BA Final Board - BOO HOO
 

I had my BA final Board on the 25th April and have just opened the dreaded letter telling me my application was unsuccessful, poo. Im gutted but nevamind, bloody proud to have got that far anyway! Gonna ring BA tomorrow - does anyone know if they provide 'constructive criticism?' Maybe I'll apply again in a couple of years - pleased to say I got a nice fall-back job in London anyway - unfortunately Risk Consulting doesn't quite have the same appeal as flying nice polished jets tho! Any of you other guys there on the 25th heard yet? Simon I know you're on Pprune. I really hope you guys get the nod cos you were all top blokes - hopefully our teamwork f**k up wasn't the decisive factor. I wish u all the best boys

Regards,
Big(but obviously not so)Bad Don

BigBadDon, sorry to hear that dude!

But tell me, do you really want to be a pilot?

Sorry to hear that mate. I dont think BA do give feedback on the final board but its probably worth a try.

Good luck

Iz,
To be honest I'd LOVE to be a pilot - it's always been my dream ever since a young age and will continue to be so. Just because I got a job in the City doesnt been Im not as keen as I should be - its just a nice fall back plan I guess. People say apply for other sponsorships but for me there is only one airline, no disrespect to anyone, thats just my personal opinion. I don't like failing so Im still very determined!

Hi BigBadDon,

Thanks for elaborating on my provocative question :) I REALLY don't understand your opinion though (you're absolutely entitled to have it), but that was indeed what I was wondering when I asked my previous question.
So your dislike of other airlines (all of them) is stronger than your urge to fly?

Then sorry my friend, but that may have been part of the reason why you didn't make it.

For instance, the answer to the question "If you don't make it through our application, will you attempt to become a pilot elsewhere?" should NEVER be "No".

Believe me, they see so many young people who think "Aah I'll give it a shot, if it works then great, if not, oh well I'll do something else."
And that's exactly what they're not looking for!

Unlucky BigBadDon.

Unfortunately, it sometimes does come down to luck.

BA DO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE PHONE, contrary to what has been said here, because I have just had some after my failure at the final board.

Give 'em a bell, and open mindedly get the feedback.

All the best, and what are your other plans now mate?

LORI

Phone BA and get feed back, because they will get back to you eventually with some stuff. And yes there is only one airline worth applying to. Need I remind people that BA is the only one offering FULL sponsorship not PART which is the norm everywhere else.

If anyone knows if they is another expenses paid sponsorship out there (except the RAF) then feel free to share.

Theres always next year.......

WT.

Couldn't agree more Iz.

I can't see myself doing anything else. I just hope that BA don't mind me having 100hrs by the time I get to the testing. I have 85hrs at the moment and doubt that I will have the will power to stay on the ground until Aug (my interview date).

keep the faith!!

I got to the final stage of the Air2000/ cab air sponsorship 2 years in a row.... they pick 6 from 12 at the final stage... and got sacked off both times!!

getting to the final stage shows you have got what it takes, and will get a job soon!

Aer Lingus offer 100% sponsorship.....!??

HI
I just want to shout very loudly that my answer at FA final board was No - I will never fly for anyone else. And I damn well meant it. And I passed. So whoever it was that said you're answer to that Q should never be No : mate, you can't give definitive guides. They judge who you are personally. I would never have flown for anyone else - I believe in BA. Thats what is gonna make me good. For others it may work differently. But be careful with the advice. GE X

Depends totally on the person that interviews you of course. Glad you got on though.

Don't understand the attitude though, it's just a company. I've worked with/for British Airways and although the fleet is nice, can't say I'm that impressed. I've been disappointed with the handling and service many times.

I know in my country (Holland) the same feeling exists with people who want to fly with KLM and think it's the only airline in the world.

Anyway, good luck on your training and I hope you'll have a lot of fun. We'll talk when you've been flying there for a while and see if it is indeed the magical place you've always dreamt about.

So many EGO's - such a small world!

Something which might interest all British Airway's failures. Is that all companies which hold data on you. Must sign the data protection act. Which gives YOU access to that data apon request. Including your interview report form and any notes they make about you during the interview. They may charge you to send this information out, but you are intitled to see it. With holding that information would be breaking the law.

So if you fail an interview for anywhere ask to see the Interviewers Report on you. Can be very useful

Happy Flying

I don't what to open up a huge debate but I also beg to differ with the advise given regarding being asked what you would do if unsuccessful at BA. I was also asked this question, and answered honestly, which should be the only way to answer in order to succeed with the CEP interview. I repilied that I would probably fly for pleasure with a PPL but not pursue the goal of an airline job. This seemed to work for me as I was successful and now fly shiny new(ish) 737's. I would add that I personally believe they look for a person who takes a balanced and realistic approach to their career.

Anyway that's my tuppence worth...

The Dog

IZ,
I understand your point and its hard to explain where Im coming from to people who are only thinking of the flying. The flying will be all new to me when I start and although Im passionately excited about that side of my career, I want to be part of something I believe in. Thats important to me. The corporate identity of the company I work for matters a lot because somewhere along the way I like to think Ill get involved with other sides than just the flight ops. Ok, to you maybe its just a company, but to a lot of people its just as relevant to consider who you are flying for as it it is to fly at all.

Doggerman, I'm with you. xx

The more I read from people who have been taken onto BA's scheme, the more I lose faith in BA's selection procedures. That they take on people like Doggerman and great expectations after you freely admit that you will not pursue an aviation career with anyone else - it's totally astonishing!

Recently there was a thread that implied that all BA cadets are tossers, and right now no-one seems to be giving any reason for us to believe anything but,

T'Bird

T'bird your last sentence is a lovely example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing, and possibly irritating if it wasn't so laughable. Quite apart from being 2 highly trained and capable people (I dont know them but as they are flying or training to fly large a/c for a living as part of as well respected and professional flight crew population we can assume that much) doggerman and great expectations both posted honest replies to a fair question that may well help people to achieve their ambition.

They probably dont give a damn what you think of them, but you carry on with your software writing and dancing and keep your nasty comments to yourself please.

And to return to the matters at hand, just tell the truth. I did and it worked for me too. Anyone can drop me an email if you want to know any more.

(edited to add 'training to fly')

[This message has been edited by 52049er (edited 08 May 2001).]

[This message has been edited by 52049er (edited 08 May 2001).]

great expectations, doggerman and 50249er:
How long ago were you taken on?

The reason that I ask is that I have been reliably informed that BA used to take on people who were "high achievers" etc even if they did not show a great deal of determination to fly. Nowadays I have been told that the emphasis has changed in that BA also put a lot of emphasis on sheer deterination to fly and that "tunnel vision" for BA is actually seen as a bad thing.

My hope is that you were taken on when determination to fly was not so important. Otherwise, what you have said and what my final board interviewer told me contradict.

I am sure that you can understand the anger of people like Token Bird who are trying every possible method to become pilots and would most definately spend the money on training themselves if they had it (I AM implying that you would not spend the money on the training).

Token bird, I feel the same way. Don't let it get you down though and don't reduce yourself to slanging matches in public. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Duncan2 (edited 08 May 2001).]

To answer your question Duncan, I was taken on just about 3 years ago. Did my commercial/management background count more than my flying experience?....err yes because I had quite a few years of management experience prior to applying and precisely no experience of flying commercial jets. At the time and on the day that was what BA wanted from me as an individual. On the same day they took someone else on with no management experience and 200hrs + of light a/c flying.

The reason I replied to tokens post above is not to start a 'ceps are all great, anyone who is not accepted by BA is motivated by jealousy and anger' flame war. It was to alert people to advice that was in danger of being howled down by people making ridiculous accusations about 'tossers'. You may also notice that i didnt actually post my answer to the question 'would I look elsewhere if BA turned me down' precisely to get away from the idea of 'right' and 'wrong' answers in the interview. In fact, my answer was not the same as my colleagues, but that is irrelevant. How could it be otherwise when on my course we had ex-RAF, ex Aeronautical engineers, PPLers with 250 hrs, complete beginners, people who had applied to Virgin, BM, Air 2000, the RAF, and so on.

If you do not intend to apply for any other airlines, think through why not and tell them. If you are, think through why you are and tell them. If (like me ) you are going to self sponsor and become an instructor, think through why and tell them. (BTW Duncan, if you assumed I WOULDN'T have self sponsored then be very careful about your use of assumptions in the interview. They may let you down badly.)

Unfortunately or otherwise, BA hold the purse strings and if they think you are telling the truth (lying at this stage is not a good precursor to a long career in a responsible job IMHO) they may offer you a job. If not, they wont. Get used to the fact that you can only try your best and life is not fair sometimes. And for gods sake lets get away from this 'CEPS are all blah blah blah'. Its childish, it is demonstrably untrue, its not even worth discussing and it is unbecoming of anyone that wants to join ANY profession.