Balpa Employment Opportunities Conf 2005

[Lightheart]

Does anyone have a copy of the airlines minimum requirements list that BALPA gave out during their employment opportunities conference last October 2005?

I've tried to obtain it from them, but unles you become a member they don't like to give you any info. Tried explaining to them that I cannot join until I become employed and that this list might help me become employed so then I would be in a position to join. This to and from process is taking too long.

Thanks.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by Lightheart

Tried explaining to them that I cannot join until I become employed and that this list might help me become employed so then I would be in a position to join.

Apart from any personal circumstances of yours that preclude it, that statement is not true. You are perfectly entitled (as an unemployed pilot) to join Balpa as an Associate Member and you'd pay only £2 per month for it.

[LAX]

If you meet the right criteria you can join BALPA if you are a student, CPL un-employed or employed.

I see you are from Spain. I am from the UK and fly commercial overseas on a licence issued by the UK CAA, Balpa charge me £24 for membership/year and I have access to all said information/conferences. I suggest you PAY UP like everyone else has to.

Like you say a small price to pay if it helps you become employed.

[Lightheart]

Response from BALPA

* a copy of your JAA Class 1 CAA medical and
* a letter from your FTO confirming you are undertaking commercial
training and the duration of the module - converting your FAA Licence to a
JAA one also falls in this category.
BALPA Trainee Membership is free for a specified period, and once
having obtained the basic commercial licence (and if you are not able to
gain employment as a Pilot), you would then transfer to the BALPA
Associate Unemployed category, which has a nominal £2 per month cost payable by
direct debit (or if permanently abroad £24 per annum in advance).

This is what I received from them after a month of waiting for a reply. I'm in the US hour building on a FAA license. I won't return to Europe to convert until I have the hours I require. I cannot provide the letter from the FTO as required as I don't know which FTO or indeed, in which JAA states I'm going to use convert in yet.

This is why I wanted to see those airline requirements to help me "fine tune" my training strategy.

I have no problem paying up like everyone else as I've already joined the IPA. A much less "red-taped" experience. As you can see, much grief for a piece of paper.

My frustraton comes from not understanding why a simple request takes so long or is so involved, compared with the IPA, that is.

[WX Man]

In the past I've been involved with BALPA. Just trying to get into it again (did you get my email, Wendy?!). However conversations with membership people at the ADC last year lead me to believe that Associate Membership for people who haven't YET got their first job will cost you the princely sum of.... Nothing.

"Unemployed", I believe, covers guys who have had a job before and are not working now.

[LAX]

PPJN

If your having problems joining BALPA, PPJN contains most of the information you need.

[wingbar]

Personally I wouldn't bother, they're damn unhelpful at the best of times...certainly didn't help me land a job....

[EGBKFLYER]

Wingbar - BALPA is a union, not an employment agency! That's not meant to be a facetious comment by the way.

A union exists to protect its members' employment rights. It may offer other services that it thinks might help in other ways (e.g. financial advice, insurance etc) but no union will usually find you a job unless it's part of a redundancy issue.

I'm an 'unemployed pilot' member and I pay my £2 per month. I don't think I get particularly good representation as a low-timer from them but for £2 a month, it's worth being a member 'just in case'.

[wingbar]

Yep, I'm too an unemplyed pilot...their EOC sucks for low timers too....absolutely no more use than painting my bottom blue- attended that twice now, - nice day out at heathrow but thats about it!

[EGBKFLYER]

I think the EOC is a good idea - if only to remind you how many wannabes there are out there... If nothing else, it is an opportunity to network.

BALPA can't help it if the airlines aren't looking for low-timers - it is an EOC not a low-timer conference after all...

Wingbar - paint your bottom bright orange and you may have more luck with some operators!

[wingbar]

I just feel awful....I'm stuck in a job with people I dislike so hugely its unreal, the job itself closely resembles hell in an office...and i'm beginning to wonder why I bothered at all, really don't know what to do...out of money, out of luck.....ship sinking .....

[mightymouse111]

I think the Balpa Conference was a waste of money for low hours pilots. But then again Balpa were only reflecting the market, not the 70% of attendees (the hands up poll revealed 70% were <500hrs).
I also believe that the conference should be free for unemployed pilots (after all it is a union and should look after its members). It should also do more for the low-hours guys, don't forget that these will be the pilots of the future paying higher membership fees! I do know that Balpa has a real problem regarding how much time & energy it can offer someone paying £2 per month. Its not great! MP is a waste of space but its just about all we have so unfortunately lets continue to aim constructive criticism at them and maybe they will improve.

And as the the bloke who started this thread, pay your £2 and if you are not entitled to join balpa you are not entitled to there documents unless you pay me a large sum of money then i will send you a copy! For the record I joined balpa while under going my training so I do not see why you cannot do the same!

Wingbar...with you...chin up.....remember D-ream "Things can only get better"!

[fmgc]

It should also do more for the low-hours guys,

Like what for example?

[WX Man]

Originally Posted by mightymouse111

I think the Balpa Conference was a waste of money for low hours pilots. But then again Balpa were only reflecting the market, not the 70% of attendees (the hands up poll revealed 70% were <500hrs).
I also believe that the conference should be free for unemployed pilots (after all it is a union and should look after its members). It should also do more for the low-hours guys, don't forget that these will be the pilots of the future paying higher membership fees!

Unfortunately, if it were free every wannabe under the sun would be there, rather than just those that have got £50 burning a hole in their pocket. Personally I would prefer to spend £50 on stamps and printer ink sending a wad of CVs out... but you pays your money and takes your choice, eh?
I am of the firm opinion that the 70% of wannabes there paying £50 subsidise the real reason that the EOC exists: for experienced pilots to move sideways or upwards. The likes of flybe have to be at the EOC to attract 300 people, paying £50 a time, in order for the 5 year F/O or ex-mil guy to shake hands with, say Mr. Recruitment Officer from BMed. The EOC nevertheless serves a purpose (in that it aids movement in the jobs market), and it can benefit all UK pilots, be they BALPA members or not.
The REAL way that BALPA can help the 250 hour pilot is totally and utterly free, to BALPA (other than, maybe, a few well-placed lunches for airline recruitment people). If BALPA can sell British pilots to British airlines to fill low-hours positions, then they will be helping. At the moment there is an inordinate number of French and Dutch pilots filling low-hours positions with British airlines.
sits back and waits for the "if you spoke French" and "if you spoke Dutch" comments... well, NEWSFLASH people: I do! Let's keep this thread on topic please

[scroggs]

If BALPA can sell British pilots to British airlines to fill low-hours positions, then they will be helping. At the moment there is an inordinate number of French and Dutch pilots filling low-hours positions with British airlines.

It is the right of all EU nationals to be able to work in any EU nation. BALPA has no influence over this, a fundamental tenet of the EU. If you wish to register your desire for the UK to leave the EU, there are several political parties who espouse this point of view. BALPA must work within the EU's legal framework, and it is not mandated to lobby for the UK's exit or exemption from EU employment legislation.

Edit: I've just had to delete a xenophobic rant by one Ppruner. I will not tolerate any such posts on this forum, so don't push it!

Scroggs

[wingbar]

Scroggs, by removing that post without due need, you have not enabled anybody else other than yourself,to give the damn opinion on it.
Youre not the one sat in an office job at 23 as a qualified as a commercial pilot hating every minute of it...
You have a problem on here, when anybody voices an opinion that is remotely aimed towards the truth about the industry.... sorry it's like that...

[deice]

Sheesh Wingbar, perhaps your attitude is the reason you're so miserable... if you really hate the job and "everyone" around you, what's the chance you'll love the flying job and all your colleagues there?

You're not the only one without a flying job and at 23 you're not even started in the business! Come back and wail at 33...

Chin up!

[EGBKFLYER]

Xenophobia will not change the situation and there is no excuse for that kind of rant on what should be a civilised, professional forum.

Wingbar - read the thread headed 'networking'. Re-heat's post may help you to see that you need to get out of your office and pursue your dream. Moaning and getting bitter will not get you the job you dream of. Try to start making some of your own luck

[fmgc]

Scroggs,

I don't think that the post that you deleted was xenophobic at all and I do not believe that it deserved such harsh treatment.

Wingbar said nothing deflamitory about "foreigners" or siad nothing racist.

I do not however agree with him but that is irrelevent.

[wingbar]

No problem with my attitude, and if you started in flying too late thats your fault, not mine, I started at 13 in the ATC, now theres my commitment, I want my job now, and this industry had better be sharpish about it...!

All too often when people voice the truths on here they get stamped on from a great height. Whats more, when anybody with half a brian cell gives a hint of an improvement to this industry they get overidden... I really don't know whats up with it all. maybe i just feel tired, maybe i feel bankrupt, (or certainly getting that way) - i'm not keeping quiet, nor am I going to be a nice smiley guy I normally am. I feel like ****, and thats the truth of it! ...Moderators you can do what you damn well like with this post because I don't care about it all anymore .............................................