BA recruitment freeze

[wheelie my boeing]

Sounds like BA have frozen all pilot recruitment... Most could see it coming really. Not many airlines hiring now, anyone at all other than Ryanair in the UK?

[Tiger_ Moth]

I'm afraid this is true. I heard it from a current BA pilot.

[stevelhr2002]

Yes, it's true! :(

[wheelie my boeing]

It has been a rumour for the past week or so, but was confirmed on the 1st...

[RJ100]

From what they told me....If you already have an interview scheduled they are honouring that. Though you will be placed in the hold pool if successful.

[Artificial Horizon]

The inside scoop is that they will honour any course start dates that have been issued, currently up to the end of October. Two SSP courses going through JOC at the moment who will also be joining. Any interviews will be honoured but NO new course dates for the foreseeable future. I think that they will still interview with a view to fill the holding pool because as we all know if the oil price drops suddenly and the banks sort their sh*t out and start lending money again then the industry could turn around relatively quickly. Also rumours that they will remove the 12 month limit on being in the hold pool. I suspect they will be actively issuing start dates again by the first quarter of next year.

[flyvirgin]

How long do you think the "Recruitment Freeze" will last for?

[wheelie my boeing]

Until Gordon Brown sorts out the mess he has got us into :}

[Flashdance9]

Sounds like BA have frozen all pilot recruitment

Yeah, apparently you need a frozen Atpl to get in :}

[Cancel2LateLunches]

BA's not the only airline out there. Don't get upset I think Ryanair are still recruiting

[cfwake]

spicejet

6 posts until a completely unrelated topic finds reference to OAA.

A new record I reckon...well done!

[clanger32]

Without wishing to get embroiled, I ask this as a rhetorical question for spicejetter in particular and all in general to consider:

I see you're 28 years old. What hugely wide breadth and depth of world experience qualifies you to comment so unerringly conclusively on "being suckered in" by OAA, other than you're own personal opinion that Modular is a "better" route? What is it that enables you to instinctively KNOW that your choice will work out perfectly for you - and for everyone else, if-only-they-had-the-same-huge-intellect-as-you-and-had-made-the-same-choice? Have you perhaps completed the fATPL twice, once mod and once integrated and found that one route offers an easier route to the RHS for a paying role? hmm, probably not. Perhaps then you've completed your mod course and got a job, enabling you to be all smug that you got a job (in probably one of the best periods for low hour pilot recruitment in recent years) for less than similar integrated students had paid....well good on you, but then again perhaps you're yet another mod student who's not yet finished who is basing all their hopes on FYR recruiting them...

Perhaps some would do well to consider that whilst it may be outwardly funny to consider all those "poor" integrated students who end up going to FYR anyway, the fact they ARE going to FYR means there's a whole load more smug arse mod students who think they've got a better deal by paying less who won't be getting ANY job any time soon...

The industry is in a bad state, operators who do want a low hour pilot will choose who they see as the best option for the job - and god knows it's not like they'll not have their choice right now. FYR will doubtless continue to take mod students and long may that be the case...but if they're taking any integrated students - let alone the numbers they ARE taking - then it means even less opportunities for others.

Grow up - int/mod doesn't actually matter, they both get you the same place. What one route gives, the other takes. ANYONE that succeeds in the training game and getting a job, I'll buy a beer for (hmmm...I'd like to point out, that is still rhetorical - could get very costly otherwise!) but foolish, stupid statements just make the poster look bad. Why do you actually care what route someone else chooses?

I have no prob whatsoever with modular students. I've trained with a lot of them and most of them are great guys and girls who would grace any flight deck. But it does puzzle me why so many mod students are so vitriolic towards integrated. I drive an Audi, my neighbour chooses BMW....do I care he chose something different? Not in the least, they both get us from A to B...

[cfwake]

Thanks clanger, I don't think I could have put it any better!

And, spicejetter, while you may think I've been suckered in by them, I go there happily in the knowledge that I'm not the kind of person to patronise someone that is only 4 years younger than myself by calling them 'son'.

Perhaps now we should let this topic get back on course?

[wheelie my boeing]

P.S.
I was an "integrated sucker". I fly for BA. Had I been mod I wouldn't be flying for BA.

[clanger32]

Wheelie,
Clearly, then, you are an absolute imbecile and must be really gutted you spent all that money to only get.....oh.....

Unfortunately it does look like one of the options open to the "Mugs" at the integrated schools appears to have gone for the moment. Following a chat with a senior BA 74 captain the other day it would appear that the price of oil needs to drop along with a more optimistic economic outlook before hiring will start again....on the positive front at least the new a/c orders are still there, so presumably longer term pilots will be needed for these and to cover the natural attrition rate due to retirements and leavers (currently C.3% per annum?)...One can only hope.

[mad_jock]

There are still quite a few jobs out there for low hour Pilots some for sub 300 hours and others for the 1000hour+ instructors. Very few I suspect on Jets. There is still constant movement in the turboprop world as FO's and Capt's depart for fresh fields flying something heavier. A 1000 hour instructor can expect to be up for a command course within 2 years of flying the line. 40k plus and in LHS seat dictating the mood of the day. I know this isn't an option for someone needing to repay £400+ a month on a 25k wage.

The biggest problem I can see in the TP world is qualified experenced Captains, can't get them for love nor money. To expand you need at least 1.5 crews per aircraft if not 2.5. So for low hour FO's to get thier foot in the door you need 2 Captains this what most companys are banging heads with. Even flybe are being liberal with their published DEC requirments.

And thats in a nice world where the training deptment stays stable. If a training Captain leaves that really can throw a spanner in the works, it can take months to get the next one released for courses and training. Which is why you sometimes get held for an additional 3-6 months its just something is stalled in the training deptment.

The usual intergrated, first points of contact I think are going to be not much use in the next couple of years. They haven't really been taking on the bulk of first type rating pilots on anyway for a few years now. The other 80% of the jobs, it doesn't matter how you train. And 10% of the jobs which wouldn't touch an intergrated graduate with a barge pole (but I suspect the feeling would be mutial :} )

It's ok for me looking back now at training choices. I certainly wouldn't want to be in anyones shoes today trying to work out whats the best thing to do.

[no sponsor]

Jet2 will start recruitment in September, so there is at least some opportunities for those to get onto a 73/75 by Spring of next year. (73 if it is your first type).

Getting into BA is a fantastic opportunity, and almost unbelievable for those just out of flying training. BUT you should not be too downhearted that recruitment has come to an end for now, as there are other opportunities - you'll just have to pass the DEP assessment, rather than the SSP when your time comes.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

The recruitment freeze post 9/11 lasted for 3 years. Its not a valid comparison or a prediction, just a history lesson.

WWW

[Flashdance9]

In 2001 BA was going under way before 9/11.

Today BA has a £1bn cash reserve, made healthy profits last few years and has over 40 aircraft on order. Just a history lesson.

[mad_jock]

And has just started a new airline with lower operating costs.

Didn't piss off most of thier high end customers with terminal 5

Didn't have a year of again high yield pax wondering if they could complete thier trips due to either cabin or flight deck going on strike.

As you know BA mainline doesn't actually own any airframes they are bought then sold again to a seperate BA holding company and then leased back.

Those airframes could go to either company.

What is going to happen in BA is not proberly known but I would thought it is not going to be pleasant for anyone. And cetainly not something you could base a loan application on of 70k with a 5 year plan.