Interview panel consisted of Captain(Check Airman), Captain (retired now in training department) and (HR). Class dates scheduled for the rest of 2004 are 11 November and 2 & 20 December. Interviews conducted on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Hiring between 240-250 for next year. Greta Charles will call from the Orlando office to offer the interview date. Booked on AIRTRAN into Atlanta with confirmation of seat. Application gets mailed to you (hopefully before you leave for the interview). if it does not arrive on time; they (AIRINC) had some at the hotel (Howard Johnson Express: <$43.00 total for the night) to fill out. Need ten-year work history, ten-year residential history, criminal history (anything that you ever got finger printed for.disclosure is mandatory) and flight time history. Did not collect logbooks, but bring them. Make sure you have a current resume. Hotel van will pick up and drop off at the airport and at AIRINC (where the interview is conducted.) Classes are 6-8 weeks in length and you are paid $42.75 at 70-hour guarantee followed by 25 hour IOE. No new crew bases, everyone is at Atlanta. at least for the next two years. Six-month reserves with 2- hour call out. Currently have 78 Boeing 717 (CAT III with auto land) with options for more (all of them are less than 4 years old.) 50/50 for the 737's. Currently a 3-3.5 year to upgrade. Union representation is National Pilots Association and the relationship with management is good. (Voluntarily took a pay cut to avoid furloughs after 9-11, which management followed.) All were back up to previous pay scale within a couple of months. No promises for aircraft other than the fact that you will fly a Boeing product.
Very professional, yet easy-going process. You will have to remind yourself, not to relax too much. Questions are as follows:
Why AIRTRAN? What will you bring to AIRTRAN? TMAAT that you made a decision that impacted the flight? Tell me about yourself (condensed version)? What do you like least/most about your job? What do you like least/most about your supervisor? TMAAT that you went above and beyond for passenger?

Same Gouges apply other than the sim ride is no longer used. Separate interviews with: Rich (line check airman), Tom (Asst. CP), and Stephanie (HR recruiter). Very nice and laid back. They want you to relax, be comfortable, and get to know you. Study, rehearse, and go over basic interview questions but don't give canned answers. They want to get to know you. 121 guys: be prepared to emphasize that you will resign seniority or you will not even be considered. Stephanie's questions: Why AirTran? TMAT you went out of your way to please a passenger, What do you like/dislike about your job and or supervisor. Rich's questions: What are your outside interests? Explain CRM, TMAT when your Captain pushed/violated policy/FAR's. When was the last time you did something to benefit a fellow crewmember? Tom's questions: Did you ever feel uncomfortable in a flying situation, You show up for a trip and others smell alcohol on the capt's breath..., and some basic flying related questions/FAR's you should know (wx that requires an alternate, holding speeds, minimums to land, etc.) Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

All of the last post was right on about the prospective hiring and class dates. They are EXTREMELY nice and make you feel right at home. I was given business class going down there and the crews were great!!! The HR stuff with Stephanie was very layed back and the typical: Why AirTran? Best trait. Worst trait. Why do you want to leave your current job? Any skelatons in your closet? Things like that. As for the Captain Rich (Check Airman). He is very funny in how he asks his questions but he is also layed back and the typical ones were: What do you look for in a company? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What can you bring to AirTran? Some situational ones, too. The last one was Tom (he is retired and in the training department). Another funny guy and he asked about other situations you were in: Tell me about a time..... But what the other post didn't tell is that he also asked technical questions. Things like holding speeds, Runway lighting, and alternate minimums. Only a couple, though and people in my group said that they didn't get some but he was cool with it and almost "taught" you.
All in all, I was very nervous but once in there, you were very at ease. They tell you from the get go....NO CANNED ANSWERS. They want to get to know you. That is it. No sim, no surprises. They want good people for a great airline. Good luck and I hope I helped you all!!!

Arrived 0745 AM for 0800 interview time. Eleven other applicants were assigned to this date. 6 were military, 6 were civilian (mixed from the regionals,
supplemental carriers, 2 on furlough from United).

We were taken to a briefing room in the People Department and briefed on the
schedule for the day. They picked up paperwork and verified that everyone had
everything they would need for the day. Don't forget to make copies of your
Passport/Driver's License and your Medical/Pilot Certificate. This is one of
the first things they ask for. Everyone provides some information to the
interview group to get things rolling.

SWA plans to hire 400 more pilots this year, and at least 400 each year over
the next few years. We were told that we would receive a phone call in five to
six weeks either way (When I was leaving, the last employee I spoke with said
we would most likely hear before then.) Class dates for April interviews will
be around the June-July-August time frame.

The group was divided into two smaller groups, one group doing the LOI in the
AM and interviews in the PM, while the other group was assigned interviews in
the AM and the LOI in the PM. The three interviews are very straightforward,
and last approximately 45 minutes each. Two of the interviewers are pilots, the
other is a representative from the People Department. All three interviewers
begin by telling you to make yourself comfortable, offer a soda, etc. Very
professional and relaxing. Most of the questions are in the form of "Tell me
about a time when..." The best way to prepare is to look back at your logbook
and think of times when you encountered irregular operations. Examples are:
TMATW you had to counsel someone, TMA your most memorable flight, TMATW you had
a disagreement with a crewmember, TMATW you saw bad things happening and had to
intervene to prevent a bigger problem, TMA your flying career, Why do you want
to work for SWA, Why should SWA hire you, Have you ever had an emergency.

In the middle of the day, they bring both groups back together, and give
everyone a $7.00 voucher for lunch at the SWA caffeteria. Everyone eats
together with some of the LOI/Inteview staff. Again, very relaxing.

The LOI (line oriented interview) takes place in a B737 CPT. YOu will be given
a laminated 8.5X11 sheet of paper. The LOI instructors leave the room and give
you five minutes to read the card. They then come back in the room and give you
seven minutes to troubleshoot the situation and come to a decision. The clock
is actually on a small laptop computer that hangs in front of the Captain's
seat (where you will sit) and has both a clock and a fuel gauge on it. Both
instructors are helpful, and will accomplish the tasks you delegate to them.
The goal is to use your resources to make a decision. Some people said they
were given a medical emergency en route, others said they were given a
disruptive passenger. After the LOI, you are placed in a holding room until all
members of your group are finished. While you are waiting around, you can play
ping-pong, use the restrooms, vending machines, chat with other pilots in
training, etc. Again, very relaxing experience.

I was finished by around 1545, and was free to leave after that. My overall
advice would be: Get your logbook up to speed, think of some good flying
stories you have, and be yourself. SWA is trying to hire a certain person with
a positive attitude. They know you are qualified to work there, otherwise you
would not have received an interview. Be yourself and have fun with it. RELAX! -
I know that's easy for me to say now.

Got called 2 days before the interview. Got a slot in the sim prep at airinc a day before. (you have to do it the sim is just to sensitive the first time you try it) It cost me about $350. (1800jetjobs). Also stayed at the Raddison $42 with free breakfast.

They tell you to take your logbook but nobody looked at it. Really relaxed environment. It makes you want to work for them even more... 3 intervies (2 pilots one HR) then a short sim ride. It could be one of 4 profiles. The only difference is the speeds and altitudes they use. Very close to what you prepared for (hopefully) the day before... Interviews take just about 10 to 15 minutes each. All "tell me about a time" questions. No canned answers, just be yourself and hope you fit them. If they don't think they got to know you, you wont get it for sure... Have a few stories ready about things you've done for your company, things you don't like about your current job, example of what you did while part of a rapidly changing environment (or growing company).

During the sim ride (with the CP) he tends to talk to you and ask you questions while you fly. Nothing technical, just wants to see how you handle the sim while you are talking. He usually throws a question while an altitude or heading is coming up... Like everyone else, you walk out thinking you did awesome and that you really have a chance to get it. From past report however, a bunch of guys who felt that way didn't get it...

Class for April is full. Next class end of May or beginning of June. 161 pilots this year chance of getting into the new 737 which start arriving in June. Seems F/Os don't want the seatlock and prefer to wait for the upgrade. No time to proofread, so please look past any spelling mistakes.

GET SOME SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE, TRUST ME ON THIS ONE DON"T STUDY TILL MIDNIGHT JUST TO LOOK TIRED NEXT DAY NO TECHNICALL QUESTIONS