(1) I read BA is one of few airlines that offers TRI (maybe also TRE?) position also to FOs. Teaching is one of my passions. If I could combine SH flying w/ TR instructing, that would only boost my motivation to join BA. Questions:
(1.1) How senior & how much flying hours does a pilot at BA have to have to be sent to TRI course and start working as a TR instructor?
(1.2) My goal for instructing isn't to become rich. OTOH, South East England is one of the most expensive parts of the world to live in. A cadet salary for the first 7 years is substantially lower than the DEP salary. So I have to ask is the work of a TRI (later TRE?) @ BA extra financially remunerated? If affirmative, how higher is the salary?
(2) Roster. I understand junior FOs at LGW don't have any influence over their roster at beginning. I'd like to know how senior would one have to be to successfully bid for following roster: From July till September work any roster. From October till June bid for time off - each week 2 specific workdays off (i.e. 2 predefined consecutive or non-consecutive regular workdays from Monday till Friday) and fly all other workdays and whole weekends, e.g.: every Monday&Thursday OFF and other 5 days of the week ON. Can a junior FO get such a roster in 2 or 3 years from joining BA? If not, after how many years?
1) You could apply for TAH within BA. Realistically speaking for FPP to Training FO could be quite a leap for the first few years, so if that's your goal, I'd aim for it as part of my '5 year plan' and consider myself fortunate if it comes sooner.
2) It's not true that junior LGW get no control at all. The reverse is probably true - a junior FO at LGW will probably get more from his bid that an junior blindline holder at LHR. It is very possible to bid for every Monday and Thursday off at LGW, and you'd probably stand a decent chance of getting most of them off as it's probably not high on everybody else's bids! You probably wouldn't get them all off however because of the need for two consecutive days in eight etc rules, which tends to block work together.
Perhaps those more experienced in BA will be able to tell us whether a training FO appointment must be based at LHR?