I too was hoping for more during the one-on-one sessions. The sessions were the exact same format that they do at previous job fairs which was going over your resume briefly and then going thru your app on pilotcredentials.com to make sure there aren't any errors (which I've done multiple times this year when I met them at the Assoc job fairs (OBAP/WAI etc)). I was hoping for more of a chance to show why I wanted to be there and for them to get to know me as a person/applicant aside from the airlineapps stuff.

All in all it was an awesome event and coming from the pinch-a-penny regional world, I was pretty blown away with the training facilities/operation and how much everyone genuinely enjoys working at SWA (which is one of the main reasons I want to be there). Rocky did seem to indicate that those who were at the event will have a leg up on the rest of the applicant pool (approximately 3k applicants right now) over the short term for upcoming interviews. Fingers crossed.

 

His came via email. They explained at the meeting that all communication is usually by email. He is very happy to say the least and good luck to him! He's a good guy and deserves it. ( and it's one more internal letter of rec for me once he's on property. Lol. )

 

For folks that are interested and have over the mins, this event is a must attend, however, they were quick to point out that while there may be a 'future' qualified pilot shortage for the majors, there is not one now.

I drilled down on this during a one-on-one with a HR rep after the event, specifically the 1000 TPIC.

I meet all of the mins, meeting the mins does not equal being competitive. And that's what the HR rep told me (very nicely)!

I asked what was competitive, and was told 4000-5000 hrs.

I don't see why Southwest would drop their turbine PIC to 500 when 1000 is not even competitive.

Rocky also said they have 6000 or so applicants, and out of those numbers maybe +/- 3000 are in the hunt ( based on availability, etc). He said he has to share those applicants with UA/AA/DL etc.

Rocky also said that they are hiring based on training capacity. At least 550 new-hire pilots in 2017 with 11 sims. In late 2017/2018, the new sim building will be up and running with initially 18 sims, with the ability to expand to 26 sims.

Rocky said the future plan is to hire as many as they can train based on sim capacity.

I came away from the event - with no doubt that Southwest is a first class operation and if you don't have to commute, or the commute to their base is very simple, Southwest is the place to be.

I also know that while I more than meet their minimums, I am not competitive. These job fairs are not silver bullets and there is no shortage of competitive qualified applicants for the majors.

Toil on forgotten airline pilot generation - the jobs are coming - be prepared / no DUI's and above all else, don't lie.

 

Can you elaborate on the first question to you (I'm still learning the acronym), and do you mind providing a quick run down of your credentials?

 

If you are still giving canned answers after going thru a prep service, I'd ask for your money back and find a better prep service. I used a few different services over the years while waiting for the interview invite, was very honest about that when they asked if I did any prep, and I was offered the job 2 weeks later.

You will get out of the prep services what you put into them.

 

Don't feel too sorry for yourself. Pilots from the 'lost decade' are still working on finding gainful employment.

Many of those were working for places like TWA, ATA, USAir, etc before 9/11 and were furloughed by the thousands. Some left the industry, some found other jobs flying for second tier airlines or corporate flight departments, some even left the country to fly as expats.

When the recalls started they may have chosen not to accept recall due to family circumstances, the economy, or just the info they had at the time. And for every one of those there are two regional jet pilots who spent the lost decade waiting as the majors furloughed around them. When hiring did begin again, they had to wait for the recalls to get underway and then compete for precious few remaining jobs.

I was 25 when I started my first major airline job. I didn't get hired at SW until I was 42 with over 10,000 TT and a half dozen type ratings.

You haven't been forgotten. It's just not your turn yet.

 

I get the idea that SWA's published minimums are for miltary folks. If you're strictly civ, you're going to need about 4X more.

 

Probably not too far from the truth. The only guys in my class with less than 5k total were out of the military. Most of us civilians had 8-9K and up.

 

I thought the post above was referring to needing 4-5k TPIC needed to be competitive, not TT. Maybe I misinterpreted.

For the folks who were told to go get the 737 type, I wonder what that really does for your chances from a practical standpoint.

 

No one probably knows. The vast majority in my recent class did not have the type so plenty are getting the call now without it. SWA is changing up their training program currently as they know most don't have the type anymore. I do have the type though and two people who interviewed me did bring it up and ask me about it during my interview so that might have helped me individually with my score after I was invited to interview. With the cost to get it now and with the fact that the majority in each class don't have the type I would think hard about it before spending the cash.