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Virgin Atlantic Questions - the Master Thread! (Merged)

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Old 12th Mar 2006, 10:35
  #101 (permalink)  
 
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I know of people with only 737 and 320 command hrs getting direct left hand seat at Virgin Nigeria.
As for them only taking guys that currently hold 340 ratings, I dont think they can be that picky at the moment...
Lots of guys currently doing 340 sim training at Gecat at the mo.

Just my two pence worth though...
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Old 20th Mar 2006, 21:49
  #102 (permalink)  
 
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Thumbs up Virgin Interview

Hi there,
does anybody know,what the virgin atlantic interview is like?Do they perform an assessment center and so on?
Would be great,if anybody could tell me something about it.Thanks,
marssurfer
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Old 20th Mar 2006, 21:58
  #103 (permalink)  
 
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Are you a wannabe or an experienced airline pilot?
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Old 20th Mar 2006, 22:15
  #104 (permalink)  
 
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Experienced.10500 tt
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Old 22nd Mar 2006, 08:03
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Originally Posted by marssurfer
Hi there,
does anybody know,what the virgin atlantic interview is like?Do they perform an assessment center and so on?
Would be great,if anybody could tell me something about it.Thanks,
marssurfer
Same here! I´ve searched through most threads mentioned by Scroggs, but no real info about the selection itself. PPJN mentions the following:
Interview with flight ops, HR and a pilot in attendance. Tech, verbal reasoning, psychological profile and maths exams. A sim ride is no longer part of the selection process. Those offered a position will be subject to a medical examination by a company doctor prior to employment.
Any more info regarding this? What would be a good way to prepare?

Unfortunately I have not been invited for an interview yet, however VS is my number one choice and I will get there!
Appreciate any additional info please, PM me if you wish!

p.s. I have airline experience with 3500 hours TT, including 1300 hours jet. (B737 and A319)
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Old 22nd Mar 2006, 17:54
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The assessment day is not too bad. I was one of 6 guys on my assessment day. You have a straightforward Tech paper, which is really just a time filler while each 1 of the 6 leaves the room for their interview - they openly allow you to confer with eachother. There's a psychometric test (shapes, numeric reasoning etc.) which is not too difficult but you don't have much time to complete it. The interview is 3 to 1 (I had 2 management pilots and a lady from Human Resources). Not too stressful - some tech stuff from the pilots, questions like "what would you do in xyz emergency scenario". Then HR lady asks you about yourself and career history (she has your cv in front of her covered in highlighter pen to make sure you're not bullsh*tting). Finally, there's a PF16 personality profilling paper (for which there's no right or wrong answer - you just have to be truthful).
I'm 40 and was lined up to do a command at my last Co., so I had to convince them I wanted Virgin for the right reasons - lifestyle etc.
Hope this helps
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Old 22nd Mar 2006, 18:02
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Thumbs up

Great! Thanks Greenfinch! That was exactly the info I was looking for!

Did you get in?
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Old 22nd Mar 2006, 19:08
  #108 (permalink)  
 
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Hi,

Does anybody know if Virgin currently are taking people in for interview?

Have had my application in for a while, but haven't heard anything yet.
(3500 hours total, 1500 hours jet)

Kind regards,
Great2fly
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Old 23rd Mar 2006, 06:45
  #109 (permalink)  
 
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Virgin Hold Pool

Anyone currently in the hold pool?
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Old 23rd Mar 2006, 13:12
  #110 (permalink)  
 
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Yes, Virgin is interviewing. There are many, many applicants; not all (in fact, far from a majority) will get an interview. Far fewer will get a job (about 140 in 2005, probably a similar number in 2006). Luck, inevitably, will play a part.

Scroggs
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Old 23rd Mar 2006, 18:28
  #111 (permalink)  
 
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iBus,

Yes, I got in - currently doing my '340 training. Best of luck with your application. From what I've seen so far you won't regret it if you get in - seems to be a really excellent company !

Cheers,

Greenfinch
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Old 24th Mar 2006, 16:29
  #112 (permalink)  
 
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Excellent! Good luck on the iBus 340!
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Old 24th Mar 2006, 20:51
  #113 (permalink)  
 
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Many thanks iBus.
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Old 2nd Apr 2006, 16:24
  #114 (permalink)  
 
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Thumbs up flying for VIRGIN

Could anyone please let me know the terms and conditions etc for VIRGIN.
Interested in flight deck (Airbus). Routes, standby etc. Are you enjoying the experience?
Thank you
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Old 2nd Apr 2006, 16:44
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Yes, Im enjoying it!

If you do a quick search you'll find tons of stuff on VS's T&Cs. Scroggs has made some good postings on the subject.
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Old 2nd Apr 2006, 20:15
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thanks, did search and got info, sounds good.
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Old 6th Apr 2006, 08:28
  #117 (permalink)  
 
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Scroggs,

What is the average time to command for a joining F/O? Does previous command experience feature in the equation?

Thanks for any feedback.

MFALK
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Old 6th Apr 2006, 09:23
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I would imagine around 8-10 years. Previous command experience does not get you any further up the list. Believe minimum hours for command are 6000, with 250 hours credit given for each year in Virgin up to a maximum of 1000 credit. With 8-10 years in the right hand seat most will easily achieve that 6000 hours. That said, there are far worse places to spend your time in the right hand seat!
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Old 6th Apr 2006, 09:29
  #119 (permalink)  
 
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Thanks for info exvicar.
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Old 6th Apr 2006, 16:06
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Command time is primarily dependent on the rate of expansion of the airline. Retirements are relatively few as yet (Virgin has a fairly young pilot population), and it's quite likely that, before long, captains will retain their command until 65. Few people leave for other reasons. Therefore the primary source of new left-hand-seats is new aeroplanes!

At the moment, VS is taking, on average, three or four new aircraft a year, net. Some years more, some less. That rate looks set to continue over the next few years. Whether the company will continue to expand at this rate (>10% pa) is moot, but common sense would suggest that it can't continue indefinitely. At the current crewing ratio, and taking all other factors into account, VS needs about 40-50 new captains a year. There are around 400 FOs on line, so the maths is fairly straightforward - at the moment!

Looking at BA, whose fleet strength is static at the moment (and has been for some time), longhaul commands would seem to be around 23+ years right now, give or take a bit. It's therefore reasonable to suggest that VS time to command will tend in that direction as the airline gets bigger, and the proportional effect of three or four new aircraft a year decreases. The airline is forecast to be double its 2003 strength by 2012 (or thereabouts!); by then I would expect command for new entrants to take around 13 years. But who really knows?

Scroggs
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