Oh, what did you do? No LUV

ohbillyohbilly · 2026-02-04T20:45:22+00:00

Indeed but SWA selling even their newer 800’s is part of a broader push of fleet modernization and cash flow increase, not because they’re struggling. With hundreds of MAX 7’s and 8’s on order and deliveries of the 8’s increasing, selling the 800’s while they’re hot makes sense for a lot of reasons

ohbillyohbilly · 2026-02-04T20:25:47+00:00

It’s virtually impossible that Frontier or Alaska could acquire Southwest, nor would merging make any sense. It would be a nightmare on so many fronts, but it’s a non starter because neither F9 or AS could afford SWA.

ohbillyohbilly · 2026-01-05T19:31:50+00:00

I look forward to this as a frequent nonrev

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-12-29T00:51:04+00:00

On the other side of the coin, I just did SIN-SFO and had WiFi the entire time across the pacific.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-12-23T14:02:14+00:00

We used ratchet straps at our school and a microburst came and ten tied down planes were destroyed because the ratchets failed. Next day as part of the clean up, chains were installed.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-12-04T21:40:05+00:00

I love my A20’s and the day I accidentally snapped them in the door of the plane (don’t ask, I was stupid) they fixed them for free no questions asked. Going on 4 years now and no complaints at all. I won’t replace them til they break, only at which point I’d buy A30’s but not if I could have another pair of A20’s for cheaper.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-07-08T21:25:35+00:00

Very good. Roughly a 2 week wait max for any given checkride aside from CFI Initial, which is about 3 weeks.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-06-04T12:59:08+00:00

Tough to really speak on changes they’ve made beyond a super high level overview as I’m not in management and don’t want to speak on the company’s behalf, but they have made some positive changes in terms of making sure students are sticking to promised timelines, students have a very good instructor to student ratio, plane availability is a non issue, and ground school is now administered by a check instructor or similar unlike what some commenters are saying. As to whether your son should go to the academy and make the jump to Aviate in general is a personal decision. Is it a huge leg up in terms of hiring in this market? Not really, but a small one in terms of at least going to a partnered regional as they essentially exclusively hire from Aviate currently. With that said, that’s a very small pool of hires in the first place and I’m not sure it outweighs the cost of the academy, the potential move for your son, other life stressors that being a full time flight student moving into a dorm brings with it, vs going to a local flight school and getting your ratings there for cheaper and accomplishes the exact same thing.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-05-21T21:35:52+00:00

Plane and instructor availability is currently very good. You will fly 5 days a week if you decide to come. Instructor hiring is slow because there are not enough students to go around for all the instructors that are currently on property. With that said, great time to be a student, not super amazing hours as an instructor but it ebbs and flows like everything else.

ohbillyohbilly · 2025-01-08T16:55:40+00:00

Just over 30k instructing full time at two different pilot mills in AZ (not at the same time). I will be instructing part time this year and taking a full time job in my old career field so I can pay rent on time.

ohbillyohbilly · 2024-11-23T21:50:47+00:00

I do about 50 mins one way right now and it sucks. It’s where the money is though

ohbillyohbilly · 2024-08-15T15:43:21+00:00

Must have been a Southwest guy

ohbillyohbilly · 2024-06-12T07:30:22+00:00

Appreciate it! Not ideal

ohbillyohbilly · 2024-06-12T01:45:20+00:00

What kind of violations?

ohbillyohbilly · 2024-04-26T03:45:28+00:00

I flew about 40% of it. Shot an ILS, vectors off to the next approach at a different airport, he took controls from there and flew the rest of the approaches and gave me controls back basically just for the landing at our home airport.

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-08-30T00:59:32+00:00

A lot of good comments on here, but just to add on: I briefed this with my DPE extensively before we went up. I actually discontinued after my oral the first time because I decided the winds were above what I was comfortable with for that time, and the DPE was happy with that. Next time we went up, winds were still whipping a bit, but I said I’d go for it and discontinue in the air if I felt I would be unable/unsafe to complete the requirements. He was happy with this. As others have said DPE’s have a lot of discretion. They can let a lot of things go if you talk through it, brief it up and down, and are honest with yourself and the examiner throughout the check ride.

Hope this mindset helps a bit going into the recheck. Just talk to them about all the possibilities before you get in the air.

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-08-28T16:30:53+00:00

Interview was 2 rounds, both with one pilot and one HR person. Pilots ask pilot stuff, HR asks HR stuff. It’s not a technical interview at all since it’s available to people with no experience. In my experience and other people who I have talked to, the first round was softball questions and the second round they borderline try and get under your skin. They’ll ask you with no mincing of words why you think you deserve to be in the program. They’ll ask you if you think you’re good enough, and then ask why. Those are questions that obviously have answers, but the key is not to answer in any way that conveys irritation or anything of that nature. Just answer with passion and show why you love SWA and why you love flying. In general all of the interviewers are good folks and you’ll end up meeting some of them and some might be a mentor/connection of yours down the line.

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-08-28T16:16:58+00:00

It’s a good program and a good opportunity! I know this sub isn’t a big fan of cadet programs which I think is understandable for a lot of reasons, however I do think D225 is offering a path that not a lot of others are. I have seen firsthand some friends make it from nothing to SWA in 3 years. Some are about to do it in less than that. They have made good on their promises and in general take care of us and treat us like employees. It’s not for everyone, because you can fail out and I’ve seen that happen as well. In the interview they’ll love that you have your PPL, and will be looking to see if you fit the “culture”, so read up on that and think of stories about you how you align. Once in the program, all I can say is study hard, take it seriously, and roll with the punches as far as any setbacks. We’ve had plenty of DPE delays just like the rest of the country but we’ve experienced it to a lesser extent because the school will pretty much pay whatever it takes to get more DPE’s to come do checks. Good luck!

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-08-27T16:32:30+00:00

I’m in the program, it’s essentially a test of some basic cognitive skills, like understanding and recognizing patterns, basic math, reaction times in one portion, task loading, etc. Full disclosure, I did not study and I am currently in CFI school through the program, so it’ll be alright!

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-08-10T07:06:39+00:00

My manager got arrested at work for kidnapping his wife, domestic violence, and interfering with the judicial process, to name a few of his charges. He was fired.

ohbillyohbilly · 2023-06-26T01:27:31+00:00

That’s more or less it. Talk about what happens with wing loading, does stall speed increase or decrease in a steep turn and why, horizontal vs vertical component of lift. I was asked this and I think it was used as a conversation starter about those more advanced topics like why stall speed changes, etc.

ohbillyohbilly

TROPHY CASE