GSS contract with BA terminated
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And the good times just keep on rolling......
UK airlines will now only accept an application if it is accompanied by a letter from your mum saying what a good little boy/ girl you have been this year.
Plus evidence of having flown less than 200 hours and a loan from Wonga for 150000 Smackers.
On the other hand, I think I will look stunning in an orange B&Q apron.
UK airlines will now only accept an application if it is accompanied by a letter from your mum saying what a good little boy/ girl you have been this year.
Plus evidence of having flown less than 200 hours and a loan from Wonga for 150000 Smackers.
On the other hand, I think I will look stunning in an orange B&Q apron.
Last edited by zeddb; 31st Jan 2014 at 11:44.
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I imagine most of the GSS pilots are applying to Virgin, Norwegian Longhaul, NCA or the 3 big ME carriers. Just caught a glimpse of one of their 748s departing Stansted last week. Awesome sight!
Wish everyone there the best.
Wish everyone there the best.
Last edited by Iver; 24th Feb 2014 at 02:31.
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Except Virgin and NCA are not recruiting, NLH only want Captains and in the ME, one has put everything on hold and the other two have an upper age limit of 50 that they will not budge on. As for the rest of the UK, cadets only.
Not a happy picture for many of us. The end of a career will be coming in April.
Thanks for the good wishes.
Not a happy picture for many of us. The end of a career will be coming in April.
Thanks for the good wishes.
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Would anyone here be knowing why the tail design on BAWC is slightly different to the BA 747 fleet? were BA planning to alter it on mainline fleet as well? doubt Boeing painted it incorrectly on all three 748F, it looks smarter though.
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Newscaster,
Whilst I appreciate that you have a genuine query about tail fin colours, I regret to inform you that neither I or my many colleagues who are about to loose our jobs on those very same aircraft, give a tiny sh*t about the minutiae of the designs.
Sorry, but there it is.
Lots of love
Z
Whilst I appreciate that you have a genuine query about tail fin colours, I regret to inform you that neither I or my many colleagues who are about to loose our jobs on those very same aircraft, give a tiny sh*t about the minutiae of the designs.
Sorry, but there it is.
Lots of love
Z
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Newscaster,
Read my post 66 above. A large fraction of the GSS pilots are not going to find anything. Those under 50, especially if they have sufficient command and or training experience will be fine. The rest of us, and that is a considerable number, are having to come to terms with the end of their flying careers. And not just the age 60+ BA retirees. Guys in their early to mid 50's who do not have pensions and nice memories to fall back on.
Aviation in the UK is now an option for the young and the wealthy only. Experience not required and in fact a definite disadvantage. A willingness to work for nothing or on short term minimum wage a must. Plus sufficient spare cash to give away on a punt known as a self funded type rating.
This short sightedness is eventually going to bite certain companies on the backside when their entire workforce has bogged off to the Middle east and they try to run their services with school leavers. Good luck. Unfortunately this is unlikely to happen in time to save those who might be able to offer a bit of experience and perspective.
Enjoy your aeroplane spotting hobby. As long as you don't get conned into making it anything more than that, you will have found the secret of a happy life.
Read my post 66 above. A large fraction of the GSS pilots are not going to find anything. Those under 50, especially if they have sufficient command and or training experience will be fine. The rest of us, and that is a considerable number, are having to come to terms with the end of their flying careers. And not just the age 60+ BA retirees. Guys in their early to mid 50's who do not have pensions and nice memories to fall back on.
Aviation in the UK is now an option for the young and the wealthy only. Experience not required and in fact a definite disadvantage. A willingness to work for nothing or on short term minimum wage a must. Plus sufficient spare cash to give away on a punt known as a self funded type rating.
This short sightedness is eventually going to bite certain companies on the backside when their entire workforce has bogged off to the Middle east and they try to run their services with school leavers. Good luck. Unfortunately this is unlikely to happen in time to save those who might be able to offer a bit of experience and perspective.
Enjoy your aeroplane spotting hobby. As long as you don't get conned into making it anything more than that, you will have found the secret of a happy life.
My commiserations to all those affected.
It would be a nice gesture if BA were to offer FO positions to all pilots seeing as you have been flying in their colours and representing them.
It would be a nice gesture if BA were to offer FO positions to all pilots seeing as you have been flying in their colours and representing them.
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The Honourable thing to do for BA is to offer employment to all affected crew.
Put pressure on BALPA, let your DFO and Chief Pilot arrange a meeting with BA flight Ops., get active!
There ARE opportunities available orldwide though, also for the somewhat more mature colleagues, so Zeddb, do not despair. never give up!
Put pressure on BALPA, let your DFO and Chief Pilot arrange a meeting with BA flight Ops., get active!
There ARE opportunities available orldwide though, also for the somewhat more mature colleagues, so Zeddb, do not despair. never give up!
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GSS contract with BA terminated
It's not that easy. GSS management have spent years bending over on request for BAWC and not following up other genuine enquiries and now it's bitten them in the a***. While it would be a nice gesture for BA to take on the GSS pilots they don't really give a s***. It's a one way deal. I feel for all in Stansted House and wish them well.
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BA have already been approached with regard to taking us on or even allowing us to attend selection.
The response was I understand, something along the lines of No, not now, not ever, not in a million years so go away and stop making the place look untidy.
The vocal efforts of at least one of their number amongst us to paint GSS pilots as something worse than useless possibly didn't help. Not true either I might add.
The fact is that the 747 is a dying fleet within BA. And Virgin for that matter. They will only recruit type rated guys and there is a dwindling need for folk with the 744/8 on their license outside of the Far East and I have already pointed out ad nauseam, they won't consider anyone over 50.
In six months, we will have been forgotten about, another victim of circumstances. Those who think we deserve it or those who are just starting out and feel themselves to be bulletproof and who cares about a bunch of washed up old farts anyhow, think carefully. One day this could easily be you. As airline managements seek to classify professional pilots as little more than semi skilled shift workers, those nice secure jobs will vanish, to be replaced by short term contracts with no benefits or protection. And then one day, you too will get the axe and you will suddenly find all the doors are firmly slammed shut because of your date of birth. GSS was almost unique in the UK in that it would accept older first officers. No one else does. They may pretend they do but they don't, they prefer youngsters. and what is more, they get away with it.
I am almost certainly finished as a professional pilot and am looking outside of aviation. The nicest discovery I have made to date is that beyond our ego infested, tight little bubble, experience is actually valued and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of age. There's hope yet.Will I miss it? certainly, I love the job. I loathe the industry though and on that basis I feel quite confident of being able to move on.
The response was I understand, something along the lines of No, not now, not ever, not in a million years so go away and stop making the place look untidy.
The vocal efforts of at least one of their number amongst us to paint GSS pilots as something worse than useless possibly didn't help. Not true either I might add.
The fact is that the 747 is a dying fleet within BA. And Virgin for that matter. They will only recruit type rated guys and there is a dwindling need for folk with the 744/8 on their license outside of the Far East and I have already pointed out ad nauseam, they won't consider anyone over 50.
In six months, we will have been forgotten about, another victim of circumstances. Those who think we deserve it or those who are just starting out and feel themselves to be bulletproof and who cares about a bunch of washed up old farts anyhow, think carefully. One day this could easily be you. As airline managements seek to classify professional pilots as little more than semi skilled shift workers, those nice secure jobs will vanish, to be replaced by short term contracts with no benefits or protection. And then one day, you too will get the axe and you will suddenly find all the doors are firmly slammed shut because of your date of birth. GSS was almost unique in the UK in that it would accept older first officers. No one else does. They may pretend they do but they don't, they prefer youngsters. and what is more, they get away with it.
I am almost certainly finished as a professional pilot and am looking outside of aviation. The nicest discovery I have made to date is that beyond our ego infested, tight little bubble, experience is actually valued and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of age. There's hope yet.Will I miss it? certainly, I love the job. I loathe the industry though and on that basis I feel quite confident of being able to move on.
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GSS contract with BA terminated
Those in the know probably not. Certain members of management who have been sucking up to BAWC in the LHR bread bin for years.........probably yes!
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There are still jobs out there for the over 50's we have taken on quite few, non type rated, over the last year or so and there is/will be the need for more. Its a bit ironic really as the young ones move on to pastures green they are replaced by older crew members looking to extend their careers.
The down side is the jobs won't be UK based.
The down side is the jobs won't be UK based.
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Best foot forward,
Maybe you could enlighten me as to who will treat the over 50's with anything other than amused contempt?
Feel free to PM me if you prefer.
Z
By the way, the one thing that I am looking forward to is putting my BALPA card in the shredder and never giving them another penny. Just like their priority and sole concern BA, they will be very happy when we have all been forgotten.
Another victory for the BA pilots benevolent association. One legged men competing in arse kicking tournaments springs to mind. As in as much use as.
Maybe you could enlighten me as to who will treat the over 50's with anything other than amused contempt?
Feel free to PM me if you prefer.
Z
By the way, the one thing that I am looking forward to is putting my BALPA card in the shredder and never giving them another penny. Just like their priority and sole concern BA, they will be very happy when we have all been forgotten.
Another victory for the BA pilots benevolent association. One legged men competing in arse kicking tournaments springs to mind. As in as much use as.