British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
Join Date: Apr 2002
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If that is what you base an opinion over a company on.....
Many recruitment departments are worse. I´ve found a simple phone call normally works if you do have questions. I gather they are snowed under with applicants but not necessarily of the right experience bracket.
The standard email is just that, a standard email....
Many recruitment departments are worse. I´ve found a simple phone call normally works if you do have questions. I gather they are snowed under with applicants but not necessarily of the right experience bracket.
The standard email is just that, a standard email....
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Got the call yesterday afternoon so a little pleased to say the least!!! 
(was in on 16th) Sim in Oct which is a bit worrying considering all the rumours going around about the possible recruitment down turn.............
(was in on 16th) Sim in Oct which is a bit worrying considering all the rumours going around about the possible recruitment down turn.............
Join Date: Jul 2008
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In Hold Pool
Hi Guys
I have been in the hold pool a couple of weeks now (and very happy!) I was just wondering if anybody "in the know" knew how long I am likely to be in there for! I would be going on to shorthaul.
Cheers.
I have been in the hold pool a couple of weeks now (and very happy!) I was just wondering if anybody "in the know" knew how long I am likely to be in there for! I would be going on to shorthaul.
Cheers.
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British Airways' Hold Pool
Hi Guys.
I have been in the BA hold-pool now for about 2 weeks. I would be going onto shorthaul. Does anybody "in the know" have any idea (or good guess) how long I am likely to be in it for?
Cheers
I have been in the BA hold-pool now for about 2 weeks. I would be going onto shorthaul. Does anybody "in the know" have any idea (or good guess) how long I am likely to be in it for?
Cheers
Join Date: Jul 2008
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ShinyTen
Well I hope you are wrong - no offence!! I assume it would be very unfortunate for the 12 months to expire. I know 1 or 2 people who are going into the sim next week and October. If these are not cancelled then that will be a positive sign I guess.
Fingers crossed. Let me know if you get any more info!
Cheers.
Well I hope you are wrong - no offence!! I assume it would be very unfortunate for the 12 months to expire. I know 1 or 2 people who are going into the sim next week and October. If these are not cancelled then that will be a positive sign I guess.
Fingers crossed. Let me know if you get any more info!
Cheers.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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The impression I got from the selection day is that short haul recriutment is fairly continual. Long haul vacancies will be filled with people from short haul, regardless of their 5 year type freeze if there aren't enough DEP's with the required experience. I have my sim in September so I hope I won't have to do all this again.
Any updates will be much appreciated
Jamin
Any updates will be much appreciated
Jamin
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Even if they stop pulling people out of the hold pool for the foreseeable future, I would like to think that they will still do the sims which are booked in.
At least with these sims done and people added to the pool, even if they have to wait 10 months, BA will have people ready to start when they start needing pilots again.
At least with these sims done and people added to the pool, even if they have to wait 10 months, BA will have people ready to start when they start needing pilots again.
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Wondering if anyone can help?.....Uk national currently flying 747-400s for a US cargo hauler, just under 5000TT 2900 Jet time and 1000 jet PIC, rated on the -400 and E145. I am going to convert now due to the horrific state of the industry over here, when complete do I stand a snowballs chance at interviewing with BA? 3 average A levels too, from the good old days when you had to study hard - is this all good enough?
Cheers in advance
Cheers in advance
And just to add, Air1980, as long as you were to do OK in the assessment day and sim (which, technically would be simple for you as you already operate the 744) then I believe you would go to the 744! BA like it if you already have a rating on one of their types, as it reduces their training risk.
But as I said, you have got to get past assessment and sim. Do your homework, that is vital .............
But as I said, you have got to get past assessment and sim. Do your homework, that is vital .............
September sim!
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September sim
Sound more positive people! Airbus courses coming up and BA are waiting to fill the places on them! Best airline to be with through this eco downturn imho... 
Impossible to tell how you did on the initial day btw - it's easy to over-analyse yourself...
Any tips on the sim day from recent?
Cheers, B
Impossible to tell how you did on the initial day btw - it's easy to over-analyse yourself...
Any tips on the sim day from recent?
Cheers, B
Last edited by B166LES; 30th Jul 2008 at 10:13.
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Impossible to tell how you did on the initial day btw - it's easy to over-analyse yourself...
Everything else went OK, but overall I assumed I had blown it, didn't get a phone call by the time I went to bed on the friday (were told on the day that there was a "very good chance" we would know by the weekend).
So I was quite surprised when I got the "well done you passed" phone call whilst in the crew room preparing for a flight on the monday! made that trip a good one!
What I can say is that i really, really, really, really, prepared for the interview (i used e-interviewpreparation.com - and can recommend). I assume that because I was well prepared I could afford a number of slips on the day and still make it over the bar.
Looking forward to the sim now.
Oil price down 20$ on the week, so I guess BA have just torn up business plan 364B! I will hopefully make it into the pool and what will happen will happen. I can only control my actions - The rest of it I shall leave to fate.
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Air1980 - look on britishairwaysjobs.com when they open it up to new applications again and provided you meet the criteria (I believe you should) then it will depend on the quality of your application from as to whether you get an interview or not. Good luck and I believe BA is currently short of 747 DEPs.
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Got the magic phone call saying have been successful and in pool for long haul fleet (although they asked if I'd be happy with short haul - yes!).
I'd say the key thing about the sim is to have an awareness of CRM as your top priority. The flying is hard work as raw data manual flying skills are easily lost by most of us when we have the luxury of the fd's and ap/at.
I heard the general consensus is: UK based airfields with one of you diverting to a radar vectored ILS and then one of you going A to B with a procedural NPA. It doesn't matter who goes first as they appear to have already decided which one of you does what. You will both do a SID, cruise and hold, STAR and approach. The 'practice' flying - ahead to 3000' vectors to an ILS - is allegedly also assessed and that is where they may ask you questions, although I was only asked about my career so far - nothing mathmatical thank God.
My sim partner and I made sure that our CRM was good - we discussed what we were going to say and were expecting to hear (from different airlines and therefore SOPs varied greatly). We were supportive and proactive without prompting and removing the opportunity to let the other one get on with flying. We handed over control when appropriate for approach set up, briefing, PA's and NITS and used the a/p above transition.
The 744 looks very similar to the 73NG. The big differences to that are the lack of trim wheel, EICAS messages for gear and speed brake, MCP display and modes / buttons are slightly different (the course selection for the nav aids is done through the FMC). It is very stable on approach and if you fly the 737 you will have a tendency to over control the aircraft and it is tricky to trim. The pitch and power settings do work and so if all else fails just go back to using the numbers. And remember to flare at 50'!
We were given a debrief and had the opportunity to discuss what went well and what we did wrong. I'd suggest that owning up to everything is key - they see everything from the magic seat back there and wouldn't like to be treated as fools. I also think saying positive things about your sim partner in their PM/PF role is good CRM and believe that is something they want to hear.
Have no idea when the course date is and gather there is some talk of changes to recruitment but will keep positive until I hear otherwise.
I'd say the key thing about the sim is to have an awareness of CRM as your top priority. The flying is hard work as raw data manual flying skills are easily lost by most of us when we have the luxury of the fd's and ap/at.
I heard the general consensus is: UK based airfields with one of you diverting to a radar vectored ILS and then one of you going A to B with a procedural NPA. It doesn't matter who goes first as they appear to have already decided which one of you does what. You will both do a SID, cruise and hold, STAR and approach. The 'practice' flying - ahead to 3000' vectors to an ILS - is allegedly also assessed and that is where they may ask you questions, although I was only asked about my career so far - nothing mathmatical thank God.
My sim partner and I made sure that our CRM was good - we discussed what we were going to say and were expecting to hear (from different airlines and therefore SOPs varied greatly). We were supportive and proactive without prompting and removing the opportunity to let the other one get on with flying. We handed over control when appropriate for approach set up, briefing, PA's and NITS and used the a/p above transition.
The 744 looks very similar to the 73NG. The big differences to that are the lack of trim wheel, EICAS messages for gear and speed brake, MCP display and modes / buttons are slightly different (the course selection for the nav aids is done through the FMC). It is very stable on approach and if you fly the 737 you will have a tendency to over control the aircraft and it is tricky to trim. The pitch and power settings do work and so if all else fails just go back to using the numbers. And remember to flare at 50'!
We were given a debrief and had the opportunity to discuss what went well and what we did wrong. I'd suggest that owning up to everything is key - they see everything from the magic seat back there and wouldn't like to be treated as fools. I also think saying positive things about your sim partner in their PM/PF role is good CRM and believe that is something they want to hear.
Have no idea when the course date is and gather there is some talk of changes to recruitment but will keep positive until I hear otherwise.
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Thanks pilotess, some good stuff there! Would i be correct in saying that the flying part of the check is the same a procedural hold in an IR test. ie. Know what entry to do etc..... as you will not have the Map display to follow the Magenta line.........
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Well, despite giving a good account of myself on the day (IMHO 
), I was unsuccessful this time. As BA are reluctant/unable to give feedback which is understandable, although very frustrating, I was wonder whether I could possibly work things out by process of elimination.
Would those who have been successful (well done by the way) mind saying their hours and aircraft type. On my day (17th) there were a number of current Airbus rated people, and all else being equal, I would expect BA to take these, rather then me, 737 < 2000hrs.
Thanks in advance, and a big thanks to all those whose contributions over the duration of this post helped me to prepare for the day.
Good luck to all.
WTSS
), I was unsuccessful this time. As BA are reluctant/unable to give feedback which is understandable, although very frustrating, I was wonder whether I could possibly work things out by process of elimination.Would those who have been successful (well done by the way) mind saying their hours and aircraft type. On my day (17th) there were a number of current Airbus rated people, and all else being equal, I would expect BA to take these, rather then me, 737 < 2000hrs.
Thanks in advance, and a big thanks to all those whose contributions over the duration of this post helped me to prepare for the day.
Good luck to all.
WTSS
