Pilot Applications, Pilot Jobs

Southwest Airlines Pilot Application Window Open!

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EDIT: Pilot Application window is now closed again.

Southwest Airlines has re-opened their pilot application window after years of no pilot hiring.  No word yet on how many pilots Southwest Airlines plans to hire but the fact that the application window has opened is good news indeed!  To apply, you must visit the Southwest Airlines jobs page.  Here is a direct link to the pilot application page: SWA Pilot Job Application.

We look forward to receiving you pilot interview experience after your interview!  Please submit your pilot interview experience here.

Pilot News, Pilot Profession

New AA Logo and Livery Revealed!

American Airlines revealed today their new logo and aircraft livery today.  Although very modern, it is quite a departure from the old logo.  The livery is also much more modern although some are critical of the new paint scheme, particularly the tail.

Here is American’s new logo and livery for you to review:

American's New Livery

AA New Logo

Pilot Applications, Pilot Interviews

Most Airlines Will Be Hiring in 2013! Are You Prepared?

2013 Should prove to be an exciting year for pilot hiring.  As of this post Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, United and US Airways have all announced that they expect to hire by the end of the year.  The question is, are you prepared??

All of us have heard the expression “you only have one chance to make a first impression!”  This expression could not be more true than when you are applying for a new pilot position.  With many airlines you only have one opportunity to apply and interview.  It would be a shame to miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime because you did not put in the time and effort to prepare for your interview in advance!  Some may think “I will fill out the application now and begin my preparation once I get called for an interview.”  But is this the wise course?  What if your first phone call from the airline of your dreams includes questions as part of the interview?  What if you only have a matter of days to appear for your personal interview?  Pilots perform much better when not under a high task loading, high stress environment.  Why would you want to put yourself into a high stress environment when it comes to your big interview?  Don’t you think you would perform better and make a better first impression by being prepared ahead of time?

That is why we have developed a new Pilot Interview Webinar series to get you prepared now.  We encourage you to take advantage of the highly valuable information and suggestions that will be presented today!  Then you will be prepared for a stress free and exciting job interview that will be soon to follow.

Click here to register for our our webinar: BEFORE YOU APPLY: Do your homework!

Pilot Interviews, WFFF News

Pilot Interview Profiles (Gouge) Needed!

interview-gouge-help2

We need your help!  Your fellow pilots need your help!  We are in need of updated pilot interview gouge for the following airlines:

  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • FedEx
  • US Airways
  • United
  • JetBlue
  • Ameristar
  • Cathay Pacific
  • ExpressJet
  • Great Lakes
  • Spirit

If you have recently interviewed with these airlines or any other airline, we encourage you to please share your experience with your fellow professional aviators by clicking here or the “Submit Interview” link in our main navigation window.

Please remember that all of our pilot interview gouge is completely free and does not require a membership.  Share this website with all of your fellow aviators and help support our premise of pilots helping pilots.  Thank you for your support!

Pilot Applications, Pilot Interviews, Pilot Training

Webinar: BEFORE YOU APPLY: Do your homework!

We are happy to announce our new Pilot Interview Webinar Series in cooperation with Cage Consulting!

Not every pilot has the ability to take time off of work to prepare for an airline interview. As a result, Cage Consulting and Will Fly For Food.com, will be offering a series of webinars designed to help you prepare for the pilot hiring process expected in 2013.

These webinars will provide you, the applicant, the opportunity to gain invaluable insight to help demystify the entire pilot application and interviewing process with the goal of making sure you shine during each and every opportunity (resume/application submission, networking, job fair and actual interview).

Topics covered in Webinar One: BEFORE YOU APPLY: Do your homework! Include:

  • Gathering Paperwork: why this step is so important
  • Background checks: where you need to go, what to get
  • Areas of concern: checkrides, traffic violations, employment and FAA situations
  • Networking: contacting friends, family, past employers, going to job fairs
  • Logbooks: organizing and auditing times
  • Letters of recommendation: who to get them from

Following the presentation we will open the Webinar up to you for your questions.

When??

Friday, January 11th, 2013

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Space is limited, so register today:

Click Here to Register!

 

 

Continue reading Webinar: BEFORE YOU APPLY: Do your homework! →

Pilot Applications, Pilot Interviews, Pilot Profession

Tweeting and Terminations: It can happen!

internet_researchI recently discovered Facebook.  I know what you’re thinking, “Where have you been?”  I will have to admit, it is a lot of fun to see what all of my friends are doing.   By the same token, I’m still not a huge follower of any of the social networking sites due of privacy concerns.  Needless to say, I have been very guarded with my photos and personal/family information with regards to the social networking scene.   Just as I started to “loosen up” and thought about posting some family trivia to my Facebook page, I received a call from a seasoned Captain that stopped me immediately in my tracks.

For simplicity sake we will call this person John.  John stated that he had recently been fired from a long term flying job because of a situation in his background that he had been so careful not to disclose to any of his co-workers and especially his employer.

Four years ago John was arrested and convicted of a crime.  He did exactly what the court required, completed his probation, paid his fines and then retained a lawyer to have his records expunged.  Because of the expungement proceedings, John felt that he could keep the embarrassing matter to himself and not have to discuss it with anyone, ever again.

Last month, as John was preparing for one of his trips, he received a call from his Chief Pilot.  John was asked to stop by the office before checking in for his shift.  John was greeted by the Chief Pilot, the Director of Operations, and the Director of Human Resources.  After sitting down, John was handed a piece of paper that had been printed from the internet.

Continue reading Tweeting and Terminations: It can happen! →

Pilot Training

Tackling A New Type

Type RatingsThere will come a time in every pilots career that they will have to transition to a new airplane. Coming from another piece of equipment you will be tempted to compare everything to the previous aircraft because that is what you are familiar with. This is not necessarily a bad thing; try to utilize the similarities and differences constructively with a ven diagram. The human brain is wired to take data and try to put order to it. One of the many ways it does this is by comparing and contrasting new information to something that is already understood. Adding a second, third, or fourth type to your certificate should be exciting and will get easier after each additional type because systems have similarities.

Going through long term training is difficult in and of itself. Before you start your training make sure that your family affairs are set on autopilot for the next month and half, because you may not be able to get back and take care of something while in training. Let your family know that for the next month you will be there as much as you can for them, however, you will be under added stress. Before heading to training try and read up on the new aircraft. If you have any friends that fly the new airplane, ask if they might be able to give you an idea of the quirks and characteristics of the new airframe.

Continue reading Tackling A New Type →

Pilot Applications, Pilot Interviews

The Logbook Checklist

pilot logbook pageWhile the aviation industry is still slow, there has been some subtle movement over the last few months. Several companies have been quietly recalling furloughed pilots, in fact, some have even started to do some hiring. Now is the time for you to start preparing your logbooks, your resume, and your game plan.

Logbooks must be up-to-date and neat.  Sloppy, disorganized, inaccurate logbooks will be the cause of a great deal of questioning and concern on the part of the interviewer.  Before you hand-out your resume at job fairs or submit an application please review the following:

1.  Audit your flight times BEFORE you do anything with your resume or application.   Applicants have been escorted out of an interview because their flight times did not match their application.

Continue reading The Logbook Checklist →

Pilot News, Pilot Profession

American Airlines and US Airways To Merge?

AA+USAirwaysIt appears that US Airways President Doug Parker has made a huge move towards acquiring American Airlines! Rather than negotiate with American Airlines CEO Tome Horton, US Airways went straight to the employees with their negotiations. Seems like a very smart move especially considering that the three major unions at American have seats on the unsecured creditors committee. Last Friday all three major unions at American announced their full support for a merger with US Airways. In addition the APA representing the pilot of American Airlines have agreed to the basic framework of contract terms for the combined carrier.

The APA reported to their pilots the terms of a six year contract. Should the merger go through as planned, American Airlines pilots will be among the most highly compensated of the Legacy Carriers and provide a large boost in pay for the US Airways pilots. Proposed pay for a narrow body Narrowbody Captain are as follows:

• Date of Signing Pay Rate: $172.44
• 3% annual increase for years 2-6

• Year 2: $177.61
• Year 3: $182.94
• Year 4: $188.43
• Year 5: $194.08
• Year 6: $199.90

• Parity with UAL/DAL average at the end of the contract if those companies average is higher than our pay rate

• F/O pay rate 68% of Captain rate.

We believe that a merger with American and US Airways will not only be a win-win for the pilots involved but for all pilots in the industry! There will no longer be a large spread in pay from one Legacy Carrier to the next. This should help the airlines to compete while also raising the bar for all future pilot contract negotiations at all airlines!

We invite you to please discuss the American Airlines and US Airways merger on our pilot forums.