Resigned from BA to fly the BBJ !!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Resigned from BA to fly the BBJ !!!
Hi Guys,
Looks like Ive got a new forum to play in. Im leaving BA on the 31 Dec 2000 as a Captain after 13 years on the 737 to fly the BBJ with a private owner.
Looks like Ive got a lot to learn.
Got any tips Ill need them
Looks like Ive got a new forum to play in. Im leaving BA on the 31 Dec 2000 as a Captain after 13 years on the 737 to fly the BBJ with a private owner.
Looks like Ive got a lot to learn.
Got any tips Ill need them
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bobby Johnson,
Sounds like a great move to me. It will be great to get out of the "set" schedule and routes and explore a little. I hear the BBJ is a great handling airplane as well.
Any idea on which regions you will be flying to - Middle East, North America, Asia, etc.?
I'm envious...
Sounds like a great move to me. It will be great to get out of the "set" schedule and routes and explore a little. I hear the BBJ is a great handling airplane as well.
Any idea on which regions you will be flying to - Middle East, North America, Asia, etc.?
I'm envious...
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bobby johnson. I am also leaving BA on the 31st to fly the Caravan (208). My career with them lasted not 13 years, or 13 months but 8 ( and as CC). Enjoy your new big toy, I know I will enjoy playing with mine.
------------------
If you can't save the engine...save the airframe
------------------
If you can't save the engine...save the airframe
Guest
Posts: n/a
Great move all together! All that power and range on the BBJ and all the Oohs and Aahs from everyone from your old colleagues to the spotters at the ends of runways when they see you on short finals sporting those really sexy winglets. Green with envy I am! Thank you, TTT.
------------------
What we want is a bit of Pop Music, none of this Beethoven!!
------------------
What we want is a bit of Pop Music, none of this Beethoven!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi BJ,not some sort of mid-life crisis is it?
Wot about the pension and all that? What about your chums in the pub who won't recognise you after a while or the cricket team you won't be able to play for now you won't have a roster anymore!
I hope the owner doesn't bin the aeroplane at the next recession......... but then maybe you don't need to work......
best of luck - make sure you get his/her favourite things on board and it'll be fine - maybe.....
Wot about the pension and all that? What about your chums in the pub who won't recognise you after a while or the cricket team you won't be able to play for now you won't have a roster anymore!
I hope the owner doesn't bin the aeroplane at the next recession......... but then maybe you don't need to work......
best of luck - make sure you get his/her favourite things on board and it'll be fine - maybe.....
Guest
Posts: n/a
Spooky,
Nice, positive thinking. It does take guts to make a move like that. But life at a regimented airline isn't for everyone. Most corporate flyers (99%) would KILL for the opportunity to fly a BBJ around the world.
Spooky - the least you could be is semi-supportive. You must be quite insecure in your position - obviously you need to put down others to feel better about yourself. That's a bit scary - good luck with your next physical - you're going to need it...
Best of luck BJ - I am quite envious and believe you made a great, albeit a ballsy, decision - you'll love being a BBJ captain!
Cheers
Nice, positive thinking. It does take guts to make a move like that. But life at a regimented airline isn't for everyone. Most corporate flyers (99%) would KILL for the opportunity to fly a BBJ around the world.
Spooky - the least you could be is semi-supportive. You must be quite insecure in your position - obviously you need to put down others to feel better about yourself. That's a bit scary - good luck with your next physical - you're going to need it...
Best of luck BJ - I am quite envious and believe you made a great, albeit a ballsy, decision - you'll love being a BBJ captain!
Cheers
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Lavdumper,
We appear to be divided by a common language,
I don't think you have a sense of humour let alone an appreciation of the ironic. Perhaps you could refrain from arriving at fantastic conclusions, indeed libelous ones. I also wish BJ the best of luck but one should be allowed to comment that one is trading a great deal of security (such as it is in aviation) for a job that maybe a lot of fun and 'different'.
Having examined my post I do not detect one iota of puting anybody down, neither would I wish to.
We appear to be divided by a common language,
I don't think you have a sense of humour let alone an appreciation of the ironic. Perhaps you could refrain from arriving at fantastic conclusions, indeed libelous ones. I also wish BJ the best of luck but one should be allowed to comment that one is trading a great deal of security (such as it is in aviation) for a job that maybe a lot of fun and 'different'.
Having examined my post I do not detect one iota of puting anybody down, neither would I wish to.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the comments guys, Ive just finished my last trip, up at 4:00 return from FCO to LGW then GOA and back. It does seem strange that I am going to hand back my 'Platinum stripes'and my ID Card that seems to get me in a lot of places.
To answer a few of your questions.
JJFlyer - I tried to get a year off to go and do this however BA do make out they are considerate to this sort of request and have done this before, however I was told that they could not spare a Captain for that legngth of time. I knew that I would regret it forever if I did not do it, so I resigned. Whilst I do not have anything against BA and would have liked to stay I certainly would not have given my left nut for them!
Hi Spooky,
Your comments are very valid, I am 39 and it is not a mid life crisis, it is just that I have always wanted to do this but never had the experience to get a really good job in the corporate world. I have had many offers over the years but have never found one that pays enough and suits the lifestyle that I like. Now I have so I just did it. With regard to pensions etc. thats all covered, once again I would not have done it otherwise.
With regard to your comment of security, it is a common misconception that you have a job with BA for life. That is just not true, people who work for BA like to think that and portray that to others, however they all know that is not the case. You spend most of your time looking over your shoulder wondering when you next 'coffee/tea and no buscuits' interview is.
I havent started yet, when I do I will let you all know how it is going. I look at it as a Big Adventure and a fantastic opportunity.
Best Regards
BJ
To answer a few of your questions.
JJFlyer - I tried to get a year off to go and do this however BA do make out they are considerate to this sort of request and have done this before, however I was told that they could not spare a Captain for that legngth of time. I knew that I would regret it forever if I did not do it, so I resigned. Whilst I do not have anything against BA and would have liked to stay I certainly would not have given my left nut for them!
Hi Spooky,
Your comments are very valid, I am 39 and it is not a mid life crisis, it is just that I have always wanted to do this but never had the experience to get a really good job in the corporate world. I have had many offers over the years but have never found one that pays enough and suits the lifestyle that I like. Now I have so I just did it. With regard to pensions etc. thats all covered, once again I would not have done it otherwise.
With regard to your comment of security, it is a common misconception that you have a job with BA for life. That is just not true, people who work for BA like to think that and portray that to others, however they all know that is not the case. You spend most of your time looking over your shoulder wondering when you next 'coffee/tea and no buscuits' interview is.
I havent started yet, when I do I will let you all know how it is going. I look at it as a Big Adventure and a fantastic opportunity.
Best Regards
BJ
Guest
Posts: n/a
BJ,
I think what you are doing makes complete sense - and I applaud you for it. If your pension, etc. is taken care of, then it sounds like a fantastic opportunity.
Where will you be based? What regions do you expect to fly to? The chance to fly a BBJ worldwide would be difficult to pass up...
I think what you are doing makes complete sense - and I applaud you for it. If your pension, etc. is taken care of, then it sounds like a fantastic opportunity.
Where will you be based? What regions do you expect to fly to? The chance to fly a BBJ worldwide would be difficult to pass up...
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi BJ, interesting comments about the look over the shoulder atmosphere at Birdseed Airways. Big Corporation mentality, divide and rule I suppose.
Life's dull without big adventures and it's not that often that a decent challenge like this comes up.
Good for you!! I look forward to hearing progress reports as it develops.
For what it's worth - get some numbers in your mobile phone(charged at all times!!)
Flow control, Brussels.
Get a decent book of handling agents (worldwide)
Get into the mysteries of filing fpl's that work and backup when you're down route. Having it all in a laptop helps as things can change quite rapidly as the client changes his/her travel plans.
Cheers, happy new year
Life's dull without big adventures and it's not that often that a decent challenge like this comes up.
Good for you!! I look forward to hearing progress reports as it develops.
For what it's worth - get some numbers in your mobile phone(charged at all times!!)
Flow control, Brussels.
Get a decent book of handling agents (worldwide)
Get into the mysteries of filing fpl's that work and backup when you're down route. Having it all in a laptop helps as things can change quite rapidly as the client changes his/her travel plans.
Cheers, happy new year
Guest
Posts: n/a
Brave man !
I spent years trying to get into BA, only been there two years now and have to say I prefer the flying and culture in my old airline. Still, at your age to throw away all the 'perks' not to mention the pension which has got to be the best in the industry ? I take my hat off to you, good for you !
Airline flying is very much like flying in a straight jacket, its a far cry from what most people percieve it to be, often the smaller cariers and BJ operators are where the friendly atmosphere and grass root flying is to be had.
A friend of mine left BA after only 3 months, its not for everybody ........
Good luck .......
I spent years trying to get into BA, only been there two years now and have to say I prefer the flying and culture in my old airline. Still, at your age to throw away all the 'perks' not to mention the pension which has got to be the best in the industry ? I take my hat off to you, good for you !
Airline flying is very much like flying in a straight jacket, its a far cry from what most people percieve it to be, often the smaller cariers and BJ operators are where the friendly atmosphere and grass root flying is to be had.
A friend of mine left BA after only 3 months, its not for everybody ........
Good luck .......
Guest
Posts: n/a
BJ,
You are doing the right thing, believe me. I'm on a BBJ and probably have a better pension than you have at BA, plus more extra benefits. Where will you be based? I'm in the London area, mail me if you have any further doubts.
------------------
'Keep the stress down'
You are doing the right thing, believe me. I'm on a BBJ and probably have a better pension than you have at BA, plus more extra benefits. Where will you be based? I'm in the London area, mail me if you have any further doubts.
------------------
'Keep the stress down'
Guest
Posts: n/a
A friend of mine and fellow PPRuNer - Air Driven Generator - might be able to offer a lot of good advice; last time I spoke to him he was flying a rather nice Challenger.
Suggest searching for for some of his posts within PPRuNe land, or failing that email him at [email protected].
Ps. I'm dead jealous.
Suggest searching for for some of his posts within PPRuNe land, or failing that email him at [email protected].
Ps. I'm dead jealous.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Welcome to the "Club" BJ.
As a former line pilot I've had no regrets whatsoever since the changeover many years ago. Like any "job", Corporate/Bizjet has its good and bad days, but the diversity, people contact and the opportunity to visit( & sometimes stay) in great locations, will keep you more than interested.
Of course be prepared for the short notice advice of pending trips, together with long waits and delays from time to time. A good employer( and the regs.) will/should ensure you conform to the duty requirements etc.
Good luck.
P.S. Happy New Year folks
As a former line pilot I've had no regrets whatsoever since the changeover many years ago. Like any "job", Corporate/Bizjet has its good and bad days, but the diversity, people contact and the opportunity to visit( & sometimes stay) in great locations, will keep you more than interested.
Of course be prepared for the short notice advice of pending trips, together with long waits and delays from time to time. A good employer( and the regs.) will/should ensure you conform to the duty requirements etc.
Good luck.
P.S. Happy New Year folks
Guest
Posts: n/a
BJ,
Having flown 737s for BA (presumably 737-200s, 300s and 400s), what sort of additional training do you require for the BBJ? Have you started that training yet? What types of hours/experience would be required for new-hire FOs for your BBJ?
Can't wait to hear about your transition to the corporate world - pluses and minuses in comparison... Should be fun and interesting!
Cheers
Having flown 737s for BA (presumably 737-200s, 300s and 400s), what sort of additional training do you require for the BBJ? Have you started that training yet? What types of hours/experience would be required for new-hire FOs for your BBJ?
Can't wait to hear about your transition to the corporate world - pluses and minuses in comparison... Should be fun and interesting!
Cheers