British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
Join Date: Jul 2011
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SHL demo tests
Just finished a quick practice test online.............OUCH!!!!! Really didn't go well!......Can anybody shed any light on just how representative they are of the BA tests on the day? I don't have my assessment documents to hand but I'm sure I read that calculators were not allowed? yet on the practice tests online they are?!.......Even still they fried my tiny little mind!!!!
Any help or direction would be great! Would hate to be wasting time and studying in the wrong areas!
Thanks alot
Any help or direction would be great! Would hate to be wasting time and studying in the wrong areas!
Thanks alot

Join Date: Jan 2005
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Ron, read the thread. Although long and tedious in places it does reveal a lot. If you are serious about BA then you need to go the extra mile. I believe that's a pre-requisite for selection. Good luck

Join Date: Aug 2002
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No calculators allowed, and the SHL maths is not representative. Brush up on basic mental maths. The maths paper is really very simple.
The SHL verbal reasoning practice test is much like the real thing. Keep practicing, you will get better. I used assessmentday.co.uk and payed a few quid for the practice tests (they give you the answers as well so you can learn where you are going wrong).
The SHL verbal reasoning practice test is much like the real thing. Keep practicing, you will get better. I used assessmentday.co.uk and payed a few quid for the practice tests (they give you the answers as well so you can learn where you are going wrong).

PPRuNe Person
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Built4speed, difficult/impossible to answer your question, as what has happened in recent years has been affected by the change in retirement age. I don't think there is such a thing as a 'typical' career path in BA. When things start to move on from the current stagnation, there will be shiny new types to fly, and it doesn't follow that the most senior wish to fly them.
Foe example, the A380 will be introduced in BA under our 'small fleet rules' where everyone is rostered (ie no/little choice). This, coupled with the lack of variety in routes, and also Airbus v Boeing considerations (people may not wish to undertake conversion courses towards the end of their career) means that it is a difficult call to make as to how senior/junior a such fleet may be.
BA offers a fantastic variety, expansion is ahead of us, my only advice is to get in as soon as possible and bid for whatever you want to fly once you are unfrozen, good luck.
Foe example, the A380 will be introduced in BA under our 'small fleet rules' where everyone is rostered (ie no/little choice). This, coupled with the lack of variety in routes, and also Airbus v Boeing considerations (people may not wish to undertake conversion courses towards the end of their career) means that it is a difficult call to make as to how senior/junior a such fleet may be.
BA offers a fantastic variety, expansion is ahead of us, my only advice is to get in as soon as possible and bid for whatever you want to fly once you are unfrozen, good luck.

I can only agree with overstress The important thing is to get in on any fleet. FWIW, I gather that the 787 probably wont be that popular at the start either, as the present rules mean that pilots would have to leave the 777 fleet to fly it initially. Apart from the trainers and the super keens, I think most senior guys will stay put. There will be a golden opportunity for some junior pilots to fly the worlds most advanced airliners in one of the worlds best airlines.

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You will not get on a small fleet as a DEP so you have several years of initial freeze to read the rules (!) but:
Reserve blocks are shorter than the 28 days on mainline
You can bid for reserve and state preferences for trips
There is no 'bank'
There will be an agreed number of 'trump' days - to be used to get specific days off etc. These are handled in seniority order.
All known work will be allocated leaving very little uncovered at roster publication.
In summary, very different from mainline, would not suit everyone.
It is unlikely that BA will recruit DEPs onto a 'small fleet' now, given that we are talking about the 380 and 787. By the time you get into a position to be on such fleets, it will probably all have changed, certainly on the 787, but the 380 will remain 'small fleet'.
Reserve blocks are shorter than the 28 days on mainline
You can bid for reserve and state preferences for trips
There is no 'bank'
There will be an agreed number of 'trump' days - to be used to get specific days off etc. These are handled in seniority order.
All known work will be allocated leaving very little uncovered at roster publication.
In summary, very different from mainline, would not suit everyone.
It is unlikely that BA will recruit DEPs onto a 'small fleet' now, given that we are talking about the 380 and 787. By the time you get into a position to be on such fleets, it will probably all have changed, certainly on the 787, but the 380 will remain 'small fleet'.

Join Date: Sep 2004
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Anybody been to the interview would care to elaborate on their interview that took place today? Is it mostly the same as Green-Army's excellent feedback above.
Good luck all...
Good luck all...

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The sim session is now a separate day entirely. Ie. weeks after.
No upper age limit. BA are very politically correct when it comes to age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic group etc. No where in the application form do they ask for your age for example.
Good luck
No upper age limit. BA are very politically correct when it comes to age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic group etc. No where in the application form do they ask for your age for example.
Good luck

Join Date: Aug 2003
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800 pilots needed by BA
Of which 400 will be from this DEP route. Sorry if everyone knew this already.
British Airways to recruit 800 pilots - Telegraph
British Airways to recruit 800 pilots - Telegraph

Join Date: Mar 2005
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I agree, we need a new thread for the Holding Pool only.
Limited info - date placed in pool
We can then get an idea of who is getting pulled out and how many are actually in the pool.
Limited info - date placed in pool
We can then get an idea of who is getting pulled out and how many are actually in the pool.

