BA Recruitment of non type rated pilots

[Wirbelsturm]

For those of you who struggle to see why these little nasties 'creep up' on the brave BA management boys unawares, a little reasoning.

As has been stated earlier in this thread, by many probably more in the know than I, the training department was massacred in the cuts and the TC's and TFO's traing requirements trimmed and culled to cope only with LPC's, OPC'c annual checks and route checks with the occasional blind wanderer who came in nfrom the clam of LH to the chaos of SH. All was good (if a little grumbly) in the training world.

The CC part one started, the VCC's were actioned to...... nothing. Most of the CC turned up and the flight crew were cunningly utilised to, well, fly. The programme was 'expanded'. Great news everybody, I've got an Idea! If we can expand when there are tough times, said the scheduling people from their ivory tower, why not expand all year! Let us bring back the hulks from the desert, dust off those dodgy old 'G-BUS' things (Not G-BUSH though, that has, like its namesake, been a global embarassment on Beleusconi proportions) and get back to the good times.

So the scedules were re-written and the aircraft bones cast and lo and behold, some junior pencil pusher in Operation noticed that the monthly CAP (minimum required monthly contractual flying hours) was rapidly passing 100 hours! Bugger, said God (Stephen Riley). Inter departmental wrangling later someone from the Microsoft Excel department told God that if he recruited before the new financial year the Tax liability for the redundancy payments gone before would come out of Gods pocket. Bugger again said God.

So, recruitment began (like a swan, serene and calm on the surface, paddling like buggery underneath) and the first bunch were sought to alieviate the pressure. Not enough! The sceduling people wanted more, the Training department couldn't give more, there was no space at the mill and the system ground to a halt. Now the training department is full, the scheduling people keep wanting to boost the schedule (no bad thing but a 1% increase on LH schduling has a massive effect on pilots required hours, EASA FTL's anyone?)

They want the best, most expedient and efficient way to get people into to system. Until that source of experienced, qualified and adaptable people dries up the company will continue to exploit it. Be aware however that the future planning in BA is happening now and the ability to 'hedge' against shortages in personnel are being given almost as much creedence as fuel hedging! (almost but not quite, apparently we are not quite as volotile!)

Watch this space. I have heard rumours of the stalled Cadet scheme being resurrected and BA are as keen as always to maintain their position within the military as a 'safe bet'. Once all these things are on the table then possibly BA will look at instigating its normal recruitment criteria which specifies a licence, some experience and flight in an aircraft over a certain weight irrespective of type. It will come back, the only question is when?

Edit: Sorry fur thee speelink mistukes, was typing on a phone wif kak handed fungers.