British Airways Future Pilot Programme.

[tcm1707]

The performance of the other candidates is something you can't control, so I don't see any point in worrying about it. I'm not!

[G-F0RC3]

LadyL; some people have suggested that in the aptitude tests they are actually looking to see how much you improve from one try to the next, rather than your total score. But, while there may be some truth in that, I highly doubt they don't consider the total scores as well as your rate of improvement. However, (if even partially true - which is likely) it does highlight that an important aspect of the process is assessing your natural ability to learn and improve, which really isn't something you can (or need) to train for. But training will improve you in other desirable ways, so it's still worthwhile doing.

So to answer your question (in my opinion); does having a PPL or engineering degree etc help? Undoubtedly. It's only logical that someone with greater flying experience/maths and physics knowledge etc will perform better in tests where such skills are being tested. Do the assessors take your qualifications into consideration when assessing you? I don't know, but I doubt your qualifications etc come into the equation until an interview. It wouldn't be very pragmatic to say; he did well but then again he's a PPL holder; she did poorly but then again she's only just out of school. The qualifications you've got contribute to what makes you you; and therefore contribute to the person that BA might (or might not) be looking for.

But does that rule someone out of the process who doesn't have a PPL or engineering degree? Definitely not! Lots of people have (and will again) be successful without such qualifications. But how do they outperform people whom one might consider to be a specialist? They understand that the process is about more than just a few aptitude tests, and prepare accordingly.

Hope it's helpful. Good luck!

[squird02]

Just wondering if anybody on here has booked their assessment day at OAA for 9th December?

[Chelmo]

Assessment day at OAA

I have been worried about the logistics of running the OAA assessment activities all in one day.

They seem to be allocating 24 places per day and state that you will be given a personal interview which lasts 45 minutes. Considering they could have 24 people to interview and make them undertake the other tests, I am guessing they will split people up between activities with simultaneous interviews going on all day by having several interviewers. Can anyone who had their assessment at OAA today confirm this?

Also are you given adequate relaxation time between tests to just drink coffee or eat something? It must be an extremely long and tiring day with the number of activities you have to do!

I've read that for typical OAA assessment days (when it was a 2 day process) you have a lounge room where you can get tea/coffee all day and you are given a lunch break. I am worried that with the new assessment (cramming everything into one day) you will be rushed between exercises and not given much time to recover between each exercise!

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

[LadyL2013]

Thanks G for your very informative answer, I suspected as much, I just wasn't sure if anybody knew for certain.

As I think the first of the assessment days is tomorrow I'd just like to wish everybody the best of luck as the ball gets rolling on the selection process.

[neilje12]

Joesimpson

Nothing from FTE yet. Last year was the same. Didn't get asked to select an assessment day until mid December.

[A_M]

Has anyone had the problem of submitting the application but not getting a confirmation email? I phoned BA today and got it manually submitted and it says "submitted" on my application but I haven't got the email that it says I should. Anyone got any suggestions?

[Stronger]

There is only one date available with Oxford at the moment.
Is there a deadline for booking a date ? Or can i wait for another ?
Are the selections going to extend to January, maybe more, maybe less ?

[ManUtd1999]

G-F0RC3

It's an interesting topic. I've no idea how BA select candidates but I'm fairly sure that there will be an element of taking into account your background, even if it isn't until interview as you suggest. Putting myself in an interviewer's shoes, I would expect any decent engineering grad to get near 100% in the maths/physics, anything else suggests carelessness. A few more mistakes from a school-leaver or older candidate that's out of practice might be more understandable. On the other hand, graduates and school-leavers naturally won't have the life-experience/skill based examples of someone in work but might be able to use examples from extra-curricular activities. I would hope/imagine that they take all this into account to form a general picture of each candidate and select accordingly.

[G-F0RC3]

I agree. If it were only about your performance in the aptitude tests then I don't see why they'd even have the group ex and interviews. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the interview is the make or break for people who make it that far. In other words, if they don't like you in the interview then it doesn't matter what you did in any of the other tests; you're probably not going to make the cut. Whereas if they think your interview was excellent but you didn't perform as well as the five engineering graduates you're competing against in the maths/physics tests, you're probably still in with a very good shout.

Only in the interview can you really directly sell yourself to the interviewers, and I'm pretty sure they would be willing to overlook a few rust-induced elementary arithmetic errors if you are otherwise exactly what they're looking for. But let's face it, the maths and physics tests aren't difficult for anyone who has the entry qualifications to apply; and given candidates have had time to prepare there's very little excuse for rustiness at the basics, irrespective of whether you are Hawking or a just-out-of-school kid.

[G-F0RC3]

Be very careful about making assumptions about the BA process.

I think we are being careful about the assumptions we are making. They seem sensible to me. Clearly everyone should go into the process and try their best at every phase. But I genuinely don't see any harm in trying to figure out what separates the best from the rest.

The tests are pass/fail...

Oh and the comments above about excusing a few elementary errors in maths due rustiness-way off the mark.

These two points seem contradictory to me? If the test is a pass/fail and I pass having made a few elementary arithmetic errors, then my pass would be as good as any other pass - and my trivial errors therefore excused.

The interview is not make/break, if you are marginal your overall performance is taken into account.

This doesn't seem to tie up with your other comments. If you are correct about the tests being pass/fail, then it's fair to say that that top n% will all pass. Therefore, the key method of differentiating them from each other would be the interview, suggesting that it is - in fact - make or break.

The process is the fairest interview/test process I have ever been involved with, and I have been involved in recruitment in several companies/industries.

So are you suggesting that you are actually involved in the BA FPP recruitment process? If not then I would assume you are an applicant like the rest of us; and therefore how are you in a stronger position to state for certain one way or other how it all works? On the other hand, if you are involved directly - please do inform us of exactly how it all works.

[G-F0RC3]

I think you've taken my post a little out of context. lol I wasn't suggesting that if you "mess" up the maths test then that might be acceptable. Nor was I suggesting that if "your face fits" then you are a shoe in. This isn't American politics we're talking about here!

What I was actually saying is that I'd rather make a couple more mistakes than my competition and outperform them in the interview, than the other way around. I think it'd make more of an impact. And although the various tests are all important, I do believe that the interview is individually the most important. Yes if you fail maths or physics it doesn't matter how good you are in the interview; you're out. But for the marginal cases, I believe the interview will be the most significant differentiator. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with how "your face fits". My initial post was referring to the quality of your interview answers, not whether or not you fit some arbitrary stereotype.

[Speedy Birdy]

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if BA kept records of those of us who made it to Waterside last year and if yes, what kind of records.

Does anyone know anything or has an opinion on that ?

I am sure they would be interested to compare our old and new results in all the areas of the selection, especially the interview (remember question "b" of the first essay?).

[chocsaway08]

There seems to have been some deletion in posts for one reason or another but the individual had the right attitude. This forum is largely (very largely) based on gut instinct, speculation and convoluted theories as to what might occur at the assesment days. It's worth achknowledging that nothing you read in this thread is gospel and to go in with your eyes wide open.

[JonEverton]

I heard an interesting comment from an acquaintance who applied for the BA scheme,

They said they received an automatic 'not selected' email from Oxford.

I know their background ticked all the academic boxes with an engineering HND and 9 years experience in aerospace plus a PPL with over a hundred hours. They are knocking on for 30 though.

Makes me wonder what type of candidates BA Really want? I think young & "mouldable"

I would have thought a bit of age with relevant experience would be a plus but maybe it is more seen as "probably set in their ways"

[BitMoreRightRudder]

Far more likely your mate messed up the essay questions. BA place more importance on that area of the application than most candidates realise.

[Groundloop]

I'm pretty sure they would be willing to overlook a few rust-induced elementary arithmetic errors

I'm pretty sure they would expect you to revise and practice before the tests - to show that you are really committed.

[MaydayMaydayMayday]

JonEverton, both intakes have had successful candidates over 30. Actually, a couple over 40 have made it too.

[G-F0RC3]

Groundloop; I agree. But if you were otherwise the perfect candidate then I still think you have a shout.

Anyway - speculation over from me. I wish everyone the best of luck and if my application gets beyond the initial screening process I look forward to meeting some of you at the FTE selection day.

[futurepilot001]

I notice BA have not closed the application window early this year. In fact it's been extended for two days (due to the IT issues at the outset). Either way, it is a little bit interesting - perhaps there are fewer applications this time around compared to earlier rounds?