Originally Posted by
easy_99
Hey, sorry for the delay in replying. My understanding from the webinars (recordings accessible on the BA Pilot Recruitment Zoom Hub, google "BA Pilot Zoom Hub" or something similar and it should come up) is that both FTEJerez and Skyborne are using the same process for stage 2 now. My understanding of the whole recruitment process based on the published info and the 3 webinars is below.
Stage 1: Initial online application and tests. Approximate timeline for this stage is Feb-Mar 2025.
- Online application through the BA careers website, as part of which you need to submit a CV, answer to the motivation question and also upload copies of GCSE certificates.
- 3 online tests. Everyone will do all 3 tests this year and all tests are timed now, including SJT. I think the timings work that you will receive the invite to the next test the day after you completed the previous test (if that makes sense).
- SJT.
- Maths Test.
- Detail Checking Test.
- If you pass the 3 tests, your CV and motivation question answer will be screened by a recruiter. If they deem your CV/essay are good, you'll be invited to do the PA audio recording exercise.
- If you are unsuccessful at this stage, I believe this year they'll give you a one-liner "feedback" in the email suggesting where you struggled.
Stage 2: flight school stage. This stage is primarily driven by the flight school requirements and essentially tests if you have the natural aptitude/potential to successfully pass the training to get an f-ATPL. Approximate timeline for this stage is Apr-May 2025.
- You'll be invited to do AON aptitude testing remotely from home, whichever flight school you applied for. It's not clear to me from the webinars etc. if both flight schools will use exactly the same tests or not, but the structure is at least the same this time i.e. online tests first, then day at Waterside, then 1:1 online interview.
- If you are successful in the online aptitude tests, you'll be invited to BA Waterside for a half-day(?) to do a group exercise, the Eagle capacity test and the handling test. I believe they also said that on this day you'll get briefings from the flight school and BA.
- If you pass the group exercise/Eagle test/capacity test, you'll be invited to do an online 1:1 interview remotely from home with a rep from your chosen flight school.
Stage 3: BA assessment stage. Approximate timeline for this stage is Jun-Jul 2025.
- You'll be invited to spend a whole day with BA at Waterside.
- On the day you'll do the following activities/exercises: "Speedy" interviews, another group exercise, redo the handling test again, competency evaluation exercise, reflective interview.
- They said in the webinars you do not need to get full marks in everything to pass. They also emphasised that in the previous 2 cohorts they've taken everyone at this stage that met their own internal threshold requirements to pass.
They hope to send out offers to successful candidates in July 2025. Earliest start dates for this year's cohort is Jan 2026.
That is a high-level overview of the mechanics of the whole application process this year to the best of my knowledge, having read all the publicly available info and watched all 3 webinars. I would strongly recommend you do your own research/watch the recordings yourself though for extra details.
That's incredibly informative - thank you so much for this, it's much appreciated.
I've got two quick Qs, if you don't mind me asking.
1) do you remember which Webinar that stated the rough dates? The one I watched they weren't keen on providing rough dates but said each stage would take 6 weeks
2) again, no mention of this during the Webinar I viewed, but is there mention of a "Physics" test?
Thanks a lot and will go through the Webinars in full, also.