British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
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Here is what I got. Reading it is like a rollercoaster ride:
Thank you for attending your recent assessment for the British Airways Future Pilot Programme at the CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. We hope that you found the day challenging but enjoyable. As I am sure you will have realised from your time with us, not only are we seeing a large number of candidates but they are of exceptional quality.
I hope it was also apparent from the time you spent here, that customer service is very important to every one of us and for that reason we are writing to all of the candidates who we have seen so far. Understandably, waiting for news of the outcome of the assessment can be a very anxious time, particularly over Christmas and whilst we are not in a position to provide definitive answers in all cases, we can remove the anxiety, one way or the other, for some.
As of today, we have seen a little more than half of the candidates that we have invited for interview, in numbers terms that means that we have assessed several hundred against the British Airways criteria and as such we are in a position to make some decisions.
At this moment in time there are a number of candidates who have not met the British Airways criteria or that required for consideration for our own Airline Pilot Programme. Sadly we will not be taking these applications forward. We realise that those in this group will be very disappointed but we think it better that you know rather than be kept waiting for weeks until the end of the process.
There is a second group of candidates who have not met the very specific requirements of the British Airways programme; however we have assessed them as having the potential to train as an airline pilot through our APP FO course. Whilst these candidates will not be continuing with British Airways we would like to discuss their options with them.
Finally, there is a group of candidates who for the time being, remain in our considerations for British Airways, however we have several hundred more candidates to assess and a substantial number of those currently being considered will drop out of the mix as stronger candidates become available.
We have a limit on the number of candidates to present to British Airways and only the very best will make it onto our final list. If at this time we indicate to you that you are still in our considerations it does NOT mean that you have made it through to the final BA selection. We will be writing to you once we have assessed ALL of the candidates to advise whether or not you will be going forward.
in your particular case, I can advise you that your application is still under consideration. As I have clearly stated above, we still have a large number of candidates to assess and you should NOT take this letter as an indication that you will be going forward to the final selection.
Thank you for attending your recent assessment for the British Airways Future Pilot Programme at the CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. We hope that you found the day challenging but enjoyable. As I am sure you will have realised from your time with us, not only are we seeing a large number of candidates but they are of exceptional quality.
I hope it was also apparent from the time you spent here, that customer service is very important to every one of us and for that reason we are writing to all of the candidates who we have seen so far. Understandably, waiting for news of the outcome of the assessment can be a very anxious time, particularly over Christmas and whilst we are not in a position to provide definitive answers in all cases, we can remove the anxiety, one way or the other, for some.
As of today, we have seen a little more than half of the candidates that we have invited for interview, in numbers terms that means that we have assessed several hundred against the British Airways criteria and as such we are in a position to make some decisions.
At this moment in time there are a number of candidates who have not met the British Airways criteria or that required for consideration for our own Airline Pilot Programme. Sadly we will not be taking these applications forward. We realise that those in this group will be very disappointed but we think it better that you know rather than be kept waiting for weeks until the end of the process.
There is a second group of candidates who have not met the very specific requirements of the British Airways programme; however we have assessed them as having the potential to train as an airline pilot through our APP FO course. Whilst these candidates will not be continuing with British Airways we would like to discuss their options with them.
Finally, there is a group of candidates who for the time being, remain in our considerations for British Airways, however we have several hundred more candidates to assess and a substantial number of those currently being considered will drop out of the mix as stronger candidates become available.
We have a limit on the number of candidates to present to British Airways and only the very best will make it onto our final list. If at this time we indicate to you that you are still in our considerations it does NOT mean that you have made it through to the final BA selection. We will be writing to you once we have assessed ALL of the candidates to advise whether or not you will be going forward.
in your particular case, I can advise you that your application is still under consideration. As I have clearly stated above, we still have a large number of candidates to assess and you should NOT take this letter as an indication that you will be going forward to the final selection.
Join Date: Nov 2013
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The OAA email is a courtesy to those who have been assessed so far - essentially, don't spend Christmas checking your inbox every hour to see if there's a note from BA Recruitment. It explains that some applicants have been rejected outright; some haven't met the criteria for progression on FPP but are invited to train with OAA outside the scheme; the remainder are still under consideration and can expect to hear something by the end of January.
Thankfully, I'm in the latter group and understand that I'm currently ranked highly enough to go through to BA HQ, but as other candidates are assessed and potentially ranked above me, I may find that I drop out of the cohort who are presented to BA.
OAA are being very transparent here and it is appreciated. I would be very surprised to hear of anybody getting a positive confirmation from OAA at this stage, given the contents of their email.
Thankfully, I'm in the latter group and understand that I'm currently ranked highly enough to go through to BA HQ, but as other candidates are assessed and potentially ranked above me, I may find that I drop out of the cohort who are presented to BA.
OAA are being very transparent here and it is appreciated. I would be very surprised to hear of anybody getting a positive confirmation from OAA at this stage, given the contents of their email.
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For all that are going to the FTE assessemt in Hounslow, London. I stayed at the Civic Guest House, a simple but tidy place 5 min walking from the metro to Heathrow AND the assessment center (Civic Centre).
I highly enjoyed the assessment day, the FTE people are really nice and interactive.
I highly enjoyed the assessment day, the FTE people are really nice and interactive.
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Good to hear everyone is getting a quick response, even if it isn't solid news, but just keeping in the loop. Lots of progress already it seems so already getting nervous but interview isn't until 9th Jan!
Anyone else for FTE afternoon that day?
Anyone else for FTE afternoon that day?
Join Date: Jan 2013
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@Chelmo I'm not sure if OAA are sending out their updates/outcomes in batches. I received mine yesterday afternoon informing me that I have met the requirements set by BA but as they can only send a limited number of candidates forward for final selection, the final decision can only be made once all candidates have been assessed in January.
Has anybody else received their updates from OAA or are most people still waiting?
Has anybody else received their updates from OAA or are most people still waiting?
Join Date: Dec 2013
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CTC Assessment
Sadly got my CTC rejection email yesterday after attending last Monday's session, although the email did state: 'Your performance in selection was to a standard that means you can be considered for reapplication for the CTC Wings Cadet programme in 6 months time.' So I shall give this some thought.
As for the assessment day, I found it to be a good afternoon with friendly people and even though I didn't progress I see it as valuable experience. Considering my age (just 18!) and the fact this was the first time I have applied I was pleased to even get as far as I did.
Good luck to everyone who still hasn't heard!
As for the assessment day, I found it to be a good afternoon with friendly people and even though I didn't progress I see it as valuable experience. Considering my age (just 18!) and the fact this was the first time I have applied I was pleased to even get as far as I did.
Good luck to everyone who still hasn't heard!
'Your performance in selection was to a standard that means you can be considered for reapplication for the CTC Wings Cadet programme in 6 months time.'
If you do follow their lead, you must ask them detailed and probing questions about where they will 'take' you.
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British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
I'm sorry to say that the conclusion I have drawn from stage 1 of this process is that it is a massive money making scheme. Churning through as many "hopefuls" as possible is a cruel way of making money. At £200 odd pounds a pop you'd think they'd be in a position to give feedback to any candidate that asked - but no. And to add insult to injury , they're not content with the measly £200 they got out of you - they want to get the full £84-£100k out of your pocket by insinuating that you 'scored well enough to be considered for a full license with CTC/OAA/FTE ...'
I have been left very disappointed by this process and feel it is all wrong in its approach and delivery. We are allowing these few schools - who dominate the market - to play on our hopes, wishes and dreams of becoming an airline pilot and -I'm sorry to say - shaft us out of as much money as possible. I am surprised that a reputable company such as BA would allow such practices and condone the herding of hundreds of dreamers through this who may have no hope in hell of ever seeing the controls of an aircraft.
I have been left very disappointed by this process and feel it is all wrong in its approach and delivery. We are allowing these few schools - who dominate the market - to play on our hopes, wishes and dreams of becoming an airline pilot and -I'm sorry to say - shaft us out of as much money as possible. I am surprised that a reputable company such as BA would allow such practices and condone the herding of hundreds of dreamers through this who may have no hope in hell of ever seeing the controls of an aircraft.
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Then consider yourself lucky that you only spent £200 and go off and become a lawyer. Plenty of people who successfully complete these programmes go on to careers with other airlines and a few eventually go on to BA.
(£200 is about 20 minutes of a Barristers time!)
(£200 is about 20 minutes of a Barristers time!)
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Considering a couple of days ago you described your CTC assessment as "[a] Great day all round", why the sudden outburst now flytheskies? You may have some valid points, but your timing just comes across as sour grapes.
If you were well above the minimum entry requirements then how could CTC assume you had no chance of success prior to assessing you? Perhaps they do want to make a bit of money out of it, but if you do meet the minimum requirements and made a good application then I don't see how it would be fair on you to reject you in the first instance?
I knew prior to applying that a) it would cost me £200, b) it would be unlikely I'd make it past stage 1, and c) I wouldn't get any feedback, and therefore probably never know exactly why I didn't make it. But for this opportunity it's still well worth that risk. I haven't heard back from FTE yet, but I'm psychologically prepared for bad news. It's not that I was poor on the assessment day, it's just that the competition is high. We have to be honest with ourselves and try to learn from our experiences; instead of moaning about the whole process as if what has happened is some kind of great surprise and injustice.
No offense.
If you were well above the minimum entry requirements then how could CTC assume you had no chance of success prior to assessing you? Perhaps they do want to make a bit of money out of it, but if you do meet the minimum requirements and made a good application then I don't see how it would be fair on you to reject you in the first instance?
I knew prior to applying that a) it would cost me £200, b) it would be unlikely I'd make it past stage 1, and c) I wouldn't get any feedback, and therefore probably never know exactly why I didn't make it. But for this opportunity it's still well worth that risk. I haven't heard back from FTE yet, but I'm psychologically prepared for bad news. It's not that I was poor on the assessment day, it's just that the competition is high. We have to be honest with ourselves and try to learn from our experiences; instead of moaning about the whole process as if what has happened is some kind of great surprise and injustice.
No offense.
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In some ways its a shame that Oxford and FTE don't split the days, so at least you could infer where it went wrong.
Ie if you fail at CTC day one, its because you didn't pass the tests or the other components of day 1. Or if you pass day one but don't get to final selection it is because you didn't do a good enough job on the interview..
Out of all the non mentored schemes, CTC wings does seem to have the strongest employment record and most vigorous selection..
I'm also guessing that the majority of BA pilots didnt join as cadets, which is by far the most competitive route.. So there are other ways to join BA once you get your licenses and experience.
Reflect where you can do better for next year and you will be stronger as a result.
Ie if you fail at CTC day one, its because you didn't pass the tests or the other components of day 1. Or if you pass day one but don't get to final selection it is because you didn't do a good enough job on the interview..
Out of all the non mentored schemes, CTC wings does seem to have the strongest employment record and most vigorous selection..
I'm also guessing that the majority of BA pilots didnt join as cadets, which is by far the most competitive route.. So there are other ways to join BA once you get your licenses and experience.
Reflect where you can do better for next year and you will be stronger as a result.
flytheskies
I'm sorry to say that the conclusion I have drawn from stage 1 of this process is that it is a massive money making scheme.
As others have said, there are other ways into BA. You need to take the long view and also accept some are even tougher/more selective ways into flying/the airlines/BA than the FPP/cadets, some paths are perhaps less selective but more expensive.
Reflect where you can do better for next year and you will be stronger as a result.
Good Luck.
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Thanks
Thanks for the advice Wiggy.You are absolutely right. Its a double edge sword with this one - if the FTO's raise their minimum requirements, I would probably never have had the opportunity but as they are at the moment, there are far too many people getting through to stage one. I think the £200 fee is unfair at this stage. Post assessment would be a good time IMO to start charging for training.£200 to sit a paper maths exam and a carry out an exercise on an outdated, overused computer is a bit excessive.Thanks for all your advice along the way and good luck to anyone still in the process - maybe this is a case of sour grapes - I'll have to resort to wine making from now on.
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I actually agree that they shouldn't be charging £200 at this stage in the process. If BA paid that for each invited applicant themselves, it would only cost them around £500,000 (or the cost of around six successful candidates' training).
But it's a pretty minor issue in my opinion. As someone who has paid more than £13,000 over the past three years on flying lessons, it's hardly a significant fee for the opportunity it provides. In fact, my PPL headset cost me a good lot more than £200. And given that if you are successful the vast bulk of the training costs involved are covered - as well as being offered as close to a guaranteed job as you're ever going to get in this industry (for the best airline in the world to boot
) - it's a pretty amazing opportunity even with an initial price tag of £200.
But it's a pretty minor issue in my opinion. As someone who has paid more than £13,000 over the past three years on flying lessons, it's hardly a significant fee for the opportunity it provides. In fact, my PPL headset cost me a good lot more than £200. And given that if you are successful the vast bulk of the training costs involved are covered - as well as being offered as close to a guaranteed job as you're ever going to get in this industry (for the best airline in the world to boot
) - it's a pretty amazing opportunity even with an initial price tag of £200.