FCA Recruiting

[beamer]

First Choice looking to recruit for next winter due to expansion of longhaul fleet which in turn requires greater pilot establishment. In the first instance they are looking for recommendations from FC pilots so if you've got a mate already there..................

[OBK!]

Hi beamer

Do you know what kind of calibre FCA are looking at? Do you think there will be any oppurtunities for low hour pilots during this selection?

Many thanks for the heads up,

[Boeing 7E7]

FCA has recently taken on a few low houred pilots and I believe it was with a tie up through GCAT, the flight simulator company. The scheme has similarities to the CTC one, I'm told.

[OBK!]

Thanks 7E7, let's hope they're ongoing low hour pilot recruitment!

Rgds

[beamer]

Don't quote me but I believe that the GECAT arrangement was to cover for a certain number of late 'no-shows' on training courses from pilots whose previous redundancy notice was withdrawn by their existing employers.

Traditionally FCA look for experienced pilots be they military or civil but would obviously be interested in those with 757/767/320/321 type ratings.

I suspect that training may take place earlier than usual this winter so get those cv's in - you never know.

[Boeing 7E7]

I'm told FCA are looking to start interviewing very soon. Rather earlier than normal as they want to make sure they get more of the type of pilots they want.

The very fact that FCA now has a second officer pay scale suggests to me that they may look to take pilots of that experience level, ie frozen ATPL. Infact, it would probably appeal most to a pilot of low experience as time to command is in the region of 10+years. Make no mistake it's looooooong!

The main thing is to be recommended if you can by somebody already in FCA as the airline has always placed high value on such things.

[Craggenmore]

The main thing is to be recommended if you can by somebody already in FCA as the airline has always placed high value on such things.
wonderful news to hear...

;)

[EPRman]

I believe that apart from pilots supplied by GECAT (about 10 required early next year), the minimum requirement will be 1500 hrs with at least turboprop time. The required number of pilots is rumoured to be high; around 40-50 is the number talked about on the line.

[WindSheer]

FCA took on approximately 10-15 pilots at the beginning of the year. Some of these were internal promotions (two I think), the rest were all external. I think it was about half of these were on the cadet scheme - very low hour with no rating, the rest were transfers etc.
As mentioned above, at the beginning of the summer they were still short so took on some GECAT cadets, again no type rating.

All the above were Airbus.

As also mentioned above, they have set down a pay scale for cadet pilots, and have made it very clear how long they work until being made senior and getting a payrise.
I get the impresssion that recruitment for the Boeing fleet will be similar, but the cadets probably won't hop straight into the 767. They will simply be providing more flexibility for crewing to 'free up' more experienced FO's to fly across the pond.

Get in there gent's/ladies. FCA have a lovely fleet of 757's, and with the 787 on the way they certainly look a prosperous employer!

[EPRman]

The GECAT cadets are approx. 50% Boeing and 50% Airbus and paid £18500 for the ratings from their own pocket for a three month contract. Some are going through line training at the moment. I would be very surprised if they are not offered full time positions if they do well.

[JT8]

Sorry if this is more applicable in Terms & Endearment but....
A question for FC drivers:

With a full ATPL (Airbus and B737 ratings) how quickly could you move onto the B767 and start long haul?

What types of contracts are available for winter?

Cheers

[beamer]

From an FCA 'pilot' - please not 'drivers' - that term should be reserved for out colonial cousins on the other side of the Atlantic.

If you have an Airbus rating then if offered a position you would in all probability be retained upon the same aircraft - at least no bond to worry about !

A 737 rating per se is of little or no relevance.

Once on the Boeing fleet you would fly the 757 for probably at least a year before a chance to upgrade to the 767 - this also depends upon your base, far likelier at LGW or MAN. Much depends on the poposed expansion of the 767 fleet as the company seeks to abandon short-haul destinations to low-cost operators to concentrate on niche marketing - the year I quote is on the optimistic side.

The only significant winter contract over the last couple of years has been in western Canada - Boeing and Airbus - this may continue but you need a Canadian ATPL (YES - lots of exams) and seniority counts so don't hold your breath ! Contracts do come and go so who knows what else may be in proverbial pipeline ?

Good luck

[CanAV8R]

Nice to hear FCA and TC are taking pilots on in the autumn. For any of you out there looking keep your eye on the Spotty M. Looking for more "Driver's" in september. I bet the management at FLYBE are thinking not again! Another 30 pilots out the door!

The Canadian ATPL is two exams and can be done and dusted in a matter of days. If you want mine you can have it.

Good luck all and hopes this continues for some time!

[Francesco82]

How about gettin' my cv in then? What's the preferred method of application?
Im very interested, as type rated and line trained on the bus...

Bye!!
Frenk

[ABO944]

Hi Guys 'n Gals

Does anyone know what to expect in an interview??

Any technical questions or is it more like an informal chit chat??

Regards :ok:

ABO

[Jinkster]

Anyone at First Choice fancy giving me a recomendation?? :E

Free beer will be provided!!!!!! :D






I'm aint kidding! :ok:

[EGCC4284]

Dear Mr G, Mr M and whoever concerned at FCA

Do you not realise that there is quality guy's out here and that the criteria and process that you and your company have set up with regards the "recommend a friend scheme" is causing you to miss out on guy's like me.

Rumour on the ramp is that your not quite sure what it is you are looking for.

The market is picking up very fast and I hopefully will get snapped up by a company that knows this and doesn't set up such a complicated scheme as the "recommend a friend" as FCA have done.

I am in a job at the moment that allows me to be in contact with many pilots from many company's and I have seen for some time that the job market is picking up fast.

Many many airlines will be recruiting over the next 12 - 18 months and if you carry on with such a high standard "recommend a friend scheme" that I am led to believe you have, then you will miss out on filling the right hand seats with the few quality, flexible, determined and motivated guys that are about.

If you think the be all and end all is CTC, GECAT, OAT, Cabair, BAE, or to set up such a scheme as the "recommend a friend scheme" that FCA has done or flying instructors with 1500 hours then this will cause you to miss out on me and others.

The is a pilot shortage coming and I have seen it creep up during the last 12 months.

I kept saying this to many friends of mine who didn't believe it at the time but do now due to the fact that they have all been getting interviews very rapidly in the last 2 - 3 months. They will probably get jobs and wont be available for you by the time you realise this.

If you start to lose your first officers soon because of the low morale in your company, how are you intending to fill their spaces ??? Is it going to be with low houred CTC, GECAT, OAT, Cabair guys or flying instructors with 1500 hours plus.
Why not us low houred modular guys who have spent the last 4 - 5 years maintaining a job while supporting a wife and kid with a mortgage to pay for the roof over our heads whilst training. Does that not show you responsibility or does someone who signs his life away for £60,000 all you are interested in.

I haven't had a family holiday for over 10 years due to the fact that I've used every holiday from work over the last 6 years for training purposes

I have maintained a full time 40 - 60 hour a week job on shift work whilst training and have only been off sick from work twice in the last 7 years. Does this not show you loyalty, determination and responsibility.

Would I look more attractive to your company if I had jacked my job in and signed up to Cabair getting myself into debt whilst loosing my house???

Your company is not on it's own here. British Airways mainline and others will suffer too with their requirements being what they are.
500 hour multi crew on an aircraft above such a weight or Oxford???????? was the last requirement I heard from a BA mainline pilot.

Michael O'Leary will be getting my CV soon but with no cheque for reading it and a message telling him that I am prepared to work very very hard for him. I don't mind being bonded but don't intend spending £20,000 in advance for a type rating. I've already spent £35,000.
If he wants to get in touch with me then he's quite welcome to do so. If he doesn't, then he's missed out on me and I'll go and work hard for some other airline.

ThomsonFly should think about us mid 30 year old guys too. ( I am 38 and still have 20 years work in me ) They are missing out on some quality guys. Them in the know will understand what I mean by this.

Everyone should wake up and smell the coffee.

Will be applying to many company's soon and hopefully if I get an interview, a good company will realise what a good hard working loyal guy I will be for them and give me the opportunity to prove this.

The is not many mid 20 year olds about who have a house to remortgage for training.

The is also not many mid 20 year olds have capital in property to enable them to remortgage to pay for training.

Where are all these future pilots going to come from.

So if Mr G, Mr M and whoever concerned at FCA would like to offer me coffee and biscuits whilst we have a chat and I tell you why you should employ me, then get in touch through PM and I will gladly call around to the ivory tower.

Regards the man on the ramp who hears from many pilots in many airlines everyday.

[beamer]

EGCC4284

I believe that you are missing out upon the essential point of 'recommend a friend' as circulated amongst FCA pilots using its internal mail system. The request is made as a precursor to the recruitement process; if an FCA pilot knows of a former colleague in either the military or civil world who is perhaps looking for a change in direction and who would fit in with the existing pilot profile, they are invited to offer a letter of support should an application be forthcoming. At the same time the Chief Pilot will be receiving a steady stream of cv's which will be filtered and those of interest held on file for reference as and when new recruits are required - we suspect this autumn.


FCA have historically taken a high proportion of ex-military pilots and pilots with extensive civil airline experience - these are known quantities and reflect little training risk for the Company.
Pre-9/11 a relatively small number of cadetships were organised through Cabair which provided some high calibre albeit inexperienced entrants to the Company. More recently the Company was able to recruit a number of type-rated pilots from other operators together with some experienced regional pilots with either jet or turbo-prop backgrounds. Due to a last-minute requirement for a few extra pilots an arrangement was concluded with GECAT for a small number of low-hour cadets who were instantly available.

You are quite correct in your assertion that a number of UK operators will be recruiting in the next year or so - this will in turn lead to opportunities at the bottom end of the job market as is always the case when a upturn occurs. BA, Emirates, Cathay and Virgin will always be seen by some as the ultimate goal, others will see that their careers lie in other areas of the industry be it IT, Low-cost, freight, corporate or whatever. All operators should be seeking the highest calibre candidates that they can find but the prime requisites will be proven experience or proven potential - experience can only be gained one way and that is in the air, potential is a difficult criteria to assess and that is why some operators will look towards different organisations for assistance in that area.

I wish you luck in your search for employment as a professional pilot.

[EGCC4284]

beamer

Thank you for your response and I understand and agree totally with what you say

I do also understand that FCA don't want to take a risk by sending guy's who may fail the type rating course

My point is that I only have 400 hours total and I'm aged 38

I consider myself to have a lot of life experience and would like to work for FCA

I do not yet fly for a living and don't know anyone well enough within FCA that would
allow me to be recommended by them to FCA.

I consider myself determined, reliable, responsible and very very flexible

If I sent my CV to Mr G or Mr M, Would I get an interview ??

If I was 22 out of Oxford or Cabair with £60,000 of debt and sent a CV, would I get an interview ??

Who would you like to be sat in a cockpit for 12 hours with ?

Why do they think it think it wouldn't be me but could be a Cabair Oxford cadet

All I ask is a chance of an interview.

If I get an interview then it's down to me from there on in to prove what an asset I would be to FCA

The is quite a few of us mid 30's low houred guy's out there and they are not getting interviews
due to the age low hours scenario. You listening BA mainline and others

Your company and others are missing out on some of what I consider good guy's

I will be sending my CV to your company soon and expect a dear John,
but I wont leave it at that and will never give up

I am not saying I should be given a job

All I ask is an interview

PS The offer of coffee and biscuits hasn't arrive yet but I will keep you all in pprune land posted

[angelorange]

Suggest you get a Flying instructors ticket and keep current without having to pay further bills.

The FI jobs are starting to pay better - £18k - £40k

and you learn how to fly all over again when you have to teach it!

Failing that try air taxi / GA operators to get twin time and maybe a turbine job.

[beamer]

EGCC

I note your comments - whilst it is always pleasant to fly with 'a good guy/gal' in the right hand seat, I would set as my prime requirement a competant and assured operator - FCA tries to blend both requirements and usually successfully, as indeed do many other operators. I suspect that your 400 hours will find you a full-time position in due course but it may well be that your age and lack of experience may lead you to a stepping-stone position first before graduating to larger aircraft.

Again - good luck !

[Francesco82]

Any ideas about how gettin CV's in at FCA then????????
bye

[Eye off the ball]

EGCC4284,

No offence but you'd better hope FCA don't replace the 'recommend a friend' scheme with an english test.

Kidding aside, the airlines will be looking for solid english and an ability to follow simple instructions. I admire your cheek concerning Ryanair but I'll bet your application and CV will be filed straight in the bin.

[Pin Head]

FCA have historically taken a high proportion of ex-military pilots and pilots with extensive civil airline experience - these are known quantities and reflect little training risk for the Company

That sums up to what this recruitment drive will be about plus some young capable people to fill the gaps. FCA are a high ta
rget organisation and I now many with 4000hrs + (with jet and turboprop) applying. Even these guys and girls will not be guaranteed an interview. Advice to first job searchers, get a FI rating, get a regional job and go from there. If you strike gold well done but it ain't that bad at the bottom of the ladder either.

[OBK!]

Anyone heard anything more about the recruitment? Any interviews been arranged or anything?

Rgds

[EGCC4284]

beamer

Thank you for listening to my views on this topic. Interesting times ahead I think.

If they haven't any coffee, tell them I'll settle for tea with my biscuits.

Eye off the ball

I agree with you in that my English is poor.

Check this link http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171446

I cannot spell or write a letter to save my life and it's one of those gremlins
that I intend to correct when I finish my training and have some time on my hands.
This is my main concern with regard to failing an interview selection thingy ma jig.
I will sort it out in due course.

With reference to Ryanair, I would be happy to get any kind of response from the man himself.

Best of luck to all who get an interview with FCA and I will keep you informed on how I get on in life.

PS My wife has just checked this before I posted it.

[etops1]

I am looking for an email of FCA to send my CV to.
Can anybody help me with that?

[EGCC4284]

Must try and send this link to Michael O'Leary and tell him to stop taking the you know what.




http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=pilot+shortage&btnG=Search&meta=


Still waiting for my cup of tea. I can pop up any time.

[beamer]

I do find it amazing that 'professional' pilots sometimes seem to lack the ability to deduce where to send their cv's when seeking positions with starting salaries in excess of £40k - seek and ye shall find.......

[Pin Head]

Anyone heard anything yet? Yes or No thanks

[Leo8]

I recently sent a CV and recieved an application form 2 days later asking me to complete and return asap.

Just hope I hear something good soon!

[fade to grey]

Hi All,

EGCC- You are sounding a bit desperate there mate, get some pride and get off your knees for gods sake man !

I am sure the Chief Pilot at FCA will be heartbroken on missing out on the opportunity to employ you - you must realise there are many hundreds of people with your experience level and,without being rude, alot younger than yourself.

You would be better off targetting airlines that seek people looking for their first airline job -FCA takes ex mil guys and fairly experienced civil pilots as well as a few low hour guys/girls.

For the record i used to work for them and joined with the best part of 4000 hours with 2000 jet,


regards,
FTG

[EGCC4284]

Hello fade to grey

I'm sorry if you get the impression that I am desperate. I'm not and hopefully will never be.
I do agree with everything you say and I will be applying to everyone within reason. By this I mean by being able to still pay the mortgage and making sure my marriage and relationship to my daughter will not suffer.

Yes I will be applying to the turbo prop outfits. I am confident that I would be an asset to FCA and see no reason why I should not apply to them first.

I do agree with your post and in reality it's the way things are at the moment.

The only thing that pisses me off is that all I hear is Oxford this and Oxford that with regards low houred pilots or you have to be under 30.

I wont give up and hopefully in 12 months time will be at least in my first flying job.

Like I said to Beamer, still waiting for tea and biscuits.

Best of luck to all who get an interview.

"13 tonnes, is that a final".

[fade to grey]

Ok EGCC,
My post may have sounded a bit sarcastic.

We all have a waiting game to play - It took me2 and three quarter years after getting an IR to get a commercial job,

keep plugging away............

[scroggs]

I'd like to remind people that this forum is for our very-low-hour Wannabes (mostly still in, or just graduated from, fATPL training) who are trying to obtain their first professional position. Other than for background info, there is no point in discussing here the finer points of recruiting ex-military or 4000+-hour civilian pilots. Their proper home on Pprune, when job-searching, is Terms and Endearments.

Scroggs