British Airways
high-hopes - not that its a negative thing in any way but your motivation isn't high by your own description. You have a nice life and decent career and enjoy private flying. Good on you.
Compared to some who have what can only be described as a rabid obsession to become an airline pilot you are probably a more balanced and sensible person. But less motivated.
Cheers
WWW
Compared to some who have what can only be described as a rabid obsession to become an airline pilot you are probably a more balanced and sensible person. But less motivated.
Cheers
WWW
If BA were to start a scheme it would most likely be of the "mentored" type which is now quite common. That is, the student pays (with BA's pre-selection helping with the loan application) and, if performance on the course is good (probably VERY high standard required) and BA has vacancies when student graduates - then first in the queue.
Basically it costs the airline peanuts but they have some control over what the student does (mainly BA SOPS during the MCC course).
Basically it costs the airline peanuts but they have some control over what the student does (mainly BA SOPS during the MCC course).
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To fuel the unstoppable rumour machine further ... I had a chat with a gent recently who reckoned BA had continued their scheme "quietly" enabling a couple of select individuals every once in a while to get their ATPL and get employed with the flag carrier ... one such person being this guy's son ... large pinch of salt needed, perhaps!! 
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Not such a large pinch needed me thinks! A friend of mine was offered a deal with BA, quietly on the side, as you say...
When i found out about it, i phoned BA, just to query the fact, and no-one knows anything about it! weird......i think if you know someone who knwos someone blah blah blah then that'll be your only way in.....
To me, i think its quite an unfair way of doing thing. The majority of pilots would love to be flying a jet with them and they're playing with people's futures and dreams - either give everyone a fair chance or none at all!
When i found out about it, i phoned BA, just to query the fact, and no-one knows anything about it! weird......i think if you know someone who knwos someone blah blah blah then that'll be your only way in.....
To me, i think its quite an unfair way of doing thing. The majority of pilots would love to be flying a jet with them and they're playing with people's futures and dreams - either give everyone a fair chance or none at all!
That would be an urban myth.
BA could not offer cadetships "on the quiet". There are many many good reasons why they could not do this. Not least being:
a) There is no budget for it in their accounts,
b) It would break the law regarding advertising and selecting people for jobs,
The fact they were doing it would leak in about 5 seconds in the world of flying training providers - and it hasn't.
Urban myth.
WWW
BA could not offer cadetships "on the quiet". There are many many good reasons why they could not do this. Not least being:
a) There is no budget for it in their accounts,
b) It would break the law regarding advertising and selecting people for jobs,
The fact they were doing it would leak in about 5 seconds in the world of flying training providers - and it hasn't.
Urban myth.
WWW
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A few rumours to knock on the head - the selection process does not favour children of current BA staff - not only do HR not particularly like them, but attitude has got in the way of a fair few in the past. Selection is equitable and meritocratic.
There is no scheme on the side by any means - there is only selection after recommendation from flight training schools, which though ad hoc, was above board and not subject to favouratism.
Furthermore, there is no budget for it at all. Whatsoever.
There is no scheme on the side by any means - there is only selection after recommendation from flight training schools, which though ad hoc, was above board and not subject to favouratism.
Furthermore, there is no budget for it at all. Whatsoever.
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I was always told that it was advisable not to disclose any family connections to BA in a any BA selection as it would count against you as they don't want to be seen to favour nepotism. Typical BA-style equal opportunites stuff. I never new it was actually because they are instrinsically dislikeble characters with attitude problems!
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SSP sim assessment
Hi everyone,
120class - good post, loads of useful info.
I was wondering if anyone had experience of the SSP sim assessment? I believe it is different to the DEP and maybe assessed slightly differently? (i.e more emphasis on quick learning than captaincy/accuracy?).
What are the things that most low-hours candidates find hardest/mess up?
Does anyone have any good tips or advice on handling the 747 for the first time etc?
Your thoughts appreciated.
Cheers ttoam
120class - good post, loads of useful info.
I was wondering if anyone had experience of the SSP sim assessment? I believe it is different to the DEP and maybe assessed slightly differently? (i.e more emphasis on quick learning than captaincy/accuracy?).
What are the things that most low-hours candidates find hardest/mess up?
Does anyone have any good tips or advice on handling the 747 for the first time etc?
Your thoughts appreciated.
Cheers ttoam
Last edited by ttoam; 21st Nov 2006 at 14:58. Reason: spelling!
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A smarter way to BA?
Maybe this is all wishful thinking and includes a lot of "ifs" but bear with me....
I've a good friend who paid 28k for type rating and line training on 757.
Straight into a job, starting salary circa 40k.
No reduced salary to pay for rating and no bond so he's free to move on if a better offer comes along.
After 1 year when this guy has 500 hours on type, he is then elligible to apply to BA.
If accepted, financially he is in a much better position than the Integrated guy who finished his training at exactly the same time and went straight to BA from Oxford/Cabair etc.
He enters BA as a DEP so gets a significantly higher salary then the Oxford guy who's on the SSP salary.
His loan repayments are significantly lower then the Oxford guy as the total cost of his modular training plus the 28k for type and line training is still lower than the cost of an integrated course.
As he's rated on a BA type and has 500 hours, he goes straight onto mixed fleet, 757/767 flying and the lifestyle benefits that go with it. The Oxford guy remains on the 320/737 for 4 years.
The only downside is he has 1 years less seniority then the Oxford guy, so will be 1 year longer waiting for command all things being equal.
I've a good friend who paid 28k for type rating and line training on 757.
Straight into a job, starting salary circa 40k.
No reduced salary to pay for rating and no bond so he's free to move on if a better offer comes along.
After 1 year when this guy has 500 hours on type, he is then elligible to apply to BA.
If accepted, financially he is in a much better position than the Integrated guy who finished his training at exactly the same time and went straight to BA from Oxford/Cabair etc.
He enters BA as a DEP so gets a significantly higher salary then the Oxford guy who's on the SSP salary.
His loan repayments are significantly lower then the Oxford guy as the total cost of his modular training plus the 28k for type and line training is still lower than the cost of an integrated course.
As he's rated on a BA type and has 500 hours, he goes straight onto mixed fleet, 757/767 flying and the lifestyle benefits that go with it. The Oxford guy remains on the 320/737 for 4 years.
The only downside is he has 1 years less seniority then the Oxford guy, so will be 1 year longer waiting for command all things being equal.
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Hey,
one floor with BA even if you are type rated on the aircraft they will send you where they need you! Your friend my have 500hrs 757 and go onto the 737 for example!
A friend of mine had a 757 rating with a few hundred hours on type and he went onto the 777!
Plus the 757/767 is one of the most sought after fleet or so i have heard due to the mix of route! ie some short haul as well as long haul with the 767 out of Manchester to New york!
Best of luck
one floor with BA even if you are type rated on the aircraft they will send you where they need you! Your friend my have 500hrs 757 and go onto the 737 for example!
A friend of mine had a 757 rating with a few hundred hours on type and he went onto the 777!
Plus the 757/767 is one of the most sought after fleet or so i have heard due to the mix of route! ie some short haul as well as long haul with the 767 out of Manchester to New york!
Best of luck
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What happens if this chap after forking out 28k for his type rating doesn't get a job with the intermediate airline? where's the guarantee?
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perhaps im a bit stupid here but where did he get and how much did his atpl cost ?by my reckonings all thats happened here is oxford guy has spent 75 grand ish and your friend has paid over 100 grand ? butmaybe its just me
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He got his frozen ATPL via the modular route. He spent about 25k on it and 28k on type/line training.
He was lucky enough to be on a scheme whereby he was guaranteed a contract on successful completion of type rating and line training. Granted, such schemes are difficult to come by. But there's nothing to stop a Ryanair cadet applying to BA as a DEP once they've obtained 500 hours and the Ryanair schem is less than 28k if my memory serves me correctly.
He was lucky enough to be on a scheme whereby he was guaranteed a contract on successful completion of type rating and line training. Granted, such schemes are difficult to come by. But there's nothing to stop a Ryanair cadet applying to BA as a DEP once they've obtained 500 hours and the Ryanair schem is less than 28k if my memory serves me correctly.
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I have stopped posting for a while, but this one got me hook, line and sinker.
I have to say, yes it is all possible, but it is being discussed in the latest pay negotiations as to whether the system is 'fair' or not. So may not be option much longer.
However you will find (certainly everyone I know in the position you describe) got into BA without even considering your little career path.
If your friend is honestly considering it as a path to BA, then he might want to start buying a lot of lottery tickets, he might be better off.
p.s.
Is the biggest IF I have ever seen.
I have to say, yes it is all possible, but it is being discussed in the latest pay negotiations as to whether the system is 'fair' or not. So may not be option much longer.
However you will find (certainly everyone I know in the position you describe) got into BA without even considering your little career path.
If your friend is honestly considering it as a path to BA, then he might want to start buying a lot of lottery tickets, he might be better off.
p.s.
If accepted
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My friend is very happy where he is. His situation just got me thinking.
I also know a couple of people who got into BA from Ryanair. They hadn't planed it that way exactly but did join Ryanair hoping it would be a stepping stone to BA/VS/EI/CX/EK etc.
I also know a couple of people who got into BA from Ryanair. They hadn't planed it that way exactly but did join Ryanair hoping it would be a stepping stone to BA/VS/EI/CX/EK etc.
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25k on it and 28k on type/line training
A bigger 'type' to be added shortly and very happy with it all.
If I had to do it all over again I would do it the same way. Modular, type rating, line training all out of my own pocket (via somebody else's!).