Project Lauren
 

I've been searching the pages at Pprune to no avail. Have I missed it? Anyone got any poop on BA's Project Lauren?

Not much but something :rolleyes:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-european.html

have you actually tried the search function on this forum?

It comes up with 2 pages of results!

Anyway, you are probably too late as the website is closed and selections are underway...

To be continued second half of the month!


I amj ust worried about, as some other guy posted here, "the angry Nigels throwing their cheese boards at us " matter...

Their seems to be problem still with BALPA regarding who has to be recruited, BA guys of pilots from outside...

Anyone an idea what to expect at the interview mid november?

BALPA's thoughts on Lauren, courtesy of FINT
 

Flight International has posted this on its website today at http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-european.html.

The job ads originally appeared in the magazine too.

It all sound very good. A fresh breath of air in aviation. A new business opportunity, good ideas, good perspectives,...

However if this means upsetting the BA UK pilots, I think we should all be extremely carefull.

As a pilot you do not want to be in the middle of a new 49er or 1989 dispute, not me thats for certain!

I just hope BALPA and BA will be able to settle their problems and a general acceptable solution can be found for all parties involved!

The whole BA European project could be killed off by the FAA before its born never mind the BA Pilots.

Interesting article in the Times last week in that the FAA are looking to cut back movements at JFK and there will be no room for any more expansion.

I can't see BA giving up any of their current UK to JFK routes to free up space for the new venture.

Maybe Newark is the only option.

Who knows where this could go? Not me for sure.

However, there is a big push from balpa (BA) to ensure pilots operating this work are on the BA list.

Due to the nature of the work patterns, and the salaries currently muted, it may not prove particularly popular with many 'nigels', even if it is made available!

Five (two pilot) transatlantics a month, may not sound arduous to people for whom it is new, however, over a period of time, it will take it's toll perhaps??

900 hours a year won't appeal to everyone. I can easily imagine this would turn into a 'stepping stone' airline, where people take the experience, and run.

Enjoy.

Not to mention the prospect of having JFK at one end or the other of every flight! Hope they like Canarsies!

Yep, always a good thing to keep quiet about pay levels

I can't see BA giving up any of their current UK to JFK routes to free up space for the new venture.

So they get the slots from AA, who then possibly joins the venture as a full risk and revenue sharing partner.

I understand that many ex-BA 75/76 drivers with DHL and Silverjet are looking at this seriously, some might even be helping to run it ??

Pay levels are known to the ones who passed the initial screening.

The route structure will take its toll after a while, talk to the guys from Privatair, they know all about it!

But on the other hand, the lifestyle offered is a rather stable one, with fixed roster patterns and gateway airports to choose from.

As well there is no seniority list, which I think is a thing from the past and only works in big carriers such as BA, AF and LH. Everything is based on Merrit.

A stepping stone airline...I doubt it...Not with a B757 rating on your licence!

regarding Canarsies....I rather like them? Beats ILS27R in LHR everyday no?

Not when you're trying to do it a 0230Z in marginal weather after an 8 hour transatlantic crossing.

I'm rather suspiscious of stability of the proposed fixed roster and gateway airports. I've yet to see any evidence that Lauren is going to be run differently from any other BA operation, ie on a shoestring. I don't think it would be long before they are asking pilots to work on days off or operate from other gateway airports.

"After an 8 hour transatlantic crossing"

I had it in my mind that you were done with short haul and had moved on to long haul?

Carnasies are fun; just don't upset the folks in Ozone Park!

Not sure how popular the 757's are going to be with the passengers.

757's on long haul routes are definitely NOT popular with frequent travellers. Maybe ok for cheap high density tourist cattle transports though.

Frank

I suspect that it very much depends on how they are configured!

The Privatair 757 seating 50-ish was/is good enough for the Stones World Tour and various ex-US presidents etc.

I suspect frequent business class travellers would be content with BA Flat bed club world product even with the single aisle plus a rear WTP cabin - say 60J and 40WTP (just guessing, and without inside information).

30/30/30 plus some nice shiny blended winglets to look at:ok:

Yep. BA schedule 7 hours or more for LHR-JFK at M0.84. From the EU to the US at 757 speeds is gonna be a long slog.

Could they fit 60J ona 757 and still have space for anything else?