Thomsonfly Recruitment

[Spikedog]

I have heard a rumour recently that recruitment from the Thomsonfly hold pool is currently on hold and that they are no longer looking to take people from the pool this year - type rated or non-type rated (737). Does anyone have any (inside) information?

[Spikedog]

If you are successful and into the hold pool I am sure you will not have to re-apply because you have passed all their selection. I have passed the selection and am in the hold pool, but it sounds like it might be a longer wait than I had initially anticipated.

[SkidMX]

Small matter of a merger with First Choice in hand at moment guys!
Expect an EU Mergers Commision announcement on 4 June.
TM are closing BRS & STN base, & FC closing LTN, & CWL.
I may be wrong, but I can't see a rush to recruit when there are 660 TM & 400 FC pilots to be merged to form TUIFly (UK).

Skid

[Spikedog]

Yes, I am expecting a delay due to the merger - just wondering if there has been any announcment internally regarding recruitment?

[Astrocaryum vulgare]

T-Fly is over-crewed at the moment and will be for the foreseeable future. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I would suggest you look elsewhere if you want a job in the short to medium term.

[Hookerbot 5000]

Thanks for the info guys. I am currently waiting to hear from Tfly regarding the Tfly/Fte scheme. If successful i would join the company (as a second officer) in just over a years time.

Do you think in a years time it still would be crowded and hence i would most likely be put into the holdpool with the rest? The reason i ask is potentially i will have to take out a loan where repayments would start 4 months after i finish training and if the current situation is as Astrocaryum vulgare described then i may have to plan going back into my old profession temporarily. :confused:

Cheers guys,

+HB 5000 :)

[Spikedog]

It really is impossible to say either way - things can change at any time. If it's really what you want to do then go for it. If you have to go back to your old profession for a while it'll be worth it.

[A Very Civil Pilot]

Talk at the moment in Tfly is where the redundanies will come. Hopefully, if it does, it will be voluntary, rather than compulsory. Doesn't seem to be much need for new pilots to join.

[Hookerbot 5000]

Cheers guys, i appreciate you sparing the time to share your views. :p

[kd2473]

Hi,
I've got the stage 2 interview and sim next week, and haven't been told not to come. What is likely to happen, does anyone think? They won't make a decision for ages, or they make a decision and (if it's positive - fingers crossed!) they just don't give a start date?? Any ideas?

[TOGA737]

I have done my stage 2 in April, and been told by managements that they need us ready to fly for summer 2008 for the 6 new B737NG, and : "if we merge with FCA we will need less Pilots, but even that, it will not effect you"
that was exact word I heard in the interview.

I received the Golden call same day, but with no course date!!! yet!!. as I am already flying B737 I don't mind waiting for T.FLY.

Cheers

[A Very Civil Pilot]

toga737

Whilst it sounds encouraging, it's best to wait until you've actually signed the contract before you breathe a sigh of releif. (This is no reflection on tfly - just experience of aviation in general).

The 6 new NGs are replacing 6 old 757, 767, 737, so no new airframes. The only consolation is that if we fly the same number of pax, an NG will have to fly more often (and use more crew) to shift the same number of pax as a 757/767.

[rjay259]

Fly more!

having a laugh. Booked one weeks holiday have had just over two off, work one day have a week off work two days have another week off.
Not complaining about time off but when the end of the month comes its a bit light.
I know its not just me as there are lots of co's not working very hard.
Oh well I am sure the flying will pick up as it is the summer season or will it.

Quick Q?

Why get more pilots for the same number of airframes if we have to many pilots already, not many people leaving company if you look at seniority list?

Enjoy

259:(

[rjay259]

Hi,

That I will do but still doesnt account for the fact that from the beggining of the year I have had 37 days of work and is now the start of June.

I hope things do get much better I really want them to.

See you in the crew room then.

259:cool:

[kadamen]

I passed selection recently and have spoken to HR about the Holding Pool situation. Looks like all courses are full and little prospect of more courses in the immediate future until the dust settles after the merger with First Choice. My gut feeling was that at best it may be some time next year before you get offered a job.

[AJMcC]

Hi everyone,
I've just found out today that Tfly will be going ahead with their airline approved scheme at FTE in October, when it was originally, I believe, uncertain whether it would go ahead or not.
I was wondering why they would do this considering the recruitment situation that you've just described.
Kadamen, how long do you think it'll take for the dust to settle after the merger?
Does anyone know if FTE students tagged by Tfly get priority over other applicants, who may or may not already have a type rating?
Excuse my ignorance, but why would a merger result in the laying-off of pilots? Do they plan to reduce the fleet?
And does anyone know when the merger is supposed to be happening?

I know the questions are vague and there are no definitive answers, but your opinions would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
AJMcC

[yeoman]

HEALTH WARNING: NONE OF THE FOLLOWING HAS ANY OFFICIAL BASIS!

If the FTE course at Jerez is flagged up then all is not doom and gloom. The guys tagged would I imagine be at the top of the list and be carefullly watched by a top chap who is the liason bloke (top chap in all senses of the word). There have been a few instances of guys with type ratings and lots of experience not fitting the mould so maybe a decision to grow from seed has been taken? Also, just because you are on the Jerez list doesn't confirm anything as I understand there have been a couple of instances where hindsight gave cause for question shall we say!

As for redundancies - who knows! The plan is for a change in fleet composition and the point about higher frequency flying needing more crews is a good one but then that bitch Carmen is due back running rostering so the much vaunted 3 - 4 sector days could be back on with a corresponding reduction in crew needs.

On balance (and this is where the real heath warning comes!!) I would personally think that we are not overcrewed, just not being well utilised, some are doing the cube root of cock all, some are up on the limits, rostering is poo essentially. As to how the merger will change things, mixed fleet flying is here in a big way as all pilots have been instructed (normally we are requested / advised) to complete a bid form for both base and type which includes combinations of 75/6, 75/3, 76/3 and 73 old and new.

Anyway, my head hurts now and I guess I don't really know the answers! What I will say is, for all it's faults, TFly is a good set up with some great T&Cs and my personal view is that if the merger goes ahead things will improve. The various CCs are hell bent on merging T&Cs up so we get the best of both worlds. The company will want to up productivity which is fine because otherwise there will be no job attached to the T&Cs!

[angelorange]

what is the new deal for latest TFLY recruits? I hear they have to pay for 737 rating instead of old school bond?

[kadamen]

I passed the selection recently and was told that all the courses are full for this year and they still have a small/medium sized Hold Pool of pilots. They said that nothing more would be known until the merger with First Choice is complete in October. Talking to some friends who are Thomsonfly Captains there seems no prospect of more slots this year, in fact redundancies are being rumoured. I suggest while you remain in the hold pool look elsewhere if you need a job this year.:rolleyes:

[DooblerChina]

Rumour is TFLY is overcrewed!!!:confused:

[Pilot Pete]

Everyone ready for the redundancies?:confused:

[Guzzler]

Chatting to a chap who had joined the company at 22 (30 years ago) the other day, he was confident a lot of senior guys would be well up for any serious redundancy offers.

I would not be suprised if TUI have to recruit within 12 months after maybe 30 or 40 expensive redundancy packages in the short term.

[Sean Dillon]

Quite a few within FCA too...open those flood gates!!!!!!!!

Either that or we're all headed for easyJet.....................

[A Very Civil Pilot]

Informed sources are quoting a figure of 120 pilots to be made redundant.


Edit: Or offered voluntary redundancy, which will be via seniority (top down).

[MONSIEUR]

It's VERY UNLIKELY that there will be any forced redundancies.. Plenty of very senior guys waiting for a good pay deal to retire.. Quite a few F/Os leaving in the hope of a quicker promotion. If the multi fleet flying is abandonned then they'll need more crew. An increase in long haul will require more crew too (despite a reduction in the shorthaul)
Then there is part-time and unpaid leave.. So I'm pretty sure no one at the bottom of the seniority list will be made redundant. At worst there might be a few people forced out of their preferred base..

[SkidMX]

There's a lot of difference between
"Being made redundant" and "Being offered voluntary redundancy"!

Skid

[Fly Better!]

I thought the management were supposed to be letting the pilots know what was happening in Jan?

Rob you may as well stop in Florida, might be more jobs over there :)