That's it. Unusual opportunity for those happy to take a chance.

Well, there were 10 vacancies and the interviews have already happened. The vast majority those who have already worked for bmi.

Any link for the advertisement for this?

I believe there is a bit of unrest with the regional guys about this, which seems to be slowing the process down.

So was this opportunity advertised at all? or did it simply go to internal staff / hold poolers first?

"unrest"? understatement!

how dare external people get offered jobs/interviews before the company's own internal staff. it stinks big time. little old regional, is still part of the bmi group.

the role wasnt advertised internally nor externally.

needless to say balpa are on the case.

Are they returnees?

I put money on it that the baby CC are oblivious to this! Typical of the attitude that BMI have towards Baby and Regional. To recruit and not offer internally when so many crew in both companies are unsure of the future is just disgraceful.

" The vast majority those who have already worked for bmi."

From what I heard in the crew room, a more accurate statement would be , most of which PAID to fly here before.

Total disgrace, and this behavior didn't start the other week with this round of hush hush interviews it has been on going, with these pay to fly guys, for quite some time, one of which I know started about 4-5 mths ago, another un advertised job and the second class citizens keep protected the slots, with no thanks.......:ugh:

As I understand it, this requirement comes at very short notice; it requires A320 rated crew to be able to start yesterday. I read a comment on a forum from a bmiR pilot last week who did, indeed apparently have a rating. If that is so, then he/she certainly deserves a shot at the position. I understand BALPA are looking into it. There's certainly been no talk of excluding bmiR pilots from the process; I think some comments on other forums about the perceived "attitude" of mainline towards bmiR are way off the mark, also. The primary driver in this requirement is the speed at which these guys can get their @<hidden> strapped to an A320, a type rating course is going to be measured in months.

What is this in aid of? Replacements for those who have already :mad: off to BA? So J.Curd's self sponsored line trainee's will be advertising how they went direct to Big Airways after handing over a fist full of dollars. What happened to the poor boys and girls that bmi laid off way back when? Those guys who were forced to up the EZY/PARC 'offer.' Guys who had provided years of service to bmi. So the jobless PTFers who remained jobless after they PTFed will now be DEPs for BA? I thought bmi made a pledge that they would never offer these guys employment?? I hope BA :mad: them all out come amalgamation day!

skip.rat, that would be me!! and I've had no feedback at all. I think there's one more that I know of that has a valid 320 tr. I tend to agree with you about the perceived attitudes. The fact of the matter is, is that the old mgt at Aberdeen had a lot to blame as well as they closed doors for regional guys to go to mainline and baby and that perception is still around. So the problem actually lies on both sides. If the transfer agreement that is in place was worth the paper it was written on then mainline should have consulted internally first.

Skip:

I read a comment on a forum from a bmiR pilot last week who did, indeed apparently have a rating. If that is so, then he/she certainly deserves a shot at the position. I understand BALPA are looking into it.

No offence intended, but if it is who I think it is this person has been here but 5 minutes. Why do they deserve a chance? There are plenty of more senior pilots desperate for an oportunity should it arise. If BALPA are indeed "looking into it" that can only mean that there is norfolkinchance chance for anyone else because they have no rating. That would be the final nail in my opinion regards union membership.

I heard that with the prospect of an action raised by bmi Regional pilots wrt transfer rights to mainline the CEO has cancelled all recruitment. Anyone else confirm this?

Here, here, absolutely, there are guys on the waiting list 10 yrs, the rating shouldn't matter a jot.

Loads of guys have had the LHR temp base hanging over their heads for 6 yrs, these guys have persevered with the terrible system that's in place only to have pay to fly guys take their place, the point that I make is that EVEN someone like me who is hear only 5 mins to quote konspiracy, should be considered before these outside recruits.

No one in their right mind would argue that the loyalty shown by the long term regional guys who want this transfer shouldn't be rewarded before anyone else.

The fact is being part of regional is definitely a blocker towards these jobs, rating or no rating.

No matter how long any pilot with regional or baby is with the companies these jobs should have been transparently advertised internally first and those who wanted to apply could have and went through the process FAIRLY.

Playing Devils Advocate here; the LHR thing has been a 'gift' to those who would otherwise be based at a 'regional' (it's in the name) airport. Whilst we have all enjoyed the pleasures of LHR, we do in fact work for a 'regional airline'.

Back to the topic of the thread, it really beggars belief that if true, PTF monkeys will be back dooring it in to BA in some shape or form. It stinks and is very disheartening. But I guess it's all pure conjecture at moment. As for the mainline pilot workforce I beg to differ, I have never felt any ill feeling whilst working on their patch.

The LHR secondment has gone on so long now and we've done so many routes for mainline, I guess thats why so many are pissed off at this recent recruitment move. I've always enjoyed LHR and people there and will miss not going there.

As for this so called ill feeling, personally I've never seen it.

Dear god... what a load of fuss over nothing. Last time I ever confirm anything on here.

The interviewee's all looked a little long in the tooth to be "PTF monkeys"

As for any unrest between mainline and regional, no idea, but Regional and Mainline are not the same companies and so guff about internal transfers is irrelevant really in my eyes.

Not guff at all, a transfer agreement has been in place for years. It wasnt guff either when not so long ago we were looking at 90 days whilst some sharks in mainline were circling the 145 quoting scope. I guess that must be guff to?
I'm alright....

I don't have much knowlege of corporate takeovers / mergers, but I would have thought that any recruitment / expenditure / assset transfers / t's and c's changes etc etc, which are conducted in the perioud between the agreement to marge / takover and the actual merge would be reviewable and reversable. otherwise it would be very easy for a company to agree to a sale / takeover and then ofload / onload a whole bunch of stuff and screw the new owners. I know BMI have an operation to run in the mean time, but I'd be very very surprised if IAG and BA haven't reserved the right to change / reverse anything that happened between the agreement being signed and the actual merger taking place.
good luck to the guys that were already in bmi and are joining BA, but people joining now smacks of a bit of a dodgy 'back door deal' into BA.

"As for any unrest between mainline and regional, no idea, but Regional and Mainline are not the same companies and so guff about internal transfers is irrelevant really in my eyes."

There we have it in black and white. I spent 3.5 years on the LHR secondment and I would say that generally it was a good experience. I could relate a couple of incidents that left a bad taste. I put this down to some old guard that felt his airline was being demeaned by the crowd north of the border and that somehow his job might be threatened.
Far from it I suspect that the rabble from the far north helped keep the sinking ship afloat long enough to be beached allowing the occupants a safe landing. Hopefully jobs with BA.

Although separate companies, separate AOC's, the important bit, all part of the same Group.
When this happened plans where put in place so that essentially regional would be the starting point for a career in bmi. I actually trained to be part of the combined interview team to facilitate this.
A number of factors, in particular bad management put the kibosh on this, although I think about a dozen, perhaps a few more, managed to make the hop across over the years.

I think that if it had been done it would of been good for everyone. It would of been cheaper and bmi would of got a good product. The pay to fly would of got some good experience (actually having to manipulate thrust levers, work out TOD etc) and back in the day at least the hope of a long term career.

By the way i have some sympathy with the "pay to fly monkeys" this industry is all f*cked up, thats a fact. It would be a nightmare for anyone wanting to be a pilot today, I am not sure I for one would do it starting now.

TR's don't take longer than the typical notice period do they, especially for experienced pilots whose line training requirement must be minimal?

So arguments suggesting pilots are needed NOW, therefore we will discriminate against existing non-TR'ed pilots, are specious IMHO.

:E

Is everyone looking for a reason to board the outrage bus at the moment?

I know things are pretty rubbish at bmi at the moment for everyone with the uncertainty of what's going to happen, but the last thing we need is to start grumbling between companies over imagined slights.

Mainline, Regional and Baby are 3 companies with individual AOC's, yes the same parent and a lot of movement between the 3. I work with all 3 companies, not just for mainline and I have a lot of time for everyone no matter if they are based in ABZ, LHR or at the hall.

My point is a simple one at the moment, no-one knows what is likely to happen to any of the 3 companies. Alright mainline is going to be absorbed in BA, but what that means for the company as a whole and particularly the people, no-one outside of Waterside actually knows.

The regional deal seems to have fallen apart, no-one knows who is going to buy Baby (if anyone) and mainline will cease to exist in what's likely to be fairly short order. I'd be looking for a new job elsewhere if I was a regional pilot to be honest, rather than at mainline. Will BA want the regional operation? Or would they rather just shut it down if they get their hands on it? No idea.

There was an urgent need for a few experienced A320 pilots, the decision was obviously taken to get some people in who had worked for mainline already. No type ratings required, less line training etc.etc.

When things are as tight as they are, even if someone at ABZ has got a valid rating, how current is it? How many hours on type? Could they slot in very quickly?

Sorry, but that's unlikely and in times like these, people need to have a bit of pragmatism and realise that things aren't "business as usual" and that niceties that we are used to, might not be what's needed.

So I'm sorry if people are offended, but things are bl**dy awful at the moment for all of us and so whinging about minutae like this and fighting amongst ourselves is pointless and destructive.

So the reason I couldn't give a rat's about it, is that there are better things to be worrying about than how crews are or are not transferred between regional and mainline.

This is has nothing to do with thinking that regional people are "rabble from the north." There's an immediate need for people to come on-board and in most companies, bringing back people who've already worked for a company take precedence over even internal transfers.

Other than that, getting upset about this is a waste of time and effort. The real world is about to bite everyone in the backside soon enough.

with promise of BA job

Make sure you get that in writing... especially if you are leaving a job for it.

Pay to fly monkeys

Haven't Regional been pay to fly for years?

Oh and has anyone got any actual proof that the offer of a BA job was actually made, because knowing the people involved I'd be stunned if they said anything of the sort.

From what I have heard a BA job offer was not mentioned as part of the package, so for those interviewed and subsequently offered the position I would imagine that it would be a very tough decision to up sticks from their current jobs and take the gamble.

Haven't Regional been pay to fly for years?

Not afaik! Have a couple of friends in, who not only got the position by good old fashioned interview and not "how fat is yer chequebook" but also didn't have to stump up large sums of cash for the TR.

I'll say it again slowly, if you want to pick and chose which aspect of a contract you'd like to adhere to, why bother in the first place?

What does the Mainline AFS actually say on the matter?

:ugh:

I'd be looking for a new job elsewhere if I was a regional pilot to be honest, rather than at mainline. Will BA want the regional operation? Or would they rather just shut it down if they get their hands on it? No idea.

Such a throw-away comment can only be spoken by someone with no idea of the ramifications to a pilot of such a course of action....

You'd be mad to leave bmiR now if you're a pilot IMO.

You'll forego your redundancy money and possibly miss out on integration into the "safest" job in town. BA have been recruiting pilots....

If you're going to be made redundant anyway, why leave now?

:ugh:

Why wasn't all this brought up just under a year ago when mainline hired some new F/O's and type rated them? (at the companies expense)

If I was a smart pilot, I'd be hedging my bets and looking what else is around, not relying on BA or the people who are supposedly buying Regional.

I know full well what the ramifications are, it's one of the reasons why so many people with just short service are leaving or have already left as they won't get any redundancy at all.

The reality of the situation is that BA are not interested in Baby or Regional, they aren't really interested in Mainline either, they only want the slots.

I'll bet that if IAG (not BA remember) get hold of Regional, then it won't be subsumed into BA in the same way that mainline will be, it'll be shut down or handed to Cityflyer.

However, no-one knows what will happen to Regional, there might even be an announcement soon and you may end up with Granite being the new owners and then the chances of getting into BA are rather minimal...

So I wouldn't start counting on becoming a BA pilot if I was you. Look out for number one and see what else is out there. It's only sensible.

Hi.

I had a succesful interview with bmi the other day. It is now dead in the water becasue of all this.

The bmr pilots have a completley understandable position on this, however the requirement was for rated A320 guys to start as of yesterday. With all the complaining, and the trouble this was going to cause the CEO has pulled the plug on any recruitment and apparently is going to find other ways of covering the shortfall. So the end result is I don't get a job and remain unemployed - along with the other interviewed chaps, whilst the bmr guys are still employed but never had a chance to get in to mainline in the first place without a rating.:}

Sorry to hear that mm. Here's hoping some common sense rather than rhetoric breaks out.

B-HVY

I may be mistaken then, but I do personally know 8 guys who all joined regional in the last 6 years and every one of them paid their TR.

Thanks mate here's hoping. You never know!

What would ten pilots leaving bmiR overnight do to the operation? I'm sure mainline have a lot more resilience to operate ten heads down but what about Regional?

What! they paid for a rating on the barbie jet ?? ;)

Magnificent man if you have an a320 tr and hours on type then there are jobs out there. If you insist on staying in the uk/ you paid for your tr and have little to no time on type it may well be harder. Either way, bad luck on the bmi job but there's no way it would have lead to a Ba job in my opinion if that's any consolation and neither should it have done.

Why shouldn't it lead to anything? I know people who walked out of flight school with no TR who've ended up flying for BA, so why not this chap?

I would happily swap an embraer 135/145 rating with anyone. Why don't they take the job at mainline, I'll happily work for regional. For that matter give me a king air to fly or perhaps a Cessna 152. I don't Care flying is what I want to do, whatever the opportunity is I will take it no matter what. This opportunity was once in a lifetime. Damn!

As for working for Ba over Bmi- well actually I would have loved to work in a nice smallish company where people seem to know each other and really seems like a genuine place to work. I'm sorry I won't get a chance to be a part of it...

Never mind, I guess I don't deserve it. Not like the bmr pilots do anyway.

Don't lose heart too quickly. Things change in an instant around here sometimes...

I'm hearing rumblings of an announcement on Regional's future and if they are sold off soon, then the issue of inter-airline movement will disappear.

No point getting outraged....

if you want loyalty buy a dog, don't expect any from an airline.

I worked for bmir when they had the 146, 60 guys made redundant in a moment....none ever invited to transfer to the EMB. Still I had a decent severance cheque.

I have recently worked for an airline that was flying for bmi (can you guess ?) on 'midhaul ' stuff. the reaction from some of the bmi guys was somewhat 'frosty' when we started. Then last year along came all these wide eyed people with 2 shiny stripes and deep pockets.....so the bmi guys had a new target in the crewroom !

it's every man for himself in this game, and everyone fights to protect their position. I didn't feel any animosity to the PTF people, more sympathy that in the race to the bottom this is what they had been reduced to doing.

As an ex Bizzie Air pilot I had to laugh/cry at this thread as nothing ever changes. When BMI took us over there was a meeting for the pilots at ABZ with either the then DFO or CP, who pleased us by saying that he would rather employ zero time 'approved' course pilots than see a career progression into BMI mainline. It would seem that nothing much has changed then!

It seems there is no agreement between mainline and regional, or between mainline and baby, regarding mainline taking on regional or baby pilots. Any agreements were allegedly made between regional and the Group, and between baby and the Group, presumably at Group CEO level prior to the current incumbent, which would make regional's dispute with the Group, not mainline.

Another fine mess!

You are correct that there is no transfer agreement at the moment, it was torpedoed shortly after birth. But the rest is I believe incorrect. The CEO at the time AR did not negotiate transfer agreements. This was done at CC and FOD(M)'s level.
AR attended meetings where this stuff was put forward, otherwise enjoyed a game of golf.
I don't know why it all came to nought except that there were some lets say autocratic characters in ABZ who had their own agendas.

My inclination is that those in the Group (baby or regional) should benefit first. It seems only fair, in an otherwise unfair world.
So Mag Man you will find at the end of your career you will have more than one 'once in a lifetime' opportunity that was missed, you are just going to have to suck it up and stop feeling sorry for yourself.

the reaction from some of the bmi guys was somewhat 'frosty' when we started."somewhat frosty", try :mad: freezing :}:} Some of them were outrageous in their comments and assertions.

However some of the BMI guys - especially the ones that came across on 'secondment' to the 757 were absolute top guys.

Fortunately the cabin crew were alot more 'friendly' to us all which made up for it! :E:E:E

Can anyone post a copy of the agreement for pilot transfer from mainline to Regional or baby and also from Baby and Regional to mainline?

Re crew room "atmosphere" most bmi pilots are too knackered to socialize!

Its under schedule 'L' in our MOA, bmi regional to mainline, bmi regional to baby. Not sure if its suitable to copy and paste a company document for public consumption but I assure you that it does exist. :ok:

KONSPIRACY,roughly what does the schedule L say? anything about working 3 month notice and only being released if BMIR have a surplus or is it a cast Iron right? Is there a corresponding agreement from the mainline side?
why no agreement for mainline pilots to go to Regional?

B-HVY

I may be mistaken then, but I do personally know 8 guys who all joined regional in the last 6 years and every one of them paid their TR.

Sort of.............
It's £2k upfront then £10k salary sacrifice for 5 years (which equates to about £170 pm) or until you get command.

With command it's £3k on top of whatever you owe from the TR (if anything) which turns into a nothing to pay unless you leave 3 year bond.

So a bit different to getting daddy to pay £25k for a bus rating on top of the £70k he already gave you to go to Oxford.:ok:

It's £2k upfront then £10k salary sacrifice for 5 years (which equates to about £170 pm) or until you get command.

.....

So a bit different to getting daddy to pay £25k for a bus rating on top of the £70k he already gave you to go to Oxford.


That's £52k as I see it :eek:

Hardly reason to take the moral high ground

Er, no mate it's 12,000 TOTAL, 2k upfront and then pay the balance of 10k over five years. Which is less than the whole type rating costs at flight safety. also you then got a salary, pension, medical cover, loss of licence etc. A whole lot different to paying for entire type rating, line training then either massively reduced wage or contract work with no benefits I reckon ????

good grief!!!

OK fair enough.

"£10k over 5 years" is so different to "£10k salary sacrifice for 5 years".

Either way it's still pay to fly, and Regional were among the first to embrace it, hence could be blamed for contributing to the current state of the industry. I'm not out to make any point other than to those who were sneering at P2Fers early on in the post.

Well depends how you define it. I don't think it is the same as "pay to fly", more a bond type situation for your rating, but you are employed and paid a salary by the company.

As far as I know, the pay to fly guys at mainline we paying full whack for the rating and line training and x number of hours for no salary whatsoever. Which is how I would define "pay to fly". Paying to fly and not being paid. And more than that they were jumping the queue on people on the transfer list and people in the mainline hold pool who had been waiting for the jobs for years. Anyways, there are entire threads dedicated to the definition of PTF...

Back to the thread...if employees' jobs are uncertain within a group or company in my opinion it's totally wrong to then recruit externally. Furthermore, I think what has got people's backs up is the way the recruitment was seemingly done quite sneakily. Probably knowing there would be this back lash against it.

And it's easy to sit back when your job is looking fairly secure and say what a fuss over nothing, transfer agreement is a load of guff, etc, find jobs elsewhere (which, by the way, everyone I know is trying to do) but there isn't too much out there just now and thats why people will clutch at every straw going. And in the same position, I imagine most people would react the way the regional pilots are.

Best of luck to all at bmi.

Can we just make one thing clear…

There are two guys on the mainline seniority list that came from the ATP deal. Both of who went and got jobs working for other airlines in the UK, before coming back to mainline. Anyone else “new” in mainline, has had their TR fully paid for by bmi and is on a full time contract.

Pay2Fly is an awful thing and it’s ruining this industry and needs to be stopped, but it has no bearing on mainline wanting to recruit type rated, experienced F/O’s.


As an aside, I think its only right that our collogues in Regional and Baby have a chance of getting into mainline. However we are not out of the woods yet, mainline could still be a sinking ship…

The acquisition of BMI by IAG is due to be completed in the next 3-4 weeks. Has there been any indication as to when the first BMI pilots will transfer over to BA operations?

Will all the BMI mainline pilots be made redundant in order to be re-employed or 're-deployed' to BA mainline? Have they received their BA employment contracts yet?

If you do a bit of research, you'll see that bmi mainline is to be absorbed into BA. Pilots will not be made redundant, they're just being taken into BA.

As for the rest of the company, I'd be looking for another job really quite soon. I cannot imagine the rest of the business being kept at all.

Pilots will not be made redundant, they're just being taken into BA

Thanks SayAgain. I fully appreciate the plan is to merge BMI mainline into the BA operation. However I doubt BMI pilots will be able to fly under the BA AOC or indeed BA mainline aircraft whilst still employed on BMI contracts? This would raise many issues (aircraft insurance for one). At some stage all of these pilots will have to be employed under BA contracts. I was questioning the process to be employed to achieve this (i.e. redundancy from bmi and subsequent re-employment by BA).

That's really not an issue at all. Your contract has nothing to do with the AOC, there will have to be changes and training as I'm certain SOP's will be a bit different, but overall, it's a relatively minor thing and not likely to cause any real issues.

Say again slowly my opinion for what its worth but you need to write with a little bit more compassion and humility.

Since I'm one of the people at bmi likely to get booted, then I'll post on this subject however I please, if that's alright with you...
There's no point in sugar coating anything, the company is going to cease to exist in short order and there will be massive job losses.

I'm afraid reality means that the majority of us will be looking for new jobs soon. Myself included.

Reality is a pain at times, I'm afraid.

Well I am glad you cleared that up. By the way I wish you the best of luck regarding your job. Having been there a couple of times I know how stressful it can be.

Thanks, this isn't the first time for me either!

Just a reminder that this is still not a done deal. It still has to pass the European authorities and possibly the OFT. If the "price" in slots is too high BA will walk away from the deal - I appreciate that it is most likely to go ahead, but it is still not guaranteed to happen. As it has not happened yet, there are plans but no contracts etc. This will not happen until BA gets the "keys" to BMI. I believe that the European regulatory decision is due on Mar 16th.

Thread creep I know, but it is extremely disappointing that in our own country we have to ask another organization whether an essentially British company can expand in its own home base or not?
How did it come to this? More importantly; how / when can we change it?:\

Say again slowly, are you a pilot? Genuine Q?

? Of course I am.

You need to be more closed with your question - say again slowly, are you flying as a line pilot for bmi mainline? Or are you a cpl/ir flying as cabin crew for bmi?

The only reason to need clarification is because you are saying that you're likely to be booted and as far as I'm aware bmi pilots all know, provided the deal goes through, that they will be taken on by BA. That was the justification for the 34 pay point. So why would you think you'll get the boot?

I don't need to clarify anything. I know full well what MY position within bmi and how it is likely to be affected.

I am definitely not cabin crew and I spend a bit more time in the directors suite than your average line pilot...

:rolleyes::D

Cleaner then?

They always seem to know whats going on before anyone else!

That's the bunny! ;)

Cook, cleaner and bottle washer pretty much describes what I do...

The mind boggles...

Ok so youre a crewing officer with a cpl/ir. Either way you are not a bmi mainline pilot and thus can't comment. In my opinion you shouldnt start offering advice and claiming things if you won't clarify your position.

One has to be extremely careful what one takes away from pprune.

Nope. Guess again. Though if you think I'm going to say who I actually am on here you've another thing coming!

I did have a CPL/IR once, but the CAA gave me something a bit greener a long time ago.

My boss does have the initials JQ.

When it comes to what's going on with the sale, no-one really knows exactly what's going to happen, but for flight crew and direct customer facing staff, then I don't think there's much to worry about, unless you are mortally opposed to working for BA of course.

However, in my day to day work. I do know a lot more about the sale process than most in the company, I have to, but anyone who says they know exactly what's going on is lying. Even WPS doesn't know that. However, reading between the lines, it's pretty obvious.

"Say again...", is your first name 'Walter'?

and I spend a bit more time in the directors suite than your average line pilotOooh lucky you, do you have a key for the executive karsi as well? God I wish I was in management!

I know SAS and he's no walter mitty. I would heed his messages if I were in bmi.
Of course he's not going to say what he does in bmi but I wouldn't shoot the messenger just because you don't like it or it doesn't fall within your hopes.

Really redsnail?

I am a line pilot working for regional, does that mean that I need to be looking for another job then? Obviously your in the 'know' as well. Care to offer me any advice?

I've got no dog in this fight. I am simply saying that SAS is not a Walter Mitty.

Most of the groundside of the BMI operation can be absorbed into BA without the need for extra heads.

Ok then you might understand our point of view when reading things like this:

posted by your mate!


If you do a bit of research, you'll see that bmi mainline is to be absorbed into BA. Pilots will not be made redundant, they're just being taken into BA.


Im alright jack! I am genuinely happy for you all though.

As for the rest of the company, I'd be looking for another job really quite soon. I cannot imagine the rest of the business being kept at all.

I guess that means the rest of us, ala regional and baby. Are we lesser pilots because of what we fly, are we less professional? Why the throw away comments to your fellow professionals SAS? You claim to be privy to sensitive info, why spread on a public forum and wind everyone up? Why not on the bmi private forum?


And yes we don't like reading this redsnail, most of us have houses to pay for and families to support. We are hearing nothing from the management but you are suggesting that we head the messages of an anonymous poster on pprune!

So come on then answer the question.

Should I be searching for another job today? You obviously seem to have inside info that a mere pilot working for the company hasn't..

I am merely a simple line pilot too, so I only offer this as food for thought, but it is my understanding that Regional and Baby were not part of the deal between LH/IAG. If Regional and Baby could not be sold then IAG would receive a sizeable reduction in the purchase price from LH. It is also my understanding that Regional has a buyer lined up so your role, subject to your potential new owner, won't change as you are still required. I have also heard that Baby now has an as yet undisclosed buyer.

I believe earlier comments were potentially focussed around the different departments within BMI mainline and their fates with the potential IAG acquisition.

It appears to have gone very quiet on the sale of Regional and Baby but one would assume this is down to due diligence etc being carried out and the deals/contracts being negotiated, drawn up and scrutinised.

I am genuinely keeping my fingers crossed for all as I would not wish redundancy on anyone.

Right you are 73addict. We are not part of the deal, we know that. However if we do end as part of the deal, which is a possibility, we are to be cast aside.

The snobbish attitudes of some posted on here need to be checked. Gloating from your new red white and blue tower whilst telling the rest of us to go forth and look for new jobs does get my back up to be honest.

And these comments were most certainly focused at the stepchildren!

The regional deal seems to have fallen apart, no-one knows who is going to buy Baby (if anyone) and mainline will cease to exist in what's likely to be fairly short order. I'd be looking for a new job elsewhere if I was a regional pilot to be honest, rather than at mainline. Will BA want the regional operation? Or would they rather just shut it down if they get their hands on it? No idea.

Gloating? Konspiracy do you wear a tin-foil hat to bed as your username suggests?

There is no gloating from anyone about the sale process. I feel terrible for the people at Regional, especially as Regional should have been bought out by the granite team months ago. Why that hasn't happened I have no idea and I can't offer any knowledge on the reasons for why that hasn't completed at all.

No-one is thinking "I'm alright jack" over this. If they are, it's not me that's doing it. Mainline crews are likely to be directly absorbed into IAG. IAG have already publically stated that they are not interested in either Baby and Regional.

What that means is unclear. If Regional is part of the deal with IAG then Regional people might be absorbed into BA. Equally they might simply close the company down and make everyone redundant.

There is not gloating here, just a comment. I'd hate to see Regional die. It's a great little company and there are some excellent people there. I know, I've worked with them on numerous occasions and I'd hate to see people that I consider friends as well as colleagues out of work.

If you are smart, then you'll have a look around to cover yourself. Hopefully that isn't actually necessary, but when it comes to paying my mortgage, then I like to keep my options open.

None of us are in control of this situation and I can see why you'd be frustrated. I am myself, but bickering between the companies is unecessary and unhelpful. Especially when you are assuming things from posts that aren't meant.

Cheers Reddo! How's Junior and the big fella?

SAS, great mate, we're on hols in Japan. :ok:

I am jealous! Have fun and getting a bit of skiing in?

If you are smart, then you'll have a look around to cover yourself. Hopefully that isn't actually necessary, but when it comes to paying my mortgage, then I like to keep my options open.

If you're smart you'll sit tight and see this one out to the bitter end as the potential upside is a job under the umbrella of the safest game in town.

Of course, back in 2007, you would have negotiated yourself a good Income Protection policy that pays out for 1-2 years in such an event....sure you might be limited to 65% of your wage but...

Frankly, no one who knows anything about whats going to happen is posting on PPrune. There are an awful lot of "mights", maybes", "unclears" in the posts on the bmi threads precisely for that reason.

Why anyone should feel predisposed to offer advice to other employees, even if they are hobnobbing with the powers-that-be, is beyond me? Whats the agenda?

Nature abhors a vacuum. The information vacuum that exists at the moment is temporary, albeit, frustrating.

IAG were always going to say they weren't interested in certain elements of the group if they knew that was going to enable them to get a reduction on the price they were going to have to pay for the business.

Having bought the business, what they "want" or "like" will be trumped by what is legal.

SR71, a very sensible post. I think many would do well to heed that! In fact I'm sure the existence of forums like this only contribute to the secrecy involved. At the end of the day this is all commercially sensitive stuff and I think we'll all agree that as soon as what is really happening is allowed out of the inner circle it will appear here as quick as! And as we know journos are well aware of the existence of this forum and have directly quoted from it. You can't really blame management for keeping thins so close to their chest as frustrating as that may be. Just put it down to an unfortunate side effect of the information age I guess.

Any news on this? What are bmi going to do about pilots?

No news I'm afraid. Everyone is waiting for the EU decision, so it's a bit like the phony war, However, bmi mainline pilots will more than likely all be absorbed into BA. I'm certainly not expecting any compulsory redundancies there.

As for regional and baby, until we know if they are being bought seperately or being taken as part of the deal into BA, then no idea I'm afraid. Anyone who says different is guessing. There is no fact out there at all.