BA Future Pilot Programme (FPP)(Merged)

[dreams can come true]

Hey, its not game over I was bit confused myself. I have GCSE/A levels but fall below slightly on my A levels. I have BCD. I have a 2:2 degree. It is only if you have no GCSE/A Levels then you will need a 2:1. So Dont worry you have a good chance!! So APPLY!!

[MLX-371]

Yes, that's right, let's hope it's good enough ! But I will have to tell them sooner or later about it, honesty is a quality that they will require us to have ! Thanks for the answer !

[ExMilRedundancy]

Dreams

You’ll need seven GCSEs at grade C or above (with Bs in English, Maths and a Science subject) plus three A-Levels, at grade BBC

You need the GCSEs AND the A-Levels if you don't have both a 2:1 degree can substitute. Sorry chaps.

As has been said previously though, STILL APPLY. You have no chance if you don't.

[Propellerhead]

Look, there's 2 reasons BA are doing this. The first is that at the moment the very highest calibre people going through the FTOs are going to other airline's cadet schemes, BA then get to choose the best of the rest (of which there are many high calibre people who could pass the BA selection). However, no-one knows how many there are that would pass the selection, it's an unknown quantity.

Also, BA don't need cadets right now - they have enough DEPs to fill vacancies until next year.

The whole point of the cadet scheme is to stabilise numbers and give a guaranteed inflow of pilots for coming years, which you can then fill DEPs from the hold pool around it. BA's biggest nightmare is 50 jumbo Capts retiring in the same couple of months, and not being able to recruit enough DEPs or SSPs to fill the gap. BA are already going for non-TR pilots eg) they're starting to run out of quality TR applicants for the hold pool already.

It also diversifies the experience of those joining, so you don't get retirement / experience bulges down the line.

[NicholasNCE]

Am I able to apply to the scheme with a french baccalauréat (for people in the know 16.35/20 overall, 19/20 in physics and 18/20 in maths)?
I suppose I will need to have this assessed by UK Naric.

EDIT: First message in over 5 years of membership!

[High-higher]

BerksFlyer - "In The Sunday Times there was a small article about it. It claimed only 5 A*-Cs at GCSE were needed to apply. Is it that hard to get the requirements right?"

That's probably because they have a first officer saying the same thing in the recruitment video !

[Babar350]

Am I able to apply to the scheme with a french baccalauréat (for people in the know 16.35/20 overall, 19/20 in physics and 18/20 in maths)?
I suppose I will need to have this assessed by UK Naric.

EDIT: First message in over 5 years of membership!

Yes you can, it's equivalent to A-Levels in maths, Physics, and "engineering Science" / or Biology.

[Sygyzy]

Rhcriad Bsranon-Mad

If you have some time to spare go and try achieving your PPL and see how much trouble that gives you.

Otherwise if you have more money to spare I'd be very happy to place a large wager on your not getting past the paper sifters.

Or go to the pub, buy yourself a pint and get someone to put a large dose of common sense into the glass. The 55 age limit is there for the PC brigade but you have no chance. Sorry to be so brutal but the world can be brutal.

[FANS]

This thread is already huge and will just get bigger, with most people saying the same thing. A few points:

1) The entry criteria is the minimum standard. If people can’t follow it, then there’s no hope. Equally, if their particular circumstances are different,then the answer to whether they can apply or not will not be on this forum. You need to decide whether it’s worthwhile filling in an application form or not. It won’t do you any harm, but please remember the minimum standards are exactly that – very much a minimum.

2) The Age debate could fill up a huge thread in itself. Earlier, I suggested that their limit of 55 is mainly for legal reasons. One thing to bear in mind is that the last thing BA want is 400 20-somethings who will all retire at a similar period and consequently cause a recruitment disaster in 40 years time, which has happened to varying degrees in the past. Therefore, they will want a spread and can actually be more lenient with age as you’re paying for the course, and therefore if you fail it’s more your cost than theirs! Note – you’ll need to get good marks in the tests and be willing to start off at the bottom, whilst not treating this as something to keep you busy in retirement.

In summary:

Minimum is the minimum

You’ve got to be in it to win it

There’ll unfortunately be the odd individual that slips through who never considered flying as a career, before spotting a nice advertisement with a (very) pretty FO on youtube. There’ll also be some very good candidates that slip through.

[joe_fp]

I really want to apply for this asap, but realistically I would be best off staying in my current job for another year or so to pay off debts and save some money. Do we know if there will be multiple intakes, with applications open for a long time?

On the youtube comments there are questions from 16/17 year olds complaining that they are not old enough, and responses (possibly from people on the inside?) telling them not to worry because they are looking to recruit over the next 4 years. If they want 400 people from this scheme, the 3 schools involved don't have capacity to train them all in one go right? 4 year groups of 100 people perhaps?

All this suggests anyone who wants to hold off on their application can do so, yes? Or do we think there might be a "deferred entry" sort of system, where people should apply immediately but can state a preference to start training later rather than sooner? Any thoughts on any of this?

[Jumpjim]

Jo, I think it is HIGHLY unlikely that there will be any sort of deferred entry.

As I posted earlier, although the current plan is to recruit over the next four years all you need is another 9/11 as an example to completely change the BA recruitment plan.

I would take the opportunity while it is there.

I also concur with the above statements about the entry requirements being the BARE MINIMUM to apply. Faced with potentially 50,000+ applicants (No, I'm not joking and it could well be more) you have to ask yourself "What can I offer the interviewer to make me an exceptional applicant, and make me standout amongst everybody else?".

The grade requirements are just to get your foot in the door. Once you're in and being interviewed the hard work starts and you better have multiple examples to prove your motivation, drive, determination and applicable skills.

It's a competition everybody, with high stakes but exceptional rewards. Treat it as such...

[turgon]

Obviously there's no way they're going to recruit 400 people in one go, deferred or direct entry. If I had to guess I'd say they'll recruit yearly, although personally 6 month cycles would suit me (and most other applicants in my view) far better: it would allow us to wrap up other affairs such as jobs and degrees without sitting around for too long waiting for the next cycle.

I also doubt they'll have any sort of deferred entry system; everyone will want a different amount of time before training starts. Also BA would be disadvantaged in that they may end up offering places and then possibly regretting it later on (the next round may have a higher than average number of good applicants)....

Personally I'd love to be able to apply now, with any luck secure a place, and then commence training after my degree ends in July, but I don't see how BA could benefit from this (unless other airlines start competing to snap up applicants) and therefore think that deferred entry's likely to happen.

[Rhcriad Bsranon]

Age debate

Fans said, "The Age debate could fill up a huge thread in itself."

Thanks for your input, Fans, and I hope that the selection board takes the same fair and reasonable approach to this sticking point as you advocate.

Incidentally, I'm still looking for an answer to my initial post in relation to finding examples of pilot's aptitude tests; sorry, Sygyzy, but your suggestion of having a bash at the PPL is a tad extreme bearing in mind the FPP is essentially directed at non-flyers. But thank you anyway.

[smartATP]

Can you apply if you already have a commercial license? Sorry, no. There are other entry options though, although you will need airline experienc

this is exactly what I try to explain... they want guys with no hours, or pilots with lot of experience.
Pilots with 500h on type only won't be considered.
Big airlines want guys who work already for a company. Not a P2F airlines and have 2-3000 hours on type.

BA is the best bet for wanabes.
Pretty much your last chance to become a pilot in Europe.Only 100'000 euro.What a bargain!

[Mikeoscar94]

Hello everyone,

I have just finished GCSEs and I'm pretty sure that all my results will be Cs and above. (I receive the results in nine days!)

British Airways state that a B in maths is needed for the course on the FPP website, and I have already been told that I have got a C in maths. (It's my weakest subject)

I e-mailed them and this is what they said..

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately the criteria for the programme does outline the need for particular grades in certain subjects.

Thank you for your interest in British Airways.

Yours sincerely
British Airways Recruitment

Is there any hope for me and this course?

I am currently a PPL (A) student and I have family links within the company - will this also help too?

[deltahotel]

Blimey - which bit of 'you need the following minimum qualifications....' do people not understand?!

[BerksFlyer]

Originally Posted by deltahotel

deltahotel Blimey - which bit of 'you need the following minimum qualifications....' do people not understand?!

My sentiments exactly. The requirements are there for a reason, and they are far lower than I would expect them to be. I hope that most of the country is similar to PPRuNe and that my chances are greatly increased as many of those applying don't actually meet the requirements .

You have to remember that for every person that applies with the bare minimum that displays a passion for and commitment to flying, there is going to be someone else with far superior credentials displaying the same thing.

[jez d]

Chromeo, you need to check your facts.

There is no VAT on education/training

VAT is levied on all flight training courses in the UK. The only exception is for theoretical knowledge training undertaken at state colleges or universities. FTOs are profit making businesses and as such are required to pay VAT.

FTE is exempt however as the same EU rules have been interpreted differently in Spain who chose to waive VAT on flight training.

[Triangulum]

This is the best opportunity for many years and I look forward to applying. At 33 I suspect I will be one of the older applicants, but am confident that BA are indeed looking for a range of candidate ages. The scheme will certainly be very competitive but you need to be in it to win it. Good luck to everyone who applies.

[Scott Duch]

To finish my Aero degree or not to finish haha! I will apply and see what the outcome is. Does anyone know when applications will start or have a rough time frame?