Top UK FTO says "BA do not accept modular pilots, EVER"
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Heathrow
Top UK FTO says "BA do not accept modular pilots, EVER"
flyhigh747 was recently informed of a predicament.
flyhigh 747 was told that one training along the Modular path, would be rejected from future employment with the UK's flagship carrier regardless of hours and experience.
flyhigh747 knew that the carrier would not accept Modular trainees from any FTO and knew that they only accept a certain few from the 'top 4' as low hour self sponsored direcy entry pilots on the integrated course.
flyhigh747 was, understandably, fairly perplexed and put-out.
Is this true or indeed just a rumour? Discuss, and hopefully the wolves of pprune will have their fun.
flyhigh 747 was told that one training along the Modular path, would be rejected from future employment with the UK's flagship carrier regardless of hours and experience.
flyhigh747 knew that the carrier would not accept Modular trainees from any FTO and knew that they only accept a certain few from the 'top 4' as low hour self sponsored direcy entry pilots on the integrated course.
flyhigh747 was, understandably, fairly perplexed and put-out.
Is this true or indeed just a rumour? Discuss, and hopefully the wolves of pprune will have their fun.

Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 4
From: Bristol, England
Untrue. You would be surprised how many long serving BA pilots come from the JAA modular or old CAA 'self-improver' routes.
When BA were last recruiting they took direct entry pilots (DEPs) from either integrated or modular backgrounds without distinction. The requirement for DEPs was, I recall, 500 hours plus in commercial operations. They also recruited some ex-military pilots in relatively small numbers.
What they wouldn't do is take in modular trained pilots without experience, although they would take similar integrated cadets.
So, no. Taking the modular route does not automatically bar you from working for BA but it's not going to be your first job.
When BA were last recruiting they took direct entry pilots (DEPs) from either integrated or modular backgrounds without distinction. The requirement for DEPs was, I recall, 500 hours plus in commercial operations. They also recruited some ex-military pilots in relatively small numbers.
What they wouldn't do is take in modular trained pilots without experience, although they would take similar integrated cadets.
So, no. Taking the modular route does not automatically bar you from working for BA but it's not going to be your first job.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 147
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From: Somewhere
As Alex has said, they will not take low hours modular pilots. Once you've got the required experience, then the route you took to get that experience (i.e. modular or integrated) is of no particular interest.

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 768
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From: The Land Downunder
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON WAS A MODULAR STUDENT!
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON NOW WORKS FOR BA!
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON KNOWS NOT OF SUCH A RULE!
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON KNOWS THAT MODULAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED STRAIGHT FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL (NEED EXPERIENCE TO JOIN AS A DEP)
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON IS NOW WONDERING WHAT THE F**K HE IS ON ABOUT
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON NOW WORKS FOR BA!
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON KNOWS NOT OF SUCH A RULE!
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON KNOWS THAT MODULAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED STRAIGHT FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL (NEED EXPERIENCE TO JOIN AS A DEP)
ARTIFICIAL HORIZON IS NOW WONDERING WHAT THE F**K HE IS ON ABOUT
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,571
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From: Arizona USA
In reality, it should not matter, anyway.
BA is able to train their new guys properly (one would hope) and, having flown with a few of the BA First Officers years ago, while on secondment to another carrier, found them to be top notch in every respect.
The same can be said of Qantas guys, as well, as I had the pleasure of flying with some of them also, many years ago.
Having said all this, under no circumstances whatsoever, would I allow them to taxi the airplane (and yes, some of our aircraft at the time had a RHS tiller).
Similar with other line Captains at the company.
After all, we can't have F/O's taxying over frangible lights, now can we....
BA is able to train their new guys properly (one would hope) and, having flown with a few of the BA First Officers years ago, while on secondment to another carrier, found them to be top notch in every respect.
The same can be said of Qantas guys, as well, as I had the pleasure of flying with some of them also, many years ago.
Having said all this, under no circumstances whatsoever, would I allow them to taxi the airplane (and yes, some of our aircraft at the time had a RHS tiller).
Similar with other line Captains at the company.
After all, we can't have F/O's taxying over frangible lights, now can we....

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,847
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From: Dubai - sand land.
What's that 411a - they're ok now??... Just a couple of days back the Brits couldn't handle big airplanes (aeroplanes in English) when they were running over lights in Miami
Well, according to you!!
Well, according to you!!

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 272
Likes: 88
From: UK
Yeah agree with the above. Basically the marketing people like to make the statement that BA only takes integrated students. But that only applies to low hour graduates (which they keep quiet about)
Alex W. - I believe it was 500hrs on aircraft with weight >25T. Ie you cant get in with 500hrs on light a/c!
Anyway who cares - BA aint recruiting; Integrated SSPs or Modular DEPs, and probably wont for a few years to come....
The requirement for DEPs was, I recall, 500 hours plus in commercial operations
Anyway who cares - BA aint recruiting; Integrated SSPs or Modular DEPs, and probably wont for a few years to come....

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 17
From: Ask crewing
I don't see what the big fuss is. BA themselves admit they don't take modular pilots straight out of flying school....they only take integrated students as SSPs. If someone is looking at an FTO it is not unreasonable to assume that they are thinking about their employment prospects upon graduation. Their chance of employment IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION with BA is nil. So, if the school is saying to a prospective student that they have no chance of being taken on by BA after graduation that is true. If the student wants to join as a DEP after building the required experience they are free to do that.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 628
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From: Ireland
So nothing new there. FTO wants to sell integrated courses to innocent wannabee BA pilots. So he exaggerates a tad. Result is that their profits go up nicely. What they usually fail to mention is that BA and one or two others like Aer Lingus like to cherry pick the best of the classes at a time when it suits them. So don't expect a call if you averages are a bit low and your timing is off.
Most other airlines don't care too much and let's face it that's where most of the jobs are.
If you want BA badly enough, you can always get it eventually. Quite why you would is another matter.
Most other airlines don't care too much and let's face it that's where most of the jobs are.
If you want BA badly enough, you can always get it eventually. Quite why you would is another matter.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 159
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From: FL260
Flyhigh747,
Did the FTO who told you that also tell you nearly half their students all went to the same airline....
Was that one airline BA? You would like to think so..Would (in my eyes) make up for paying over the top for the course. No it was Ryanair who do accept modular......
Nothing against FR by the way.......
Did the FTO who told you that also tell you nearly half their students all went to the same airline....
Was that one airline BA? You would like to think so..Would (in my eyes) make up for paying over the top for the course. No it was Ryanair who do accept modular......

Nothing against FR by the way.......
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 346
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From: FL 350
Top UK FTO aka OAA. It is true for low hour pilots that BA will only consider you if you have come from an integrated background.
TBH if i had to make the choice again with regards to integrated or mod (inlight of the current economic climate) i would go mod but i guess i'll have to stick with OAA now (ATPL exams approaching
)
TBH if i had to make the choice again with regards to integrated or mod (inlight of the current economic climate) i would go mod but i guess i'll have to stick with OAA now (ATPL exams approaching
)
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
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From: Heathrow
My apologies for typing in the 3rd person and somewhat decreasing the persona of this forum. However it just came out as a typed in an attempt for anonymity as I would like to join A UK FTO and as such, did not to wish to name them.
Having said that, the majority of the replies have been encouraging as to BA's status on employment, however is it true of them in the current climate?
Having said that, the majority of the replies have been encouraging as to BA's status on employment, however is it true of them in the current climate?

Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 4
From: Bristol, England
No, BA are not recruiting at all at the moment. This information relates to what they did in the past. They have, actually, taken modular trained cadets from CTC but only a few and I suspect that BA regarded the CTC output quality as as good as or better than the average integrated output regardless of the approvals CTC held at the time.

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 468
Likes: 3
From: London
Sounds like a move of desparation. There will always be a dillusional few who think that BA is the only airline to fly for - why they think this is beyond the scope of this thread.
If they say this to these dillusional folk, they will take in whatever they say, and hand over their cheques and deeds to their parents houses.
I bet the same guy didn't say "you have more chance of getting in to FR or BE than any other airline". But any FTO brochure is very selective over what it puts in.
If they say this to these dillusional folk, they will take in whatever they say, and hand over their cheques and deeds to their parents houses.
I bet the same guy didn't say "you have more chance of getting in to FR or BE than any other airline". But any FTO brochure is very selective over what it puts in.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 346
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From: FL 350
They have, actually, taken modular trained cadets from CTC but only a few
Last edited by heli_port; 8th October 2008 at 07:08.




