Don't know when applications will reopen again but met the new Pilot Recruitment manager at my SEP recently.
He said that the decision to go for type rated DEP's was cost based (not his decision). Someone pointed out that with the reduced pay scales for SSP's etc is it really that much more cost efficient?
Anyway, he said that BA will be recruiting again and most probably from different backgrounds. I would imagine that some of the post 55 crowd will begin retiring (or dying) soon.
As an aside for anyone thinking of delaying an assessment: I flew with a guy who'd done his interview with a mate on Sep 10th 2001. He then drove to LGW to do his medical and faxed it to BA same day. His mate was going to do his the following week. BA honoured the first offer but not the second as it was 'subject to medical'. Luck I know but what does tomorrow hold?