Life on the line at BA - after cadet training...
 

I was always impressed by those BA cadets who could go straight from flight training into a BA flight deck with only a few hundred hours. But, I have heard from some that life on the "line" is not always so rosy...

3 questions for BA cadets who have graduated and are now on the line:


1. How does the job live up to your original expectations?

2. What aircraft were you first posted to? Was that your first choice? How about long-haul aircraft - is that an option when starting out?

3. What is the most difficult part of the job (least fun) that you didn't anticipate before you started?


Cheers

C'mon - there have to be former BA cadets out there...

Just interested in hearing about life after the training - and if your expectations were met...

Hello?

They're not Wannabes anymore, so they won't read your message :(

TB

G'day, in answer to your question (and to prove that some of us do check back occasionally...)

1. The job is above and beyond how I expected it to be. Knew I'd enjoy it, but it's still pretty un-describable (if there is such a word) how it feels doing the walk round and looking up at this bloody great aeroplane you're about to carry 200 people in. Anyone that says that life aint rosy is either lying or, if not, should leave and find something else to do. There are down sides, but not many.

2. 757/767 Long haul is an option on the 76 (no longer an option for cadets tho), other than that you have to unfreeze your ATPL (>1500 hrs)

3. Worst Part- getting up at 0345 to operate the early Paris. The sooner the Scarebus lot get it the better. And 6 earlies in a row can get pretty fatigue inducing.

Hope that answers your question.

Alf

Alfie_Midnight,

Thanks for your informative reply. Yeah, I expect that the job far exceeds expectations.

Any more interesting replys from former cadets?

Love to hear from anyone out there!!!!!!!!

Alfie - you are welcome to your early Paris's! I am looking forward to taking a few more cushty European destinations off you chaps over the next few months (to add to Rome, Prague, Budapest etc.)!!

In answer to your question Lavdumper - I have to agree with Alfie - the job far exceeds all expectations. But as you indicate it is by no means a walk in the park - even when you have done that dreaded IR! There are unfortunately still some folk who don't pass their base/line training and end up out on their ear. There is still an awful lot to learn even after all this.

The hardest bit I find (after you get to grips with the aircraft!) is remembering that there are 150 odd pax(I mean customers) sat behind you and you need to be aware of their problems and be able to think in a more commercial sense (not as obvious as it seems).

However, as people have time and again proved - 200 hrs guys whether sponsored or not can cut the mustard provided they work hard and accept that they have a lot to learn.

Alfie and Sean,

would both of you be willing to put up your rosters here (a bit like what scroggs and WWW did a while back). I'm sure it'll be much appreciated.

;)

Difficult at the mo, as I'm on standby for this month (again!). When October's roster hits the mat then I'll let you know.

Cheers

Here - 6 earlies in a row is illegal surely!
Have you not seen the proposed changes to CAP371??????
Just wait till you do your second conversion!
Now THAT'S hard....

Finished Jet Orientation Course in August, inducted into the company at end of October started Groundschool in mid Nov followed by Sim. Did my base at end of Dec and was line qualified on the 1st of Feb. All pretty quick really!

1. Initially the job exceeded all expectations, but after some time it became tedious and monotonous. Once you know all the routes inside out the highlight of your day becomes breakfast and the Daily telegraph. And it will be breakfast because you certainly won't get to see a crew dinner.

2. Posted to my first choice aircraft at my last choice base. The aircrafts wobbly tendencies still interest and entertain, but thats about all the stimulation there is short of nipping back to the forward galley to talk to the crew and grab a coffee. Long haul? I can dream!

3.Least fun? It could be the 5 day blocks with increasingly early starts (all before 6am). Or it could be the tedious monotony of doing the same routes, day in, day out with no variety or challenge. Or a standby block every other month. Or effectively having no control over your roster. Or not having a weekend off for months on end. Or the feeling of total disillusionment when your roster arrive and once again, your doing the same s*** as last month, and every month before that, no matter what you bid for. Or it could be listening to your friends at a different base tell you what an exciting time they had in x, whilst you were in y for the 7th time that month.

[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: Wubble U ]

Wubble U. How long has it been since you started? Even though you seem to have grown tired of the job, would you do anything else?

Two years. I haven't grown tired of the job, just tired of it in this situation. I'll just grit my teeth and wait for that 777. BAs a good company to be in if you fall on your feet, but with bad timing and bad luck you can find yourself screwed for a long time.

[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: Wubble U ]