BA Connect (was City Express)
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Max Drift,
well done! Glad you've been successful, you must be relieved. I can't be an authority on the situation, however a friend of mine had to wait seven months for his start date with BACX/Connect following successful completion of the sim ride. These things do change so rapidly and unpredictably though. I'm in a similar situation to yourself but with a different employer.
Hope you get yourself on a TR course soon!
GFYA
well done! Glad you've been successful, you must be relieved. I can't be an authority on the situation, however a friend of mine had to wait seven months for his start date with BACX/Connect following successful completion of the sim ride. These things do change so rapidly and unpredictably though. I'm in a similar situation to yourself but with a different employer.
Hope you get yourself on a TR course soon!
GFYA
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I wish......
Would be great if it where the Emb 145 as its the same layout as what im on just now, but no someone in their wisdom decided it should be the Bac1-11 !! Thank god for Efis.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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There's also the 727 sim at Bournemouth to consider. I think the company still have a BAC1-11 sim although I'm not sure if it's in use anymore. Still useful to see where all the switches and whistles are located.
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Guys and Girls,
First of all congrats to all of you as geting into the hold pool is no mean task!
BAC 1-11 Sim
I am reliably informed by our training department that we use this sim as it provides those pilots without glass cockpit/FD time a chance to have a fair stab at things without the inherent problems that can arise from switching straight from dials to speed and altitude tapes without correct training. The vast majority of those people passing the selection are mighty Dash 8 bound (certainly for the first 10 - 15 months) and guess what: semi EFIS with a V-bar flight director; almost the same as the 1-11 (well! the FD shape is anyway!). The other bonus of this sim is it handles really nicely: it does what you are expecting and won't catch you out (too badly) as long as your scan is up to speed.
I found that knowing the position of switches e.t.c was largely irrelevant as YOU ARE NOT BEING TESTED ON TYPE KNOWLEDGE. You are being tested on your ability to fly the profile they send to you a few weeks in advance.
Fly left or right seat, whatever you feel most comfortable with. There are no bonus points from flying RHS if you aren't used to it just because you are applying for an F/O position.
If you have never used a V-Bar before, use the Mooney IFR aircraft in FS2002/4 and practice some routes you know as this replicates the sim reasonably welland will get you anticipating correctly. Failing that you could always pay £30 for a 1-11 add on (perhaps).
CRM
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING for someone sub 500hrs with no previous commercial experience. From what I gather, most people make it or break it on this point. We are a high sector day/max duty hour company so your people skills have to be tip top. An important point to note is these skills will be developed by the company; if they think they can be based on sim performance (i.e. gleaming flight, almost reasonable CRM that could improve with training).
Make sure you bring your sense of humour with you as it will get you out of some pretty sticky situations!
BREIFINGS
To assist you with the CRM part, follow a standardised briefing from whichever school you have come from. They are probably all of a similar format (top right to left, MSA, top down view, lateral view, etc) just so long as it flows LOGICALLY. Ask questions to the person in the other seat such as "What do you make the MSA" or "What is the inbound course" and on the line we generally get the PNF to run through the Missed Approach. Keep it interactive is the key: it works on the line.
THE POOL
I'm afraid I don't know the exact state of play. What I can say is that certainly at BHX we are getting guys from the -8 onto the 145 at the moment on a monthly basis (4 or 5 usually) which means they are taking guys out of the pool to replace them. If you are lucky you'll get straight onto the 145, however, you will miss out on a lot of fun with the Dash! (I miss it.......kind of like your first real girlfriend: you'll never forget her)
Guys and Girls, I hope this has been of some use for you all. I'm not a line trainer or a manager, I'm just a bloke who enjoys flying the line and I can remember what it was like!!!!
BS
First of all congrats to all of you as geting into the hold pool is no mean task!
BAC 1-11 Sim
I am reliably informed by our training department that we use this sim as it provides those pilots without glass cockpit/FD time a chance to have a fair stab at things without the inherent problems that can arise from switching straight from dials to speed and altitude tapes without correct training. The vast majority of those people passing the selection are mighty Dash 8 bound (certainly for the first 10 - 15 months) and guess what: semi EFIS with a V-bar flight director; almost the same as the 1-11 (well! the FD shape is anyway!). The other bonus of this sim is it handles really nicely: it does what you are expecting and won't catch you out (too badly) as long as your scan is up to speed.
I found that knowing the position of switches e.t.c was largely irrelevant as YOU ARE NOT BEING TESTED ON TYPE KNOWLEDGE. You are being tested on your ability to fly the profile they send to you a few weeks in advance.
Fly left or right seat, whatever you feel most comfortable with. There are no bonus points from flying RHS if you aren't used to it just because you are applying for an F/O position.
If you have never used a V-Bar before, use the Mooney IFR aircraft in FS2002/4 and practice some routes you know as this replicates the sim reasonably welland will get you anticipating correctly. Failing that you could always pay £30 for a 1-11 add on (perhaps).
CRM
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING for someone sub 500hrs with no previous commercial experience. From what I gather, most people make it or break it on this point. We are a high sector day/max duty hour company so your people skills have to be tip top. An important point to note is these skills will be developed by the company; if they think they can be based on sim performance (i.e. gleaming flight, almost reasonable CRM that could improve with training).
Make sure you bring your sense of humour with you as it will get you out of some pretty sticky situations!
BREIFINGS
To assist you with the CRM part, follow a standardised briefing from whichever school you have come from. They are probably all of a similar format (top right to left, MSA, top down view, lateral view, etc) just so long as it flows LOGICALLY. Ask questions to the person in the other seat such as "What do you make the MSA" or "What is the inbound course" and on the line we generally get the PNF to run through the Missed Approach. Keep it interactive is the key: it works on the line.
THE POOL
I'm afraid I don't know the exact state of play. What I can say is that certainly at BHX we are getting guys from the -8 onto the 145 at the moment on a monthly basis (4 or 5 usually) which means they are taking guys out of the pool to replace them. If you are lucky you'll get straight onto the 145, however, you will miss out on a lot of fun with the Dash! (I miss it.......kind of like your first real girlfriend: you'll never forget her)
Guys and Girls, I hope this has been of some use for you all. I'm not a line trainer or a manager, I'm just a bloke who enjoys flying the line and I can remember what it was like!!!!
BS
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Not sure. What I can tell you is there are over 16 people in the pool at the moment and there are still lots of people from last recruitment drive still waiting on interviews.Very very slow process.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Slow process
Thats an understatement!! 6 months waiting for a response to my email confirmation for an interview. I have just been chatting to a colleague who said that there is a rumour that if you have'nt been interviewed, you will have to re-apply as BA Connect are no longer interviewing from the original batch from the last recruitment? I do hope not, like many I have been on standby for the ever elusive interview for a long time now. Such a let down if true.
Anyone else heard this rumour??
Anyone else heard this rumour??
Join Date: Dec 2002
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its not just a rumour i'm afraid....i have 20-30 in front of me for interview....and if i am not called before the online application reopens, i have to reapply...gutted is not the word
, and i got the email saying, you will be called for interview, etc on the 29th Sept. i got my info from a very reliable source and i was recommended by one of their Captains.how their system works is beyond me
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Understandable that your frustrated, waiting and waiting. Still so many pilots out of work especially those with low hours, think they can choose to do what they wish.
Think of the numbers in the holding pool, they have been waiting for a course date for over 8 months, so why rush to put more through the interviews and sim rides when there is a sizable pool.
MrM
Think of the numbers in the holding pool, they have been waiting for a course date for over 8 months, so why rush to put more through the interviews and sim rides when there is a sizable pool.
MrM
Join Date: Oct 2005
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waiting for the interview
Hey Shaun Ryder,
I am in the same boat as you. E-mail on 29th september and nothing since. Like you I have also been recommended (seems to be more of a hinderance than a help). I am also wondering whether to re-apply when the application re-opens. There are so many rumours on this - in case of doubt re-apply. It seems unfair though , doesn't it?! Why be thrown back into the selection pool, having had a promise of an interview already...
I am in the same boat as you. E-mail on 29th september and nothing since. Like you I have also been recommended (seems to be more of a hinderance than a help). I am also wondering whether to re-apply when the application re-opens. There are so many rumours on this - in case of doubt re-apply. It seems unfair though , doesn't it?! Why be thrown back into the selection pool, having had a promise of an interview already...
Join Date: Aug 2001
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It is rough. Especially for those who aren't flying at the moment.
At the risk of being yelled at I suppose look at it from their point of view. A lot changes in 6 months and all those who aren't flying are sitting becoming uncurrent, which in turn increases their training costs. Every week fresh, current fATPL holders appear on the market. The competition is tough. I guess the moral is keep current - easier said than done I know.
At the risk of being yelled at I suppose look at it from their point of view. A lot changes in 6 months and all those who aren't flying are sitting becoming uncurrent, which in turn increases their training costs. Every week fresh, current fATPL holders appear on the market. The competition is tough. I guess the moral is keep current - easier said than done I know.