've been here a little over 20 years, so the details of my story are by now almost completely inconsequential. I was regional turbo-props for a blessedly short time, then here. Back in the late 90s, by comparison, it wasn't all that 'cool' to come to SWA (only reason they actually hired my dumb a$$). Then came 9-11 and suddenly I looked like a frigg'n genius.

This crazy career we've chosen....what a crap shoot. :confused:

This is the most honest post I’ve ever seen on APC. I salute you sir!


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13 years as an AF jet engine mechanic and fighter crew chief.

Used VA benefits to go to flight school in Ft Lauderdale.

Couple hundred hours of flight instructor and working at an FBO.

Five years of Learjet charters.

17 years at a regional as a Brasilia and RJ Pilot.

Degree in 2015 (get the degree! I’d still be at a regional without it)

SWA in 2017

Other than spending 10 years at the commuters before SW, this is exactly my story.