British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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Just one more post and then that's it I promise!! 
As substantiated as it can be in this game!!! Obviously no-one will tell you direct but I was told by a member of my family who knows someone in the know. If you know what I mean!
He went scouting info for me!!
I was told this person said there is likely to be some recruitment (not much) and it would basically all be short haul (maybe a tiny tiny bit on long haul (777) and if any, really only a few!!). It was likely to start in 6 months-ish. Refrained from posting it on here before as you hear all kinds of things but I personally attach a bit of substance to what I was told. It has given me a small glimmer of hope anyway.
I was told this though with the caveat that it could all change tomorrow!!!
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping something happens in this timescale or soon after or I am going to have to jump through all the hoops again!!
Oh well back to splashing around in the meantime......
As substantiated as it can be in this game!!! Obviously no-one will tell you direct but I was told by a member of my family who knows someone in the know. If you know what I mean!
He went scouting info for me!!
I was told this person said there is likely to be some recruitment (not much) and it would basically all be short haul (maybe a tiny tiny bit on long haul (777) and if any, really only a few!!). It was likely to start in 6 months-ish. Refrained from posting it on here before as you hear all kinds of things but I personally attach a bit of substance to what I was told. It has given me a small glimmer of hope anyway.
I was told this though with the caveat that it could all change tomorrow!!!
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping something happens in this timescale or soon after or I am going to have to jump through all the hoops again!!
Oh well back to splashing around in the meantime......
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hi all, ive got some sim time booked to prepare for a BA sim check.the sim is booked for the end of september near gatwick.its a 3 hour session.anyone interested in sharing it with me PM me
thanks
thanks
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Here is the latest rumor I got from an BA insider...
If this one is true this is not good news for the guys in the holding pool.
This latest rumor states that some new captains might be downgraded as first officers to fill in the gaps... Obviously a 1st timer in BA's history....
If this one is true this is not good news for the guys in the holding pool.
This latest rumor states that some new captains might be downgraded as first officers to fill in the gaps... Obviously a 1st timer in BA's history....
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The 75 and 74 fleets have been deemed in surplus for Captains, so those Captains affected are bidding onto other fleets as Captains. Someone questioned if it would be better to bid LHS to RHS on the 74 until things picked up and then bid back. You get can get frozen for up to 4 years otherwise.
That might explain this rumour.
That might explain this rumour.
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Very much doubt the company would do such a thing! If the Captains involved are give a forced bid back to the RHS then they still retain Captains pay (for up to a year I believe).
There are alot of FO's with bids in from the SH routes to LH and they would be far cheaper for the company as a type rating would be required in both cases.
Best route would be to drop into the LHS of SH until the routes pick up, 787 and A380 arrive and then move back to LHS LH. It all depends on your seniority number. BA are still short of crew on SH as it is judging by the amount of forced drafting going on.
There are alot of FO's with bids in from the SH routes to LH and they would be far cheaper for the company as a type rating would be required in both cases.
Best route would be to drop into the LHS of SH until the routes pick up, 787 and A380 arrive and then move back to LHS LH. It all depends on your seniority number. BA are still short of crew on SH as it is judging by the amount of forced drafting going on.
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Just to clear up a couple of things from 2 or 3 posts back:
It would be very expensive for anyone to 'aspirationally' bid from LHS to RHS. They would lose any command pay protection, so would have to have extremely pressing reasons (long distance commuter??) for so doing.
However 'forced bids', if ordered correctly, would result in pay protection, and could also involve a bid for RHSs. These FBs should not attract any freeze!
I am not aware of ANY 747, or 757 captains, (even the most junior) without the seniority for an Airbus command.
Even if they were, the use of forced LHS to RHS, with pay protection, would absolutely NOT be a "1st timer in BA's history...."
Far from it.
PS: Unpaid leave is currently being offered (not imposed!) to BA pilots, so recruitment is unlikely to recommence for some considerable time, IMHO. This could get rather rough, for a very significant period!
Anyone hoping to apply to BA, might also like to consider that; 2 years ago the retirement age changed. It was 55, it is now 'tentatively' set at 65 (This could easily increase further!) There are currently 186 pilots who have reached or exceeded the old retirement age. There have been SEVEN retirements within this group!
Get the picture?
It would be very expensive for anyone to 'aspirationally' bid from LHS to RHS. They would lose any command pay protection, so would have to have extremely pressing reasons (long distance commuter??) for so doing.
However 'forced bids', if ordered correctly, would result in pay protection, and could also involve a bid for RHSs. These FBs should not attract any freeze!
I am not aware of ANY 747, or 757 captains, (even the most junior) without the seniority for an Airbus command.
Even if they were, the use of forced LHS to RHS, with pay protection, would absolutely NOT be a "1st timer in BA's history....
"Far from it.
PS: Unpaid leave is currently being offered (not imposed!) to BA pilots, so recruitment is unlikely to recommence for some considerable time, IMHO. This could get rather rough, for a very significant period!
Anyone hoping to apply to BA, might also like to consider that; 2 years ago the retirement age changed. It was 55, it is now 'tentatively' set at 65 (This could easily increase further!) There are currently 186 pilots who have reached or exceeded the old retirement age. There have been SEVEN retirements within this group!
Get the picture?
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Do you know anything vaguely positive? There seemed to be a certain enjoyment in giving us the bad news!
Pleasure in giving bad news? No, but it is always an advantage to know how thing really are instead of being pumped with rose tinted optimism!
A glimmer on the horizon is that this 'adjustment' is sorely needed within the industry. The future still needs air transport and the company still has a large order book needing to be flown in a few years.
Get the consolidating out of the way and in a year or two we will see the turnaround.
It may not be what you want to hear, but Tandemrotors' information is priceless. An insider telling you how it really is. No "sexed up" info from BA hedging their bets and pulling your chain. There are just over 3000 pilots in BA, approx 1500 are Captains. Tandemrotor is telling you that 7 retired last year as they enjoy the change in age legislation. The Chief Pilot reckons it was more like 20 odd in total that left BA last year.
Bearing in mind any expansion is likely to be small (as LHR is a "full airport") and since BALPA lost its OpenSkies courtcase, there is unlikely to be a big need for pilots in the near future. But then again, with BA anything could happen. A takeover by LH would be my dream.
Bearing in mind any expansion is likely to be small (as LHR is a "full airport") and since BALPA lost its OpenSkies courtcase, there is unlikely to be a big need for pilots in the near future. But then again, with BA anything could happen. A takeover by LH would be my dream.
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goaroundnow
By my calculations, you have been in the hold pool for approximately 3 months.
Some of my colleagues have been in BA for anything up to 16 years, and have still not achieved a coveted longhaul command (of which I am one!)
Why not ask the 2200 of them how they feel about a further EIGHT years of career constipation? Ask them if they have anything 'vaguely positive' to say.
There are now two kinds of pilot in BA. Those who are fortunate enough to be able to extend their 'golden years' in the top job, by anything up to (and perhaps more than) ten years, and those who cannot. This option was not available to those who went before, nor will it be available to those who follow.
And finally.......
From our posting officer, hot off the press this evening: With the exception of those pilots being 'forced' to move due to fleet reductions (747, 757) there are likely to be virtually NO movements on the Posting and Promotion front in the coming year!
Does that sound like I am experiencing a "certain enjoyment" in giving you the 'bad news'?
If you are fortunate enough to be quickly pulled from the pool, but don't fancy the idea of 12-15 years without a 'sniff' of a command, you're probably joining the wrong company.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Do you know anything vaguely positive?
Some of my colleagues have been in BA for anything up to 16 years, and have still not achieved a coveted longhaul command (of which I am one!)
Why not ask the 2200 of them how they feel about a further EIGHT years of career constipation? Ask them if they have anything 'vaguely positive' to say.
There are now two kinds of pilot in BA. Those who are fortunate enough to be able to extend their 'golden years' in the top job, by anything up to (and perhaps more than) ten years, and those who cannot. This option was not available to those who went before, nor will it be available to those who follow.
And finally.......
From our posting officer, hot off the press this evening: With the exception of those pilots being 'forced' to move due to fleet reductions (747, 757) there are likely to be virtually NO movements on the Posting and Promotion front in the coming year!
Does that sound like I am experiencing a "certain enjoyment" in giving you the 'bad news'?
If you are fortunate enough to be quickly pulled from the pool, but don't fancy the idea of 12-15 years without a 'sniff' of a command, you're probably joining the wrong company.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Last edited by Tandemrotor; 17th Sep 2008 at 00:06.
Going off track slightly but I've just spent 3 days with a new skipper, on short haul admittedly, with less than 6 years in the company.
Ham Phisted...was this at LHR? Some people were in the right place at the right time...or are managers and so circumvent the normal bidding process. Shorthaul traditionally has been seen as a stepping stone to a LH command as LHR shorthaul has been seen as a sure fire way to an early grave. I suppose that this may change in T5.
Let non BA wannabees realise that this is not typical and that they may be waiting years to join BA , let alone get a command.
Let non BA wannabees realise that this is not typical and that they may be waiting years to join BA , let alone get a command.