Speedbird Pilot Academy - Funded
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: London
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Áudio Recording test - 3 days to complete
Hi all, just a quick question I was invited to the Audio Recording test on Wednesday according to the below I would have until Saturday 23.59 to complete, right? I caught a really bad Flu and my voice sounds horrendous!
‘Just like the online tests, you have been allocated 3 full calendar days from now to complete this (e.g. if you are invited to this on a Thursday, you have until 23:59 on Sunday to complete it).’
‘Just like the online tests, you have been allocated 3 full calendar days from now to complete this (e.g. if you are invited to this on a Thursday, you have until 23:59 on Sunday to complete it).’
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Slough
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know whether flying pay and TAFB is added to the approx £35k or not but I imagine for a few years you'll be on a salary lower than the basic salary a decent TOC will pay you. That's before things like committed Sundays, RDW and any back pay should a deal be negotiated by a future government. When you factor in that you'll only have food and accomodation during training, from a purely economic view you'll stand to lose out a lot in the short-medium term. Detailed payscales for regular line pilots are listed on PPJN where it's possible to get an approximation of pay in all three of BA's operations this programme could send you to. Some of these payscales may be out of date and are likely to be higher than the Speedbird Academy payscale.
I find aviation fascinating and the loss of income is a cost I'm prepared to pay but it'll be for everyone to consider their own circumstances. I think quite a few of the folks who entered BA's previous FPP programme gave up very lucrative careers so it has been done.
I find aviation fascinating and the loss of income is a cost I'm prepared to pay but it'll be for everyone to consider their own circumstances. I think quite a few of the folks who entered BA's previous FPP programme gave up very lucrative careers so it has been done.
I’ve obviously had a good read through the FAQ and other BA documents, am I right in thinking they that for the first 6 years, you’ll only be doing short haul flights and by short haul is that all around Europe? After six years, you can then transfer to long haul where you’ll get to go to Asia, Africa and Americas? Is it like the railway where senior links get the “better” and longer distance work? Thanks again
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Wales
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not sure how far through the first ratio question is but I passed the maths test without answering all the questions. I think I probably timed out around question 20. I think another commenter on here mentioned that they passed despite only answering 15 but I may be misremembering.
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: London
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’m in the same position - completed checking Sunday evening but not heard anything back.
Assuming it’s the end of the road now - thought I did ok on the checking as got through it all, albeit have been going over the 4 or 1 error question on the tables in my head.
Will give it another go next time
Assuming it’s the end of the road now - thought I did ok on the checking as got through it all, albeit have been going over the 4 or 1 error question on the tables in my head.
Will give it another go next time
Yeah I'm in the same boat. Kind of wish they'd just reject me sooner if they're going to, I don't like this waiting 😛
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Yeovil, UK
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was invited to the Audio assessment at 11:50 however 15 minutes later was sent an email saying the following: We apologise for any confusion, the previous message was sent to you in error. If you have just started your application or are currently at a testing stage, please continue with this or await further instructions. If you have completed all your testing, please wait for us to contact you with further information on next steps.
anyone else get this?
anyone else get this?
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: UK
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I mean, the email is pretty clear. Either continue with your tests or, if you've finished your tests, wait for further instructions.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Without saying too much about it, it is just passenger announcement, no other questions.
You get some time to prep and then 4 attempts to record. There is then a second announcement to do after receiving further information.
Would highly recommend listening to some announcements on YouTube etc and having a read up online.
It is quite time pressured and feels a bit odd at first so have a few practices before you start as time is tight.
You get some time to prep and then 4 attempts to record. There is then a second announcement to do after receiving further information.
Would highly recommend listening to some announcements on YouTube etc and having a read up online.
It is quite time pressured and feels a bit odd at first so have a few practices before you start as time is tight.
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: York
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PA Exercise
I received the email to complete the PA exercise on Wednesday, I’m under the impression I have until Saturday (23:59) to complete this, I’m just wondering does the email stating ‘register’ take you straight onto the recording section, or do we have to register and then take the interview at a convenient time before the deadline?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Appreciate the reply. I know some of us might get slated for asking about salary so early on but as you’ve said, we need to see if this is realistically feasible for us as all of our circumstances are different.
I’ve obviously had a good read through the FAQ and other BA documents, am I right in thinking they that for the first 6 years, you’ll only be doing short haul flights and by short haul is that all around Europe? After six years, you can then transfer to long haul where you’ll get to go to Asia, Africa and Americas? Is it like the railway where senior links get the “better” and longer distance work? Thanks again
I’ve obviously had a good read through the FAQ and other BA documents, am I right in thinking they that for the first 6 years, you’ll only be doing short haul flights and by short haul is that all around Europe? After six years, you can then transfer to long haul where you’ll get to go to Asia, Africa and Americas? Is it like the railway where senior links get the “better” and longer distance work? Thanks again
My understanding is that at LGW or LHR you'll be on the A320 series and if posted to LCY you'll be on the Embraer 190. There is a fleet freeze for I think around 5 or 6 years, so you won't be going any further from the UK than North Africa or the Middle East during that time as things stand.
Seniority is where it all gets a bit complicated. On the railway as you'll know we have links and each link has a fixed roster so at most places you know what your days off are months ahead. When your seniority reaches a certain number you move into the link above, the higher links having better work etc.
BA's system seems to be much more fluid, if you're at LHR or LGW, you'll have a place on the Master Seniority List (MSL) Rather than having links, you bid for the trips you want and the most senior pilot on fleet (aircraft type) and seat (captain or first officer) gets first preference followed by the next senior and so on until you reach the bottom. I think the following month's roster is published midway through the month. I believe you have a certain number of "golden days" or something to that effect which are days you can nominate to be guaranteed off. Therefore you generally can't plan ahead as often at BA as you can on the railway unless you're very senior compared to others on the same fleet and in the same seat. On the plus side, it's possibly easier to bid for permanent earlies or lates, depending on seniority. There's also the additional dynamic of overnight trips thrown in. Some people prefer day trips, some prefer spending multiple nights away from home etc.
Aircraft fleets vary in seniority, I believe the current time to command (captaincy) on the Airbus A320 after passing a command assessment is very short, whereas on the Boeing 777 it's much longer, close to twenty years. Most airlines will require at least a few years as a first officer before you get the experience to go through the command upgrade process. It's not a process everyone is guaranteed to pass. You bid for fleet and seat by seniority and I believe that there are a couple of windows a year in which to bid. I think there is a freeze after you move, like changing depots on the railway the additional training costs the airline money and they want a return on investment.
BA LHR has a 34-point salary scale which you've probably seen on PPJN. LGW has a different scale where I think the maximum pay is capped around year 12. LGW currently has a single fleet (A320 series).
At LHR, a long-haul captain's role would be analogous with top-link work on the railway.
You'll have noticed I haven't really mentioned BA CityFlyer yet. BACF is effectively treated as a separate company, as far as I'm aware they aren't part of the MSL, so time spent here doesn't count towards seniority at LHR or LGW. They have a single aircraft type, so I presume seniority is less complicated. I don't have much of an inkling as to how their rostering system works. My understanding is that you have to apply as an external candidate if you want to go to LHR or LGW but you skip part of the early application process.
Of course the above could all change, maybe some of it has already and it possibly will in the next few years (the airline world can change very quickly) but from my research that's pretty much how it seems. I'd very much welcome input from anyone who has first-hand experience of the system.
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Walsall, United Kingdom
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey guys ! nice to know I'm not the only one. I've heard some people got rejections straight after the checking test, other people got the audio assessment straight after and then there are a few people like us who are just waiting to learn our fate just a bit longer haha. I did my checking test on Sunday last week and thought I would hear by Friday 26th the latest! Will keep you all posted, stay positive 
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Slough
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I start with a very big caveat that I don't work for BA but that from scouring PPRuNe and PPJN and speaking to a few people, I've gathered the following info. Some of it might be a bit out of date, after all the airline world is fairly dynamic, it's really intended as a rough guide.
My understanding is that at LGW or LHR you'll be on the A320 series and if posted to LCY you'll be on the Embraer 190. There is a fleet freeze for I think around 5 or 6 years, so you won't be going any further from the UK than North Africa or the Middle East during that time as things stand.
Seniority is where it all gets a bit complicated. On the railway as you'll know we have links and each link has a fixed roster so at most places you know what your days off are months ahead. When your seniority reaches a certain number you move into the link above, the higher links having better work etc.
BA's system seems to be much more fluid, if you're at LHR or LGW, you'll have a place on the Master Seniority List (MSL) Rather than having links, you bid for the trips you want and the most senior pilot on fleet (aircraft type) and seat (captain or first officer) gets first preference followed by the next senior and so on until you reach the bottom. I think the following month's roster is published midway through the month. I believe you have a certain number of "golden days" or something to that effect which are days you can nominate to be guaranteed off. Therefore you generally can't plan ahead as often at BA as you can on the railway unless you're very senior compared to others on the same fleet and in the same seat. On the plus side, it's possibly easier to bid for permanent earlies or lates, depending on seniority. There's also the additional dynamic of overnight trips thrown in. Some people prefer day trips, some prefer spending multiple nights away from home etc.
Aircraft fleets vary in seniority, I believe the current time to command (captaincy) on the Airbus A320 after passing a command assessment is very short, whereas on the Boeing 777 it's much longer, close to twenty years. Most airlines will require at least a few years as a first officer before you get the experience to go through the command upgrade process. It's not a process everyone is guaranteed to pass. You bid for fleet and seat by seniority and I believe that there are a couple of windows a year in which to bid. I think there is a freeze after you move, like changing depots on the railway the additional training costs the airline money and they want a return on investment.
BA LHR has a 34-point salary scale which you've probably seen on PPJN. LGW has a different scale where I think the maximum pay is capped around year 12. LGW currently has a single fleet (A320 series).
At LHR, a long-haul captain's role would be analogous with top-link work on the railway.
You'll have noticed I haven't really mentioned BA CityFlyer yet. BACF is effectively treated as a separate company, as far as I'm aware they aren't part of the MSL, so time spent here doesn't count towards seniority at LHR or LGW. They have a single aircraft type, so I presume seniority is less complicated. I don't have much of an inkling as to how their rostering system works. My understanding is that you have to apply as an external candidate if you want to go to LHR or LGW but you skip part of the early application process.
Of course the above could all change, maybe some of it has already and it possibly will in the next few years (the airline world can change very quickly) but from my research that's pretty much how it seems. I'd very much welcome input from anyone who has first-hand experience of the system.
My understanding is that at LGW or LHR you'll be on the A320 series and if posted to LCY you'll be on the Embraer 190. There is a fleet freeze for I think around 5 or 6 years, so you won't be going any further from the UK than North Africa or the Middle East during that time as things stand.
Seniority is where it all gets a bit complicated. On the railway as you'll know we have links and each link has a fixed roster so at most places you know what your days off are months ahead. When your seniority reaches a certain number you move into the link above, the higher links having better work etc.
BA's system seems to be much more fluid, if you're at LHR or LGW, you'll have a place on the Master Seniority List (MSL) Rather than having links, you bid for the trips you want and the most senior pilot on fleet (aircraft type) and seat (captain or first officer) gets first preference followed by the next senior and so on until you reach the bottom. I think the following month's roster is published midway through the month. I believe you have a certain number of "golden days" or something to that effect which are days you can nominate to be guaranteed off. Therefore you generally can't plan ahead as often at BA as you can on the railway unless you're very senior compared to others on the same fleet and in the same seat. On the plus side, it's possibly easier to bid for permanent earlies or lates, depending on seniority. There's also the additional dynamic of overnight trips thrown in. Some people prefer day trips, some prefer spending multiple nights away from home etc.
Aircraft fleets vary in seniority, I believe the current time to command (captaincy) on the Airbus A320 after passing a command assessment is very short, whereas on the Boeing 777 it's much longer, close to twenty years. Most airlines will require at least a few years as a first officer before you get the experience to go through the command upgrade process. It's not a process everyone is guaranteed to pass. You bid for fleet and seat by seniority and I believe that there are a couple of windows a year in which to bid. I think there is a freeze after you move, like changing depots on the railway the additional training costs the airline money and they want a return on investment.
BA LHR has a 34-point salary scale which you've probably seen on PPJN. LGW has a different scale where I think the maximum pay is capped around year 12. LGW currently has a single fleet (A320 series).
At LHR, a long-haul captain's role would be analogous with top-link work on the railway.
You'll have noticed I haven't really mentioned BA CityFlyer yet. BACF is effectively treated as a separate company, as far as I'm aware they aren't part of the MSL, so time spent here doesn't count towards seniority at LHR or LGW. They have a single aircraft type, so I presume seniority is less complicated. I don't have much of an inkling as to how their rostering system works. My understanding is that you have to apply as an external candidate if you want to go to LHR or LGW but you skip part of the early application process.
Of course the above could all change, maybe some of it has already and it possibly will in the next few years (the airline world can change very quickly) but from my research that's pretty much how it seems. I'd very much welcome input from anyone who has first-hand experience of the system.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think I took about 1:30/1:40 but this was the 4th and final attempt so I lost count a bit 😂
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Ireland
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey guys ! nice to know I'm not the only one. I've heard some people got rejections straight after the checking test, other people got the audio assessment straight after and then there are a few people like us who are just waiting to learn our fate just a bit longer haha. I did my checking test on Sunday last week and thought I would hear by Friday 26th the latest! Will keep you all posted, stay positive
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: London
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've just completed the detail checking test, and I must say I found it difficult. I've answered 7 and pretty sure I got 1 wrong plus 1 of them was a bit confusing so I picked the surname if you've done this you know what I mean. I'll be super lucky if I go through, I guess it's the painful modular route for me. Does anyone know what the Salary is for BA Direct Entry Pilots?
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi all, just a quick question I was invited to the Audio Recording test on Wednesday according to the below I would have until Saturday 23.59 to complete, right? I caught a really bad Flu and my voice sounds horrendous!
‘Just like the online tests, you have been allocated 3 full calendar days from now to complete this (e.g. if you are invited to this on a Thursday, you have until 23:59 on Sunday to complete it).’
‘Just like the online tests, you have been allocated 3 full calendar days from now to complete this (e.g. if you are invited to this on a Thursday, you have until 23:59 on Sunday to complete it).’
But with this Audio test, it looks like you have an extra day - so if you were invited anytime on Thursday, you now have until 2359 on Sunday to complete.
In your case, you received on Wednesday, so you have until 2359 Saturday to complete - lots of lozengers, and have some tea and honey to loosen up and warm up those vocal chords!
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: London
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The instructions for this were quite ambiguous in my opinion, led to the loss of valuable time to anyone who made this consideration and I suspect it was not part of the objective to trip applicants through this lack of clarity. Though, I guess it won't bother them as long as they get a bell curve to cull a great many and have enough that passed the threshold.
To my detriment, I started second-guessing myself and changing my answer on at least one question. This was after reading this forum, otherwise I don't think I would have considered it in time and just went with the first value in the row as the check row identifier. Anything we impart about info that can only stem from doing the test is essentially a clue, despite our efforts, but this shows that it can both help and hinder.
After this stage is complete, it would be interesting to poll how the successful approached this e.g. Checked correctness by:
1. using surname to identify row and then compare all other values against same row
2. used first value in table to identify row and then compare all other values against same row
3. compared against row with most matching values and determined exceptions from this
4. checked column by column and if value appeared in any column, deemed correct i.e. entire table check
5. checked for correctness against some other criteria
To my detriment, I started second-guessing myself and changing my answer on at least one question. This was after reading this forum, otherwise I don't think I would have considered it in time and just went with the first value in the row as the check row identifier. Anything we impart about info that can only stem from doing the test is essentially a clue, despite our efforts, but this shows that it can both help and hinder.
After this stage is complete, it would be interesting to poll how the successful approached this e.g. Checked correctness by:
1. using surname to identify row and then compare all other values against same row
2. used first value in table to identify row and then compare all other values against same row
3. compared against row with most matching values and determined exceptions from this
4. checked column by column and if value appeared in any column, deemed correct i.e. entire table check
5. checked for correctness against some other criteria
Best of luck to everyone, and I hope you succeed! 🌟
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: Bristol
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Detail checking test
Absolutely gutted for myself and others who have failed the checking test, especially for us who would have been an amazing fit for BA. The most annoying thing is how ruthless the removal of applicants is in the online assessment phases.
I had good internet but for some reason the columns to compare to were appearing a few seconds after the actual question appeared, casing further confusion and for me to only complete 9 of the 12 questions.
That being said, congratulations to all of you who got through to the PA, a massive well done!
My dream has been halted for another year by the sounds of it.
I had good internet but for some reason the columns to compare to were appearing a few seconds after the actual question appeared, casing further confusion and for me to only complete 9 of the 12 questions.
That being said, congratulations to all of you who got through to the PA, a massive well done!
My dream has been halted for another year by the sounds of it.