British Airways Future Pilot Programme.

[Contact Approach]

There are 72 places this year; they are looking for well rounded individuals who demonstrate a passion for aviation, customer service and suitable aptitude.
Spoke with a few who were taken on last year who only had the bare minimum academics.
Those who qualify have a chance. It's the qualities, aptitude and motives that decide after that - not academics.

[EZY_FR]

So it is likely to be even more competitive this time.

[Contact Approach]

If you don't try, you won't succeed. There's 72 places, that's far more than any other airline scheme offers.

[EZY_FR]

Oh I will be approaching this scheme with absolute determination.

[EZY_FR]

1ejc
Unfortunately I have no idea when they are running their courses. I am however going to the CTC Open Day next weekend so I'll be sure to ask then!

[bellamafia]

I can second that.

I am a graduate and the only subject close to a science that i did was AS Psychology and i got quite far in the process. The majority of my education was in the Arts and my working career to date in fashion business.

I very much disagree that BA are looking for just engineering based candidates.

[GS-Alpha]

G-RICH

Why did IAG want the BMI slots? Expansion.
What do you need to expand? More pilots.
How long does it take to recruit and train pilots? About a year and a half.
You've probably predicted the entry into BA timescales about right.

What's so puzzling?

[Libertine Winno]

At the talk at Flyer show on Saturday BA were very clear about how far ahead they have to plan for pilot recruitment; the FPP candidates coming from this year's recruitment drive won't start at their chosen FTO until autumn 2013, with integration into the BA staff due 2 years later after flying training, type rating and line training is completed. Not sure where the confusion comes from?!

[FANS]

Indeed those with poor academic result would waste their time trying into this kind of selection process.

They normally select just people with a graduation and mainly from engineering

Rather than worry about whether BA prefer people of an engineering based degree or not, young or old etc. etc., I strongly suggest that if you meet the minimum standards and really want to do this, you apply and let the recruitment team worry about their minimum standards.

I thought the FPP thing got canned in the wake of the BMI takeover ?

It is now officially known that the FPP scheme will open up. Again, let BA worry about their recruitment needs post BMI. TUPE is not applicable to removing people for underperformance, if that is what you are getting at.


Be yourself, invest a 100% into the process but unfortunately accept that many capable candidates will not get through due to the numbers.

[Libertine Winno]

@ FANS

Probably the best advice I've seen on here!

If you want it, go for it and do everything you can to be your best. If you get selected, it's just the start of a hard but rewarding path. If you don't, come back and try again next year an even more well rounded, better prepared candidate!

[exbanker]

Does anyone know the average age of the BA FPP applicants and the average of the successful applicants?

[206Fan]

Royal Aeronautical Society | Event | Careers Fair 2012

[bex88]

G-RICH, I think you best go do some study on aviation and employment law. Maybe a tiny understanding of the bmi takeover would have helped you produce a sensible comment. Underperformance is not tolerated during the conversion course but given the quality and respect of bmi's training throughout the industry it would be naive to think many would not make the grade.

[bellamafia]

Well that was BA's plan all along wasn't it?

Like they did with the cabin crew, bringing in the mixed fleet, they are doing the same with the pilots. Wanting a cheaper breed and putting them on a different pay scale to the one that the 'older' pilots are on. More pay scales means longer to reach the top pay point. Now that many pilots are working beyond 55, and many at a high, if not the top, pay point, its costing BA a fortune. Plus, i dont think the final salary pension scheme is on offer any longer as it was for many pilots.

The way of times.

[BerksFlyer]

Originally Posted by EF1S

Funny how BA runs a scheme to take-on low-hours pilots, trained the same way as the like of EZY/FR guys - and it gets praise. Also interesting that BAs cadet pay scale is significantly reduced compared to direct-entry pay scale - but wait, they've axed the hold pool of experienced pilots and won't open that door again for a while.

BA receives praise because it offers a permanent employment contract upon completion of training. Ryanair and easyJet do nothing of the sort and don't get involved in pre-selecting cadets. Where's your comparison?

[Stocious]

Funny how BA runs a scheme to take-on low-hours pilots, trained the same way as the like of EZY/FR guys - and it gets praise. Also interesting that BAs cadet pay scale is significantly reduced compared to direct-entry pay scale - but wait, they've axed the hold pool of experienced pilots and won't open that door again for a while.

So BA, the saviour of young pilot hopefuls, at the expense of experienced professionals who've worked their lives to gain a place with the airline - but it saves them a few £££ over the years. Way to positively spin a recruitment drive aimed at reducing costs.

Actually the initial FPP remuneration package, including salary, bond repayment and flying pay is probably in the region of at least £40k a year, and rises by a good amount each year on a permanent contract. This is much more favourable than other cadet schemes out there, and eventually catches up with DEP scale.

I hardly think these guys can be compared with the demise of DEP recruitment, seeing as they aren't expected to be anywhere near line flying before very late 2013 or 2014 at the earliest and will be restricted to fleet allocation, so perhaps the DEP hold in recent times has been down to other factors?

There's a very good chance that these FPP guys and girls have also 'worked their lives to get into the airline' as well, just perhaps in a different manner than you mean.

For whoever asked about ages, I believe the average age of last years batch is about mid-late 20's, but there's a fairly large range between min and max.

[Pass your message]

Age Range

Stocious, you seem to be in the know, do you know the min and max age range last year?

[FANS]

Funny how BA runs a scheme to take-on low-hours pilots, trained the same way as the like of EZY/FR guys

I didn't realise that EZY/FR now offered:
- Full Permanent UK contracts
- Tax efficient repayment of the finance, which saves thousands
- Guarantor for the finance
- No charge for TR
- Guaranteed UK bases
- Normal PAYE monthly salaried income
- Pensions
- Sick pay/uniforms etc etc
- clear seniority system & career progression
- Proper staff travel
- An interview and day with BA before spending a penny on training (I've heard EYZ don't even interview their cadets)

So BA, the saviour of young pilot hopefuls, at the expense of experienced professionals who've worked their lives to gain a place with the airline

When you compare the list above to that offered by other airlines and the cost of operating into LHR, you must understand that they need to try and offer some savings.

I have no doubt that BA could charge £50k for a TR and RYR style contract, and have more applicants than there are current FOs.

BA are perfectly entitled to have a mix of DEP and cadets and have done so for decades. I find it unbelievable that in the current market BA offers such a scheme and still gets criticism.

[Paperplanes89]

Spot on FANS.

[airplace_called_home]

EASA class 1 medical certificate

Does anybody know if the EASA class 1 medical certificate is required at the first selection process? if not, at which stage?

thanks!