British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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Main info was from the training captain 2 weeks ago who suggested there were still spaces that needed to be filled and expected the situation to be more positive early '09. On the phone today I was just told the situation is being reviewed weekly. Couldn't get much more out of them I'm afraid.
Guys (and Girls)
The BALPA rep responsible for helping oversea postings is rushed off his feet at the moment trying to update current BA pilots as to the state of play. It would seem requirements not changing on a weekly basis, they are changing on a daily basis and when they do change they are not changing for the better. We could be talking about the grounding of several longhaul and medium haul hulls and hence a pilot surplus across several fleets (rumour, but..).
The Company have already asked for volunteers for unpaid leave, more volunteers to move onto Part Time Working, and asking anyone thinking of retiring in the next twelve months to let their intentions be known.......
Get the picture yet? Given the above I would suggest the idea of BA recruiting in the near future, and certainly early '09 would seem to be wildly optimistic. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
The BALPA rep responsible for helping oversea postings is rushed off his feet at the moment trying to update current BA pilots as to the state of play. It would seem requirements not changing on a weekly basis, they are changing on a daily basis and when they do change they are not changing for the better. We could be talking about the grounding of several longhaul and medium haul hulls and hence a pilot surplus across several fleets (rumour, but..).
The Company have already asked for volunteers for unpaid leave, more volunteers to move onto Part Time Working, and asking anyone thinking of retiring in the next twelve months to let their intentions be known.......
Get the picture yet? Given the above I would suggest the idea of BA recruiting in the near future, and certainly early '09 would seem to be wildly optimistic. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
Last edited by wiggy; 8th Oct 2008 at 15:59. Reason: spoling
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Also like to add that as of yesterday, all pilots groups on all fleets (except the airbus) have been declared in surplus, and all recruitment has been stopped. All internal command courses have been cancelled... 
Very sorry for the SSP's who were on their JOC course and those of you who will have their courses cancelled.. It looks like for the next year at least BALPA will be working very hard to stop redundancies from becoming a reality.
Good luck to everyone out there.
Very sorry for the SSP's who were on their JOC course and those of you who will have their courses cancelled.. It looks like for the next year at least BALPA will be working very hard to stop redundancies from becoming a reality.
Good luck to everyone out there.
Last edited by davecr; 8th Oct 2008 at 10:49. Reason: Edited to remove personal speculation :)
To add for those not familiar with the system and why this "surplus" expression is being banded around ..as davecr and The Greaser have said, Airbus/777 are not in surplus and possibly will need extra pilots in the near future as new aircraft are delivered...(so what Jamin20 heard from the Airbus trainer could well be true)..however those pilots will in the first instance come from the other BA Fleets have too many pilots, e.g. 75/76/747, not from external recruiting. Of course even that could be a case of rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.. I sincerely hope not 
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To be honest I am kind of glad now to be in the hold pool rather than one of the last ones in. Just for piece of mind if nothing else. Its going to be very interesting (industry wide) over the next year or two!! Hang on to your hats......
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Some news from HR department at BA.
They are discussing a change to the rules governing the hold pool.
This is to reflect the current industry climate.
Something like - Providing you havent rejected a job offer when your time matures you will still be kept in the hold pool. This is to stop guys and gals hand picking a fleet. Which given we are trying to join BA and not a fleet is fine with me.
I will relax alittle more in the hold pool now.
B
They are discussing a change to the rules governing the hold pool.
This is to reflect the current industry climate.
Something like - Providing you havent rejected a job offer when your time matures you will still be kept in the hold pool. This is to stop guys and gals hand picking a fleet. Which given we are trying to join BA and not a fleet is fine with me.
I will relax alittle more in the hold pool now.
B
Last edited by Bail out; 9th Oct 2008 at 10:48.
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Hey guys, its all doom and gloom but I just thought I'd make a quick correction. BA has not cancelled its JOC courses for SSPs and indeed there is one taking place curently, however the guys on it, jus like the previous course are destined for the hold pool...........join the club
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Splash!!!!
Another one enters the hold pool......
Thanks for all the helpful posts here. Word from the recruiting team when I spoke to them was that the hold pool currently contains 55-60 people, with the number expected to rise to about 100 by the time the current round of simulator assessments is complete. No courses are currently being run, and there is as yet no short / medium term plan for additional manning.
Thanks for all the helpful posts here. Word from the recruiting team when I spoke to them was that the hold pool currently contains 55-60 people, with the number expected to rise to about 100 by the time the current round of simulator assessments is complete. No courses are currently being run, and there is as yet no short / medium term plan for additional manning.
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CB1, thanks for the info...
However, I believe that BA were cancelling sims in November and I heard that the last of the sims was on Sunday just gone.
Any truth in any of this? Anyone had a sim/got a sim after this Sunday just gone?
SJ777
However, I believe that BA were cancelling sims in November and I heard that the last of the sims was on Sunday just gone.
Any truth in any of this? Anyone had a sim/got a sim after this Sunday just gone?
SJ777
!
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How has BA overcrewed so much in the past few months?
Recruiting has been based for the last year on the expansion, the economy has moved that expansion right somewhat. That is pure conjecture by myself as I am not privvy to that sort of info but it would make sense. However, thise that find themselves swimming will have to tread water until the economy picks up a bit. Could be a while but it always does bounce back.
The draw down of the gas hog fleets
the 75/76 and the 744 have thrown the cat among the pigeons as well!Also, it has nothing to do with how many hours you have!
Last edited by wobble2plank; 22nd Oct 2008 at 14:01.
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ryr 738,
your quite right, at a time of economic upheaval, shrinking markets and reducing fleets BA should be bending backwards to give jobs to guys we dont need and have to train.
the self importance of the modern 'pay to play' ssp yet again staggers me. how long before the 'work for free' threads start?
I feel for those caught in limbo but try looking at the present situation like an adult. The amount of money a person borrowed to pay for their atpl is not relevant to anybody but their bank i'm sorry to say.
whilst virgin and others where laying off after 9/11 BA kept every pilot in employment. thats why it's a pool worth waiting in if you can.
good luck to all affected.
your quite right, at a time of economic upheaval, shrinking markets and reducing fleets BA should be bending backwards to give jobs to guys we dont need and have to train.
the self importance of the modern 'pay to play' ssp yet again staggers me. how long before the 'work for free' threads start?
I feel for those caught in limbo but try looking at the present situation like an adult. The amount of money a person borrowed to pay for their atpl is not relevant to anybody but their bank i'm sorry to say.
whilst virgin and others where laying off after 9/11 BA kept every pilot in employment. thats why it's a pool worth waiting in if you can.
good luck to all affected.
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RYR738
Bit rich don't you think! This from a company (so far as I can gather from another thread here) that is effectively giving its pilots enforced standdown.
We can all sympathise with anyone out of work, but it is better for all that companies continue trading and can hopefully then offer employment to people in the future when the economy improves ... (and in the meantime continue to employ people already in the company).
About time you did some growing / wising up to the realities of the economy, imho
Bit rich don't you think! This from a company (so far as I can gather from another thread here) that is effectively giving its pilots enforced standdown.
We can all sympathise with anyone out of work, but it is better for all that companies continue trading and can hopefully then offer employment to people in the future when the economy improves ... (and in the meantime continue to employ people already in the company).
About time you did some growing / wising up to the realities of the economy, imho