Southwest launches new pilot pathways program

Southwest Airlines Co. launched an innovative career programcalled Destination 225° which provides pathways to becoming a competitivelyqualified candidate for future Southwest First Officer positions. On a compass,225° is the southwest directional heading, and Destination 225° was developedto lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines.

With demand for qualified and professional pilots projectedto increase in the coming years, Destination 225° seeks to meet future,high-potential aviators at their current experience level and provide pathwaysto assist them with becoming highly skilled and qualified for futureopportunities at Southwest. To offer the program, Southwest plans to join withwell-known industry partners that will provide participants with training andflight experience to reinforce "The Southwest Way" of flying ascandidates complete their journey to becoming a professional pilot. PlannedDestination 225° program partners include: CAE, Bell Murray Aviation, U.S.Aviation, Jet Linx, XOJET Aviation, iAero Group's Swift Air, Arizona StateUniversity, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, University of NebraskaOmaha, and the University of Oklahoma.

Participants who apply, interview, and are selected for theDestination 225° program will receive a Southwest mentor during their years oftraining, be invited to Southwest for training activities and events, and,ultimately, have the opportunity to apply for selection as a Southwest FirstOfficer. Participants will go through comprehensive training and a continuousevaluation process intended to enable them to meet, or potentially exceed,Southwest's competitive hiring qualifications. There is no cost to apply to theprogram; however, candidates advancing through a training program and theselection process will be responsible for all costs incurred.

Alan Kasher, Vice President of Flight Operations, said: "Pilotsin the Destination 225° pathways will receive training customized to Southwestfrom our partners and will be held to the competitive hiring requirements forfuture First Officer positions. We are looking for participants who demonstratethe technical aptitude to excel in all aspects of their training anddevelopment as a future Southwest pilot."

Interested candidates can apply to be accepted into one ofthe Destination 225° pathways that best matches their current or priorexperience.

The Destination 225° Cadet Pathway is an ab initio –"from the beginning" – program which provides passionate, skilled individuals with a multi-year training program in partnership with CAE. The classroom and flight training will take place at CAE's Phoenix training facility. The goal of the program is to have candidates qualified and prepared to apply for positions with planned program partners such as XOJET Aviation or Jet Linx, to gain the flying experience necessary to be a competitive First Officer candidate at Southwest.

The Destination 225° University Pathway is designed forcollegiate aviators who attend a Southwest partner university or complete aSouthwest Campus Reach Internship. Southwest is working to partner with fouruniversities to offer this transition training: Arizona State University,Southeastern Oklahoma State University, University of Nebraska Omaha, and theUniversity of Oklahoma. Southwest’ planned University Pathway corporate flyingpartners include XOJET Aviation, Jet Linx, and iAero Group's Swift Air.

The Destination 225° Military Pathway bridges the gap foractive military pilots who do not yet meet the minimums to start their careeras an airline pilot. If an individual has previous rotor/powerlift experienceas a military pilot, this pathway will develop the skills and experiencenecessary for fixed-wing airline operations. Southwest is offering thistransition training through a planned partnership with Bell Murray Aviation, anFAA 142 Training Center. The planned corporate partners offering theopportunity to build the necessary flying experience are iAero Group's SwiftAir, Jet Linx, and XOJET Aviation.

In a planned partnership with CAE and US Aviation Academy,Southwest Employees will be able to apply for the Destination 225° EmployeePathway to pursue a career as a professional Pilot.

"Our purpose is to connect people to what's importantin their lives. Therefore, it's exciting to introduce Destination 225° andprovide defined pathways for aspiring aviators who dream of a career atSouthwest Airlines," said Julie Weber, vice president and Chief PeopleOfficer.