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BA Direct Entry Pilot.

Old 22nd Mar 2017, 07:03
  #3481 (permalink)  
 
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VJW from what I gathered there's nowhere near that many in the hold pool, the estimate was 60ish. I would hate to jinx anything but - if that's the case - I struggle to envisage a scenario where anyone left in the pool who hasn't gone elsewhere wouldn't get an offer for 2018.

(P.S I love the way we all seem to be suffering Stockholm syndrome here and questioning that because we are having some semblance of a lifestyle at the moment it must be because we are overcrewed! To the complete contrary I would suggest that it's probably because we are correctly crewed at the moment. 93 Hours Cap and getting flogged to death is not the indication of correct crewing levels even if it is/was the norm!)

Last edited by RexBanner; 22nd Mar 2017 at 07:53.
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Old 22nd Mar 2017, 09:42
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"no further hiring for 2017 other than FPP cadets. 2018 mainly from current holdpool" quoted from British Airways pilot jobs news for airline pilots and aviation schools however i have no idea how trustworthy this site is and who indeed updates it!
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Old 22nd Mar 2017, 21:47
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That's essentially what we were told in a hold pool update email in January.

Originally Posted by RexBanner
VJW from what I gathered there's nowhere near that many in the hold pool , the estimate was 60ish.
Colleague of a friend (yes, I know, it's tenuous, but this is a rumour site!) was told he was 40th in the hold pool overall, but 8th Airbus rated. I believe he did his sim in May '16. So I'd guess there are a fair few more than 60, but hopefully substantially less than a few hundred, given that having done my sim in November '16, I'll be near the bottom...
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 01:11
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Likewise, but your position is clearly more relevant to the rating you hold than your actual number in the pool (assuming the A320 is where most newbies are headed). Last I heard 70% of the pool weren't bus rated.

Trouble is all we can do is speculate (natural in this position of perpetual suspense I suppose) - I do hope BA appreciate this and throw us a bone now and then.
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 11:58
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The first offers for 2018 would be August/September to start Jan 18. We all knew that until then it would be quiet. The fact is that if at the moment SH is correctly crewed this does not mean in 2018 with new aircraft being delivered and more part time/commands that it will stay this way. At the moment people are looking at tea leaves.
The last communication from BA to the hold pool was that 2018 will be a busy year for recruitment on SH and LH. Even if they only take 120 guys that will be a large chunk of the hold pool.
As FACoff said, I hope that BA will update the members of the hold pool even if it doesn't contain anything we didn't already know.
On a side note, surely in this day and age of cost cutting the guys would be kept in the pool regardless.
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 14:57
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As an additional note to the discussion, the last few remaining 767's are due to leave the company towards the end of 2018. Depending on how the final wind down is managed, it'll release around 85 pilots to other fleets almost overnight. Just under half of which are in the RHS and although it's only a small ish number in the grand scheme of things, it will fill seats that would otherwise have gone to DEP's.

But that's the plan today and it's always subject to sudden change....
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 19:30
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Originally Posted by RexBanner
VJW from what I gathered there's nowhere near that many in the hold pool, the estimate was 60ish. I would hate to jinx anything but - if that's the case - I struggle to envisage a scenario where anyone left in the pool who hasn't gone elsewhere wouldn't get an offer for 2018
I think there are a fair few more in the pool than 60. If you multiply that by three you are probably closer to the mark.
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 10:57
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On a side note, surely in this day and age of cost cutting the guys would be kept in the pool regardless.
Agreed. It's tough enough getting through it all once, let alone twice. A potentially easy win on someones cost code to extend the hold pool time frame.
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 13:21
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Originally Posted by applecrumble
I think there are a fair few more in the pool than 60. If you multiply that by three you are probably closer to the mark.
Well I'm only repeating what I was told by the current chief training pilot. However maybe he's not party to the exact figures.
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 13:58
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60 Bus Rated / 180 total? The maths would almost fit with the chap further up the thread who claimed to be 40th in the queue overall, but 8th in the bus queue.

Sorry I don't have names / quotes, I'm on mobile.
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Old 24th Mar 2017, 14:10
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and with FACOff who thought that 70% were non bus rated.

RexBanner - your source is seemingly well placed, so I shall hang on every word and hold you to it!
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Old 25th Mar 2017, 09:29
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The 767's retire late 2018. In early 2018 there are quite a few 787's delivered.
If the crewing levels are correct now then surely that would mean there has to be more guys taken on next year.
Someone needs to fly the new aircraft. Or after the shuffle the seats left on the A320.
That's not taking into consideration the retirements, part time requests, sickness etc
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Old 29th Mar 2017, 21:53
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BA, having decided earlier this year that they would not be granting any more part time contracts have, through some wiley BALPA negotiation, reversed their decision. This means that probably after the summer season finishes, pilots will start to work anything down to approx 50% of their current flying commitment. This will obviously have some positive impact on the required recruitment numbers. But I wouldn't expect much momentum until it is agreed and enforced.
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Old 30th Mar 2017, 20:56
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Are we thinking part time is due to over-crewing or just a well negotiated deal by Balpa? Could be a double-edged sword.
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Old 31st Mar 2017, 10:44
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Anyone got the answer to the above by Mikealpha
Surely as has been mentioned it's not over crewed, just crewed correctly.... at the moment.
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Old 31st Mar 2017, 15:45
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Lots of full time guys and gals have been asking for part time for severals years but BA have refused due to the old part time contracts giving rise to large peaks and troughs in work coverage, which made crewing difficult. Also the large recruitment numbers over the last few years meant it was difficult to let people go part time as this would require even more recruitment.

The new BA/BALPA agreement allows for a new part time roster schedule that smooths out the peaks and troughs. This will allow all those who wanted the various part time options to get them and this should allow for more recruitment. So good news.
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Old 1st Apr 2017, 22:24
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This sounds like good news for recruitment
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Old 3rd Apr 2017, 15:42
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http://www.pilotjobsnetwork.com/jobs/British_Airways

Although, I don't like the sound of that. Not sure who updates pilot jobs network though.
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Old 3rd Apr 2017, 15:52
  #3499 (permalink)  
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That says the same thing my BA hold pool email update did on 16/1/17.
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Old 5th Apr 2017, 12:36
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Very well said

First time I have gazed over this forum , what a very insightful and honest view on BA


Originally Posted by Amigo South
An interesting thread - to which I'd like to add my view.

Joining BA is obviously no longer the clear cut decision that it used to be. Our managements eagerness to join the race to the bottom (and BALPA's willingness to help them) means that there is little left to differentiate BA from other airlines. To put it very bluntly, if you have an easy drive to work, like who you work with and enjoy what type of flying you do then don't bother coming here unless it's as a LH DEP and even that needs some consideration.

Sadly BA is very much 2 different airlines, LH and SH. On LH you'll get to fly a heavy jet around the world and will probably get 14-15 full days off at home every month. You'll have limited exposure to LHR and the M25. Not a bad job but God only knows what bidding system will be in use 18 months from now and as previously stated you will not be able to guarantee a single day off in any month unless you have leave. If you never want a SH command, be prepared to spend 20 years in the RHS.

SH is another matter altogether. You'll fly 800+ hours but will also spend as much time again on duty. Expect 10-11 days off a month with mostly only 1 or 2 days off at a time. There are 2,3,4 and 5 day tours - the majority with 3 sectors on the first and last day. Mid-tour 4 sector days with 3 aircraft changes and 4 sets of cabin crew are not unheard of. There are long airside turn rounds of up to 3.30hrs, spent in dirty, windowless airside canteens. The impact of EASA FTLs later in the year is a huge worry - 5/6/5 anyone? Also do not under estimate the frustration factor of working out of LHR. 20 minutes to get from the car park to T5, 20 minutes to taxy out, 10-15 minutes holding to get back in and then a long wait for the bus to take you back to the car park after work (up to 45 minutes after 10.30pm).

More importantly, BA is not a nice/happy place to work and the working/socialising relationship with cabin crew is unlike any other airline. There is still a great deal of bitterness and hatred from a number of CC (this was evident before the dispute too). Thankfully on SH there is a nice mix of EF, ex-BMI and MF so every now again you'll have an enjoyable night stop. There are some great guys/girls on the FD but be prepared for those with limited emotional intelligence who will moan about their crystallised APS pension and their property portfolio, whilst you're wondering how you'll ever get on the property ladder!

You'll never get a consensus from BA pilots about whether or not to join because our opinions very much depend on our fleet/ pay scale/ pension. However, it does not take a genius to realise that a senior pp24 744 Captain will have a very different lifestyle to a junior pp1 or 2 Airbus F/O and that lifestyle and level of remuneration has gone - no matter how much BA/BALPA promise jam tomorrow.

Finally, BA at the moment is all about the money. Everything boils down to cost and there is no care for the employees or the value that they can add to the company. If I had to make my choice again in today's climate I would not join - and I was a DEP on to LH!
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