I thought this may interest some Balpa members, (I am still a member incidently). About 6 months ago I was approached to apply for Project Lauren. I was interested, & although I have been retired for about 4 1/2yrs, after 34yrs of flying and 20,00hrs one never really gets flying out of ones system. The contact said I could work part time and be based in Paris or Brussels. I was accepted at the initial stage as I still had 757s on my licence. HOWEVER.
When we got to the next stage I was told part time was no longer available & the terms effectively said I would have to fly 6 round trip trans-atlantic trips per month. Also the base could be changed at one months notice at my expense. Suddenly I realised this management could not be trusted.
I went no further.
As I said in an earlier post this operation is nothing but a low cost operation. It is physically impossible to fly 6 NTLs pm long term and as such I believe this operation will be dangerous.
My contact who is still a friend is still in (he has had a ruinious divorce) but has said the start date is slipping. BA were originally going to use ex Iberia 757s for an earlier start, however because the airline had not used them on ETOPs, the CAA refused BA the licence to use these a/c. So instead BA a/c have to be used, which are not really available. Seats are currently the problem, but I am sure BA will get round this one. PL currently has 12 type rated 757 pilots on its books but as to their provence who knows.
People who sign up to this outfit will undoubtably get plenty of hours, but who will train & check them and under whose AOC they operate god only knows.