Speedbird Pilot Academy - Funded

[The Kingpin]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Congratulations to all who have got up to the PA stage of the assessment.

Whilst waiting for a response I'm trying to prepare for the AON testing, however, I'm unsure what I'm preparing here as I can't find any information about what's being tested here. I'm trying to figure out if it's the typical numerical, verbal, logical reasoning or if it's multitasking style tests. Can anyone provide some clarity on this?

[NevWilkinson]

quick test

[kpldshp]

I'm hoping that since the Speedbird Pilot Academy has started its selection process earlier this year, this might translate into earlier start times for new cadets who successfully make it through. Would there be any merit to that assumption?

[Donut_Ring]

Originally Posted by The Kingpin

Long time lurker, first time poster. Congratulations to all who have got up to the PA stage of the assessment.

Whilst waiting for a response I'm trying to prepare for the AON testing, however, I'm unsure what I'm preparing here as I can't find any information about what's being tested here. I'm trying to figure out if it's the typical numerical, verbal, logical reasoning or if it's multitasking style tests. Can anyone provide some clarity on this?

pilotassessments was good and quite accurate when I used it

[JurassicPilot]

Originally Posted by The Kingpin

Long time lurker, first time poster. Congratulations to all who have got up to the PA stage of the assessment.

Whilst waiting for a response I'm trying to prepare for the AON testing, however, I'm unsure what I'm preparing here as I can't find any information about what's being tested here. I'm trying to figure out if it's the typical numerical, verbal, logical reasoning or if it's multitasking style tests. Can anyone provide some clarity on this?

I'm going to refer back to my own post Here

[NevWilkinson]

Hi everyone, apologies if this has already been asked but does anyone know why a successful Speedbird cadet starts on 35k as a FO at BA and doesn't join the main scale for 8 years? I was looking at FO salaries on the pilotjobsnetwork forum and they show a 72k salary for a year one FO.

Is this something to do with having a frozen APTL ? 8 years seems quite a long time to unfreeze it and join the rest of the BA pilots.

[Speedbird1999]

Originally Posted by NevWilkinson

Hi everyone, apologies if this has already been asked but does anyone know why a successful Speedbird cadet starts on 35k as a FO at BA and doesn't join the main scale for 8 years? I was looking at FO salaries on the pilotjobsnetwork forum and they show a 72k salary for a year one FO.

Is this something to do with having a frozen APTL ? 8 years seems quite a long time to unfreeze it and join the rest of the BA pilots.

Its to repay the bond for training. If you leave before it's settled then you have to repay the 'loan'

[NevWilkinson]

But if you stay for 8 years on a lower salary then you have also repaid the loan? Do self funded cadets that follow the future pilot program therefor go straight onto the main scale?
37k less per year x 8 years is 280k (i doubt you would remain on 35k for the full 8 years).

Is there somewhere that this is explained in more details?

[NevWilkinson]

Sorry forgot to say thanks for replying Speedbird1999

[RHT23]

It's also not 8 years, it's 6. Starting salary is £42k plus all the extras. Sector pay etc. Takes it to £52k starting.

[NevWilkinson]

Thanks @RHT23 but that's still 72k base FO salary against 42k speedbird base salary. I totally understand the bond process but that's different to being paid less. Leave before the 6 years are up and you repay the training is totally fair. being paid less for 6 years to repair the training means the training is Fully Financed and not Fully Funded in my mind.

Again perhaps i'm missing something...

[RHT23]

Originally Posted by NevWilkinson

Thanks @RHT23 but that's still 72k base FO salary against 42k speedbird base salary. I totally understand the bond process but that's different to being paid less. Leave before the 6 years are up and you repay the training is totally fair. being paid less for 6 years to repair the training means the training is Fully Financed and not Fully Funded in my mind.

Again perhaps i'm missing something...

Good point. I've just looked at their direct entry job spec and they want a minimum 500hrs on a CS-25 type aircraft. Going in as a FO off the speedbird scheme would see you with zero hours on that type until you start base training.
I know you jump up the payscale as a speedbird cadet, in the same way as any other pilot, so by the end of your bond period FOs will be at year 7 and the correct salary that comes with that.

[Chris the Robot]

Originally Posted by RHT23

It's also not 8 years, it's 6. Starting salary is £42k plus all the extras. Sector pay etc. Takes it to £52k starting.

Any idea whether this differs depending on whether a cadet goes to Euroflyer or Mainline? I saw a post on Reddit by someone who appears to be a BA pilot suggesting that the payscales do indeed differ but no further evidence than that.

[Retsek]

Originally Posted by Chris the Robot

Any idea whether this differs depending on whether a cadet goes to Euroflyer or Mainline? I saw a post on Reddit by someone who appears to be a BA pilot suggesting that the payscales do indeed differ but no further evidence than that.

Cadets will be sent to both euroflyer and mainline. I imagine you will get to put a preference but it will be down to BA’s needs ultimately. Not sure if there is a pay difference.

[kpldshp]

Got asked to redo my PA as BA had issues with the recording. It was the exact same briefing, but this time I only had one attempt.

I recorded my second announcement and realized that I had said "um" as a filler probably too many times! I really hope this won't be disqualifying because otherwise I covered every point and (I believe I) made a good announcement...

[NevWilkinson]

Try to look on the positive. Whilst it has to be frustrating to have to re-record the PA, the people at BA must have liked your test scores and motivational letter enough to want to give you a second chance. At this stage there still must be a couple of thousand candidates that they need to reduce further.

[sky_rat]

I have completed the PA test and waiting to hear my result. In the meantime I am trying to prepare for the CUT-E tests
I have been practising the tests on the pilotest website and completed the attention tests.
However, I am struggling with two of the spatial tests: 1. the navigation )sense of direction) test and 2. the moving dots test.
The navigation sense of direction test only gives you two seconds before moving onto the next one, its a shame I cant disable the timer or slow it down so I can practice before it speeds up.
The moving dots test seems impossible and just seems to be a guessing game !
Can anyone help or give me some tips please ?

[itsrdb]

Originally Posted by NevWilkinson

Thanks @RHT23 but that's still 72k base FO salary against 42k speedbird base salary. I totally understand the bond process but that's different to being paid less. Leave before the 6 years are up and you repay the training is totally fair. being paid less for 6 years to repair the training means the training is Fully Financed and not Fully Funded in my mind.

Again perhaps i'm missing something...

The point of the program is to get those who cannot afford to pay for pilot training trained to become a pilot. If you can afford to fork out 100k for training then there's no point in applying for Speedbird, as it's the exact same training you'll receive at flight school, except you'll be on full salary when you join your company as opposed to being bonded and paying back your training costs. The purpose of Speedbird Academy is to remove that barrier of entry for those who don't stand a chance of ever being able to afford such training. It's certainly a fully funded scheme.

[Muniraaax]

Originally Posted by Mount

Got my rejection too. Do you know if BA releases generic feedback on the tests like TUI? I thought I did well on the tests, so unsure if I went wrong with them or with my CV and motivational answer.

From what I've seen from a few people, if you failed bcus of the tests then the rejection email will specify this. If it doesn't, it's most probably because of your motivation/ CV section

[Rano1991]

Ultimately you're going to be paying for it either way. Either up front via modular/integrated or via a salary sacrifice of sorts.

I still feel SPA is the better option due to the guaranteed job at the end of it, training with the airline from the ground up and not having to source funding.

But I will console myself if I don't get a place that I will earn more post training if I self-fund.