British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
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Thanks for your replies. It provoked the sort of reaction that I was expecting from some who have clearly read a little too much into my questions.
I think it is very important to fully understand every aspect of the career that you are entering (whatever it is). Why would you not want to command? surely thats what all us aspiring pilots are aiming for? BA are a brilliant company and this opportunity is excellent - theres no doubt about it. As for a career, I can't see wanting to work for another airline, however if its the difference between waiting 20 years to command or transferring to say Virgin and commanding after 10 then you would be insane not to consider it.
I guess if you are in no way interested about being in command or the financial implications to allow you to support your family, then you could work for free and pay for your own training.
Please do not think I don't appreciate what BA are offering. Its an excellent scheme, working for (in my opinion) the best airline. If I get a place I would be delighted and would happily stay with BA for a full career. As I said though, you need to fully understand what you're signing up to.
Good luck to all those still in with a shout!
I think it is very important to fully understand every aspect of the career that you are entering (whatever it is). Why would you not want to command? surely thats what all us aspiring pilots are aiming for? BA are a brilliant company and this opportunity is excellent - theres no doubt about it. As for a career, I can't see wanting to work for another airline, however if its the difference between waiting 20 years to command or transferring to say Virgin and commanding after 10 then you would be insane not to consider it.
I guess if you are in no way interested about being in command or the financial implications to allow you to support your family, then you could work for free and pay for your own training.
Please do not think I don't appreciate what BA are offering. Its an excellent scheme, working for (in my opinion) the best airline. If I get a place I would be delighted and would happily stay with BA for a full career. As I said though, you need to fully understand what you're signing up to.
Good luck to all those still in with a shout!
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OAA Day 2 and others
Hi,
How is everyone getting on at their Oxford Day 2 assessments ? I have mine next week (snow permitting)
Have they been able to give timescales as to when we will find out if we are through to the final round ? Is it down to Oxford or do they need to consult British Airways ?
I wonder if any of the three training schools give advice or feedback on how to perform at the final selection. I guess its in their interest that as many as possible of their chosen 100 get through.
Good luck to all those being assessed..
How is everyone getting on at their Oxford Day 2 assessments ? I have mine next week (snow permitting)
Have they been able to give timescales as to when we will find out if we are through to the final round ? Is it down to Oxford or do they need to consult British Airways ?
I wonder if any of the three training schools give advice or feedback on how to perform at the final selection. I guess its in their interest that as many as possible of their chosen 100 get through.
Good luck to all those being assessed..
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Actually using this to get your ticket and experence then going somewhere else is the best most logical method for a pilot I have seen yet on the thread.
To be honest the salary isn't that great our TP FO's get more.
You will get the bonus of the tax breaks so it is worth it.
Command is bloody brillant to be honest its when flying becomes fun again. You get to set the tone of the day and life becomes extremely easy in my experence.
20 years as an FO sod that although with the size of the crew base you won't be flying with the same special needs Captains week in week out.
Use it for yourself you don't owe BA anything once you have done your time.
To be honest the salary isn't that great our TP FO's get more.
You will get the bonus of the tax breaks so it is worth it.
Command is bloody brillant to be honest its when flying becomes fun again. You get to set the tone of the day and life becomes extremely easy in my experence.
20 years as an FO sod that although with the size of the crew base you won't be flying with the same special needs Captains week in week out.
Use it for yourself you don't owe BA anything once you have done your time.
I am not saying that perhaps your expectations would be met once you do your time with BA, and perhaps that would be a good reason to leave. Which is fair enough. But going into the FPP and thinking about it as a stepping stone, well frankly I think you will be much less of an asset to BA than anyone who really wants to work for them.
Also, please tell me a better airline to work for in the UK than BA?
Looking at BA's salary it's one of the better options around. 1st year or two are not great (although fantastic compared to some others) but then it increases pretty rapidly. Not to mention the vast amount of different opportunities and aircraft available for anyone to progress to. I have yet to see a UK airline that has A320s, A380s (soon), 747s, 787s (soon), 777s, 767s.
But as I said, I don't have anything against people moving in the event that BA doesn't meet their expectations. Just find it incredible that some people discard this great airlines as a "ticket" to somewhere else so they can make captain.
Anyone heard anything about CTC stage two yet? I.e. being called forward to it or being told they've been unsuccessful?
Am getting restless about hearing back
Am getting restless about hearing back
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hamsterminator/ctc
Hey mate, I think relax is all you can do! CTC said not to expect notification for a few weeks, and this is because they need to collate enough scores to create an average, then the top x% will be invited forward for interview.
A conservative guess, it'll be the middle of next week earliest when they're in the final stages of 'event 1' (which is also a speculative guess based on the timescale)
A conservative guess, it'll be the middle of next week earliest when they're in the final stages of 'event 1' (which is also a speculative guess based on the timescale)
Thanks daveandg,
Yeah I thought as much- i've kind of mentally prepped myself for the worst because the numbers of people going through to the end will be tiny- but it'll be a relief to find out either way!
Yeah I thought as much- i've kind of mentally prepped myself for the worst because the numbers of people going through to the end will be tiny- but it'll be a relief to find out either way!
Last edited by Hamsterminator; 17th Jan 2013 at 13:45.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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baldopilot
I didnt apply this year but will do next time! This is coming from a friend who has already being through the FTE selection process. I wish you and everyone else here the best of luck with the process.
I didnt apply this year but will do next time! This is coming from a friend who has already being through the FTE selection process. I wish you and everyone else here the best of luck with the process.
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Regarding command time in BA, which seems to be such a critical factor one way or the other for some people, for the 35 years of my experience (and of also being involved with 'postings and promotions') what worked pretty well with a static hull count was:
Look at the compulsory retirement date (CRD) of the most junior Captain (Capt C) on your join date.
With two crew aircraft, this would be the raw date that our new entry at the bottom of the F/O list could expect a command. (y years away)
Assume an attrition rate of leavers before CRD (if any) and loss of licence at 20 per year.
Ball park time to command is the CRD of the Captain who is 20y places higher up the seniority list than Capt C.
Look at the compulsory retirement date (CRD) of the most junior Captain (Capt C) on your join date.
With two crew aircraft, this would be the raw date that our new entry at the bottom of the F/O list could expect a command. (y years away)
Assume an attrition rate of leavers before CRD (if any) and loss of licence at 20 per year.
Ball park time to command is the CRD of the Captain who is 20y places higher up the seniority list than Capt C.
Last edited by Hobo; 17th Jan 2013 at 19:34.
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Day 2
I had a day two assessment centre at OAA this week and royally messed up. All of the assessment examiners are lovely and do their best to put you at ease, but it is tough and the competition was of very high quality - mostly physics and engineering graduates who seemed very confident and competent.
Sadly I seriously doubt I'll be getting invited to BA for the final assessment centre, but good luck to all of those who are lucky enough to make it that far, you will have done very well.
Sadly I seriously doubt I'll be getting invited to BA for the final assessment centre, but good luck to all of those who are lucky enough to make it that far, you will have done very well.
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BA said they want three A-Levels BBC or above. If you have one normal A-Level + BTEC Level 3 Diploma which is 2 A-Levels, do they count them? Or do they have to be non-BTEC?
I'd like to give it a go after I've finished my course; so it'd be handy to know if they'd even accept that.
I'd like to give it a go after I've finished my course; so it'd be handy to know if they'd even accept that.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Luke, for the current programme they made it very clear what the requirements are:
There is no mention of equivalent English qualifications (BTEC). It is rather clear cut.
You can only use NARIC if you have qualifications outside the UK. So unless you call them yourself, the answer is no.
Of course next year, if BA do run a FPP, then the entry requirements may have changed, it could be harder even.
either 3 A-Levels at Grades BBC or above, excluding General Studies.
or an Honours Degree at 2:2 (or higher) or a pass (or above) in a higher degree such as MSc, MA, MPhil, DPhil, PhD, MBA.
If you have equivalent academic qualifications then you will be asked to provide a Letter of Comparability from UK NARIC before attending your first selection day. The Scottish educational qualification equivalents are detailed in the FAQ page.
or an Honours Degree at 2:2 (or higher) or a pass (or above) in a higher degree such as MSc, MA, MPhil, DPhil, PhD, MBA.
If you have equivalent academic qualifications then you will be asked to provide a Letter of Comparability from UK NARIC before attending your first selection day. The Scottish educational qualification equivalents are detailed in the FAQ page.
You can only use NARIC if you have qualifications outside the UK. So unless you call them yourself, the answer is no.
Of course next year, if BA do run a FPP, then the entry requirements may have changed, it could be harder even.
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If you have equivalent academic qualifications then you will be asked to provide a Letter of Comparability from UK NARIC before attending your first selection day. The Scottish educational qualification equivalents are detailed in the FAQ page.
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If you could be bothered to check on UK NARIC's site you would see the following
If BA had said they would accept other UK qualifications they would have said.
As you yourself has said on this Thread before,
Of course the best option is to check with the Recruitment Department of the Airline, after all they have the final say.
As one of my old ground instructors used to say, Read The F******* Question
UK NARIC is the UK’s National Recognition Information Centre and provides services for individuals and organisations to compare international qualifications against UK qualification framework levels. It is a Government service, managed by ECCTIS Ltd.
The organisation offers products and services in 3 main areas:
Services for individuals: UK NARIC provides comparison statements for people with international qualifications planning to work or study in the UK. The statements can be used by individuals to help them through the UK's immigration system, applying for a UK job or to enrol on an education course
The organisation offers products and services in 3 main areas:
Services for individuals: UK NARIC provides comparison statements for people with international qualifications planning to work or study in the UK. The statements can be used by individuals to help them through the UK's immigration system, applying for a UK job or to enrol on an education course
As you yourself has said on this Thread before,
It amazes me how people do not know such information? All the information is on BA's website dude.
As one of my old ground instructors used to say, Read The F******* Question
Last edited by ford cortina; 19th Jan 2013 at 09:48.
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I guess it makes you feel high and mighty to be so unnecessarily hostile and rude. 
I did read the BA website thoroughly. I just did not read the NAIRC website thoroughly.
I did read the BA website thoroughly. I just did not read the NAIRC website thoroughly.
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Funky and Luke, you want to enter a very demanding, stressful, tiring and rewarding industry. You are expected to use a large amount of common sense, be self reliant, use your intelligence.
If I have seemed rude to either of you, then your mistaken, I simply pointed out some facts. Harsh they may seem to be, but that's life.
British Airways, have been very clear in their requirements, if you are unsure you should use all the tools availble to you, contact the Recruiter, look at links they give you and contact said organisations. Asking this question on a rumour network is not the best use of your time.
If I have seemed rude to either of you, then your mistaken, I simply pointed out some facts. Harsh they may seem to be, but that's life.
British Airways, have been very clear in their requirements, if you are unsure you should use all the tools availble to you, contact the Recruiter, look at links they give you and contact said organisations. Asking this question on a rumour network is not the best use of your time.
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@Flatontheground
What makes you think it went so badly? You never really know what kind of things the recruiters are looking for. An overqualified and well experienced tool, is still a tool. I wouldn't be intimidated by others, in my experience everyone tries to pump up their chest at assessment centres, especially in the presence of their competition. What kind of things did you have to do?
What makes you think it went so badly? You never really know what kind of things the recruiters are looking for. An overqualified and well experienced tool, is still a tool. I wouldn't be intimidated by others, in my experience everyone tries to pump up their chest at assessment centres, especially in the presence of their competition. What kind of things did you have to do?
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I have my CTC Stage 2 selection in Southampton on Thursday. Any tips from anyone who has done it already on what's in the group exercise? I think I have a reasonable idea of the PILAPT test and what it contains.