hmm.. i'm not sold on the BALPA warning.
there are pleantly of pilots in the UK, however, a lot have decided not persue a cockpit job as the return is not commensurate with the input. and secondly with the poor T&C's offered pilots with time on type are looking elsewhere in the globe for career and financial rewards, as well as an actual job per se.
instead of more recruits needed, some of the crass and frankly insulting terms offered out there could be revised to take up a significant quantity of pilots that already have the license in hand, but can neither find a job that will offer terms worth considering, or to become actually employed by an airline, or terms worth sticking around in the UK for.
there *will* be shortfall of UK pilots simply becuase its getting to the point that financial input over return and security just isnt worth it and those that do have ToT can often get better T&C's and a better lifestyle elsewhere.
BALPA are to blame for that as much as the carriers who offer dire terms.