The SWAPA Number
In each podcast we explore a number that will help us explain an issue that matters to our Pilots. This might be a scheduling metric, a Company financial number that impacts us, or anything else that has significance to us as SWAPA Pilots.
Episodes
219 episodes
49-114 (Security & Cockpit Defense, Brian Hagedorn, John Nolan)
Today's SWAPA number is 49-114. That's the section of US Code that guides the operations of the TSA. Today, we are sitting down with Brian Hagedorn and John Nolan from the Security and Cockpit Defense Committee to talk about upcoming changes to...
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32:36
The SWAPA Ride Report: Red-Eye CQT Pulls, VA Shift Strategies & The China Airlines Partnership
In this week’s extended episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants explains the new expectations for red-eye pairings when it comes to QOL TR pulls during a CQT month. He also goes deep on all things vacation shifting and how shifts h...
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18:04
537 (Scheduling & Analytics, Scott Plyler, Meagan Nelan)
Today's SWAPA Number is 537. That's the number of pilots that have used Release to Check-in since it was implemented on April 1st. So today we are sitting down with Scott Plyler and Meagan Nelan from the Scheduling and Analytics committee to di...
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Season 6
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35:21
The SWAPA Ride Report: ICYMI, Coming Soon, and Contract Q&A
In this week’s episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants points back to highlights in the bevvy of information we covered in the BOD meeting recap and teases the upcoming deep dive with the SAC. Also in this episode: a heads-up on th...
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7:51
1,200 (Professional Standards, Jon Ross)
Today's SWAPA Number is 1200. That's the number of cases that Professional Standards has worked in the last 12 months. That's about 100 per month or about three a day. Those are high numbers and well within our control, but we'd much rather see...
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Season 6
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31:32
The SWAPA Ride Report: DRR Process Explained, Updated Pay Audit and More
In this week’s edition, Captain Tony Mulhare takes the membership through some recently implemented contract touches, updates to the automated release to check in process as well as SWAPA pay audit improvements. He also does a...
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7:52
70 (Information Technology, Will Young, Leigh Sperberg, Thomas Lowery)
Today's SWAPA number is 70. That's the number of projects IT is currently overseeing that will come to fruition in 2025. Some of these projects are happening behind the scenes, but still bring value and security to the organization and others l...
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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28:57
The SWAPA Ride Report: Scheduling 360, Benefits Reminders, and Contract Q&A
In this week’s edition, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants breaks down all the scheduling headlines you’ve seen in the past few weeks. From ELITT Direct Drop/Direct Pickup data to the “why” behind line quality, listen in to learn more ...
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7:27
175 (Training and Standards, Greg Bowen)
Today's SWAPA Number is 175. That's the number of hours associated with being a new first officer at Southwest Airlines, which is the change from the 100 hours we previously used. The restrictions as part of being a new first officer is part of...
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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30:30
The SWAPA Ride Report: ELITT Direct Drop & Pick Up, MBCBP and more
In this week’s edition, Communications Manager Casey Casteel takes the membership through the latest contract implementation item: ELITT direct drop and pick up and a few highlights for using that new tool. Casey gives a recap of th...
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8:43
13 (Safety, Gary Niemann, Craig Jakubowski)
Today's SWAPA Number is 13. That's the number of pilots on staff at SWAPA Safety. This includes investigations, the Aviation Safety Action Program or ASAP and Air Traffic Services to name a few. Safety covers a lot of topics and is at the core ...
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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42:08
The SWAPA Ride Report: Grievance settlement, more displacements, and Reserve Release Until Check In
In this week’s edition, Multimedia Manager Jason Davis, from the SWAPA Communications staff, discusses the settlement of grievance 2024-004, latest vacancy results and the additional displacements that resulted, and the move up of implementatio...
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7:42
1.1% (Profit Sharing, Mike Haynes, Damian Jennette)
Today's SWAPA number is 1.1. That's the percentage of pay that Southwest will distribute in profit sharing from 2024.So today, we're sitting down to talk with NC member and retirement and benefits subject matter expert Damian Jennette, ...
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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28:31
The SWAPA Ride Report: A Lap Around the Scheduling Pattern
In this week’s scheduling-centric edition, SWAPA Communications staff member Alexis Thomas updates the membership on all things displacements and Domicile Right of Return for the May vacancy. There are a lot of moving parts here, so take a list...
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8:25
18 (The Way Forward, Jody Reven)
Today's SWAPA Number is 18. That's the number of SWAPA presidents that we've had since SWAPA's inception in 1978. So in today's episode, we sat down with SWAPA President, Jody Reven. With the first board meeting of the year in the rear view mir...
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Season 6
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Episode 4
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28:17
The SWAPA Ride Report: Displacements Update, FAA Denial Letters Update, and Contract Q&A
In this week’s edition, SWAPA Communications staff member Ella Ziober updates the membership on the displacements that resulted from the April vacancy and important eligibility requirements for having Domicile Right of Return (DRR). There are c...
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9:07
The SWAPA Ride Report: BOD Meetings Recap
In this week’s edition, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants summarizes this week’s Board of Directors meetings. From the Scheduling & Analytics Committee highlights to the Q&A session with Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan, this...
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11:15
86% (APA/SWAPA Communications, Andrea Hoover, Amy Robinson)
Today's SWAPA number is 86%. That's the percentage of pilots who open each email SWAPA sends out to the membership, but that doesn't tell the whole story. There's a lot of data that we gather on the comm channels, and now's a good time to dive ...
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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33:06
The SWAPA Ride Report: Displacement info, Open Time Priority Range, and Contract Admin Q&A
In this week’s edition, Captain Tony Mulhare points to resources for recently displaced pilots that have been produced by the Scheduling Analytics Committee, how to find your Open Time Priority Range in CWA, and newly implemented limitations on...
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7:37
5 (Airborne Excellence with Kirby Chambliss)
Today's SWAPA Number is 5. That's the number of US National Aerobatics Championships that Kirby Chambliss has earned, along with 13 medals at the World Aerobatic Championships and two season championships in the Red Bull Racing series. So today...
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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36:08
The SWAPA Ride Report: SWAPA IT, Pro Standards Trends, and Contract Q&A
In this week’s episode, Communications Committee Chair Matt McCants describes the technology maintenance and timeline, pointing to January’s RP for more detai...
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9:01
2 (GAC, Chip Hancock, Derek Tate, Kyle Moore)
Today's SWAPA Number is 2. That's the number of pilots that belong on the flight deck. Your Government Affairs Committee is actively engaged on Capitol Hill, informing and educating Congress on this issue along with many others that affect our ...
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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36:43
The SWAPA Ride Report: New Pay Rates and Top Contract Questions from 2024
In this week’s edition, Communications Committee member Tony Mulhare discusses the annual increase to pay rates, per diem, and flight physical reimbursements. He also reminds pilots that your uniform allotment is tied to your anniversary ...
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6:21
1,460 (President Casey Murray Signs Off)
Today's SWAPA Number is 1,460. That's the total number of days that Casey Murray will have been in office when his presidency comes to a close on December 31st. So, to close the year out, we sat down with Casey to put a bow on his terms a...
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Season 5
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Episode 27
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25:28
The SWAPA Ride Report: Upcoming Scheduling Implementation and Contract Q&A
In this week’s edition, Matt McCants from the Communications Committee teases the multiple scheduling implementation items coming in early 2025. From Release to Check-In to ELITT enhancements, all Pilots should be aware of how the Q1 and Q2 sch...
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7:03
