Yeah exactly what I though.

I was just wondering why people were talking about this idea...

The odds are no different if the cadets are selected without any regard to their school.

The odds can be significantly different if they cadets are assessed relative to each school. ie:

School Applicants Places % Chance of success
FTE 1000 24 2.4%
CTC 1000 24 2.4%
Oxford 1300 24 1.8%

What Libertine said about 24 per school was what I heard from Oxford last year. So if anyone knows 100% the policy (rather than what they think), it would be appreciated...

My point stands. Think about it this way...

You decide to slash your odds by going to FTE and make it through to the final selection day. At the final selection day you meet the best candidates from the other two schools (the same schools you avoided). Now all the best candidates are in one place, competing against each other for the places, and you have to beat them to progress anyway. So under no circumstances are you actually avoiding any of the competition (at least not as far as the FPP as a whole is concerned), assuming BA are choosing candidates based entirely on merit, rather than allocating to each FTO an equal number (which they almost certainly aren't). It's inconceivable that BA would do it that way, given that they want the best - not the luckiest. And in this industry the FTOs don't make the demands - the airlines do.

I see your point, however at my final day selection the people that I spoke to were all from Oxford. Like me..

Incidentally, it's quite possible that what OAA have said has been taken out of context. I don't know for sure (as I wasn't there), but I can see why someone giving a talk on the FPP might say something along the lines of: "...so they're looking for about 75 candidates, 25 from each FTO", without meaning it quite as literally as that. Perhaps all it was really trying to say was that the candidates will be trained by three FTOs without prejudice.

I mean, if the allocation was split and set in stone, why wouldn't that be outlined on the FPP website? And why would OAA want to advertise the fact that their candidates have a statistical disadvantage? And why would BA say they want the best candidates, when - with that method - they almost certainly wouldn't get the best? It just doesn't make an ounce of sense to me. :ok:

In addition (after which I'll shut up for a wee while :p) the new BA FPP website FAQ says:

Now I'm pretty sure BA are capable of understanding basic statistics, so wouldn't miss that an equal allocation across FTOs would statistically favour candidates at FTOs with the fewest candidates. :)

I'm not convinced either way. But its been interesting to debate the merits of either...

Companies do strange things when negotiating contracts..

When I have been involved in the recruitment of apprentices (albeit not on this scale) a similar methodology applies. Regardless of geographical location, if all of the best candidates are based in one area we will concentrate on their recruitment rather than waste time with other applications. Same rule will probably apply here as it's common sense, however statistically you are likely to see an even proportion of high quality candidates over the 3 FTO's due to the sheer volume of applications made which is why the likelihood of even student intake is high between each FTO.

Hi,

Last time I checked, the MCC / Jet Orientation Course at each school was done on:
Oxford - 737 Classic (-400?)
CTC - A320
FTE - 737 NG

I'm guessing if you do your JOC on the A320 the type rating would be easier. I know BA have some 737's but from what I have heard they wont put cadets on them..

Anyone know any difference to the above ?

The 2014 FPP selection opens on 26th October according to the BA intranet. They've also created some new vids for the B787 and A380 which you can view on the BA YouTube channel:

BA specified for CTC to use the 737 for the JOC as its less of a step up from light aircraft flying to the Airbus..

How reliable is the source that states that the FPP will be open to applications on 26th October?

Very reliable. It should be open for about a month and BA are looking to recruit around 60.

Good luck all! :ok:

Sounds great :)

Good luck everyone :)

tonybhoy96

Read this: Pilot Q&A: Helen Macnamara Senior First Officer, Boeing 767 fleet - Travel tips and inspiration - British Airways High Life

It was also stated in the BA highlife magazine that it will reopen on the 26th October.

Thanks EZY FR :)

People older than you have got on the scheme before, so it's unlikely to have been your age!

Good luck.

1) I believe so. In fact, some candidates who failed to get through on their first attempt were successful on their second. As far as I know quite a few of them tried through the same FTO.

2) If you had attended the selection day at FTE then I'd say you'd stand a better chance of making it through to the final stage by going there again; than by changing FTO (purely because you'd have experience of what their selection was like). However, as you didn't make it that far, I doubt it'd make a great deal of difference which one you apply to on the next occasion. In fact, I've even heard it mentioned that it's BA who decide who to invite to each of the FTO selection days based on the online applications, and if that is the case then it won't make the slightest bit of difference which one you apply to.

Hope it's helpful. :cool:

Wouldn't let age put anyone off. There are plenty of applicants at my flight school who are balding, grey hairs or both! The majority of younger cadets but the have degrees and/or previous RAF experience. If given a choice between all three schools I would go with Jerez based on the location and current fleet expansion - just because you haven't got in on the first go don't just give up. Took me nine go's to get onto an airline scheme!

Hello.

As a previous applicant, I feel it is very important that I have my input. I believe the school which you apply for is very very important and has a great effect on your application. Without naming the schools involved, a close friend of mine applied for one of the schools initially in the first few days and was rejected and submitted the same application 2 weeks later to a different school via a different email address etc and was invited to the assessment stage and made it to the final stage of the whole settlement. Therefore, there is no way that British Airways screen the applications. The flight training School does.