CaptainDooley

this and some of the above comments shows that you don't know much about the certification process or how ETOPS works.

table-tops and proving runs are different things
plus, you are not going to do them with PAX, since one will be a divert and the FAA will not tell you which one.

not saying you will not get ETOPS, just that it is not as easy as you think. Didn't your Company say they would have flights by Dec 2018? now there is silence, doesn't that tell you something?

e6bpilot

No, they said they would sell tickets in 2018. Will that happen? Mmm...not sure, but the groundwork has all been laid and they have already said they will spool up the flights within weeks of getting approval.
Right now, OAK is still on for a Feb ETOPS bid as far as anyone knows.
All I am saying is that “my friend heard from a guy” is probably not the best way to spread conjecture about something that you or anyone else posting here knows nothing about.
I am not defending the SWA “moon shot” method of doing things, I am just saying that I highly doubt any of the information that you are spreading as fact is true. Are things running behind? Decidedly so. Will we get there soon? Almost certainly.
I really don’t think Southwest is going to be any earth shattering presence in the market anyway. They will dump some capacity in there are then pull back where it doesn’t make money. Then they will announce the next thing a few months later. As far as I can tell, it is another move to weaken Alaska's market share on the west coast.

WhaleSurfing

Dooley,

You sound like a worried Alaska pilot. For the record I was involved with an ETOPS certification in a previous life. I do know a guy, not just his third cousin once removed.

CaptainDooley

well maybe they don't tell you everything. When the execs came to Hawaii a few months ago they told the press the first revenue flights would be by the end of Dec and then ramp up in early 2019 not just sell tickets. By the way, they can't legally sell tickets until they have the ETOPS certification.

All I'm saying, that timeline is not happening. Do a search of SWA and Hawaii, you will see that they have been silent and not telling the press anything. Don't you think if they were close they would be getting that out in the media?

Also, getting ETOPS is not just a flt ops thing, the Mx side is a big part of it and your mechanics union doesn't seem like they are in a very cooperative mode right now.

....and I don't work for Alaska, lol
I actually want SWA to get into the Hawaii market, then fares will come down

at6d

It’s just a matter of time.

JetDoc

I have no idea where some of you are getting the idea an ETOPS service check takes an hour or you need 90 minute turns. It literally consists of walk around, logbook review, verifying O2, hydraulic and APU oil levels and an engine oil service with each engine being serviced by a separate ETOPS qualified mechanic. If the fluid and O2 levels are good it would take 10 minutes tops. If everything needed to be topped off, a half hour max. Now ETOPS engine checks are a different animal which are completed with much less frequency but are way more in-depth and usually takes 3 people about 4 hours to complete. These checks are done one engine at a time at different intervals (never both at the same time) and are usually completed during an overnight at a station with ETOPS mechanics. The notion of needing an hour or more before an ETOPS departure is simply false.

Nutz

Your facts and your reasonable application of your past experience and knowledge have no place here. Good day sir.

sMFer

Sir..common sense and not pulling things outta your arse are not welcome here.

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sMFer

Not really sure why people are having such a hard time with this. It simply is taking longer than we anticipated. If an ETOPS check will take longer, the schedules will be adjusted once the plane touches down in Hawaii. And we will fly a leg to any of the launch cities with a valid ETOPS check, unload, load up and go, all within the allotted time for that check.

The company jumped the gun with the early announcement and are paying for it with PR issues. This will all pass. We'll get certification and 3-6 months from we'll be heading west(er).

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Scoop

Some guys like making a mountain out of a molehill. SWA will get past the ETOPs hurdle and will be soon flying to the islands. Whether that's one month or two, who cares. Turns will take a little longer but that will be factored in.

It may be ETOPS, but it ain't quite rocket surgery.

Aloha - Scoop