Balpa Conference (Merged)

[mightymouse111]

Hi guys & gals.

I've never been to a Balpa conference and I am wondering if I should attend this Saturday.

I have already paid my £55 but in order to get there I will have to travel down from Scotland on Friday and incur travel & accomodation costs which means a total cost in excess of £200. I would like to go but I cannot afford £200.

I know that I should attend but will I get value for money as a low hours pilot? Will I learn anything that I do not know? Will I get to meet people that make recruitment decisions and will meeting them have any bearing on whether they decide to recruit 1) low hours pilots 2) me at some time in the future? Most Companies seem to use standard applications which admin staff sort out!

Please do not reply by saying that I have already spent a fortune and so what is another £200! When you don't have £200 or rich parents, its a hell of a lot!

Balpa please sell this conference to this tight Scot!

[Parson]

Yes, £200 is a lot of money, even taking into account what you have spent already, however if you're looking for your first job it could be the best spent so far.

I've been to a few and it's interesting to hear first hand, often from the Chief Pilot, what recruitment plans the airlines have. They are available to chat to later as well (if you have a loud voice), and you can quiz them on the best method of application and whether they might consider you. Make sure you take a few CVs.

Obviously there's no guarantee that you'll get a job from attending, but if you do go you are bound to be better informed on the overall employment situation and that's got to be worth it.

[jamestkirk]

If you have a type ratinga 500 hours+ on type, it's worth a visit.

If you have c.200 hours, lots of spare time to queue up and maybe not talk to anyone. Hear the same message from alot of airlines:

1. Have you got a TR
2. We may or may not employ low hour people
3. we prefer integrated but can't giove a definitive reason why
4. Yes we will look at modular....................................?

- then it's probably a good day out.

Low hour people like myself, that i talked to were all in agreement that it was not for us. And DEFINATELY not worth £55.

I know that i am going to get back from some people on this forum "that's negative,no wonder you have not got a job with that attitude". Or "£55 is a small amount to spend for the propsect of getting a job". My outlook is not based on a crowded conference that i found no use and i have not come across anyone (low hour) that got a job from it.

Although, on the latter, I would be more than happy to be proved wrong.

You'd be better getting advice from some of the experience airline pilots on this forum who are kind enough to send you PM's etc on tips and best practises.

[STORMER]

First year I went it (2000) it was worth it just for the information from the horses mouth. But only becasue it was free. Second year I think was aournd the £30 mark and was depressing as it was just after 9/11. After both events I came out a little wiser but no closer to getting a job as a low hour bloke. After the speaking there is quite a large bun fight with the speakers and the post above said it perfectly. It would be very difficult to stand out from all of the other candidates if you are still low houred, but if you have a little more experience then you may get more of someones ear.

[Longchop]

Im looking to get into a charter outfit sometime this year and i have 530hrs tt and 300 multi crew (turbine).......

So would it be worth it for me to go?

[Craggenmore]

jamestkirk,

I'll prove you wrong :)

I know of one chap (300 hours TT) who handed his CV in at last years Balpa conference to the respective Airline representative. He received a call 6 weeks later inviting him to interview. He was hired that December for the Airbus A320/321.

Not a bad 2 month period?

Of course he could have been the only low hour bod to have achieved this, but it can happen!

Craggs

[Johnny Hotspur]

I attended the Balpa conference last year and it was a complete mismatch of people there. The majority of punters were low houred guys/girls. Almost all the operators, except Flybe and Citi I think, were jet guys not in the bit interested in the experience levels on offer. It was a complete shambles. Bmed, Thomas Cook, Easy, Gold Air, Virgin, BA etc great if you've got a few thousand turbo prop hours. I don't know who's attending this year. Hopefully Balpa have got their act together and are providing a few airlines/outfits that look at low houred people.

Mightmouse111.... you've probably read already, if not do a search, but if you're Scottish based best bet it seems is to go instructing for a while then knock on the door of the Scottish regionals. Not a quick fix, but good fun and a definite long term plan!

All the best with your decision:D

[YYZ]

This might be of some use if you have not seen it?

here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193260&highlight=BALPA)

YYZ

[mightymouse111]

Thank you all for your comments. I have read them all with interest and there is very much a difference in opinion. I especially liked the person who suggested I go because he has been to several...but as yet no job!

I am going to attend but only because I don't want to miss anything. But I already know what the requirements are for the airlines attending and how they want me to apply, I suspect that I will not learn anything new except to receive a nice brochure with the information from the balpa web site re-printed and to listen to airlines telling me that I must stay current and stay in the industry in some capacity.

It is a lot of cash (which I do not have) and time that I am investing in this day, I hope very much that I will be able to sing its praises to all when I return, if not I'll be in the unfortunate position like the rest of the low hours pilots to say it waste a waste of money.

[Barcadi]

would u b kind enough to give me the link to balpa website plz
thx so much

[Canada Goose]

Just a heads up for those thinking of going and not yet registered....... I've just spoken with a very nice lady at BALPA regarding the EOC and as it says on their website http://www.balpa.org.uk/eoc/eoc.htm , it is too late now to register.

Decision made for those like me who haven't already registered......oh, and btw, reigstration is non-transferable !

Good luck to all who are going !

Cheers,
CG

[A320rider]

IF YOU THINK AIRLINES ARE INTERESTED BY YOUR VISIT, LET ME LAUGH, THEY ALL HAVE 1000ND OF YOUR CV ON THEIR DESKS, AND IN THEIR BIN....

IF THEY WANTED REALLY TO HIRE LOW TIME PILOTS, THEY WOULD HAVE INVITED YOU SINCE A LONG TIME AGO!

IT IS JUST A NEW TRICK TO FILL THE POCKETS OF BALPA!

WHY SOMEONE HERE DONT RUN A FREE SEMINAR!!!! ( LIKE NETJET DOES???!!!!.)

SHAME ON YOU , SHAME ON YOU BALPA! HOW CAN YOU DO THAT TO US?

DONT REGISTER WITH BALPA, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A JOB. IT IS GIVEN ,GIVEN!!!

KIDS ARE DYING EVERY DAY IN AFRICA AND YOU PAY TO HANG A CV !!!!!!!!!!!!THIS IS SIMPLY SCANDALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WITH THIS MONEY YOU COULD SAVE HUNDRED OF LIVES, SO WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW?


PLEASE, STOP TO FILL THE POCKETS OF THESE PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY ASK FOR $$$$!!!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US!
:ok:

(AS YOU CAN GUESS, I WILL NOT ATTEND THE SCAM MEETING, AND I HAVE CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP WITH BALPA...)

[Capt. Vilo]

Just home from the confrence.....

What was your view ?????? +/-

[plumponpies]

A320rider. If it bothers you that much send your own money to help African kids!
My concience is clear. I earn MY money and spend it how I see fit. If that means a small fee to BALPA for a nice lunch, free coffee and a chance to meet airline recruiters, then thats my choice, as it is for all the other people who choose to attend.
I suggest you change your pessimistic outlook, and become more pro-active in your job search. If you have the resolve to do so.

[stansdead]

So guys,

Was it worth it?

Who said what?

Any hope on the horizon for you low houred guys?

[Will964]

Most Airlines said yes, they will be recruiting over the next year. They then gave the number of pilots they expect to need and their minimum requirements. There seems to be a continued need for pilots over the next year or so. Good news for those with the hours but only a handful of the attending Airlines said they take low hour pilots. However, several of the others said they do consider low hour pilots, but only from Oxford.

Was it worth ₤55? Not in my opinion. There was a huge number attending this thing. In my estimation well over 500 people and there was nothing said that couldn’t have been summed up in a few words in a well written article for Balpas’ magazine. It was good to put a face to the names I’ve been addressing my cover letters to though. The meet and greet was a bit of a joke with the line of people waiting to shake hands and pass a CV to Flybes’ Captain Ian Cheese stretching as far as the eye could see!

I don’t think I’d attend another, but I hopefully wont need to ;)

[YYZ]

A320rider or Spaceman? Reregistering under a different pseudonym does not hide who you are, you are still a pratt whatever and you wonder why you have no job!

Anyway, I did attend, and as everyone guessed, not allot for the low hour guys and just the usual "keep current and keep applying"? Obvious really isn’t it, a few good presentations but generally aimed at high houred guys.

Some good possibilities in the pipeline for Virgin Re Sponsorship, but nothing for the newly qualified.

FlyBe had the usual queue around the hall to talk to Captain Cheese:rolleyes: and Don Darby, quite a few guys pulled out at the last minute which was the days biggest disappointment for me, the ones I wanted to see ended up not being there.

However, was it worth it, yes, if only for the new info and to put faces to names, but, next year I think I’ll find someone else who is going and just copy their pack. Then again you never know where you will meet the contact that could get you the job, personal decision for all.

YYZ

[carbonfibre]

I was there too, some very interesting comments, as already said the airlines you would like to aspire to are going to put your CV on the company bonfire on Nov 5th.

Apart from that, some very good talks especially from the China Airlines guy, Its in Taiwan!!! and I felt that BMI baby and Thomsonfly were quite constructive in what they had to say regards low houred and the ability to apply

All in all its horses for courses, but met some very nice people who were job hunting too

Carbon:ok:

[Lolo737]

Agree with all previous posters! Tony from China airlines was a laugh and deserved his applause!

Met a lot of nice people, exchanged email addresses, shook a few hands, handed in a few cvs.

I personally went for 2 reasons - to speak to someone from Flybe ( mission accomplished and fingers crossed!) and to say hello to the citiexpress people and ask when the interview might be so that was interesting - if theres even a flicker of recognition at the interview stage then surely that will have been worth it to show that you are out there actively meeting people and seeking jobs.

Flybe are always going to have the most interest at these things because they're one of the very few who actually regularly hire us! And for that matter, reply to our letters, so good on them on that alone bearing in mind how many they no doubt receive!

Thomsonfly and bmibaby all had constructive things to say as did bmiregional.

One big thing said by more than one person is to remember that things change fast in flying and even if they dont really want low hours now, they may need us shortly so keep trying.

:ok:

(If Tim from the Hoppa bus who flies the Aztec is out there PM me!)

[EGCC4284]

The highlight for me was listening to Eleonora Orlandi from Flybe gave her little talk at the end of the conference.

She was funny and is the sort of person they want to sit with on a flight deck

Very brave I thought to get up in front of 350 and gave her words of advice. 10 out of 10

I am so pleased for her and she is exactly what the Airlines are looking for. Take note everyone.

I truly take my hat off to you Eleonora

[speedy688]

The 'low houred pilot pack' was good - full of useful info. The presentation pack was also good with all the latest info on the attending airlines.

[Jinkster]

The presentations I could have give myself, by doing research on websites and beforehand on recruitment.

The lady from Cathay showed us lots of pretty pictures of Hong Kong, saying 'this is why you want to work for us' - most people like myself were drooling over them - until she said you need Xnumber of thousands of hours and then basically she could have just shot us all in the foot!!

What was nice was to meet the people as Will did say - what use it did who knows, watch this space!

:)

[Craggenmore]

You may find that all those who did bother to turn up on their weekend to personally say 'Hello' and hand in their CV get called for interview (as and when) before all the cold callers and speculative CV'ers.......

[mightymouse111]

What did I get out of the day that I did not know already? Nothing.

I agree with a few of the previous mails. I already knew all the airlines recruitment criteria and buying a pint for someone will not get me another 1000hrs!
From the show of hands I would guess that 70% of the people were low hours, so the conference should have reflected that, i.e it should have been 70% geared to employment for low hours pilots, since we paid 70%. It was though a true reflection of the current state of industry recruitment. Maybe therefore the structure of the day needs changing or a separate conference for low hours.

I think that if I had 1500+ Commercial flying hours then I would have found it very useful and spoke to all the recruitment personel. But I am sorry Balpa I shall not be attending next year and if 70% of those attending had the same view, you will have to find another way of funding your Christmas Party.

I did though find the day enjoyable, professional and it was a chance to meet up with colleagues, but not beneficial.

[Jinkster]

Craggenmore,

We shall see :D

Jinkster

[boeingbus2002]

Not to forget the geography and politics lesson from Air China...not in China..but Taiwan...!
:ok:

[Globalwarning]

Should have told him it's called - Chinese East Taipei:8

[mumbo]

A couple of points that I feel should allow us low hour Bods some glimmer of hope:-

1. Nathan Bankett of Thomsonfly or was it Britannia, (Don’t mention the B word!!!), did say that Thompsonfly expected 25% of its pilots to have under 500hrs in 2007.

2. Tim Berry of Bmibaby said he was “terrified” by what he was hearing and expected a number of resignations from his pilots as they moved on up the food chain in the near future.

The fact also that there were a number of Bods from the head sheds of other airlines loafing around indicated to me that they were trying to get a feel for the number of their pilots that would be moving on.

I went last year as well. My opinion this year, the food was worse, there were more experienced pilots amongst the mob looking to move up the food chain, the airlines were actively recruiting the experienced Bod, that must start a employment convection and I was glad I parted with £55 pounds to go.

May the wind at your backs never be your own.

Mumbo
:ok:

[Dash-300-Pilot]

What did I learn?

If I want to fund my next type rating, I can always hold a Pilot Employment Opportunities Conference and make an easy ₤25,000!

[woof]

I have to say yes.

That was my first conference and the value for me came from the indirect lesson learnt:
What is my competition?
What makes that airline want to stand up and present?
What are they saying about entry requirements? (500+ Turbine multi crew) (Okay that's direct lesson learnt)
How the airlines see the future of their company and aviation on the whole?
How much value is placed on integrated / how little in modular.

For most of these questions I got my answer. Is it a money spinner? - Yes. Does everyone benefit? - Yes in some way.

EGCC4284 - I agree and disagree with you about your thread.

I agree she was entertaining and brave. I disagree that she was an inspiration. She was indeed smart to go down the route she went, but her presentation was under the banner of networking and going through Oxford integrated course does most of that for you - as we heard so often that day ( recommendation from FTO)

For true inspiration, I would like to see a young modular person who has built up their experience through the logical step of FI / basic twin etc and continued to network. Before you say it - no not like me.

I don't doubt she is the type of person that would be good in the cockpit, but I don't think her experience answered the exam question.

(reaches for shovel to dig hole as people lament about how wrong I am)

[Stpaul]

No i agree, I tend to think it comes down to 'right place right time' and Flybe were desperate at the end of last year given the large number of resignations.
I think what she did demonstrate;
1. Continually improve your CV
2. Networking will simply mean that your CV is in the right place at the right time(but you must still have the min requirements)
3. She probably was a good low hours pilot; Ex Italian airforce trainee, OAT, Dispatcher!,flying the piggy etc.

But not sure that I understood to much of what she said! But I get the impression with her CV, give her 18months and she's off!

Ma non sono sicuro che potrei capire che cosa stava parlando.

[Dude~]

Stories of 'How I made it' like that of the Italian girl often disappoint me because they are rarely simple and full of hard work and determination.

More often, as in this ladies case, it was a lucky break that got her flying a multi turbine dropping parachutists. Now this is not something that the vast majority of 300hr frozen ATPLs will ever get the chance to do. I gather she got it through military contacts.

Fair play to her though!

My point being that I don't really learn from these stories. Another one that BALPA gave out involved someone meeting a business man who 'just happened' to be starting an airline on his laptop at that very moment!

I think we're in for a long hard struggle to find the right place at the right time!

[pilotarosa]

I am sorry dear colleague but I started working with piggy because I knock the door of their flight operations everyday for a long time...didn't have any contact.....
......and for what concern Oxford....well as i said I had been unemployed for 12 months....that should say something
Thanks for the feedback anyway!
ciao
PS you should say "non capivo di che cosa stesse parlando";)

[Stpaul]

Della probabilità di una data? Ho pensato che foste bei.

[Dude~]

I’m glad you added that you only got to fly piggy due to sheer determination and not military contacts. That makes me feel better because it suggests that it could happen to anyone who really wants it.

What does "non capivo di che cosa stesse parlando" mean anyway?

How’s life on the Dash?

[Snigs]

pilotarosa

I knew you had balls gal, but I didn't figure they were as big as that!! Fair play to ya.

Are you still denting the runway at EDI or have you figured out how to land the bitch yet?? (and if you have, you're a better man than I ;) :p )

PS How was the holiday touring Scotland?

PPS In case you're wondering, you know me, and I'm being mischievous!! :D :cool: :ok: