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British Airways Future Pilot Programme.

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British Airways Future Pilot Programme.

Old 18th Apr 2013, 08:06
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Really? Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone on last years intake that came from an IT background.
Incorrect. But I don't think that your previous job significantly affects your probability of success/failure. There are FPP cadets from almost every career background you can imagine, plus some who haven't had a career yet.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 08:22
  #902 (permalink)  
 
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I've no doubt Euro. Quite what I'm 'incorrect' in saying has gone over my head though.

Those I've met in person have very varied backgrounds, but as I said I can't think of anyone of them that's come from an IT background.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 08:45
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Have a look on last years thread. Quite a few people were talking about there backgrounds and I remember there being a good few from the IT industry. Anyway, I'm am in no doubt that BA employ people from all backgrounds. I was just making the point that people from the IT industry might perform slightly better on one of the particular aptitude tests (without going into too much detail) .
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 09:10
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I thought it was really interesting how varied the candidates were at final selection. The folk I met ranged from: Teacher, engineer, doctor, estate agent, 'city' types, RAF (but still in training), a whole load of students, banker, and archaeologist (that'd be me). I'm sure there must have been a whole load more. What's certain is that everyone seemed passionate about both flying and BA. It was very interesting hearing everyone's individual back-story.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 10:35
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As many have said flying experience is not important but showing an interest in aviation is. As for age and time to command that many seem to be discussing here, this varies so much at BA that its very difficult to predict. When I joined at 34, having trained at 27, there were long haul guys who had been in the RHS for 20 years just getting their commands, admittedly in long haul. Because of an unusual situation at LGW, which incidentally may be repeating itself at the moment, a group of us got commands after a couple of years in the airline as not many were interested in moving to LGW.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that its very difficult to forecast anything in this industry and especially at BA. The new widebody aircraft may initiate an expansion, world economic situation allowing. The return to regular retirements post the raising of the pension age may also do the same.

Good luck to all.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 11:00
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Anyone trying to predict how things will look in 5, 10, 20 years really must have a crystal ball. It's interesting to hear that things aren't always as set in stone as the forums may have you believe.

I think a lot of the arguments over time to command are only likely to matter if it's really, really important to you to have that LHS asap, 4 stripes and a fancier hat (ok, that's perhaps being a little trite, of course the extra responsibility and status is appealing). Ultimately, if you're lucky enough to get taken onto the FPP, especially if you're coming from another career, it's still a life-changing move. You still get to fly outstanding aircraft for the remainder of your career, to a huge range of destinations, meeting and working with interesting and (hopefully mostly) motivated individuals, with a very comfortable salary and lifestyle with pretty much unparalleled benefits compared to 99% of the jobs out there, whether aviation related or otherwise.

The argument about joining late and not making it to the top of the 34 point pay scale just doesn't strike me as a particularly big issue. I won't make it to ppt34 unless they raise retirement age to at least 69! I also couldn't care less. I'm coming from a career where it tops out a mile below what BA can offer, and my bosses and professors all live very comfortable lifestyles as it is.

If time to command and reaching the top of the company payscale are at the top of the list of priorities, there are other avenues out there. Everyone has their own vision of where they'd like to be. Good luck to them!
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 11:25
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@naturals

Last year, I noticed a lot of people that were accepted were from the IT industry and based on one the aptitude tests, I'm not surprised as I believe it will have suited them perfectly.
I am confident the aptitude tests were not the deciding factor at selection- They will look at the bigger picture. I found them very challenging, and as a result mentally prepared myself for a NO. Neverthless I got through.

By the way, has anyone else who got through heard from their chosen FTO or APL yet?
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 12:45
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@Maydaymayday

Spoke like a boss!
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 13:22
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Last years lot didn't hear from APL for about a month. Don't wait for the postie!
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 13:23
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Perhaps not the answers Mayday would have given in the interviews , but I very much agree with the points also. It's good to realise how fortunate one is and let's hope it remains so. That glass is near enough to full as far as some of us can see it with the rest at this point perhaps just being semantics.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 13:41
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Just to clarify; I wasn't suggesting that anyone should have a lack of ambition in any way. It's not a bad thing to want to aspire to be a captain, or to move up the pay scale (in fact they're both extremely good motivators), just that some of the arguments I've heard against joining BA (whether through FPP or DEP), and particularly if you're not 21, have focussed on things like the potential of not making your 4th stripe by the time you're 35. I think it's an amazing opportunity whether you're 20 or 40. You may ultimately get different things out of it at different stages in your life, but it's likely to be just as valuable and fulfilling however you manage your career.

Don't get me wrong, who wouldn't want to be a captain at 35 and have a decade on the top pay point before retirement, but that model won't work for everyone for a whole host of reasons. It won't make their career or contribution any less valuable.
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 14:41
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Once you hit 30 and do what normal 30 somethings do (get married, buy a house, raise kids, drive estate cars) then a junior first officer at BA becomes difficult.

The factors I considered were Working Weekends, Holidays, Christmas. Buying a house in a nice area with a bedroom each for two kids near Heathrow/Gatwick is going to be a challenge at Cadet salary with 100k of debt.

Even at PP24/34 a large proportion of the business and first class cabins your flying will be better off than you. The money is good, but I wouldn't bank on being able to open an account at coutts.

Ultimately it is worth it, but those first few years are going to be very challenging...
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Old 18th Apr 2013, 14:54
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I think Mayday is correct; flying for BA, irrespective of whether you make it all the way to the top or not, is a highly rewarding career.

But I don't really think money is the primary driving force behind most aspiring pilots. Certainly I can speak for myself when I say that I want to fly because I have a passion for it. If my career was only about money then I'd make far more of it, far more easily, by going into business. People who are mostly driven by money go into business - not aviation.
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Old 19th Apr 2013, 09:37
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Reserve

Hi. Has anyone been told they are on the reserve list for this intake?
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Old 19th Apr 2013, 23:48
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I wasn't even aware there was a reserve list! If there is, I image you'd only get told if a space became available.
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Old 20th Apr 2013, 17:31
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Originally Posted by 35000feet
Anyone from FTE day on 11th Jan or BA day on 25th March get through??
I was at Waterside on the 25th, yup.
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Old 21st Apr 2013, 18:51
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Just out of curiosity , what's the average age of the applicants ?
Not just for BA's FPP but for any integrated course (with OAA and CTC).
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Old 22nd Apr 2013, 09:02
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Just out of curiosity , what's the average age of the applicants ?
Not just for BA's FPP but for any integrated course (with OAA and CTC).
Of those on the two OAA assessment days I would estimate the average age was around 23-25. Most I spoke to were either in uni or recent graduates.

At BA I'd guess it was 27-28ish. This could be a pure coincidence but it seemed to me that some of the younger applicants who may not have had so much experience to call on at the OAA interviews didn't get through to BA.

Obviously this isn't a very scientific analysis being based on a fraction of the total number of applicants. YMMV.
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Old 22nd Apr 2013, 13:23
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I am currently in my final year at uni and managed to get into the FPP at 22. I do agree that the average age was older at the final Waterside day compared to the two at CTC.

Although perhaps I didn't have the life experiences of some of the older candidates, I worked extremely hard in preparing for every single assessment stage and made sure my passion and motivation came through more than anything. Thankfully the hours slaving away at verbal and numerical reasoning tests paid off!
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Old 22nd Apr 2013, 21:18
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Have any of you successful applicants not got the funding in place?

Is BA underwriting anyones funding?
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