British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
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Libertine Winno @naturals
The format for working out aptitude testing scores etc is a closely guarded secret! If you read any forums regarding the FAT's at Cranwell they are exactly the same, and the short answer is that nobody apart from the recruiters actually know.
It is indeed true, however, that there is a 'pass' mark...but in reality this is a competition (as are the FAT's at Cranwell) and as such merely passing is not good enough, you need to pass good enough to be in the top x% of candidates.
As stated, though, what percentage the x actually is depends on all the other candidates, so will not be know until all candidates have taken the tests.
Not much help I know, but in essence it's a futile exercise worrying about it or trying to guess, just do your best and wait!
The format for working out aptitude testing scores etc is a closely guarded secret! If you read any forums regarding the FAT's at Cranwell they are exactly the same, and the short answer is that nobody apart from the recruiters actually know.
It is indeed true, however, that there is a 'pass' mark...but in reality this is a competition (as are the FAT's at Cranwell) and as such merely passing is not good enough, you need to pass good enough to be in the top x% of candidates.
As stated, though, what percentage the x actually is depends on all the other candidates, so will not be know until all candidates have taken the tests.
Not much help I know, but in essence it's a futile exercise worrying about it or trying to guess, just do your best and wait!
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@SgtBellPepper
You should be absolutely fine. There were people straight out of uni, and even straight out of school on last years scheme with next to no credit history, and they were able to take up the BA option.
You should be absolutely fine. There were people straight out of uni, and even straight out of school on last years scheme with next to no credit history, and they were able to take up the BA option.
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@VNAVPTH
Not a lottery no, as you will be selected if you are among the top x%.
The point is that nobody knows what number that top x% will be, as it is dependent on the overall standard of the rest of the candidates. This is the same way that things like GCSE/A Level grades are worked out, with the 'pass mark' being set only once all the results are known.
All I'm saying is that there is absolutely no point in worrying about it because what the standard was before may be different to what it is this year...and even if it is, then you wont know what it is anyway as none of the FTO's give out scores or feedback!
Not a lottery no, as you will be selected if you are among the top x%.
The point is that nobody knows what number that top x% will be, as it is dependent on the overall standard of the rest of the candidates. This is the same way that things like GCSE/A Level grades are worked out, with the 'pass mark' being set only once all the results are known.
All I'm saying is that there is absolutely no point in worrying about it because what the standard was before may be different to what it is this year...and even if it is, then you wont know what it is anyway as none of the FTO's give out scores or feedback!
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ET flyer, yes I am confused much the same but would probably trust the email better.
Last year the system was different for FTE. All of the assessments were done on one day in one location. They have now split it up into three days.
On another note, we need to bring "copies of your right to work a 37.5 hours week in the UK".
Where might we get this kind of document? I have never heard about this in my life.
Last year the system was different for FTE. All of the assessments were done on one day in one location. They have now split it up into three days.
On another note, we need to bring "copies of your right to work a 37.5 hours week in the UK".
Where might we get this kind of document? I have never heard about this in my life.
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Bearcat,
What makes you think it has now been split into 3 days?
Did you get the email because there is no suggestion of a 3 day process in the email. It says it will take 6 hours and will contain the written tests and the aptitude tests so I assume the website is wrong?
I think I will ring them.
What makes you think it has now been split into 3 days?
Did you get the email because there is no suggestion of a 3 day process in the email. It says it will take 6 hours and will contain the written tests and the aptitude tests so I assume the website is wrong?
I think I will ring them.
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BBRus-
I just wanted to add something to this post because I feel it needs saying.
To all you 'starry eyed wannabe's' (which I was one myself barely 7 years ago), especially those who would be considering relocating countries to avail themselves of this opportunity...
BA, or most majors for that matter, isn't/aren't bad places to be at all but I assure you after a little while it will just be a job and home is always home.
I work for a far eastern legacy and there are a lot of relatively senior guys I fly with that are on a ton of money (considerably more than I make), who will leave at the drop of a hat when airlines start hiring again in their home country. If you're Spanish, for example, for most Spaniards it would take a hell of a rewarding and well renumerated job in the UK to make up for what you would miss as far as weather/food/culture/friends/family for the long term. It doesnt seem it at the time when you're sat in your first jet and get your first few pay cheques through but after a while most will realise just how much they really miss these things and elect to return home if the right opportunity arises.
You are right to consider seniority and starting again from the bottom, but, hypothetically speaking, if you got your magic wand out now and knew you could get into BA but you would have to do say 7 years before you could leave and also that there would be a strong chance you would want to go to your national airline afterwards but you knew you could go there say, 4 years from today after training and flying a few tin cans for a while. Now tell me which is the better option for the very long term? I know, all very hypothetical but hopefully you see my point. This game can often be '1 step forward, 2 steps back, 5 steps forward' etc etc at times.
And 'signing a contract with a clause of permanence', well what does that even mean? No employer can permanently handcuff you to a place or a job against your will. Well, maybe in North Korea..
Just wanted to offer a different perspective.
What is your basis to make this statement?
If I were to be accepted by British Airways, I can assure the last thing I would think about is to get my flight training and TR sponsored by BA and go back to Spain. Actually, I doubt anyone would give up a career in British Airways to start from scratch in another airline in their country of origin.
You would be signing a contract which will contain a clause of permanence.
If I were to be accepted by British Airways, I can assure the last thing I would think about is to get my flight training and TR sponsored by BA and go back to Spain. Actually, I doubt anyone would give up a career in British Airways to start from scratch in another airline in their country of origin.
You would be signing a contract which will contain a clause of permanence.
To all you 'starry eyed wannabe's' (which I was one myself barely 7 years ago), especially those who would be considering relocating countries to avail themselves of this opportunity...
BA, or most majors for that matter, isn't/aren't bad places to be at all but I assure you after a little while it will just be a job and home is always home.
I work for a far eastern legacy and there are a lot of relatively senior guys I fly with that are on a ton of money (considerably more than I make), who will leave at the drop of a hat when airlines start hiring again in their home country. If you're Spanish, for example, for most Spaniards it would take a hell of a rewarding and well renumerated job in the UK to make up for what you would miss as far as weather/food/culture/friends/family for the long term. It doesnt seem it at the time when you're sat in your first jet and get your first few pay cheques through but after a while most will realise just how much they really miss these things and elect to return home if the right opportunity arises.
You are right to consider seniority and starting again from the bottom, but, hypothetically speaking, if you got your magic wand out now and knew you could get into BA but you would have to do say 7 years before you could leave and also that there would be a strong chance you would want to go to your national airline afterwards but you knew you could go there say, 4 years from today after training and flying a few tin cans for a while. Now tell me which is the better option for the very long term? I know, all very hypothetical but hopefully you see my point. This game can often be '1 step forward, 2 steps back, 5 steps forward' etc etc at times.
And 'signing a contract with a clause of permanence', well what does that even mean? No employer can permanently handcuff you to a place or a job against your will. Well, maybe in North Korea..
Just wanted to offer a different perspective.
Last edited by AndontcallmeShirley; 19th Dec 2012 at 16:35.
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Applied on the 13th - deadline day - and got invite to Day 1 assessment at Oxford on 19th. There were many interview slots for this week and second week of January but now there's only 9 Jan available.
Contemplating whether or not to find the £250, as I'm pretty certain I won't even make it into the top elite of COMPASS scores.
Contemplating whether or not to find the £250, as I'm pretty certain I won't even make it into the top elite of COMPASS scores.
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Contemplating whether or not to find the £250, as I'm pretty certain I won't even make it into the top elite of COMPASS scores. 
Are you happy wasting you own, and other people's time when you're "pretty certain" you won't make it? Or are you happy to pay £250 to find out... some might say that even asking that question now means a whole lot!
Just a thought.
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Bearcat,
What makes you think it has now been split into 3 days?
Did you get the email because there is no suggestion of a 3 day process in the email. It says it will take 6 hours and will contain the written tests and the aptitude tests so I assume the website is wrong?
I think I will ring them.
What makes you think it has now been split into 3 days?
Did you get the email because there is no suggestion of a 3 day process in the email. It says it will take 6 hours and will contain the written tests and the aptitude tests so I assume the website is wrong?
I think I will ring them.
From the email we got:
"If you are successful at the first stage of FTE assessment you will be invited to attend a further interview."
Thus, it is split into more than one day.
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Bearcat,
It's ok. My posts dont appear straight away for some strange reason.
Just to let you know, I spoke to FTE and he confirmed that it is a one day process.
All of the tests, including written tests, aptitude tests, one to one interview (which was not mentioned in the email) and the group exercise. If you are successful on this assessment day then there is the final interview with British Airways at Cranebank.
Hope this helps!
It's ok. My posts dont appear straight away for some strange reason.
Just to let you know, I spoke to FTE and he confirmed that it is a one day process.
All of the tests, including written tests, aptitude tests, one to one interview (which was not mentioned in the email) and the group exercise. If you are successful on this assessment day then there is the final interview with British Airways at Cranebank.
Hope this helps!
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City Flyer-
With respect, I think you have completely missed my point. London may have all the French people in the world, all the restaurants, same food etc... But its not home and never will be. You can't quite quantify that really; You can't replace home. And 6 years seniority in BA on the 320/737 (or being very junior on a LH fleet) wont allow you much of a life as a commuter. It may work for you, and good luck to you if it does, but most not from the UK will eventually want to work somewhere closer to home, as is human nature. France is probably a bad example as far as my point goes because obviously it's not a long or difficult commute to LHR/LGW but for someone from a rural part of Eastern Europe, for example, they will find it difficult at times and wonder if it is all worth it. I can tell you this as I am doing it myself and I have friends in many airlines in various parts of the world in all manner of ranks/seniority all trying to do the same.
Anyway, I digress...
With respect, I think you have completely missed my point. London may have all the French people in the world, all the restaurants, same food etc... But its not home and never will be. You can't quite quantify that really; You can't replace home. And 6 years seniority in BA on the 320/737 (or being very junior on a LH fleet) wont allow you much of a life as a commuter. It may work for you, and good luck to you if it does, but most not from the UK will eventually want to work somewhere closer to home, as is human nature. France is probably a bad example as far as my point goes because obviously it's not a long or difficult commute to LHR/LGW but for someone from a rural part of Eastern Europe, for example, they will find it difficult at times and wonder if it is all worth it. I can tell you this as I am doing it myself and I have friends in many airlines in various parts of the world in all manner of ranks/seniority all trying to do the same.
Anyway, I digress...
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Just a quick heads up for those that may have applied with predicted grades:
I applied, was accepted, booked selection day, but only found out from a friend that I could not attend the selection, and was not contacted by a certain FTO until I called them two days before the assessment.
Find it a little misleading that you can enter predicted grades on the FPP application!
I applied, was accepted, booked selection day, but only found out from a friend that I could not attend the selection, and was not contacted by a certain FTO until I called them two days before the assessment.
Find it a little misleading that you can enter predicted grades on the FPP application!
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Applied on the 13th - deadline day - and got invite to Day 1 assessment at Oxford on 19th. There were many interview slots for this week and second week of January but now there's only 9 Jan available.
Contemplating whether or not to find the £250, as I'm pretty certain I won't even make it into the top elite of COMPASS scores.
Contemplating whether or not to find the £250, as I'm pretty certain I won't even make it into the top elite of COMPASS scores.
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Hi there 
Does anyone know if there will definitely be any of those cube folding/rotating tests at the Oxford FTO day 1 assessment? It's not mentioned in the "things to expect" part of the email, which just says that there will be the COMPASS test and then Technical tests. I'm not sure if maybe that's one of the technical tests. Thanks.
Does anyone know if there will definitely be any of those cube folding/rotating tests at the Oxford FTO day 1 assessment? It's not mentioned in the "things to expect" part of the email, which just says that there will be the COMPASS test and then Technical tests. I'm not sure if maybe that's one of the technical tests. Thanks.
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OAA
Hi all,
Just got back from the first stage testing at OAA this afternoon and thought I would share my two cents with everyone.
I was in a group of myself and around 11-12 other guys (yes, all male) all from different backgrounds. Some out of uni, others in full time jobs etc, and even one who had traveled all the way from Australia. I found the COMPASS test a real mix of easy and challenging obstacles. The hand-eye-foot coordination I struggled with somewhat. Although I did progressively improve, I was struggling at the beginning to keep both dials simultaneously level.
Didn't seem to have too many problems with memory, hand-eye coordination or multi tasking. Spatial coordination, like many others have pointed out is ALL about reading the instructions but I believed I fared well here. I was foolish to stick too long on one question on the maths sections and only completed 18/24 questions. Likewise with the physics I was gave more thought to some of my answers. Although I think I've done alright today I'm worried that it may be just short.
But hey ho, I will never know until January and perhaps I've done better than first thought.
Just got back from the first stage testing at OAA this afternoon and thought I would share my two cents with everyone.
I was in a group of myself and around 11-12 other guys (yes, all male) all from different backgrounds. Some out of uni, others in full time jobs etc, and even one who had traveled all the way from Australia. I found the COMPASS test a real mix of easy and challenging obstacles. The hand-eye-foot coordination I struggled with somewhat. Although I did progressively improve, I was struggling at the beginning to keep both dials simultaneously level.
Didn't seem to have too many problems with memory, hand-eye coordination or multi tasking. Spatial coordination, like many others have pointed out is ALL about reading the instructions but I believed I fared well here. I was foolish to stick too long on one question on the maths sections and only completed 18/24 questions. Likewise with the physics I was gave more thought to some of my answers. Although I think I've done alright today I'm worried that it may be just short.
But hey ho, I will never know until January and perhaps I've done better than first thought.
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Hello Fo dj
This is my first post on here.
Thanks for the helpful information. I have the same day at oxford after Christmas - am very nervous as have no flying experience.
Trying to practise but not too sure how!?
I am glad your day went well- sounds like you did good!
This is my first post on here.
Thanks for the helpful information. I have the same day at oxford after Christmas - am very nervous as have no flying experience.
Trying to practise but not too sure how!?
I am glad your day went well- sounds like you did good!