Southwest Airlines Careers

Pilots – First Officers

The Southwest Airlines Pilot Team is responsible for flying our fleet of all Boeing 737 airplanes between 64 cities. They are given the freedom to make their jobs FUN, while maintaining the highest levels of Safety and professionalism. Southwest Airlines Pilots are the most efficient and hardworking in the industry. They care for our Customers, make entertaining announcements, and help our Flight Attendants push wheelchairs and strollers—oh, and they do a little flying too!

With our legendary 20-minute turns, these folks know how to hustle! Southwest Airlines Pilots are responsible for the more than 3,300 safe and timely flights each day. They enjoy the most competitive compensation package in the industry and have the flexibility to be based (by seniority) at any one of our eight Pilot bases. It is not necessary to live in the city in which you are based. Nearly 50 percent of our Pilots commute to work. All of our scheduled flying lines are built as either morning or evening lines, affording our Pilots the flexibility to enjoy a great quality of life. Our Trip-Trade scheduling system gives our Pilots flexibility in choosing when they want to work. Like all Southwest Airlines Employees, our Pilots receive complete medical, dental, and vision coverage, benefit from our 401(K), ProfitSharing, and Stock Purchase Plan.

Southwest Airlines Pilot Application Requirements:

• Certificates / Ratings: U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Unrestricted¹ U.S. Type Rating on a B-737 not required for interview but required for employment.²
• Age: Must be at least 23 years of age.
• Flight Experience: 2,500 hours total or 1,500 hours TURBINE total. Additionally, a minimum of 1,000 hours in Turbine aircraft as the Pilot in command³ (as defined below) is required. Southwest considers only Pilot time in fixed-wing aircraft. This specifically excludes simulator, helicopter, WSO, RIO, FE, NAV, EWO etc. NO other time is counted.³
• Currency: A minimum of 200 hours must be logged in the preceding 36 months.
• Medical: Must possess a current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate. Must pass FAA mandated Drug Test.
• Authorization to work in the United States: Must have established authorization to work in the United States.
• Driver License: Must possess a valid United States Driver License.
• Education: Graduation from accredited, four-year college preferred.
• Letters of Recommendation: At least three letters from any individuals who can attest to the pilot’s flying skills, by having observed him/her over a sustained period of time.

1 The only restriction or limitation Southwest Airlines will accept is "B-737 CIRC. APCH. - VMC ONLY"
2 A candidate may apply without a B-737 Type Rating. If a candidate interviews and successfully completes the entire selection process, he/she has six months from that date to obtain a B-737 Type Rating to be eligible for hire.
3 Southwest Airlines defines "Pilot in Command" for the purposes of application for employment as the Pilot ultimately responsible for the operation and Safety of the aircraft during flight. The Pilot in Command should also be the Pilot who signed for the aircraft and who is the ultimate authority for the operation of that flight. For military personnel, Southwest Airlines will allow flight time logged as "Pilot In Command" (PIC) only if you are the Captain/Aircraft Commander, Evaluator, or Instructor Pilot. Primary time will only be considered PIC on a specific aircraft after an individual upgrades to Aircraft Commander in the appropriate aircraft. Time logged as "Other Time" will not be considered. When converting taxi time a conversion factor of .3 or 18 minutes, per leg/sortie should be used. These guidelines are imposed by Southwest Airlines for the purpose of standardizing the calculation of flight time.

Pilot base locations: Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Orlando, Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland, and Las Vegas

Southwest Airlines is an equal opportunity employer.