British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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Aptitude test
Is the aptitude test still similar as in post 1? I have noticed rumours that the aptitude test it is reduced in size and not comparable to cockpitweb software anymore... Can this be confirmed?
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Hello Everyone,
I'm in the situation of having been invited to interview but having not been quick enough to the post and getting 'No Slots Available.' This was a good two months ago now, so I am a tad concerned that I am no longer receiving emails informing me when new slots become available.
Before I query this with BA, could someone let me know when new slots last became available on BA's website?
Thanks everyone,
6080
I'm in the situation of having been invited to interview but having not been quick enough to the post and getting 'No Slots Available.' This was a good two months ago now, so I am a tad concerned that I am no longer receiving emails informing me when new slots become available.
Before I query this with BA, could someone let me know when new slots last became available on BA's website?
Thanks everyone,
6080
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cockpit web is good practice for the hand eye coordination x hairs. The numerapt is no use. As has been said earlier, group exercise, have something to say but not too much, tdodar all the way through and keep an eye on the time. Maths, all about speed and not panicking therefore practice basic times tables, %, ratios etc. English you can't realy practice for...basic rule if you can prove the question is yes or no from all you get then fine, otherwise...can't tell. I believe interview is the most important. I completely cocked up coordination, more misses than hits but still got through.
Interview, as posted earlier they want lots of different examples. I gave a lot non aviation but allways related to CRM and TDODAR. If you do lots of prep for this you will be fine, if you don't you will fail. I did 2-3 hours a day for two months and came out thinking it was hard. You may sound like a robot constantly dodaring but thats what they want and lets face it if you had more than 1 problem in the aircraft you would do this anyway.
I would also advise a lot of research into the company (and thats not just what aircraft they fly and how many they have), more of a where have they been as a business and where are they going from a marketing perspective, ops perspective etc. This does two things, tells them you are serious and have thought long and hard about this choice but also it helps to keep you motivated to do the rest of the revision when you see the amount they are involved with and where they are going.
Good luck
Interview, as posted earlier they want lots of different examples. I gave a lot non aviation but allways related to CRM and TDODAR. If you do lots of prep for this you will be fine, if you don't you will fail. I did 2-3 hours a day for two months and came out thinking it was hard. You may sound like a robot constantly dodaring but thats what they want and lets face it if you had more than 1 problem in the aircraft you would do this anyway.
I would also advise a lot of research into the company (and thats not just what aircraft they fly and how many they have), more of a where have they been as a business and where are they going from a marketing perspective, ops perspective etc. This does two things, tells them you are serious and have thought long and hard about this choice but also it helps to keep you motivated to do the rest of the revision when you see the amount they are involved with and where they are going.
Good luck
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I have been going trough this thread for a while and have still some questions regarding the first post.
I assume that most of the first post is still valid.
But:
1) Is the full MicroPAT testing still done, or only the capacity test?
2) Can anybody specify the questions with regards to the numerical reasoning?
Is the rest of the opening post still valid?
Thanks for helping!
I assume that most of the first post is still valid.
But:
1) Is the full MicroPAT testing still done, or only the capacity test?
2) Can anybody specify the questions with regards to the numerical reasoning?
Is the rest of the opening post still valid?
Thanks for helping!
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Hi Brian Potter,
No nothing for me and I was in the pool in early May... Hope its soon! All I had on the 8th was a general update to the pool asking also for updated hrs etc which I think someone posted earlier in the week.
Good Luck all...
No nothing for me and I was in the pool in early May... Hope its soon! All I had on the 8th was a general update to the pool asking also for updated hrs etc which I think someone posted earlier in the week.
Good Luck all...
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Standard:
No, its not the full works these days. I'm led to believe by colleagues who have been done, that its the cross-hairs alone, then shapes and numbers, then cross hairs with shapes and numbers (the big one!)
Maths test is quick mental arithmetical with logic, such as:
- a man drill a hole in 8 minutes, how many holes in an hour?
- if 1000 ball bearings cost £42.50, how much would 2,300 cost?
Good luck
No, its not the full works these days. I'm led to believe by colleagues who have been done, that its the cross-hairs alone, then shapes and numbers, then cross hairs with shapes and numbers (the big one!)
Maths test is quick mental arithmetical with logic, such as:
- a man drill a hole in 8 minutes, how many holes in an hour?
- if 1000 ball bearings cost £42.50, how much would 2,300 cost?
Good luck
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A brief update for the thread and a quick description of my recent experience:
Interview
Exactly as described at the very beginning of the thread. Why BA? Give me 3 examples of BA being in the press over the past year? Give me an example of when you have....made a big decision under pressure, influenced someone, dealt with cultural differences....etc...
My advice would be to spend no more than 30 secs setting the scene for your story. Then show how responsible, mature, open, honest, and communicative you are in these difficult situations. Imagine how your ideal hero BA captain would behave in a certain situation and convince the interviewers how close you are to being that person already. Remember that they don't just want to know about how much you want the job and how BA is such a great company to work for...they want to know how all your friends and family, some of whom already work for BA, have told you that they think you would fit into BA perfectly, right now.
Computer Tests
If done properly, I'm sure you will feel like your brain has melted after this! For the computer based tests you start by keeping the crosshairs centred using a joystick. Then you have to pull the trigger when you notice the subtraction in your headphones is wrong. Then you do both together. Next you learn to look for the coloured shapes that match the description you have heard in your headphones, spoken in between subtractions. Finally you do it all together. I have three top tips:
1. The subtraction is done using three figured numbers, 238, 234, 230, 226...but in my experience the largest number (that I noticed!) being subtracted was 5. So you can ignore the first 2 figures that are spoken.
2. When you see the coloured shape you need to press the correct coloured key, then the number displayed within the shape. So when you hear the description of the coloured shape, you might as well put a finger above the correct coloured key, and it's one less thing to worry about later.
3. Keep working at it and focus! Your mistakes are displayed in big red numbers right next to the crosshairs! I'm sure this is there to distract you and demoralize you! Don't let it get to you, focus on the task in hand and don't give up. I'm sure that BA are looking for someone who can make an embarrassing mistake, admit to it, and yet still fly the next approach competently.
Numerical Reasoning
Iakovos gave a good description. 24 quick questions in only 12 mins. Very short and sharp, and I personally used the wrong technique and finished only about 17 questions in the time. None of the questions are particularly difficult, but the arithmetic is awkward. I made the mistake of calculating the answers in long-hand, but at least I knew my solutions were all correct, sometimes to 2 decimal paces! As the answers were all multiple choice, I feel a better approach would have been to quickly estimate the answer using rough and quick mental arithmetic, and then choose the closest sensible answer. Then I would probably only have had to resort to long-hand written calculations for half of them - saving time.
Verbal Reasoning
You are given about 10 short passages of text, with 4 statements on each. You have to decide whether the statements are true, false or whether there is insufficient information to decide. So you have about 40 questions in about 25 mins. I had a nightmare! There is a practice question on the answer sheet so the invigilator can check that you know how to shade in the correct boxes before you start. She had to come to my table and tell me, in front of the other candidates, that I had 3 out of 4 wrong on the practice! Still, it made me concentrate a bit harder and my advice would be to 'read every single word' because the devil is in the detail.
Group Exercise
We had a ferry boat company exercise with several boats to set sail and a storm approaching. There was lots of information, almost information overload in the briefing sheets. My advice would be to find the bit that tells you what you need to decide. Find the bit that tells you what your priorities are. Cut out the bullsh*t and concentrate only on those facts that are important. Remember that you are being assessed as a future BA Captain, so play the role. Listen intently, encourage other people to share their information, praise people on their good ideas. Don't slam people down if they say something that you don't agree with, just nicely ask them to explain again the bits that you don't understand. Keep the conversation on track and steer it back by reminding people of the objectives when needed. Friendly, professional, open, encouraging, team player...that's you!
I must admit that I wasn't overly confident at the end of day 1, but I must have done something right as I made it to the sim assessment. Please let me know if you want my top tips from day 2, i.e. You only get 10mins to brief the sortie before you go into the sim, but the instructor will ask if you need to go to the toilet after the brief. Take the offer, and you'll gain another 5 minutes of briefing time!!
Good luck to everyone in the assessment process, and keep swimming to those who have made it into the pool. I've just signed my contract, had my uniform fitting and will be starting in a few weeks!
Interview
Exactly as described at the very beginning of the thread. Why BA? Give me 3 examples of BA being in the press over the past year? Give me an example of when you have....made a big decision under pressure, influenced someone, dealt with cultural differences....etc...
My advice would be to spend no more than 30 secs setting the scene for your story. Then show how responsible, mature, open, honest, and communicative you are in these difficult situations. Imagine how your ideal hero BA captain would behave in a certain situation and convince the interviewers how close you are to being that person already. Remember that they don't just want to know about how much you want the job and how BA is such a great company to work for...they want to know how all your friends and family, some of whom already work for BA, have told you that they think you would fit into BA perfectly, right now.
Computer Tests
If done properly, I'm sure you will feel like your brain has melted after this! For the computer based tests you start by keeping the crosshairs centred using a joystick. Then you have to pull the trigger when you notice the subtraction in your headphones is wrong. Then you do both together. Next you learn to look for the coloured shapes that match the description you have heard in your headphones, spoken in between subtractions. Finally you do it all together. I have three top tips:
1. The subtraction is done using three figured numbers, 238, 234, 230, 226...but in my experience the largest number (that I noticed!) being subtracted was 5. So you can ignore the first 2 figures that are spoken.
2. When you see the coloured shape you need to press the correct coloured key, then the number displayed within the shape. So when you hear the description of the coloured shape, you might as well put a finger above the correct coloured key, and it's one less thing to worry about later.
3. Keep working at it and focus! Your mistakes are displayed in big red numbers right next to the crosshairs! I'm sure this is there to distract you and demoralize you! Don't let it get to you, focus on the task in hand and don't give up. I'm sure that BA are looking for someone who can make an embarrassing mistake, admit to it, and yet still fly the next approach competently.
Numerical Reasoning
Iakovos gave a good description. 24 quick questions in only 12 mins. Very short and sharp, and I personally used the wrong technique and finished only about 17 questions in the time. None of the questions are particularly difficult, but the arithmetic is awkward. I made the mistake of calculating the answers in long-hand, but at least I knew my solutions were all correct, sometimes to 2 decimal paces! As the answers were all multiple choice, I feel a better approach would have been to quickly estimate the answer using rough and quick mental arithmetic, and then choose the closest sensible answer. Then I would probably only have had to resort to long-hand written calculations for half of them - saving time.
Verbal Reasoning
You are given about 10 short passages of text, with 4 statements on each. You have to decide whether the statements are true, false or whether there is insufficient information to decide. So you have about 40 questions in about 25 mins. I had a nightmare! There is a practice question on the answer sheet so the invigilator can check that you know how to shade in the correct boxes before you start. She had to come to my table and tell me, in front of the other candidates, that I had 3 out of 4 wrong on the practice! Still, it made me concentrate a bit harder and my advice would be to 'read every single word' because the devil is in the detail.
Group Exercise
We had a ferry boat company exercise with several boats to set sail and a storm approaching. There was lots of information, almost information overload in the briefing sheets. My advice would be to find the bit that tells you what you need to decide. Find the bit that tells you what your priorities are. Cut out the bullsh*t and concentrate only on those facts that are important. Remember that you are being assessed as a future BA Captain, so play the role. Listen intently, encourage other people to share their information, praise people on their good ideas. Don't slam people down if they say something that you don't agree with, just nicely ask them to explain again the bits that you don't understand. Keep the conversation on track and steer it back by reminding people of the objectives when needed. Friendly, professional, open, encouraging, team player...that's you!
I must admit that I wasn't overly confident at the end of day 1, but I must have done something right as I made it to the sim assessment. Please let me know if you want my top tips from day 2, i.e. You only get 10mins to brief the sortie before you go into the sim, but the instructor will ask if you need to go to the toilet after the brief. Take the offer, and you'll gain another 5 minutes of briefing time!!
Good luck to everyone in the assessment process, and keep swimming to those who have made it into the pool. I've just signed my contract, had my uniform fitting and will be starting in a few weeks!
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First of all, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. It is of such great value.
I'm through to next step (day one) but I'm guessing it will be a while for me to be able to book a slot since I sent the application on one of the last days before it was closing.
A few things though that I haven't found so much information about; Does anyone know or are able to make a qualified guess as to how many applications BA got up until the 12th of August and how many of those are called for day one? Also what are the approximate pass rates for day one and day two?
Best of luck to all that are going through the process now.
I will certainly give it my best, and hopefully be in a position when I can come back and post my experiences in this thread.
goose_bumps
I'm through to next step (day one) but I'm guessing it will be a while for me to be able to book a slot since I sent the application on one of the last days before it was closing.
A few things though that I haven't found so much information about; Does anyone know or are able to make a qualified guess as to how many applications BA got up until the 12th of August and how many of those are called for day one? Also what are the approximate pass rates for day one and day two?
Best of luck to all that are going through the process now.
I will certainly give it my best, and hopefully be in a position when I can come back and post my experiences in this thread.
goose_bumps
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Unofficial, back of a fag packet, in the pub, my mates friend knows etc...
50% bin at CV (Probably standard, spelling, corrections, inconsistencies, addition problems, badly answered questions, non applicable licences etc.)
50% to '2 out of 3' through day1.
2 out of 3 remainders through Sim to swim.
Obviously those are rough and ready, take with a pinch of salt, non official numbers!!!!
Add to that that some days see more 'suitable' applicant than others which skews the figures on the day.
Yew 'aint see mee! Roight!
50% bin at CV (Probably standard, spelling, corrections, inconsistencies, addition problems, badly answered questions, non applicable licences etc.)
50% to '2 out of 3' through day1.
2 out of 3 remainders through Sim to swim.
Obviously those are rough and ready, take with a pinch of salt, non official numbers!!!!
Add to that that some days see more 'suitable' applicant than others which skews the figures on the day.
Yew 'aint see mee! Roight!
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Thanks Wirbelsturm, pass along a thank you to your friends mate with the fags in the bar too...
If it is accurate I'm a little surprised that so many get binned at the application stage. But it's of course fairly cost intensive to run the testing days so it probably makes sense.
Anyone got any idea of how many applications BA got in the last recruitment drive and the one last autumn for that matter. It could give an indication of how many people that actually have gotten and will get through to the pool. I suspect they need to open up the application again to fill all the 800 (minus 400 for the cadets?) or so places they have forcasted.
goose_bumps
If it is accurate I'm a little surprised that so many get binned at the application stage. But it's of course fairly cost intensive to run the testing days so it probably makes sense.
Anyone got any idea of how many applications BA got in the last recruitment drive and the one last autumn for that matter. It could give an indication of how many people that actually have gotten and will get through to the pool. I suspect they need to open up the application again to fill all the 800 (minus 400 for the cadets?) or so places they have forcasted.
goose_bumps
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In Airliner World Magazine it was quoted as saying 3,500 people applied for their new sponsorship scheme and 3,000 experienced pilots applied for the DEP scheme. They must have got their figures from somewhere "official" being a commercial magazine?
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Flyer19832007,
Actually, I have received the email telling me things probably won't happen now until the New Year now, but I have had a similar email before.
The info I'm after is the date when BA last published some available slots on their website - the last slots I heard about were published early September, Day 1 interview slots in mid October.
Have there been any more slots made available since then?
Thanks again everyone.
Actually, I have received the email telling me things probably won't happen now until the New Year now, but I have had a similar email before.
The info I'm after is the date when BA last published some available slots on their website - the last slots I heard about were published early September, Day 1 interview slots in mid October.
Have there been any more slots made available since then?
Thanks again everyone.
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Course Date
Hi everyone,
Finally got the call today from BA... I'm starting in the 3rd week of FEB on the 320.
Just for those airbus guys and gals trying to work out where they are in the pool I began swimming in early May.
Thanks again to everyone who has positively contributed to this thread, good luck to all!!!
Finally got the call today from BA... I'm starting in the 3rd week of FEB on the 320.
Just for those airbus guys and gals trying to work out where they are in the pool I began swimming in early May.
Thanks again to everyone who has positively contributed to this thread, good luck to all!!!
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Very big congratulations TP. Fingers crossed some others Join you soon :-)
6080hi,
I am in the same position as you, both generic emails to say I am in the system, and will be brought to an assessment early next year.
From my understanding, they will email you directly when slots become available, I suspect they will release these slots in some order. I made my application about a week or so before closing date so expect I will recieve an email inviting me to assessment after they have assessed all elligible candidates that applied before myself, or infact in the order of people who may hold a current BA type their license.
I had no indication of the previous assessment dates that became available so this is how I came to this conclusion.
Although I could be wrong!
I am just sitting back and waiting now and preparing already as I know its coming eventually!
Good luck,
6080hi,
I am in the same position as you, both generic emails to say I am in the system, and will be brought to an assessment early next year.
From my understanding, they will email you directly when slots become available, I suspect they will release these slots in some order. I made my application about a week or so before closing date so expect I will recieve an email inviting me to assessment after they have assessed all elligible candidates that applied before myself, or infact in the order of people who may hold a current BA type their license.
I had no indication of the previous assessment dates that became available so this is how I came to this conclusion.
Although I could be wrong!
I am just sitting back and waiting now and preparing already as I know its coming eventually!
Good luck,
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For the application in Autumn, the first rumours were 1000 in the first weekend (which is why they closed it early) and 1400 overall, although I have heard that the 1000 was the final figure too. Out of those, obviously the initial 80 places and a number in the hold pool.
I defer to more accurate information but I think the hold pool was around 100 - 200 last recruitment time?
I defer to more accurate information but I think the hold pool was around 100 - 200 last recruitment time?
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More 767 courses offered today, start date 3rd week of February. Fingers crossed for everyone, hope you get the call.
Also some info on fleet plans if you weren't aware;
A institutional investors presentation given by IAG in Madrid revealed the following plans for the BA fleet between now and 2015.
A380 - 9 aircraft operational by 2015.
Boeing 747-400 - Fleet to reduce from current 52 aircraft to 45 aircraft.
Boeing 777 (all types) - Fleet to increase from current 51 aircraft (including yet to be delivered G-STBE) to 54 aircraft. The extra three aircraft to be G-STBF and the two confirmed Boeing 777-300ER options.
Boeing 787-800 - 16 aircraft operational by 2015.
Boeing 767-300ER - The longhaul fleet will reduce from 14 aircraft to 1 aircraft.
A318 - Fleet to remain at 2 aircraft.
Airbus A319/A320/A321 - Fleet to increase from 84 to 95 aircraft.
Other shorthaul - The current fleet of 39 comprising 7 x Boeing 767-300, 19 x Boeing 737-400, *7 x E190s and 6 x E170s will reduce to 34 aircraft indicating withdrawal of 5 aircraft from the Boeing 767-300 and/or Boeing 737-400 fleets.
Also some info on fleet plans if you weren't aware;
A institutional investors presentation given by IAG in Madrid revealed the following plans for the BA fleet between now and 2015.
A380 - 9 aircraft operational by 2015.
Boeing 747-400 - Fleet to reduce from current 52 aircraft to 45 aircraft.
Boeing 777 (all types) - Fleet to increase from current 51 aircraft (including yet to be delivered G-STBE) to 54 aircraft. The extra three aircraft to be G-STBF and the two confirmed Boeing 777-300ER options.
Boeing 787-800 - 16 aircraft operational by 2015.
Boeing 767-300ER - The longhaul fleet will reduce from 14 aircraft to 1 aircraft.
A318 - Fleet to remain at 2 aircraft.
Airbus A319/A320/A321 - Fleet to increase from 84 to 95 aircraft.
Other shorthaul - The current fleet of 39 comprising 7 x Boeing 767-300, 19 x Boeing 737-400, *7 x E190s and 6 x E170s will reduce to 34 aircraft indicating withdrawal of 5 aircraft from the Boeing 767-300 and/or Boeing 737-400 fleets.