Low-Time Pilots Welcome In Mentorship Program

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

There was a time in aviation when, if you didn't have the required amount of flight time, the airlines didn't even want to see your resume. Things have changed, we now have the kinder and gentler airlines.

Southwest Airlines is sponsoring a Takeoff Social at the Women in Aviation Conference Friday, from 1600 - 1700 in the Towne Room. In a new stance, Southwest wants to meet and help you if you don't meet their minimum time requirements. Sure, they still want qualified pilots -- but Southwest has created a pilot mentor program for below time pilots who see Southwest as their future employer.

People Department, flight Ops recruiter Lindsey Lang, was at the Southwest booth telling folks about the mentor program and hawking the social. "We want to hear from them all" says Lang "If they're somewhere along the way, either just getting their private pilot or they're at a regional and they're accruing PIC time."

The program started in 2000, but Lang admits "we've been hiring like crazy so it probably hasn't had the biggest focus that we would like it to have." Now, with the pilot shortage, the mentorship program has received renewed attention. Southwest tries to match the mentee with a Southwest pilot. They try to match backgrounds and career paths for the best fit. The pilots coach the mentees down the path to getting their minimum time.

Lang and the People Department sponsor socials like the one today for prospective pilots. There will be a panel of current female Southwest pilots that will answer questions. The success of the program is only now making itself known, Lang points out "we're just now starting to see individuals through the mentor program interview with us and we've hired many."

"If Southwest is where you want to fly, we want to be able to bridge that gap and stay in touch with you as you're reaching that goal," said Lang.

The Adopt-A-Pilot program reaches fourth and fifth graders. Celebrating it's 10th year, over 1,000 Southwest pilots participate. The pilot is adopted for four weeks and they visit the classes and maintain contact with the class during trips.

A "Flight Plan" or curriculum is provided by Southwest to the classes, focusing regular classroom subjects -- science, geography, and math -- on aviation-related activities.

FMI: www.wai.org, www.southwest.com, www.southwest.com/adoptapilot/