BA SSP - Qualification
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I can state for a fact that a BA new joiner year one SSP can expect between 43000 and 45000 in year one. No "but's". Thats it.
Secondly, those of you who say it isn't that great I honestly believe are one of those who applied and failed. Shame you couldn'y cut it, although lets not forget than only 1 or 2 in every 100 who apply to BA as a pilot actually get in.
(and of course some of you muppets are going to want proof of that stament...)
Last year they had more than 30,000 applications. From what I know, and please, correct me if I am wrong, less than 300 were taken on last year. So, that works out at 1%. Those who make it are laughing. Those who don't are making posts on here about how it isn't that great.
Secondly, those of you who say it isn't that great I honestly believe are one of those who applied and failed. Shame you couldn'y cut it, although lets not forget than only 1 or 2 in every 100 who apply to BA as a pilot actually get in.
(and of course some of you muppets are going to want proof of that stament...)
Last year they had more than 30,000 applications. From what I know, and please, correct me if I am wrong, less than 300 were taken on last year. So, that works out at 1%. Those who make it are laughing. Those who don't are making posts on here about how it isn't that great.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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After reading wheelieboeing's response above, maybe we should add one more to the list of reasons to want BA:
12. Fly with 300 pilots who have been chosen from 30,000 applicants and love to rub their "apparent" superiority in the faces of others.
What an arrogant post he has written! He could have posted facts without the snotty attitude. Well, maybe he couldn't have.
12. Fly with 300 pilots who have been chosen from 30,000 applicants and love to rub their "apparent" superiority in the faces of others.
What an arrogant post he has written! He could have posted facts without the snotty attitude. Well, maybe he couldn't have.
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Secondly, those of you who say it isn't that great I honestly believe are one of those who applied and failed. Shame you couldn'y cut it, although lets not forget than only 1 or 2 in every 100 who apply to BA as a pilot actually get in.
However, the reality of the business is that people do leave BA for other airlines - Heathrow is frustrating, and there are other personalities in the airline both on the flight deck and on the ground that some people will simply not want to work with. It would be disingeneous to suggest that it is the undisputed pinnacle of UK aviation.
Be that as it is, many people find it very attractive despite these failings.
Having flown with hundreds of other pilots in my time with BA, arrogance is not an attribute you'd assign to very many of them. In fact, the opposite is usually the case and they will be the first to point out that they are human, prone to mistakes and that flying aircraft is a team sport.
Someone else pointed out that the BA pension isn't that great anymore. Well, it isn't compared to the old defined benefits pension but if you're joining for a 30 year career especially now with the markets in a downturn your money will buy an awful lot of units. Those units will buy you a very healthy pension when it's your turn to hang up your headphones.
Finally, BA loses a slack handful of people to other airlines every year which is why they feel there is no need to bond. Every other airline, except perhaps Virgin, is a net donor of pilots to BA. Ask yourself why these more epxerienced guys than yourselves might want to jump ship from Monarch, Thomsonfly, BMI, Ryanair, FlyBE, easyJet etc etc etc.
Someone else pointed out that the BA pension isn't that great anymore. Well, it isn't compared to the old defined benefits pension but if you're joining for a 30 year career especially now with the markets in a downturn your money will buy an awful lot of units. Those units will buy you a very healthy pension when it's your turn to hang up your headphones.
Finally, BA loses a slack handful of people to other airlines every year which is why they feel there is no need to bond. Every other airline, except perhaps Virgin, is a net donor of pilots to BA. Ask yourself why these more epxerienced guys than yourselves might want to jump ship from Monarch, Thomsonfly, BMI, Ryanair, FlyBE, easyJet etc etc etc.
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As an ex BA employee, OAT student and current FR pilot I'll add my bit!
If you go into this industry wanting to fly for only 1 airline there's a huge chance your gonna be very disappointed! Its great they pay for your type rating which is helpful when you've just shelled out close to 80K at OAT but you need to look at the bigger picture.
You will be in the left seat for at least 8yrs, you gotta remember that the retirement age has gone up and so do you think that those on a final salary pension will leave early when there isn't anything in the pension fund to give them? The seniority list is a bugger, you'll be bottom of the pile for a couple of years and thus all the crap trips and as for weekends off? goodluck!
Staff travel begins after 6 months service but bear in mind this is also based on seniority but in respect to the whole company. this means a baggage handler with more years service than you will get on a full flight before you do!
Base wise, unless you live in London, Heathrow is the bain of the industry, i'm sure you'll enjoy telling pax day in and day out that they are delayed!
Salary wise you start on 31K and you are frozen on the fleet for 5 years although you can apply to move after 3yrs! After 5 yrs you'll be on 51K in line with a DEP.
I'm not playing down BA as they a great company to get in to but dont think they are the be all and end all! We are all gonna see massive changes at BA in the next 2yrs! Alot seem to forget WW plays golf with MOL regularly!
Oh and before I get the whole I'm bitter coments about not getting an interview, I did. I also got other interviews through OAT and even in the hold pool for a major! Why FR then? Well they will still be here in 5yrs, I have a regular roster, local base, 2 weekends off a month, fly new aircraft supported by the best maintenance programme in the indusrty and to boot the best training programme which I think you'll realise when you get to that stage is one of the toughest in the industry with regards to SOP's!
Oh as a yr 1 FO i'm on 4200 sterling a month BEFORE tax so you do the math to the yearly salary!
Best of luck, I do think OAA is a great FTO and would highly recomend it although at 130 dollars a barrell go modular with them and if you still think BA pilots are the best????????? apply as a DEP in 3 years, your friends will only be 100 places up in the seniority list than you but hell your have 4 strpes and they will just be getting their 3rd!
If you go into this industry wanting to fly for only 1 airline there's a huge chance your gonna be very disappointed! Its great they pay for your type rating which is helpful when you've just shelled out close to 80K at OAT but you need to look at the bigger picture.
You will be in the left seat for at least 8yrs, you gotta remember that the retirement age has gone up and so do you think that those on a final salary pension will leave early when there isn't anything in the pension fund to give them? The seniority list is a bugger, you'll be bottom of the pile for a couple of years and thus all the crap trips and as for weekends off? goodluck!
Staff travel begins after 6 months service but bear in mind this is also based on seniority but in respect to the whole company. this means a baggage handler with more years service than you will get on a full flight before you do!
Base wise, unless you live in London, Heathrow is the bain of the industry, i'm sure you'll enjoy telling pax day in and day out that they are delayed!
Salary wise you start on 31K and you are frozen on the fleet for 5 years although you can apply to move after 3yrs! After 5 yrs you'll be on 51K in line with a DEP.
I'm not playing down BA as they a great company to get in to but dont think they are the be all and end all! We are all gonna see massive changes at BA in the next 2yrs! Alot seem to forget WW plays golf with MOL regularly!
Oh and before I get the whole I'm bitter coments about not getting an interview, I did. I also got other interviews through OAT and even in the hold pool for a major! Why FR then? Well they will still be here in 5yrs, I have a regular roster, local base, 2 weekends off a month, fly new aircraft supported by the best maintenance programme in the indusrty and to boot the best training programme which I think you'll realise when you get to that stage is one of the toughest in the industry with regards to SOP's!
Oh as a yr 1 FO i'm on 4200 sterling a month BEFORE tax so you do the math to the yearly salary!
Best of luck, I do think OAA is a great FTO and would highly recomend it although at 130 dollars a barrell go modular with them and if you still think BA pilots are the best????????? apply as a DEP in 3 years, your friends will only be 100 places up in the seniority list than you but hell your have 4 strpes and they will just be getting their 3rd!
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Re-heat and Ham Phisted,
I wasn't criticizing BA with the above post. The vast majority of BA pilots are about as far from the arrogant end of the spectrum as can be. It's a fantastic airline and I should not have tagged everyone there because one haughty person got through the net. I know some very fine people who didn't get into BA and they are neither spewing sour grapes about it, nor are they muppets. I doubt those who made it are laughing, save one, as they probably have a great deal of sympathy for their fine mates who didn't make it. He just doesn't seem like the empathetic, multi-crew sort of guy any airline would want. Hopefully, BA's Captains will take him down a notch.
I wasn't criticizing BA with the above post. The vast majority of BA pilots are about as far from the arrogant end of the spectrum as can be. It's a fantastic airline and I should not have tagged everyone there because one haughty person got through the net. I know some very fine people who didn't get into BA and they are neither spewing sour grapes about it, nor are they muppets. I doubt those who made it are laughing, save one, as they probably have a great deal of sympathy for their fine mates who didn't make it. He just doesn't seem like the empathetic, multi-crew sort of guy any airline would want. Hopefully, BA's Captains will take him down a notch.
Join Date: May 2008
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my two pennies worth...
As an OAA customer i would like to fly for BA once i graduate:
1) is it because i think BA are the best airline? No
2) is it because of their fleet variety? No
3) is it because of the bragging rights? No
4) is it because they pay for TR? ABSOLUTELY
If i get in i'm only there for the short term building hours. Personally i would love to fly for BMI/JET2/Virgin Atlantic (scroggs you lucky devil!). These 3 companies i would love to get into!
Anyhow....
As an OAA customer i would like to fly for BA once i graduate:
1) is it because i think BA are the best airline? No
2) is it because of their fleet variety? No
3) is it because of the bragging rights? No
4) is it because they pay for TR? ABSOLUTELY
If i get in i'm only there for the short term building hours. Personally i would love to fly for BMI/JET2/Virgin Atlantic (scroggs you lucky devil!). These 3 companies i would love to get into!
Anyhow....
Join Date: May 2008
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And with that attitude you are guarenteed not to get in.
So heli port, your going to hopefully build hours almost certainly on the A319/20 then jump ship to erm Jet 2?? I could understand the Virgin move. Can i ask why? I would certainly be rethinking that strategy.
you do what's right for you and i'll do what's right for me 
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For anyone who's believes they would like a career with BA it ALWAYS makes financial sense to join as soon as possible, ideally straight out of flight school.
The only reason not to do this is if you wish to do some alternative flying (floatplane flying in the maldives, etc.). There is no point in going to fly for another airline if BA ssp is offered to you and BA is the airline you wish to spend your career with.
People sometimes say 'go and fly for easy/ryanair/jet2 for a few years and then join as DEP on higher pay than SSPs who went straight in'. This is complete nonsense. Firstly almost all other (uk) airlines charge for a typeratiing. People seem to forget that to pay off £25k for a typerating, by the time the tax man and the bank have taken their chunk you will have actually had to earn about £50k.
Secondly, DEP salaries go up about £2k a year. If you join BA as a DEP having gone to ryanair from flight school it will have taken you about 1.5 to 2 years minimum to build the hours (based on having to do sim training etc.)
So you are now in the situation where you are on DEP PP1 (£48461) compared with SSP PP3 (£42831).
After 1 year you will be on DEP PP2 (£50347) against SSP PP4 (£49248).
2 years in you're on DEP PP3 (£52233) vs SSP/DEP PP5 (56005).
From then on both are on DEP scales getting just under £2k a year pay rise. FOR THE NEXT 19 YEARS YOU WILL BE GETTING £3800 PER YEAR LESS THAN HAD YOU JOINED AS SSP.
You'll also be anything up to 350 places down the seniority list (based on the last 2 years of recruitment, which were high). Seniority in BA is KING. This cannot be overstated. 350 places is more than 10% of the list.
On the subject of seniority - if you get in young it is simply the best thing ever. you take the (relative) crap for a few years and then life just keeps getting better. At the end of your career you pick exactly what you want to fly, when you want to fly it and where you want to fly it to.
In summary, if BA is where you want to spend your career then get in as soon as you possibly can. In terms of both lifestyle and finances it's simply a no brainer.
The only reason not to do this is if you wish to do some alternative flying (floatplane flying in the maldives, etc.). There is no point in going to fly for another airline if BA ssp is offered to you and BA is the airline you wish to spend your career with.
People sometimes say 'go and fly for easy/ryanair/jet2 for a few years and then join as DEP on higher pay than SSPs who went straight in'. This is complete nonsense. Firstly almost all other (uk) airlines charge for a typeratiing. People seem to forget that to pay off £25k for a typerating, by the time the tax man and the bank have taken their chunk you will have actually had to earn about £50k.
Secondly, DEP salaries go up about £2k a year. If you join BA as a DEP having gone to ryanair from flight school it will have taken you about 1.5 to 2 years minimum to build the hours (based on having to do sim training etc.)
So you are now in the situation where you are on DEP PP1 (£48461) compared with SSP PP3 (£42831).
After 1 year you will be on DEP PP2 (£50347) against SSP PP4 (£49248).
2 years in you're on DEP PP3 (£52233) vs SSP/DEP PP5 (56005).
From then on both are on DEP scales getting just under £2k a year pay rise. FOR THE NEXT 19 YEARS YOU WILL BE GETTING £3800 PER YEAR LESS THAN HAD YOU JOINED AS SSP.
You'll also be anything up to 350 places down the seniority list (based on the last 2 years of recruitment, which were high). Seniority in BA is KING. This cannot be overstated. 350 places is more than 10% of the list.
On the subject of seniority - if you get in young it is simply the best thing ever. you take the (relative) crap for a few years and then life just keeps getting better. At the end of your career you pick exactly what you want to fly, when you want to fly it and where you want to fly it to.
In summary, if BA is where you want to spend your career then get in as soon as you possibly can. In terms of both lifestyle and finances it's simply a no brainer.
Last edited by Colomiers; 27th Jun 2008 at 16:28.
Join Date: May 2008
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Whatever you do, if you get invited for a day at Cranebank and they ask and where do you see yourself in 10 years time? Don' tell them what your planning on to doing!
I'll have you know that i'm not and i have many years under my belt of working in one of the most prestigious investment banks. I'm well versed in interview etiquette and off course i'm not going to stay to the likes of John Monks "I intend to join your organisation and after I gain my full atpl I intend to bugger of to another airline"; I'm going to say quite the reverse.The problem is I personally don't see BA as the pinnacle of airline perfection, why? well let's just say I have a personal perspective on things and know how politically charged it can be, amongst other detractors.
BA is a fantastic airline don't get me wrong I would love to fly with them but only for a few years then I’m off...money and prestige isn't everything. For those of you that think it's the place to be great, fantastic have a lovely life.
Colomiers - great post
Oil was at $142 dollars today that's more of a worry for me
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Hey heli!
I'm not here for an argument but I can't believe what you have just said! I'm not in a Flight School at the moment, but once I graduate from uni I fully intend to get into one and I would give anything to be given the opportunity to fly for an airline like BA, especially with the way the industry is looking at the moment... I can't believe you would use such a wonderful (lifetime?) career opportunity just for hours building! 
If I am ever lucky enough to even get the chance of an interview with BA, I certainly would never have that attitude. I appreciate that BA is not the be-all-and-end-all of airlines but its would be a damn good job to just throw it away after a couple of years. I hope other wannabes will agree with me.
M.
I would love to fly with them but only for a few years then I’m off...
but I can't believe what you have just said! I'm not in a Flight School at the moment, but once I graduate from uni I fully intend to get into one and I would give anything to be given the opportunity to fly for an airline like BA, especially with the way the industry is looking at the moment... I can't believe you would use such a wonderful (lifetime?) career opportunity just for hours building! If I am ever lucky enough to even get the chance of an interview with BA, I certainly would never have that attitude. I appreciate that BA is not the be-all-and-end-all of airlines but its would be a damn good job to just throw it away after a couple of years. I hope other wannabes will agree with me.
M.
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The sad part about what heli-port has been saying is the fact that when he/she comes to the selection stage many of his/her classmates and fellow candidates who will be 100% dedicated to a lifetime career at BA will be sat in the same group task or JOC course knowing that heli-port is here just to take the TR/money and run.
Fortunately the BA recruitment is top notch, so someone like heli-port wont make it past the first selection phase
Fortunately the BA recruitment is top notch, so someone like heli-port wont make it past the first selection phase
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Flashdance hit it on the head there... unless heli-port is an exceptionally good actor, I'd be very surprised if he got past the recruiters with the arrogance that he has displayed here. Still, I could be wrong. Lets face it, most people on SSP don't get past the interview. BA aren't looking for Top Gun - they're looking for people who are going to fit into their flightdeck environment.
As for C/S Kilo, I'm amazed. Why have you got such an enormous chip on your shoulder about BA? I can only think of one reason.... I can't understand why you would object so much to people who have a dream of working for a particular airline - does it affect you in any way? The reality is that the only people that have been recruiting decent numbers of graduates from OAA in recent months are BA and Ryanair. I know which I'd choose.
As for C/S Kilo, I'm amazed. Why have you got such an enormous chip on your shoulder about BA? I can only think of one reason.... I can't understand why you would object so much to people who have a dream of working for a particular airline - does it affect you in any way? The reality is that the only people that have been recruiting decent numbers of graduates from OAA in recent months are BA and Ryanair. I know which I'd choose.
