A five-year-old boy has garnered attention and praise after identifying a discrepancy in Southwest Airlines’ training manual. William Hines, a pre-kindergartner from Jefferson County, Colorado, noticed an inconsistency involving two terrain monitors while reviewing the airline’s instructional guide. His keen observation led to a special invitation from Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan, who arranged a VIP tour of the airline’s Dallas headquarters for William and his family.
William, who attends Campbell Early Learning Center, has a passion for aviation, often immersing himself in books and materials related to airplanes. His aspiration to become an airline pilot has driven him to spend time at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, where he has developed connections with local pilots. One such connection was made during a chance encounter at a book fair, where he met a pilot named Josh. This pilot later visited William at home, sharing insights and engaging the young boy in aviation-related activities.
During his exploration of the Southwest training manual, William discovered that two diagrams of terrain displays, which were meant to depict the same system, did not match. As explained by his mother, Amber Hines, one diagram was significantly zoomed out while the other was zoomed in. William recognized that both should have appeared identical, prompting him to bring the discrepancy to attention.
VIP Tour and Behind-the-Scenes Experience
Following the revelation of William’s discovery, Amber shared the story on social media, which quickly reached Southwest’s management. A friend of Amber’s, who had recently started working at Southwest, relayed the story to her manager. This eventually escalated to CEO Bob Jordan, who personally invited William and his family to experience a unique tour of the airline’s training facilities.
On their visit to Dallas, Texas, the family was provided accommodations and treated as VIPs. The tour included an exclusive look at the training center where Southwest’s pilots undergo their initial and recurrent training. William was able to meet with pilots, instructors, and various employees, enhancing his understanding of the aviation industry.
The highlight of the tour was likely William’s opportunity to sit in a full-motion flight simulator used for training Boeing 737 pilots. Under the guidance of an instructor named Chris, William experienced what it is like to operate an aircraft in a simulated environment, an unforgettable moment for the young aviation enthusiast.
Clarification on Training Manual Discrepancy
While the incident could have raised concerns about the integrity of Southwest’s training materials, the airline clarified that there was no actual error in the manual. Instead, the discrepancy was attributed to different zoom levels used in the illustrations of the terrain displays.
Amber Hines described her son as a “details guy,” always attentive to small discrepancies, a trait that impressed the airline. Southwest Airlines recently announced plans to hire up to 900 pilots in the coming year and promote over 600 current pilots to captain positions, reflecting the company’s ongoing growth and commitment to expanding its workforce.
William Hines’ story serves as a reminder of the keen observations that can come from even the youngest among us, highlighting how curiosity and attention to detail can lead to unexpected recognition and rewarding experiences.
