Resigned from BA to fly the BBJ !!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bobby please keep this thread going, as I for one, find it very interesting.
I too, very nearly went into the corporate world after 10 years on the Boeing 737, but the job offer was based on the BBJ arriving sometime in the future. I wasn't brave enough to leave my job at the time, as I have had similar promises only to find the aircraft never arrive. Well in the case of that job offer the BBJ's did come, and now I spend a little time wondering "what if ....."
Anyway please keep the thread going I am enjoying it.
I too, very nearly went into the corporate world after 10 years on the Boeing 737, but the job offer was based on the BBJ arriving sometime in the future. I wasn't brave enough to leave my job at the time, as I have had similar promises only to find the aircraft never arrive. Well in the case of that job offer the BBJ's did come, and now I spend a little time wondering "what if ....."
Anyway please keep the thread going I am enjoying it.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Its easy to complain in the job you have, you must be very sure if you are going to leave. I was lucky, the aircraft and operation was established and the guys I work with are great and very understanding of my situation (having left BA). There are some terrible jobs out there, I think I have one of the best, however I havnt flown with anyone else, but Im happy with my decision.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow! Where did all of this come from!
I didnt know there were so many BBJ drivers talking here.
I am about to leave a job flying them. Couldnt put up with the politics and bull....
very keen to continue but as you know these jobs dont come up every day.
Trying to convince myself that EZY will be nice and stable etc but not sure I really want to go back to that sort of thing after 8 years flying large private a/c (727,707, 737)
If anyone knows of any jobs going please drop me an e-mail c/o PPRune (see profile).
I`ve got 13000 hrs/5500+pic and mid east VIP experience.
Thanks
I didnt know there were so many BBJ drivers talking here.
I am about to leave a job flying them. Couldnt put up with the politics and bull....
very keen to continue but as you know these jobs dont come up every day.
Trying to convince myself that EZY will be nice and stable etc but not sure I really want to go back to that sort of thing after 8 years flying large private a/c (727,707, 737)
If anyone knows of any jobs going please drop me an e-mail c/o PPRune (see profile).
I`ve got 13000 hrs/5500+pic and mid east VIP experience.
Thanks
Guest
Posts: n/a
NoAx,
Yep there are quite a few BBJ drivers around these days, I'm really enjoying flying our 2 Boeings, not so sure about the firm though...
Just to get the facts straight are you looking for another private job or are you joining EZY?
------------------
'Keep the Stress Down'
Yep there are quite a few BBJ drivers around these days, I'm really enjoying flying our 2 Boeings, not so sure about the firm though...
Just to get the facts straight are you looking for another private job or are you joining EZY?
------------------
'Keep the Stress Down'
Guest
Posts: n/a
Noax2grind,
I understand that Ryanair is hiring quite a few pilots onto its 737-800 fleet. Although some of the threads on these forums have not been "pro-Ryanair," its growth is encouraging. The transition would be easy for you I am sure.
Do you think you would miss the global flying opportunitites inherent in a BBJ flying position? Or would you prefer regional flying?
Cheers
I understand that Ryanair is hiring quite a few pilots onto its 737-800 fleet. Although some of the threads on these forums have not been "pro-Ryanair," its growth is encouraging. The transition would be easy for you I am sure.
Do you think you would miss the global flying opportunitites inherent in a BBJ flying position? Or would you prefer regional flying?
Cheers
Guest
Posts: n/a
LavD & Stress,
hi, truth is leaving this job for a number of reasons including domestic. returning to Uk and telling myself that working for EZY or Ryan will be `nice and settled` with roster etc but truth is my heart is still in the VIP op.I would take another private job tomorrow,
ready to start mid May!!!
Danger is that the very stability I`m trying to be enthusiastic about is what may well drive me nuts!!!
Who knows.... watch this space.
At the end of the day we all have to put a crust on the table!
But I will be at EBACE, probably thursday.
Cheers for now.
p.s. what a pleasure it is to share some space on PPRune without the usual bitching, conceits & petty griping!
[This message has been edited by noax2grind (edited 17 April 2001).]
hi, truth is leaving this job for a number of reasons including domestic. returning to Uk and telling myself that working for EZY or Ryan will be `nice and settled` with roster etc but truth is my heart is still in the VIP op.I would take another private job tomorrow,
ready to start mid May!!!
Danger is that the very stability I`m trying to be enthusiastic about is what may well drive me nuts!!!
Who knows.... watch this space.
At the end of the day we all have to put a crust on the table!
But I will be at EBACE, probably thursday.
Cheers for now.
p.s. what a pleasure it is to share some space on PPRune without the usual bitching, conceits & petty griping!
[This message has been edited by noax2grind (edited 17 April 2001).]
Guest
Posts: n/a
Stress, and others in the same boat.
We too had the `load sheet` dillema. I know one operator who was downloading the BLT onto a floppy and chucking it out of the window!
Boeing were working on improving BLT2 to provide a printable loadsheet, but as you point out, its bad enough balancing the laptop on top of your lap!!! without ahving to hook up a printer! And all of this as the principal pax arrives with yet another shed load of bags!!
We got round it by (tiresome as it may seem!) having a small load form/weight and balance record that we wrote out from the BLT (after a double check by the other pilot). The reverse of one copy of this then becomes a `bug card`. So much for the paperless cockpit! and first reaction is rebellion but it is surprising how quickly we get used to things.
I remember the old days of two fuel loads:
Full wings or full tanks!! multiply the no. of pax by 100kgs and the bags depended on which Sheikha was travelling and whether it was post or pre European shopping!!!!(but then we had the problem of finding a fag packet!!!!)
Cheers!!
We too had the `load sheet` dillema. I know one operator who was downloading the BLT onto a floppy and chucking it out of the window!
Boeing were working on improving BLT2 to provide a printable loadsheet, but as you point out, its bad enough balancing the laptop on top of your lap!!! without ahving to hook up a printer! And all of this as the principal pax arrives with yet another shed load of bags!!
We got round it by (tiresome as it may seem!) having a small load form/weight and balance record that we wrote out from the BLT (after a double check by the other pilot). The reverse of one copy of this then becomes a `bug card`. So much for the paperless cockpit! and first reaction is rebellion but it is surprising how quickly we get used to things.
I remember the old days of two fuel loads:
Full wings or full tanks!! multiply the no. of pax by 100kgs and the bags depended on which Sheikha was travelling and whether it was post or pre European shopping!!!!(but then we had the problem of finding a fag packet!!!!)
Cheers!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ballast, hi.... a bit closer to EBACE!
I take it you are with Ford? Any vacancies for not too crusty captains with a sense of humour!!
Bobby j, unless you are operating an airline and by the sounds of it your not, in my experience on private ops the best way is to sort it out between you amicably!
ps the general impression I got from EBACE myself and from others was that it was rather beter than anticipated!
I take it you are with Ford? Any vacancies for not too crusty captains with a sense of humour!!
Bobby j, unless you are operating an airline and by the sounds of it your not, in my experience on private ops the best way is to sort it out between you amicably!
ps the general impression I got from EBACE myself and from others was that it was rather beter than anticipated!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Noaxe2grind,
Yet another BBJ jockey following Bobby Js story. I can't really comment on forthcoming positions at Ford but if they take on a direct entry captain, I will have an Axe2grind, commands are dead mans shoes at Ford and there is a queue forming. I'm sure that you wouldn't feel happy in the right hand seat after all your 13000 hours and all.. No harm in taking a look though eh.
I'm suprised that you expect to get away from the politics by moving jobs,surely only a change of career can help there. I really don't mean to be cynical, but the grass always looks greener and all that. Surely it can't be so bad that you are seriously looking at Ezy..You'll have to work for a living ...bit of a culture shock surely!
ps. I love the idea of throwing the floppy out of the window!!..Excellent!
Good luck with the job hunting.
------------------
Keep on running.
Yet another BBJ jockey following Bobby Js story. I can't really comment on forthcoming positions at Ford but if they take on a direct entry captain, I will have an Axe2grind, commands are dead mans shoes at Ford and there is a queue forming. I'm sure that you wouldn't feel happy in the right hand seat after all your 13000 hours and all.. No harm in taking a look though eh.
I'm suprised that you expect to get away from the politics by moving jobs,surely only a change of career can help there. I really don't mean to be cynical, but the grass always looks greener and all that. Surely it can't be so bad that you are seriously looking at Ezy..You'll have to work for a living ...bit of a culture shock surely!
ps. I love the idea of throwing the floppy out of the window!!..Excellent!
Good luck with the job hunting.
------------------
Keep on running.
Guest
Posts: n/a
noaxe2grind - Hmm! They don't take direct entry Captains or do they? who knows, changes with the runway direction! Rather a lot of politics though, and only 3 destinations - might be a bit of a culture shock!
I would love to hear some more about your reasons for moving on, e-mail me if you want to keep it hush hush.
Cheers
185.
I would love to hear some more about your reasons for moving on, e-mail me if you want to keep it hush hush.
Cheers
185.
Guest
Posts: n/a
DONT DO IT! Bobby Johnson
Im trying to get out of corporate flying. Most outfits are understaffed and you will end up away from home all of the time, unless that is what you want? The folk you fly very often treat you like crap, although there are one or two I fly for who are real Gentlemen.
Someone once said to me its not the aircraft that makes the job its the company you work for. Just becasue its a nice shiny new aircraft and the job looks cool now when you havent been home for 3 weeks and you are eating in your hotel room food you cook yourself on a camping stove because the food you ate here last time nearly killed you you will be wishing you were back at BA.
Or it could be the fact that the person you are flying for couldnt be bothered to ring you up to say he will be late and your slot has expired and he turns up and you now have a 4 hour delay and he isnt happy. Or perhaps its just the limo. you ordered for them didnt show up.
Anyhow welcome to corporate / air taxi flying and good luck!
[This message has been edited by Fly Better! (edited 19 April 2001).]
Im trying to get out of corporate flying. Most outfits are understaffed and you will end up away from home all of the time, unless that is what you want? The folk you fly very often treat you like crap, although there are one or two I fly for who are real Gentlemen.
Someone once said to me its not the aircraft that makes the job its the company you work for. Just becasue its a nice shiny new aircraft and the job looks cool now when you havent been home for 3 weeks and you are eating in your hotel room food you cook yourself on a camping stove because the food you ate here last time nearly killed you you will be wishing you were back at BA.
Or it could be the fact that the person you are flying for couldnt be bothered to ring you up to say he will be late and your slot has expired and he turns up and you now have a 4 hour delay and he isnt happy. Or perhaps its just the limo. you ordered for them didnt show up.
Anyhow welcome to corporate / air taxi flying and good luck!
[This message has been edited by Fly Better! (edited 19 April 2001).]
Guest
Posts: n/a
I see I was too late 
I only just read all the other posts between the first one and this one, sorry
Bobby Johnson with regard to the website tehre is already a site with a chat room set up run by a biz pilot who I met whilst I was in the US (hes English)
www.aeroweb.co.uk & www.pilot-talk.co.uk
I only just read all the other posts between the first one and this one, sorry
Bobby Johnson with regard to the website tehre is already a site with a chat room set up run by a biz pilot who I met whilst I was in the US (hes English)
www.aeroweb.co.uk & www.pilot-talk.co.uk
Guest
Posts: n/a
IVE DONE IT
and I dont regret it. You are right about being away, but I get shed loads of time off. Some people just dont realise that on the 737 at LGW you only get a maximum of 9 days of each month and then only in two day blocks. In between that you are away all the time and have to get up at 04:00 am everyday. After 13 years that gets a bit weary.
I realise there are some crap jobs out there, but I wouldnt have left BA for one of those. I do work on a shiny new aircraft and the guys I work with are great and the boss does think about us. When he doesnt need us he lets us go home in his aircraft! Cant be many jobs like that. I do however realise that all this may change however you have to take some risks in life or you could waste your whole life, and that certainly happens in BA.
and I dont regret it. You are right about being away, but I get shed loads of time off. Some people just dont realise that on the 737 at LGW you only get a maximum of 9 days of each month and then only in two day blocks. In between that you are away all the time and have to get up at 04:00 am everyday. After 13 years that gets a bit weary.
I realise there are some crap jobs out there, but I wouldnt have left BA for one of those. I do work on a shiny new aircraft and the guys I work with are great and the boss does think about us. When he doesnt need us he lets us go home in his aircraft! Cant be many jobs like that. I do however realise that all this may change however you have to take some risks in life or you could waste your whole life, and that certainly happens in BA.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bobby,
What is Boeing saying about the B737 center fuel tank explosion that happen a couple of months back? The NTSB had said that the aircraft had been on the ground for 40 minutes with air being supplied by the PAC's when the explosion occurred and also said that the center fuel tank sits above them. I know your extra fuel tanks sit inside the forward and aft baggage compartments and those tanks probably aren't at risk, but in corporate flying, sitting on the ground for extended periods of time with the APU running and providing AC is not uncommon, and this must be of some concern to Boeing!
What is Boeing saying about the B737 center fuel tank explosion that happen a couple of months back? The NTSB had said that the aircraft had been on the ground for 40 minutes with air being supplied by the PAC's when the explosion occurred and also said that the center fuel tank sits above them. I know your extra fuel tanks sit inside the forward and aft baggage compartments and those tanks probably aren't at risk, but in corporate flying, sitting on the ground for extended periods of time with the APU running and providing AC is not uncommon, and this must be of some concern to Boeing!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bobby,
I last chatted to you just before you left. I'm really pleased it is going so well. (And I'm really envious, it sounds like you are having a great time!)
The situation has changed now at LGW in that your statement <Some people just dont realise that on the 737 at LGW you only get a maximum of 9 days of each month and then only in two day blocks. In between that you are away all the time and have to get up at 04:00 am everyday> is not now valid. There is now more 'guaranteed' time off, but frankly it still not an acceptable lifestyle.
I'm off 'up the road' to another fleet now but I will watch your progress with interest.
Hope it continues to go well.
Regards
Exeng
I last chatted to you just before you left. I'm really pleased it is going so well. (And I'm really envious, it sounds like you are having a great time!)
The situation has changed now at LGW in that your statement <Some people just dont realise that on the 737 at LGW you only get a maximum of 9 days of each month and then only in two day blocks. In between that you are away all the time and have to get up at 04:00 am everyday> is not now valid. There is now more 'guaranteed' time off, but frankly it still not an acceptable lifestyle.
I'm off 'up the road' to another fleet now but I will watch your progress with interest.
Hope it continues to go well.
Regards
Exeng