This series chronicles Capt. Joe's journies during his last year as a Southwest Pilot. December Well December 2012 is about over and 2013 is just on the
horizon. So just about nine months to fly for Captain Joe. December started off on the heels of a great Thanksgiving
and all of the hectic Christmas shopping kicked into high gear.
The first trip of the month was to Jacksonville... read more
Blog Team
Joe Gautille
Buffalo, NY. Univ of Buffalo, discovered airplanes. I had a moment of clarity and signed up to fly in the Navy two weeks after I went to Woodstock. Started flying when Nixon was President. Who? Flew for many different companies over the years until finally arriving at SWA in 1994. Yea!
Fun Facts
Languages
English. Poquito Espanol.
Hobbies
Working on old cars and motorcycles. Travel, reading, music.
Family
Lovely wife of 25 years and three adult (chronologically) children. First grandbaby,…a boy! ETA May 28th.
Pets
Have learned that I live with the three of them, not the other way around. Two Aussies, Pirate & Ellie and Ducati. Duke is our Rottweiler shepherd mutt.
High School
Williamsville Senior High School, now Williamsville South.
College
University of Buffalo.
Favorite Sports Teams
Semi-in like with Cowboys, I follow the Bills, but my Pittsburgh wife is a die-hard Black & Gold (ugh) Steelers faithful.
Favorite Travel Destinations
Italy, Brugge, Belgium. Much of Europe. Traveled the world as a corporate pilot before SWA. Now I’m in luv with Lubbock.
Your Favorite Southwest Story
At the luncheon during my class upgrade to Captain Herb told the story of placing the largest Boeing 737 order in the history of SWA and Boeing, with Phil Condit—the then president of Boeing. As Herb got up from the table to take a break he intentionally dropped his cigarette lighter next to Phil Condit’s chair. Phil, as a gentleman, reached down to retrieve the lighter for Herb and surprisingly noticed it was an Airbus lighter! Herb, waiting for Phil to look up, had a sly grin on his face and said, “Just kidding Phil!” ☺
Recent Activity:
Recent Activity Posts
9 Months to go with Capt. Joe
By: Joe Gautille 
Dec 28 2012
This series chronicles Capt. Joe's journies during his last year as a Southwest Pilot. December Well December 2012 is about over and 2013 is just on the
horizon. So just about nine months to fly for Captain Joe. December started off on the heels of a great Thanksgiving
and all of the hectic Christmas shopping kicked into high gear.
The first trip of the month was to Jacksonville... read more
Capt. Joe and the Flying Fifth Graders
By: Joe Gautille
Jul 25 2012
Over
800 Southwest Airlines Pilots are Adopt-a-Pilots for more than 1,200
fifth-grade classes all over the United States.
These Pilots volunteer their time, and often travel and rent cars to get to
their Adopt-a-Pilot classes. In fact, one Adopt-a-Pilot I have known for years
in Chicago hit it off so well with his teacher that they eventually
married! After all, we are the LUV... read more
Capt. Joe's "You Never Know Who You'll Meet on a Southwest Flight"
By: Joe Gautille
Apr 03 2012
On a recent flight to the Pacific Northwest, I was greeting
my passengers as they came through the main cabin door. One gent, who looked
approximately my age said, “You know I worked on the very first Boeing 737 when
I was in college.” His statement
immediately piqued my interest, so I asked him to stop and chat a minute in the
cockpit doorway.His name was Kurt Smith. Kurt previously... read more
A Witness to History
By: Joe Gautille
Nov 29 2011
Once my airplane arrives at the gate, I make it a point to
help out our Operations Agents and ask them if they have any Customers in
wheelchairs. Often they appreciate the extra set of hands, and it can minimize our
scheduled turn time.
On a recent Dallas to Lubbock flight, although I didn’t know it at the time, I
had the opportunity to bring a very special passenger down to the aircraft.
This... read more
We Will Never Forget
By: Joe Gautille
Sep 09 2011
It’s hard to grasp that it has been a decade since the terrorist attacks
on our country in September 2001. The world and our industry were changed
dramatically with the repercussions of that vicious attack reverberating today.That Tuesday morning in Dallas was an absolutely gorgeous day and I was
getting ready for a workout as I had a P.M. trip that afternoon. My wife, Kathie, called me to... read more
Captain Joe Saves the Day
By: Joe Gautille
Mar 24 2011
There is always a lot
happening in the jetway during Passenger Boarding and my recent HOU-SAT flight was no
exception. I like to stand near the main cabin door to say hello to our Passengers, answer their questions, and welcome them aboard. During this particular flight, the quiet of the
jetway was shattered by a high-pitched scream from a
small boy who was not at all happy about getting on... read more
Captain Joe Gets Adopted
By: Joe Gautille
Feb 09 2011
From February through May, fifth-grade students in more than 1400 classes across the country will “adopt” Southwest Airlines Pilots in the award-winning Adopt-A-Pilot program that leads students through science, geography, math, writing, and other core subjects, all based in aviation-related activities. Students also research careers, develop life values, and realize the importance of staying in... read more
Recent Activity Luvs
A New Look for Nuts About Southwest!
By: Caleb Fox 
Jan 25 2011
Latest LUV Mail
From: Cynthia Moynihan
Tampa,Florida
An Act of Kindness
May 20 2013
Going to an airport and getting on a plane and traveling to
unfamiliar territory takes on a whole new meaning when one...
Meet EVOLVE: The New Southwest Interior