For those that may be interested here is my assessment of when the BA TEP will be back in action. All info is either speculative, subjective or derived from analysis of 1991, talking to OATS staff or my somewhat vague contacts in BA HR...:
Supply - at least 400 wide body and 900 narrow body pilots are available to BA for recruitment at the present time. These figures are likely to increase by 20% over the next year. All carrying relevant type rating but by no means all the type of people BA would have employed in times gone by. At least 50% would not get into BA even in the current climate. Sim rides and pilot interviews are still sacrosanct(?).
Demand - even allowing for all possible retirements BA will be carrying 250 pilots for the next year. As these become better utilised over another years ops then places might become available. It is likely that many pilots would take the opportunity to work very hard given 2 years of relative quiet (remember in BA basic pay is lower and flight pay/allowances are larger). Therefore any actual recruitment need is likely to be masked until 2.5 years hence.
It is likely therefore - accepting these figures which you might well not do - that currently 'finished training' TEPS can expect 2 years until being called for JOC/Type courses. Those in the holding pool for training would expect a similar wait.
In the early 90's most people who had a "you have been accepted letter" but who had not got a training start date were later told that they needed to re-apply to the CEP *when* it re-opened. Whether they follow the same pattern again is anyones guess.
The real issue that should be worrying potential BA entrants is that of the whole future of BA shorthaul.
Brit Med and GB are making a damn good job of making the longer BA shorthaul routes pay. Brymon/Brit Regional are starting to and are capable of making shorter short haul routes make money.
None of these companies runs a TEP scheme. Or a Waterworld...
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