Southwest pilots don't need type ratings?

Question

I was watching this video interviewing a SWA pilot and he said "any southwest pilot can fly any southwest plane that makes us unique" - I'm assuming he means you can fly the -300, -500, and -700 without multiple type ratings. How can this be true though? The cockpits are extremely different and function differently - is this true what he said?

Answer 1

Yes, it's true.  They even wanted Boeing to keep making the 737's with the older "steam guage" type of cockpit, and Boeing said no.  So, to compromise, they now depict the old round guages on flat computer screens, instead of the normal EFIS, or electronic flight information system, that all of the other new aircraft have.  I believe that was a compromise for SWA only.

Answer 2

The aircraft fall under the common 737 type rating. The pilots still go to school and train for the differences between the specific instrument systems, but they aren't so different as to require a different type rating.

Answer 3

Video was fake, u watch, in real , things r different!

Answer 4

Freefli's got it right. There is only ONE type rating for a B-737. Types are issued based upon make (Boeing) and model (737). There is no separate type rating for a B737-400 vs a B737-700, or any other 737. Cockpit configuration has absolutely nothing to do with it.

What makes Southwest unique is that they have a large fleet of different versions of the same type. Any 737 pilot with a type rating is certificated for all versions of the 737 that exist.

And John B. was quicker on the keyboard than I was!

...And yes, they (referring to the 777 answers) were wrong. They don't know the difference between a type rating and differences training. It's all there in the FARs.

Answer 5

All the same type rating. You think those cockpits are different, go take a look at a few Gulfstream IIs and IIIs. Each one has custom avionics. An airplane's an airplane.

Answer 6

Kissthepilot is right.  

If they were all 737NGs (-600,-700,-800,-900) like WestJet they could use one type rating and the normal EFIS displays, but since they have a mix of classics and NG, they changed the EFIS and EICAS displays to look like analogue gauges.  I had to do a double take when I saw the cockpit.

Systems wise they are still very similar aircraft; the 737 classics (-300,-400,-500) are closer to the NGs than they are to the -100s and -200s.

Answer 7

SWA has it's own 'budget' training and certification policy.   When you choose an airline, take time to think about safety - it may save your life.