British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
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FPP cadets still swimming?
I am still seeing a steady trickle of FPP cadets being offered A320 courses on LinkedIn. Does anyone know how many are left to come through from last year?
Join Date: Oct 2016
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Afternoon Ladies & Gents,
I've been looking through this thread on & off for the last few years! With the dream to become a pilot but a contract ending in late 2017, I haven't had the opportunity to apply to either BA or any other cadetships so far. With the possible release of an "FPP2" as I believe it was called, i'm quite interested to ask a couple of thread veterans some questions!
-First Q was about some grade requirements:
Do you think the application boundaries will drop from the A/Ls BBC to GCSEs only? & what are the advantages/disadvantages for an airline if they changed these application requirements?
The qualifications i'm gaining through my apprenticeship will equate to 3 A Levels, but I cant be certain that BA accepts the type of qualification that i'll receive, whether it be equivalent or not. Of course Virgin have a 5 GCSE minimum but I was under the impression BA only used A Levels to chop down application volume.
-Second Q was about previous flying experience:
Does the prior amount of air-time you have affect an airline/flight school's view on you?
I'm practically a lesson away from completing my PPL & I don't really have the intention to stop flying afterwards as i'm enjoying it so much! Looking into doing a night and tail rating too. The reason I ask this is after questioning both BA pilots (from recruitment) and ground-based BA pilot recruiters & CTC recruitment staff, they both had different answers.
Replies in brief below, obviously both did say don't do ATPL Exams
BA Pilot: No more than 90-100 hours PIC. Try to stay away from instrumentation (IMC ect...)
Non-Pilot Recruiters & CTC Staff: Do as much flying as possible.
I know the post is a tad on the long-side, but i'd appreciate any reply.
Cheers!
I've been looking through this thread on & off for the last few years! With the dream to become a pilot but a contract ending in late 2017, I haven't had the opportunity to apply to either BA or any other cadetships so far. With the possible release of an "FPP2" as I believe it was called, i'm quite interested to ask a couple of thread veterans some questions!
-First Q was about some grade requirements:
Do you think the application boundaries will drop from the A/Ls BBC to GCSEs only? & what are the advantages/disadvantages for an airline if they changed these application requirements?
The qualifications i'm gaining through my apprenticeship will equate to 3 A Levels, but I cant be certain that BA accepts the type of qualification that i'll receive, whether it be equivalent or not. Of course Virgin have a 5 GCSE minimum but I was under the impression BA only used A Levels to chop down application volume.
-Second Q was about previous flying experience:
Does the prior amount of air-time you have affect an airline/flight school's view on you?
I'm practically a lesson away from completing my PPL & I don't really have the intention to stop flying afterwards as i'm enjoying it so much! Looking into doing a night and tail rating too. The reason I ask this is after questioning both BA pilots (from recruitment) and ground-based BA pilot recruiters & CTC recruitment staff, they both had different answers.
Replies in brief below, obviously both did say don't do ATPL Exams
BA Pilot: No more than 90-100 hours PIC. Try to stay away from instrumentation (IMC ect...)
Non-Pilot Recruiters & CTC Staff: Do as much flying as possible.
I know the post is a tad on the long-side, but i'd appreciate any reply.
Cheers!
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Regarding flying hours I'd say 90-100 hours should be your maximum. Only basing this on a couple of conversations and my own gut feeling but I think any more than this and you're getting into the 'perhaps they have picked up some bad habits' territory.
I think 90-100 hours perfectly demonstrates your interest and commitment to flying. There would be no real added value in flying more than this amount in terms of supporting your application - in fact it may actually reduce your attractiveness as a candidate.
I think 90-100 hours perfectly demonstrates your interest and commitment to flying. There would be no real added value in flying more than this amount in terms of supporting your application - in fact it may actually reduce your attractiveness as a candidate.
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Afternoon Ladies & Gents,
I've been looking through this thread on & off for the last few years! With the dream to become a pilot but a contract ending in late 2017, I haven't had the opportunity to apply to either BA or any other cadetships so far. With the possible release of an "FPP2" as I believe it was called, i'm quite interested to ask a couple of thread veterans some questions!
-First Q was about some grade requirements:
Do you think the application boundaries will drop from the A/Ls BBC to GCSEs only? & what are the advantages/disadvantages for an airline if they changed these application requirements?
The qualifications i'm gaining through my apprenticeship will equate to 3 A Levels, but I cant be certain that BA accepts the type of qualification that i'll receive, whether it be equivalent or not. Of course Virgin have a 5 GCSE minimum but I was under the impression BA only used A Levels to chop down application volume.
-Second Q was about previous flying experience:
Does the prior amount of air-time you have affect an airline/flight school's view on you?
I'm practically a lesson away from completing my PPL & I don't really have the intention to stop flying afterwards as i'm enjoying it so much! Looking into doing a night and tail rating too. The reason I ask this is after questioning both BA pilots (from recruitment) and ground-based BA pilot recruiters & CTC recruitment staff, they both had different answers.
Replies in brief below, obviously both did say don't do ATPL Exams
BA Pilot: No more than 90-100 hours PIC. Try to stay away from instrumentation (IMC ect...)
Non-Pilot Recruiters & CTC Staff: Do as much flying as possible.
I know the post is a tad on the long-side, but i'd appreciate any reply.
Cheers!
I've been looking through this thread on & off for the last few years! With the dream to become a pilot but a contract ending in late 2017, I haven't had the opportunity to apply to either BA or any other cadetships so far. With the possible release of an "FPP2" as I believe it was called, i'm quite interested to ask a couple of thread veterans some questions!
-First Q was about some grade requirements:
Do you think the application boundaries will drop from the A/Ls BBC to GCSEs only? & what are the advantages/disadvantages for an airline if they changed these application requirements?
The qualifications i'm gaining through my apprenticeship will equate to 3 A Levels, but I cant be certain that BA accepts the type of qualification that i'll receive, whether it be equivalent or not. Of course Virgin have a 5 GCSE minimum but I was under the impression BA only used A Levels to chop down application volume.
-Second Q was about previous flying experience:
Does the prior amount of air-time you have affect an airline/flight school's view on you?
I'm practically a lesson away from completing my PPL & I don't really have the intention to stop flying afterwards as i'm enjoying it so much! Looking into doing a night and tail rating too. The reason I ask this is after questioning both BA pilots (from recruitment) and ground-based BA pilot recruiters & CTC recruitment staff, they both had different answers.
Replies in brief below, obviously both did say don't do ATPL Exams
BA Pilot: No more than 90-100 hours PIC. Try to stay away from instrumentation (IMC ect...)
Non-Pilot Recruiters & CTC Staff: Do as much flying as possible.
I know the post is a tad on the long-side, but i'd appreciate any reply.
Cheers!
No point postponing your career in the hopes that BA will open the FFP in the near future and you might be lucky enough to get onto it.
IMHO
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Hi, I think all have now started the flying phase of training, the last ones to arrive in NZ are about 10 trips into the VFR phase so still a steady stream to come through from last year. We expect to be productive some time next summer as one of the November starters, just gone past the one year point.
SpeedBird2233
I would strongly second MaverickPs comment.
We are still waiting to see the implications of the new business plan and we have a CEO is who is intent on cost cutting. If you are really want to get into the industry don't make career plans based on there being a future FPP because there might not be one (that's just an IMHO, not an informed rumour).
Even if there a future FPP....you'll feel a bit sick if you deliberately stop training, sit on your hands, apply months/years down the road if FPP does reopen and then for some unknown reason like the vast majority of applicants get a PFO letter/e-mail when you could have been half way through an approved course or even working somewhere.
I would strongly second MaverickPs comment.
We are still waiting to see the implications of the new business plan and we have a CEO is who is intent on cost cutting. If you are really want to get into the industry don't make career plans based on there being a future FPP because there might not be one (that's just an IMHO, not an informed rumour).
Even if there a future FPP....you'll feel a bit sick if you deliberately stop training, sit on your hands, apply months/years down the road if FPP does reopen and then for some unknown reason like the vast majority of applicants get a PFO letter/e-mail when you could have been half way through an approved course or even working somewhere.
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Universe, Mav & Wiggy,
Thanks for the replies, I do understand where you're coming from and completely respect what you're trying to say.
If the FPP or equivalent isn't scheduled to open in late 2017 / early 2018 then I am going to strongly consider self-sponsored options & other airline schemes.
As I said in the original post, i'm contracted to end the training scheme i'm on currently in late 2017 anyway so there's no moving anywhere for me until then. With this in mind, I do fully intend to wait & listen to see if BA come up with something. If they don't, or the scheme they create doesn't suit me, I'll look elsewhere.
Thanks for the replies, I do understand where you're coming from and completely respect what you're trying to say.
If the FPP or equivalent isn't scheduled to open in late 2017 / early 2018 then I am going to strongly consider self-sponsored options & other airline schemes.
As I said in the original post, i'm contracted to end the training scheme i'm on currently in late 2017 anyway so there's no moving anywhere for me until then. With this in mind, I do fully intend to wait & listen to see if BA come up with something. If they don't, or the scheme they create doesn't suit me, I'll look elsewhere.
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Closed indefinitely at the moment as last heard from Lindsay, former recruitment manager. BA continues to go through major changes as an Airline, it's a rather different company to what it was when FPP was first launched, FPP hopefully will return, but who knows if it'll remain the same as previous years.
Can't rule out 2017 but I wouldn't hold your breath for now. A rumour got people excited about A Level Results day 2016 and it turned into absolutely nothing. I'm sure this thread will start buzzing again when there's a new rumour/information.
Can't rule out 2017 but I wouldn't hold your breath for now. A rumour got people excited about A Level Results day 2016 and it turned into absolutely nothing. I'm sure this thread will start buzzing again when there's a new rumour/information.
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Then I wonder what all this talk is about BA staff being spotted a few times around two FTOs in particular and having meetings with senior people. The rumours at those two schools indicate something is to launch at some stage in 2017.
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That is true, however I was specifically told by people at the school that something was in the pipeline and that was the reason they were there. I heard this from more than one independent source. Just wait and see if anything happens I guess.
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Bottom line is, if something is happening, it's only senior management that know about it.
Anything that school says is obviously unofficial and probably is a while off yet. It does sound like very much though if your rumour is true about just two schools, that FPP will be potentially returning in a different form to before.
Currently the bean counters are at work at BA cutting just about everything, so I'd not be too hopeful for any grand sponsorship scheme. I'd love to be wrong though!
Anything that school says is obviously unofficial and probably is a while off yet. It does sound like very much though if your rumour is true about just two schools, that FPP will be potentially returning in a different form to before.
Currently the bean counters are at work at BA cutting just about everything, so I'd not be too hopeful for any grand sponsorship scheme. I'd love to be wrong though!
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I've been told that the FPP is under review, my thoughts are that they might be considering the swap from the ATPL to an MPL course. I believe FPP was only expected to run until 2016 anyway.
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Closed indefinitely at the moment as last heard from Lindsay, former recruitment manager. BA continues to go through major changes as an Airline, it's a rather different company to what it was when FPP was first launched, FPP hopefully will return, but who knows if it'll remain the same as previous years.
Can't rule out 2017 but I wouldn't hold your breath for now. A rumour got people excited about A Level Results day 2016 and it turned into absolutely nothing. I'm sure this thread will start buzzing again when there's a new rumour/information.
Can't rule out 2017 but I wouldn't hold your breath for now. A rumour got people excited about A Level Results day 2016 and it turned into absolutely nothing. I'm sure this thread will start buzzing again when there's a new rumour/information.
I'm optimistic about they won't start with a P2F scheme... Anyway, all seems to be at senior staff hands'...
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I must admit, getting the email earlier did make me wonder, but they were at the event last July (when a lot of us expected an announcement about FPP opening) and in the end their presence was as an (S)FO talking more generally about CTC and the career, so don't assume this will be any different. Though Kate's talk was great, so very well worth attending even if this ends up being the extent of the BA involvement in the day.