Virgin Recruiting

[Hueymeister]

And where does this leave someone like me...4000+ hrs, of which 200 or so are fixed wing and the rest rotary..I'd like to go into fixed wing flying when my time is up...what do I need to do to gain a useful ATPL(A)?

[Pub User]

Huey/Woolf

Plenty of ex-mil blokes get airline jobs with CPL/IR. I personally know of 6 with profiles similar to Huey's. who have left the RAF or RN within the last 12 months, and who are now employed by airlines.

If your time up is soon, get on with the exams, then give AFT Exeter a ring.

[BEagle]

The Multo crew IP will probably be completed at the same time as the Type Rating. The most limiting factor for an ex-FJ pilot 'unfreezing' a fATPL is the 500 hrs Multi Pilot time. Please NB that this does not mean 500 hrs as a QFI on a 2-sticker, it means 500 hrs on an aeroplane certificated for 2-pilot operation.

Ex mil with CPL/IR, MCC etc all completed is the same as 'fATPL' held by the kiddies from the Integrated CPL schools - except that you will have a fair bit more training and experience!

As for RW accreditation towards a civil FW licence - that just needs someone in the military RW world who has a good grasp of JAR/FCL to propose something to the Authority for consideration......

[scroggs]

I'm not an expert on the licensing details, but I left the RAF with a full ATPL - however, I did the IR on the mighty Workules. As technically you'd be in exactly the same situation as the many FJ pilots we've recruited over the years, I'd say the answer is 'yes'! Having said that, our recruiting blurb does state ATPL required. I think this is one for directly contacting your target airline - but I doubt it's a problem.

[Dan Winterland]

Although not now working for Virgin but recruited for Virgin after Scroggs, fATPL not a problem. But must have 2500 hours min - factored with taxying hours as per LASORS is OK. However, two years ago they weren't keen on rotary hours. In fact, they didn't count them at all. Sounds harsh, but the reasoning was that if you were only doing a landing a month on Ultra Long Haul, you had to have a good experience base to start with.

Scroggs should be able to check if this is still the case.

[GeeRam]

Any body know whether ex-Lightning and F15 driver, Bob Bees is still flying B.747's for Sir Richard's outfit....?
Got a surprise back in 1999, when I heard the FO announcing his name along with all the other pleasantries on a flight I was on to LAX from LHR.......hmmmnn.....I thought, I wonder if it's that Bob Bees ?

Sure was, when I collared him at LAX baggage collection, I think he was more surprised at being recognised by one of his passengers...........

[hoofhearted]

Capt. Bob Bees now. On the B744.

[haltonapp]

Having instructed Beagle in the VC10 ground school and having flown with him as a member of his crew I do not think heis as bad as everyone says he is.

[BEagle]

How the very devil are you, old mate? Glad to see you're still flying a quality jet....!!

I doubt there's anyone left nowadays at the Covert Oxonian Aerodrome near Cartoontown with the same level of technical knowledge that you had!