Want to fly for Southwest? Here’s what you actually need to know about their hiring process.
The Basic Requirements
Valid FAA pilot license. First-class medical certificate. At least 2,500 total flight hours or 1,500 in turbine aircraft. Legally able to work in the US. Fluent English.
That’s the minimum to get your application looked at. Reality is, most successful candidates have way more than the minimums.
The Experience They Want
Regional airline time is common. So is military flying. Flight instructing helps. Cargo operations count.
They care less about where you got your hours and more about how you got them. Did you fly in challenging weather? Handle real emergencies? Work in crew environments? That stuff matters.
The Interview
It’s multi-stage. Technical interview where they grill you on procedures, systems, scenarios. HR interview about personality and culture fit. Then a panel interview tying it all together.
The sim check is real. You’ll fly through scenarios designed to see how you handle pressure. Not just skill – they’re watching your decision-making.
Southwest is big on personality fit. They want people who work well with crews and actually enjoy the job. If you’re the type who keeps to yourself and just wants to fly, it might not be the right fit.
What Happens After You Get Hired
Ground school first. Company procedures, policies, systems knowledge. Then sim training – practicing everything in a controlled environment before you touch a real aircraft.
After that comes IOE – Initial Operating Experience. Flying actual flights but with a check captain watching everything you do. It’s supervised, but it’s real.
The Career Path
Everyone starts as First Officer. Upgrade to Captain depends on seniority, performance, and timing. Could be years.
Pay is competitive. Benefits are solid. The culture thing is real – people actually seem happy working there, which isn’t always true in aviation.
Bottom Line
Getting hired at Southwest isn’t easy. The requirements are steep and the competition is real. But if you’ve got the hours, the skills, and you’re a person people actually want to fly with, it’s worth a shot.
