New SWA 717 TPA Domicile
 

TO: ALL PILOTS
FROM: CHUCK MAGILL—VICE PRESIDENT FLIGHT OPERATIONS
DATE: NOVEMBER 14, 2011
RE: TPA 717 Domicile

Section 27.G.3. of Side Letter 10 (SL10), our Seniority Integration Agreement, states: “Southwest Airlines commits to establishing an Atlanta domicile with a minimum of fifteen (15) overnighting B717 aircraft by January 1, 2015, unless otherwise mutually agreed by both parties. If necessary, a second B717 domicile will be announced prior to the Transition Bid process at AirTran.”

Based on our current fleet plan, we have selected TPA to serve as the second Southwest Airlines 717 Pilot domicile. We believe TPA is a good long-term option as a Southwest domicile. I realize that for our new Pilots from AirTran, the SL10 language “if necessary” may complicate your bidding decision once the Transition Bid is released later this week. For those of you considering a bid for the 717, you have the assurance that ATL will serve as a domicile as we begin converting the 717 fleet. Should our fleet plan remain unchanged, the TPA domicile would open within a year of the ATL domicile. If our fleet plan changes and a second domicile is not required, we would continue to base all the 717s in ATL.

The Transition Bid for our new Pilots from AirTran will open on November 16. Crew Planning has worked with the Merger Committee, and the Transition Bid details will be posted in FLiCA when the bid is released. The details will include the most current aircraft conversion schedule and domicile projections. Please look for details later this week.

Too bad SWA FO's can't bid for the 717 at TPA. Would be handy if you lived nearby. Bet you wouldn't have a problem finding an AT FO who would gladly give up his 717 for a SWA 737 on the bid about to open. :)

What to do about bidding
 

I am currently captain on 737 with AirTran and based in Atlanta. I am bidding on aircraft and seat with Southwest. I am looking forward to being with Soutwest. I would like to have Atlanta as base. How should I bid? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I would suggest you read the Transition Bid documents in FLICA and on the ATN ALPA website.

If ATL is the most important consideration for you, then your two choices are 717CA and 717FO.

There are currently no plans for a ATL 737 domicile.

Matthew:

I took that as a poor attempt at trolling. This dude (Slb122133) has two posts only and they're both identical in two different threads.

But while we're on the subject, how's the vacancy bid turning out? Originally heard it was going much more junior than anticipated. Is that still holding true?

Ah. Thanks. That's what I get for trying to answer a question. :D

It did seem slightly strange that a 737CA would be so uninformed. 717CAs aren't like that. (man, I'm funny)

I'm a 2008 hire at the tranny, so I'm still in the bottom 200. To be honest, I haven't been paying attention to the bid because my position is a foregone conclusion (717FO).

Perhaps it comes as no surprise, the 717CA slots are going senior, 737FO slots, mid-level CAs to senior FOs and the 717FOs to all of those that are left. /:)

BTW- 510 717CA, 520 717FOs and 707 737FOs

1Seat,

It is just about done. There are 70 some folks who have not bid yet. It looks like TPA is going to go junior but no one REALLY knows since the domicile portion of the transition bid is TBA. On myseniority.com, TPA appears to be junior but that is an unofficial site.

C9

Correct me if I am wrong, but 717 pilots won't know their base assignment until sometime in 2013, when the 717 pilots start to transition to SWA. Is that right?

You are correct. The ATL 717 base will be filled first so it will probably be later in 2013 when the TPA base officially opens.

C9

unless I hear some firm reasons why they want a TPA 717 base, I'll just say that I don't think it will ever happen. lotta stuff can change in 2 years, in which time all of us 717 pilots will still be on the Airtran side and still be based in ATL! TPA was just something to write on a piece of paper.