Interview UK Britania

[Caraman]

Can someone help me, I am a little confused here.

I applyed for Thomsonfly some three weeks ago, and I got an interview- but with UK Britania.

Is it the same company but with different names?

Thanks

[Captain Capstan]

Thomsonfly and Britannia Airways are now a single airline. Both are part of Thomson, the UK part of TUI. I am surprised that the reply was from Britannia as both parts of the airline now operate as Thomsonfly.

[wobblyprop]

Brandname ThomsonFly operated by Britannia. The paper work is slowly changing

[boeingboeingbong]

If you had an interview with the company I would expect you to at least have done some research on their history! Doesnt sound too hopeful!

[Caraman]

I have an interview in July. Thanks for the tip- will do my home work!

[Desk-pilot]

Can you chaps with a Thompsonfly interview advise the hours you have? Looks to me as if the current requirement is 500hrs heavy jet but if it's worth me applying with my 250hrs then I will bung an application in.

Many thanks and good luck in the interviews.

Desk-pilot

[Fokkerdriver]

Hello!!

Got invited :O

1700 hrs total, 1300 hrs turboprop.

[Caraman]

Hmmm, don't know for sure.

I got invited with 3000hrs total, 2500hrs turboprop.

My question is if there is anyone who can help me with some hints for the first stage. I know that there will be some numerical and logic-type (?) of questions, but is there any way of getting prepared?

Many thanks in advance, and good luck to everyone out there!

Cheers

[wobblyprop]

For stage 1:
Fractions
long division
verbal reasoning(I believe its the same one BA use)
Personality profile
Group exercise, role-play around a hypothetical situation in a company. You will be observed by about three nice HR types.

There isn't anything specific you can prepare for

[Flying Quill]

Desk Pilot - just 'bung an application in' anyway! It's free; what are you going to lose? Everything to gain, though....

FQ

[Caraman]

Thansk Wobblyprop!

Hmmm, guess it´s gonna be quit interesting then.

But I really wonder if those tests do their purpose.

Are you a better pilot just if you are very good in math calculation by head???

[RVR800]

The tests are used to de-select rather than to select folks......

i.e. if someone is remedial on mental arithmetic - he is out

[RAFAT]

Just my personal opinion of course, but the Thomsonfly numerical tests are way out of date, whereas the BA ones appear to have moved on with the times. I agree that as a 'de-selection' level they're probably good, but a bit of updating wouldn't go amiss. I never use a calculator in the flightdeck out of personal choice to keep the brain working, but quadratic & simultaneous equations? at my age? - jeez!

[Lucky Strike]

I was ‘de-selected’ by the maths test!

I had thought that being type rated, 1500+ hours command time on the B737, 10,000 hours+ total, 5,000 hours+ jet command time on medium to heavy jets, EU citizen, CAA ATPL/JAA ATPL/FAA ATP etc; plus 13 years of photocopied training records from the various employers I have had, including a couple of flag carriers. Plus written references from my most recent of employers……

May have been some interest to Thompsonfly. Didn’t particularly want the job - the job I’ve got is OK. But for a bit of inconvenience I was hoping at least for a free go in the SIM. SIM practice is never wasted.

Trouble is I left school in the 70’s with no qualifications, bar a handful of poor grade CSE’s. Lack of maths ability didn’t stop me getting CPL and later ATPL written exams first time. But if they want experienced captains, are they going the right way about it?

Still, no use being sniffy about it. Fact is in their pilot briefing, the bit where they told us what the money is and what the rosters are like they told us that all pilots are moving over to Carmen touring rosters, i.e. start work at the beginning of a roster period with suitcase and return some days later having spend a week wondering what the rest of humanity is doing while you watch hotel porn; is not for me. I’ve wasted ears of my life and one marriage doing that.

But even if I could pass the maths and did want live in hotels half the month; after all I’m single once more and hotel porn is much better these days; one has to question the sanity of joining a large company on the bottom of the seniority list as a captain. Because in my experience, when the economy bottoms out and airlines contract the best that can happen is you keep your job and observe the world from the right seat whilst your salary dwindles, the worst that can happen is your down the road. In any case, if I were the German Chief Exec of a very large German tour operator, and had to axe 20% of group capacity, I know where I’d start.

[RAFAT]

...if they want experienced Captains, are they going the right way about it?

I suppose there is room for a little more flexibility in their selection. Not even a sim ride? with that experience? I bet you were shocked bat.man!

[chockstarfish]

Of course you can prepare, having gone through stage one and a buddy saying well you should get through it you brushed up on fractions and english enough I have to say the exams were easy. I can also say if I didnt go to the local book store and buy 25 quids worth of numerical reasoning tests and english grammer tests I wouldnt have passed either...

THE GAME ISNT TO SEE IF YOU REMEMBER MATHS AND ENGLISH THE GAME IS TO SEE IF YOU HAVE THE THOUGHT TO PREPARE FOR THEM...ITS AMAZING GO TO A BOOK STORE AND FIND AT LEAST ONE SHELF ON THESE TYPE OF EXAMS, REASON BEING IS THAT YESSSSSSSS YOU CAN PREPARE FOR THEM

for the personality test just answer the questions honestly dont second guess yourself

here is a question....from that exam...

which would you rather look at, a nice shiny metal revolver or a painting in your local gallery.....

well hard choice for me THE GUN OF COURSE.....the game...we are pilots and fly shiny aircaft, wouldnt all of you rather look at a new shiny boeing or airbus coming out of the hanger???

besides later in the test they asked the question in a totally different context....THE GAME SEE IF YOU LIE..........

so because i dont agree with wobbly....do a google search on fractions you should find a free test with answers and rules on how to add multiply divide and subtract fractions....work through them....practice long division multiplication and adding...

http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html (IS JUST ONE SITE OUT THERE)

do this for a few days and you will pass these tests...

[camelback]

Thx for the info on the numerical.

Is there any info about the verbal? I know that you mentioned that you can find verbal booklets in any book store. But for the people who don't have those book stores around.
I really want to be prepared well...


Are those comparable with the expamples on the following link?
http://www.shldirect.com/phasei/helpsection-phaseI/Helpon-9.asp?ID=2E2469E5173346DBBD9D006277389F58

[chockstarfish]

yes they are like that, 5 different short exams for the english

csf

[calypso]

Having recently gone through the process I complete agree. It s all about preparation. Remember that the tests are conducted against the clock and there is insuficient time to complete all the answers. It follows that those that have prepared will complete more answers in the time allowed. A trip to your local library will reveal a few books on the subject. Do some of the sample tests and time yourself. You will be amazed how quickly you will improve wit a bit of practice.

I found reading about interview techniques also quite useful. Although in the end you have to be yourself, it helps to understand the point of view of the interviewer and to anticipate some of the questions. I found plenty of books also in my local library.

The 5 P's. Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Isn't this what in the end the job is about? anticipating what is coming and preparing for it?

[Sir Stanley Bigh]

I agree that prep is the key to success in this assessment (the version of the 5 P's I know is the 6 P's - P*ss poor preparation precedes poor performance!). On a recommendation I bought a book called GMAT for Dummies to help me, widely available for a few quid online. It's a bit OTT on the maths but some of the verbal reasoning stuff really helped.

For the sim ride I rehearsed the profile ad infinitum using nothing fancier than FS98. I think the key to the sim is not to have to think about calls/speeds etc, get these properly drummed into your brain and then you have capacity to actually fly the sim and analyse what is happening. You certainly get plenty of time to prepare so no excuses really.

As already mentioned, be yourself in the interviews. The interviewers are very pleasant and are not trying to trip you up or bamboozle you. I found the whole process to be far more enjoyable than I had imagined. If you don't get in, don't let it get you down. There will be another good company you may be more suited to.

[Strontium Dog]

Has anyone any info on the 2nd stage of selection?

I got word that I have passed stage 1 today, but info on stage 2 is scarce.

What do they do to you in the sim? Is it the usual SID, GH & some procedural stuff? Do two candidates fly together, or do you fly with an assessor? I'd be interested to know.

Also, how technical is the interview? What sort of questions do they throw at you? Is it just an informal chat?

Any info would be very much appreciated.

Feel free to PM me if you don't wish to post on here. :D

[wobblyprop]

stage 2 consists of sim ride, hr "key points " interview and a chat with the psychologist. All the info will be forwarded to you when the dates are arranged.

Sim. 2 britannia pilots one acting as your PNF the other operating the sim. The departure will be demonstrated to you. You get 3 attempts at the departure leading to radar vectors for ILS. Nothing nasty, no single engine. I think I got the chance to get the feel for it, steep turns etc. Fly the numbers for power and pitch and you won't go too far wrong.

No tech questions when I went. Just a nice chat with a captain and an HR bod making notes.

[Strontium Dog]

Thanks wobblyprop that sounds about par for the course

[On standby]

Preparation is a very good idea.

I know of 2 guys who got phoned on a Friday to go to Luton on the Monday or Tuesday and both were working over the weekend. That was the only day they were free on the list (of days) the Hr dep't had.

[sidtheesexist]

Calypso - you're quite correct about preparation being the key, but I fear you've missed out one of the Ps - rhymes with MISS and comes before POOR !!!! :) Rgds, Sid

[bullseyecontrolla]

I did the application form a few weeks back as a 250hr self improver. They sent a later saying no thanks back.

Then they phoned me on Thursday and offered me an interview next Friday, saying the are looking for people who could start at short notice. Talk about making my jaw hit the ground!!

Have started on the stuff on those links above and will of course be reading up on the company etc.

[5150]

I got a call offering me an assessment next Friday - typically I'm down route so that's a little tricky to pull off.

Nice lady in HR was very understanding so I'm in a pool for next assessments. Thanks to all those above who came up with some encouraging words on preparation and some excellent links.....

Good luck those who are attending!

We'll be after some feedback!

[wobblyprop]

bullseyecontrolla

I think that's how I ended up getting a break. Being available.

Have you already sat the maths and english tests?

Anyway, good luck.

[MAX]

Routemargo,

I think you'd be bloody lucky to get BOH if you did get in anyway. Very popular. Carmen has not been fully implemented so noone really knows the effect it will have. I work FAR less than any of my mates in other companies. My quality of life therefore is..... sorry Barbie's lit and need to get a cold beer. :ok:

MAX:cool:

[Lucky Strike]

Moderator,

I sent routemargo a PM today and posted a reply to his/her post on this forum. Why did it disappear, or was deleted?

routemargo: Did you receive a PM from me?

PS: The previous post was page of page 3 of 3 of this thread, as this one is. Why are posts deleted?