Managed Path Opportunity

[Jambo Jet]

An interesting read...

http://http://www.britishairways.com/careers/job_details.shtml?jobDetailsUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcareers.british airways.com%2Ffe%2Ftpl_ba01.asp%3Fnewms%3Djj%26id%3D59548%26 aid%3D14265 (http://www.britishairways.com/careers/job_details.shtml?jobDetailsUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcareers.british airways.com%2Ffe%2Ftpl_ba01.asp%3Fnewms%3Djj%26id%3D59548%26 aid%3D14265)

[Megaton]

Not just Managed Path. They'll take anyone else leaving for whatever reason.

[Uncle Ginsters]

What's this I see before me, a floodgate perchance?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Beaver_Dam_AR_Floodgates.jpg/800px-Beaver_Dam_AR_Floodgates.jpg

[uncle peter]

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Difficult decision if you are about to pull the black and yellow, but the best thing you can do is read up on what is happening within that company before applying. Knowledge is power.

Rumours of wanting more for less means even less time at home. Great if you live near Heathrow!!!

[MSOCS]

uncle peter,

Do you think today's military life is better?

"More for less" is why many people leave the Services in the first place. Less time at home? I'd laugh at anyone who suggests that a BA lifestyle is worse than being in HM Armed Forces in that regard.

This offering from BA is exactly what a lot of serving pilots have been waiting for and I would expect a surge of applications. That could be exactly what Manning want, or not!

[uncle peter]

MSOCS

I left many many years ago, so I can't really comment on the current tempo. Nor am I with BA so all I offer is my 2 penneth. To anyone considering this I would recommend getting in touch with those properly in the know.

I do, however, keep in touch with some ex students of mine who joined who provided background to the latest recruitment drive. Patterns of 6 on 2 off followed by 5 on 1 off, with the majority butting up against the hrs limit means a fair few are leaving; just shy of 50 was the last number they quoted, majority going to the ME or back to Easy.

Just from speaking with friends, all is not well within, with a realistic prospect of further degradation, so a thirst for knowledge would be a good thing. That way an individual can assess whether they are jumping from the frying pan...

[StopStart]

This is a good opportunity for those considering leaving the military. The same jobs are only being offered to civilian pilots who already possess a 'bus rating.

Uncle peter is correct in his assertion that "knowledge is power" however. Read up on the stuff in the Terms and Endearment forum (sort the wheat from the chaff though!!) and if you can, speak to someone in BA, preferably in short haul. Things are changing there and there is, apparently, some discontent. You certainly won't be stepping out of the frying pan into the fire but you may well find yourself just stepping into a slightly different sort of frying pan.

Ultimately though, if you have determined that military aviation is no longer for you then you'd be foolish not to at least apply for these jobs.

[MSOCS]

Couldn't agree more with those who caution a blind leap of faith into Managed Path, however I know of some front line pilots who are already knocking on upwards of 350 days deployed in their first tour (i.e. 24/7, not just a couple of nights away here and there per week) and that's just Fast Jet. Can only imagine what the multi and rotary fleet impacts could be....

Good luck to those who see this as an excellent opportunity for their second career beyond the military.

[BEagle]

StopStart wrote:
Things are changing there and there is, apparently, some discontent.

At least, unlike the military, the ba pilots have BALPA to help with their situation, I suppose.

With the clear call for Airbus A320-family TR'd pilots, it's hardly surprising that the MoD is a bit concerned (or so I was told at a recent non-MoD briefing) about the number of Voyager pilots with A330 TRs in their civvy licences....:uhoh:

Have you got rid of any frightful Northern ways now, Stoppers?

[VinRouge]

Any word on whether the latest musings in the industry are a short term manpower correction or 'the start'? I have seen an uptick in a few companies, raising confidence, then you hear a company like monarch, with strong military recruitment historically, having a major rejig.

I have heard rumours in the region of 25-55 service pilots a year expected for RAFCARS, anyone confirm is?

[Arty Fufkin]

Don't worry, measures are being put in place to stem any potential outflow.
The most cunning is the policy of moving the qualifying point for initial flying pay back to the 6 year productive service mark. In other words, keep pilots on recuced pay until the date they can PVR.
That's ok then.
With morale on the Voyager fleet as it is (most of the guys sitting on airbus TR'd ATPLS), and a rumour that some nice chaps from BA were hosted on 99 the other week, I can see some trouble ahead.

[Old-Duffer]

Would you want to work for a company whose advertisements contain spelling mistakes/grammatical errors?


O-D

[wiggy]

A few hints:

1. Try and "tap up" a recent short haul recruit for the realities of working at BA.

2. T&Cs are very fluid, take off the rose tinted specs. ( e.g. rostering agreement in a major state of flux/meltdown).

3. There is indeed some discontent at the moment, BALPA are doing their best but....

3. You will be very much working for the UK arm of IAG (perhaps that's why the language in the advertisement may be a bit adrift ;)).....IAG now call the shots.

4. Look at Vueling's T&Cs......( if you're asking "why?", have another read of hint number 3)

Good luck

[Sand4Gold]

wiggy :D:D

More than a 'hint' I would suggest - interested in the usage of the term 'Managed Path' (re tiered T&Cs?) - William Matthew Walsh is on a crusade, and BALPA is just but a small itch to his restructuring agenda?

[ShotOne]

important to speak to someone relatively junior (<4yrs or so)in BA if you're seriously interested. Terms are very much seniority driven; both pay and lifestyle poor for those at bottom of bid-line food-chain but very good for those at the top. For young whippersnappers perhaps this isn't the end of the world but those joining in later life will need to calculate whether they'll enjoy enough good years to justify the initial pain. BALPA can help if you've no mates there to ask. (you should seriously consider joining anyway if you're set on civvy street)

[Old-Duffer]

Some interesting comments along the 'being messed about' theme.


In every career there are many factors which involve being messed about, sent where you don't want to go and being someway down the food chain, possibly under people who one does not like or respect - personally or professionally.


The focus, surely, is on the long term prospect and Flight magazine contains weekly calls for people to fly this and that and live in fairly exotic places.


Thank your lucky stars you've got the opportunities and grasp them - some of us don't have that chance! Good Luck.


Old Duffer

[5 Forward 6 Back]

Before adding my name to the list of interested people, has anyone found an extant, valid version of GAI 1028....?

I vaguely remember managed path only being open to those within a certain distance of an exit point, or who are already in receipt of an ET/PVR exit date. I think the idea was to stop mass PVRs when the scheme was opened!

The job ad refers to the GAI but a relatively thorough search of the DII intranet has come up with nothing. I did find a 2008 edition talking about RAFCARS but nothing about Managed Path.

Anyone seen it?

[Al-Berr]

GAI 1028 AL 6 was released on 14 Aug 14. It doesn't mention anything about managed path, but only refers to RAFCARS. You must be older than 32 and have a valid exit date (not PVR date I think).

It's in the defence intranet library.