Lost For Words,
The pilots who did sim rides were all DEPs (TEPs don't do a sim ride). It is true that some had done the sim check, but it is also true that ALL DEPs who were given a contract (written or verbal) had that contract honoured. At the time, the DEPs were being selected for LH positions, but things have changed and some have found themselves on the Airbus etc. The important thing is ALL the DEPs are now flying and none are still waiting for jobs, as you said in your post.
The TEPs, as we know, are a different story. 2 courses which were just about to start were cancelled. These candidates are now in a 'TEP Pool' and will go onto the first courses to re-start. All other candidates who had gone through selection will have to start again at the beginning
Yes, it seems daft to me as well, but due to the time constraints, ages etc they have to jump through the hoops, even if they had passed before.
The courses going through will be allowed to complete training, but obviously there is no guarantee of a job at the end. I know the pedants will tell me there never is a guarantee, which I realise, but now it is even less of a no guarantee. At the moment, most of the boys and girls coming out of the sausage machine are biding their time before going off to BACE for a few years (about 4 seems the concesus of opinion). Whereas this is never what they expected, at least they're flying and will probably find out they enjoy hoofing thier Dash 8 around, or whatever they find themselves on. They will eventually be 'brought into the fold' as and when slots become available in BA 'proper'.
The upshot of all this is that BA have quite a nice 'pool' of current pilots who they can draw on as things get back to normal. They have a pool of DEPs (who passed everyhting but weren't offered contracts), they have a pool of TEPs to fill the first 2 courses and, of course, they have a lovely selection who are flying for BACE.
Warning: Pontius Opinion Only: Given the fact that the reduction in flight ops numbers is pretty much being absorbed by retirements this year, that means that no pilots will be required for the year ending Apr 2003. With the DEPs/BACE pilots able to take up the slots for the 2003 traing year, it is my guess that TEPs will be required from the beginning of 2004. Given they already have the first 2 courses filled and a lead time of 6 months, I reckon TEP recruitment will start in Oct/Nov 2003.
Nothing concrete here, of course, just a bit of calculation but it will be interesting to see how close I am.
Chocolates aweigh,
Pontius