BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Hopeful request...
Hi guys and girls
Very optimistic, but given initially we're not in competition with each other but a standard, does anyone have any clues on the reasoning sections? I understand the verbal element is picking truths from statements, but does the numerical involve gleaning info from charts and tables, or very much just working with figures such as "...my garden is 200x400, how many packs of fence panels do I need if they measure 80 wide and 20 high with 8 in a pack..."
I appreciate theres loads of great stuff on here, but some is fairly old and if I get the call id love to put my best foot forward.
And if you want to moan at me for asking, ill take it on the chin!
Very optimistic, but given initially we're not in competition with each other but a standard, does anyone have any clues on the reasoning sections? I understand the verbal element is picking truths from statements, but does the numerical involve gleaning info from charts and tables, or very much just working with figures such as "...my garden is 200x400, how many packs of fence panels do I need if they measure 80 wide and 20 high with 8 in a pack..."
I appreciate theres loads of great stuff on here, but some is fairly old and if I get the call id love to put my best foot forward.
And if you want to moan at me for asking, ill take it on the chin!
Join Date: May 2002
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Daveandg
In fact, the stuff on here regarding the tests is not far off the mark. Your garden fence question is fairly typical, irc. Type 'numerical reasoning practice tests' into google, and you can't go far wrong!
Good luck.
CC
In fact, the stuff on here regarding the tests is not far off the mark. Your garden fence question is fairly typical, irc. Type 'numerical reasoning practice tests' into google, and you can't go far wrong!
Good luck.
CC
Join Date: May 2014
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As many people have posted before it takes time and effort to go through all the posts to glean information from this and other threads on British Airways recruitment. I did it and it took a few days, also invested in practice tools which I paid for. You have to put in plenty of preparation if you want to be successful, even in your written answers to the application questions. Take your time to get it right.
if you get invited to Stage 1 Aptitude Tests I recommend "assessmentday" and "skytest" websites.
if you get invited to Stage 1 Aptitude Tests I recommend "assessmentday" and "skytest" websites.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Thank you Chuffer Chadley and Approaching minima. I have read this entire thread as well as the previous 'lowdown' ones, and there is some really great stuff so good investment of time and effort. As for Googling, I can honestly say that when I do the searches the list of returns are all magenta!
Back to the books, cheers guys
Back to the books, cheers guys
Join Date: Oct 2000
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A longhal command.... the $64m question.
Personally, I've been in 14 years and am conservatively at least 8 years (probably more like 10) from a L/H command. For those joining now, I'd have absolutely no idea but unless you're under 30 at joining date I would guess you won't see too much P1 L/H time...
Personally, I've been in 14 years and am conservatively at least 8 years (probably more like 10) from a L/H command. For those joining now, I'd have absolutely no idea but unless you're under 30 at joining date I would guess you won't see too much P1 L/H time...
LGW commands were at 4-5 years in this year. Who knows about the future!
How about the long haul fleet?
I'd put money at time to upgrade to a Long Haul command staying at or above 15 years for quite some time.
(edit to add: I see Flap 33's more pessimistic than I am but also probably more realistic, I'd certainly echo his/her final comment - FWIW I was told 7-8 years for a 747 command when I joined as a DEP..it actually took 16)
Last edited by wiggy; 21st Oct 2015 at 07:01. Reason: deleting repetion
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There's probably going to be a bit of a retirement bulge coming up
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I'm not sure about confidential. Having said that, I don't have specific numbers although they will probably be available somewhere. Yes, there's a bulge coming. All the pilots who stayed on over 55 when the retirement age initially changed start hitting 65 fairly shortly so there will be quite a bit of movement at the top of the pile. Couple this to increasing numbers applying for and achieving part-time and changes due to EASA FTLs and there will be a lot of recruitment going on for some time.
The bad news is for anyone joining now who wants a longhaul command. There is a second bulge, who are the "cadets" who joined during the nineties. Many of those who joined in the early nineties have had their longhaul commands for a few years now - and the youngest of them are in their early forties so have twenty years plus remaining. Those who joined in the late nineties are just coming into the frame now and are in their late thirties to early forties so again, there will be little movement for twenty to twenty five years for those people. Between them, they will occupy the top eight hundred or so of the seniority list for the longer term.
If you're joining aged under 30, you should make P1 LH. Over 30, possibly not. Depends how many of those above go part time.
The bad news is for anyone joining now who wants a longhaul command. There is a second bulge, who are the "cadets" who joined during the nineties. Many of those who joined in the early nineties have had their longhaul commands for a few years now - and the youngest of them are in their early forties so have twenty years plus remaining. Those who joined in the late nineties are just coming into the frame now and are in their late thirties to early forties so again, there will be little movement for twenty to twenty five years for those people. Between them, they will occupy the top eight hundred or so of the seniority list for the longer term.
If you're joining aged under 30, you should make P1 LH. Over 30, possibly not. Depends how many of those above go part time.
Last edited by Tay Cough; 20th Oct 2015 at 18:24. Reason: Just realised I duplicated most of Wiggy's post. Still, he knows what he's talking about. When are you retiring? ;)
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Any further news on start dates? I take it there are now around 80 in the pool. I'm not overly concerned about drowning next September (although I suppose there's always that possibility depending on which way the economic wind blows) but it would be nice to be able to start having a clear picture of my next few months ahead.
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Hints are emerging that there are not enough internal bidders for Airbus commands. What this means is unclear, but it could be some very junior commands being awarded in the next year. Other options are also being considered. make of that what you will. It is all speculation and has no basis in any verifiable fact. Interesting if true.
Hints are emerging that there are not enough internal bidders for Airbus commands.
(Drat, Wirbs beat me to it again........
)
(apparently!) 
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I think it's a mixture, of long haul FOs waiting for a long haul command and not taking the shorthaul option as that becomes increasingly junior (744 command below 1550 now apparently), the high failure rate of Airbus commands (c.40%??) and the notorious (not in my experience I must add) reputation of the Airbus training department, the shear number of part time requests which have been sought for numerous lifestyle/tax/pension reasons, and the fact that the vast majority of those occupying the right seat of a shorthaul Airbus want to go long haul and fly a big machine, which was part of the reason for joining BA. I don't think it's an undesirable job just yet having just taken the shorthaul command option myself. I think this is positive and reading between the lines I might just find myself back at the golden runways of North Hownslow this following year, which from a BA career aspect is great news.
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I joined BA wanting to be a short haul pilot forever. I never wanted to fly long haul however I soon realised that short haul flying for an entire career was unsustainable for me. That was at Gatwick over a decade ago!
Short haul SFOs must be pretty desperate to get away if they aren't bidding for short haul commands? Or maybe they are bidding, but allowing them to swap seats only exacerbates the short fall in Airbus FOs. They sure have got themselves into a bit of a pickle. I've heard stories in the past of Walsh saying the best gauge of how unhappy the workforce is, is whether they are are actually leaving. Well I interpret a lack of bidders for short haul commands as people leaving short haul. It's been going on for years! Sadly, I suspect one of the solutions being considered, will be to reduce the paypoint at which SFO pay is frozen. BALPA being BALPA, will agree rather than using this clear signal to sort out the fundamental issues.
Short haul SFOs must be pretty desperate to get away if they aren't bidding for short haul commands? Or maybe they are bidding, but allowing them to swap seats only exacerbates the short fall in Airbus FOs. They sure have got themselves into a bit of a pickle. I've heard stories in the past of Walsh saying the best gauge of how unhappy the workforce is, is whether they are are actually leaving. Well I interpret a lack of bidders for short haul commands as people leaving short haul. It's been going on for years! Sadly, I suspect one of the solutions being considered, will be to reduce the paypoint at which SFO pay is frozen. BALPA being BALPA, will agree rather than using this clear signal to sort out the fundamental issues.
