No technical questions in the interview.

Just some tell us about yourself type questions and some behavioural type questions.

There is a 20 question tech quiz Before the sim session.

I can confirm no tech quiz (at least for the 777/737). All HR.

It might interest you to know that the changes to VA's recruitment process have also resulted in all but 1 or 2 of the recruitment team now actually being current line pilots.

Just sayin....

A little bit late I'd suggest.

Suggestion noted :rolleyes:

You can roll your eyes all you like kiddo, doesn't change the fact that Virgin has seen talent slip through their fingers to other carriers for no better reason than an appalling HR department.

No doubt..... as has every other carrier I would suggest.

My initial point was not to get into a pissing contest, rather to raise the point that HR's involvement in the recruitment process is somewhat diminished in comparison to years gone by.

With the latest round of 737 FO spots going down to just 2 people off the top of hitting the VARA list and the musical chairs not stopped yet it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 6-12 months. The last ATR commands where also awarded a long way down the list and will start to fall into guys that don't have the hours to upgrade yet, so there may be some quick commands for those that join now if you have all the boxes ticked.

Do not forget there are a lot of junior FO's that are senior to the VARA list but have to wait until every VARA FO has been offered a command before they can bid for one...

So maybe a wee premature to start telling externals not even in the door yet that they can look forward to an ATR command.

I doubt anyone is going to go from FO jet to Turbo prop. It's hard to tell where a new hire will end up and how long. Assuming it's one big line to the job you want is incorrect as everyone has different needs and desires. It's no longer the case everyone will pack their lives up and move for the next promotion.

From what I saw the latest Aus east coast 73 FO slots went to guys that started in 2013.

What's the go with the 10% VARA thing?

I think it's also important to remember that significant turn over is ocurring and I'm told is going to increase.

Falling Leaf, fluffy is actually on the money. FO remaining on the list are the cadets which none have the requirements for a command and VA can't even organise the ATR to conduct an RNAV SID so I highly think organising any kind of ICUS program would be far to hard for VA.

A direct entry FO on the ATR could get a command sooner rather than later, however with attrition so high on the ATR from what I have been told more FO have positions with other carriers or have interviews next month Not sure the ATR will survive 2017!

Plenty of senior guys dusting off logbooks and resumes. Opportunities elsewhere are starting to appeal to some. Next year will be a big year.

It'll be big alright.

A line manager with a certain regional had been busy all October providing (verbal) references, senior management forbade anything written.

The VA contact remarked that we ain't seen nothing yet!

No, Rockhampton.

30% attrition rate on the ATR this year alone has left the fleet well understaffed and cancelling flights everyday. This has given the company the excuse to try to push all Rocky flying on to Alliance.

More and more VA ATR and Ejet flying being swapped over to Alliance everyday now. Pretty sure it's been JB's plan for a long time to make Alliance to Virgin what Cobham is to Qantas.

RE: ATR commands. The only 'quick' commands that might be possible would be in Canberra. No growth out of Brisbane, and any commands that come up will go to the FOs still hanging around, then anyone from 'mainline' interested on the group list. With the Ejet being withdrawn soon, there are a number of Ejet FOs that would like ATR spots to stay in BNE.

They've been using Alliance for years so it's nothing new. Anything FLIGHT CREW related to save a penny. Any opportunity they get - in rolls Alliance and suddenly the brand/image fanaticism disappears. Not sure what the union involvement would have been usually they find out 2 minutes before the email comes out.

Anyway stickshaken's post has disappeared so I'm talking to myself.

The difference now is Alliance wet leases are replacing fleets, not filling gaps.

haha, thats awesome. Deserved too.

Lol if that is true then that dude is a legend. Can anyone corroborate the story?

I recall a pilot rocking up to get a job wearing doc martins (with the union jack painted on them) once, along with purple foils in his hair! He didn't get the job. Wonder what he's doing these days!?