British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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To the recruitment people at BA, I know you read this website, so here we go, there are some very keen able people with current type ratings on 737/320/757 but who are not current in terms of the LPC requirement ie 12 months, we would be extremely grateful if you could give us as chance. To all those people who don't have this concern, best of luck!

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There are also quite a few people who operate types which are not Boeing or airbus who have previously been assessed with command time who would also like to reapply. I'm sure they would like first bite of the cherry but then it's not their train set. So to exezy and others in the wildebeest queue I'm sure you will get your turn but it's likely to be current at time of application. From previous years if don't pass the online application - then wait 12 months before reapplying.
Anyone from Ba know if you are losing pilots to Emirates or similar ?
Jenson
Anyone from Ba know if you are losing pilots to Emirates or similar ?
Jenson

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Regarding the type rating validity time:
Are you sure about the 5 year validity? My licence says its valid for 1 year after my intial LST.
F4.3 RE-VALIDATION OF TYPE RATINGS
(AEROPLANES)
Revalidation of type ratings requires a proficiency check
within the 3 months preceding the expiry date of the
rating*. In addition to this, there is also a minimum flying
experience requirement of at least 10 route sectors within
the validity of the rating. The experience requirement
may be substituted by 1 route sector flown with an
authorised examiner that may be undertaken as part of
the proficiency check. A route sector is defined as a flight
comprising take-off, cruise of not less than 15 minutes,
arrival, approach and landing.
*Provided this check is flown within the 3 month period,
the new rating 12 month validity period will run from the
date the old one was due to expire. For revalidation of an
instrument rating, please refer to Section E1.5.
Are you sure about the 5 year validity? My licence says its valid for 1 year after my intial LST.
F4.3 RE-VALIDATION OF TYPE RATINGS
(AEROPLANES)
Revalidation of type ratings requires a proficiency check
within the 3 months preceding the expiry date of the
rating*. In addition to this, there is also a minimum flying
experience requirement of at least 10 route sectors within
the validity of the rating. The experience requirement
may be substituted by 1 route sector flown with an
authorised examiner that may be undertaken as part of
the proficiency check. A route sector is defined as a flight
comprising take-off, cruise of not less than 15 minutes,
arrival, approach and landing.
*Provided this check is flown within the 3 month period,
the new rating 12 month validity period will run from the
date the old one was due to expire. For revalidation of an
instrument rating, please refer to Section E1.5.
Last edited by SW1; 27th Sep 2010 at 14:00.

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http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/175/Sectio...LICOPTERS).pdf
Check Section F4 4.4 it talks about the 5 year thing there. I suppose it'll be academic on Oct 1st anyway.
Check Section F4 4.4 it talks about the 5 year thing there. I suppose it'll be academic on Oct 1st anyway.

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LondonMet, I posted that section from LASORS. On my licence my TR is valid for 1 year, same as my SPA IR and my MPA IR. I still cant see how it would be valid for 5 years. Yes you can still renew it within 5 years, but to apply for a job and cliam you have a valid type rating, i still stand by the 1 year rule.

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Busbar.
In response to your question about the interview courses. I attended both a few years ago, and whilst they were okay, neither IMHO will give you a significant benefit preparing for the BA assessment. If I had to choose one, it would be Penny's as this was on a one to one basis.
If you search this thread there is some really good info. You can buy the software to practice for the computer based tests, and books to practice verbal & numerical reasoning. The interview questions, apart from "tell us about yourself" are based on demonstrative competencies, ie "give us an example of when you played your part in a team/made a good decision/dealt with conflict", you get the idea.
Hope this is of some use.
But whatever you decide, best of luck!
737 Jockey
In response to your question about the interview courses. I attended both a few years ago, and whilst they were okay, neither IMHO will give you a significant benefit preparing for the BA assessment. If I had to choose one, it would be Penny's as this was on a one to one basis.
If you search this thread there is some really good info. You can buy the software to practice for the computer based tests, and books to practice verbal & numerical reasoning. The interview questions, apart from "tell us about yourself" are based on demonstrative competencies, ie "give us an example of when you played your part in a team/made a good decision/dealt with conflict", you get the idea.
Hope this is of some use.
But whatever you decide, best of luck!
737 Jockey

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Well I haven't attended the BA interview but I have done the CTC one which was almost entirely based on the BA interview. Anyway there is a book called get a head for the sky which was brilliant (and written specifically for the CTC interview) for the CTC one so I expect it will be equally brilliant for the BA one.
Worth a look!
Get a Head for the Sky - Airline Interview Preparation
Worth a look!
Get a Head for the Sky - Airline Interview Preparation

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737 Jockey,
Thank you very much for your information. It is greatly appreciated. As it happens I can't get hold of Penny anyway so it looks like Pittraining is the only option. I was told these courses are worth doing, I feel I should as many of my mates that got into BA did the course!
largegeorgejones,
Thanks very much for the book link. I will check it out!
Cheers guys, and good luck to those that are applying on Friday.
BB
Thank you very much for your information. It is greatly appreciated. As it happens I can't get hold of Penny anyway so it looks like Pittraining is the only option. I was told these courses are worth doing, I feel I should as many of my mates that got into BA did the course!
largegeorgejones,
Thanks very much for the book link. I will check it out!
Cheers guys, and good luck to those that are applying on Friday.

BB

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I just had a peek at the BA careers site, my details are still there from my 2008 application if I log in. If the site opens up on Friday as alluded to will I be able to use the my old details?
Anyone?
Before I'm asked I didn't get to the sim stage and swore after the interview I'd not go through that again
maybe one more shot.
Anyone?
Before I'm asked I didn't get to the sim stage and swore after the interview I'd not go through that again


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I was successful in 2008 and was in the hold-pool.
I am willing to let anyone know all the "information" I have, if I can be of help.
Hopefully I'll be ok to apply and get to selection again.
I am willing to let anyone know all the "information" I have, if I can be of help.
Hopefully I'll be ok to apply and get to selection again.

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Re-application
Goaroundnow
I can confirm that the 12-month rule concerns the date that you sat the selection tests at The Rivers, so you can APPLY before then, in order that you might sit the selection tests at 12 months minimum. You'll probably need to call the recruitment department to confirm this and check that your application will not get rejected. Make sense? All this info from personal experience...!
Good luck everyone.
I can confirm that the 12-month rule concerns the date that you sat the selection tests at The Rivers, so you can APPLY before then, in order that you might sit the selection tests at 12 months minimum. You'll probably need to call the recruitment department to confirm this and check that your application will not get rejected. Make sense? All this info from personal experience...!
Good luck everyone.

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Hi Guys
I thought I would share with you my experience during 2008 selection.
I passed all the stages and was in the hold-pool, so it may be useful!
First of all I went to stage 1 in May 2008 and read this thread thoroughly before I went. It was extremely useful and pretty accurate (as far as I can remember).
Here's some points I remember about Day 1
- Informal, relaxed and professional
- About 6 of us (this was a low number, I believe)
- Group Exercise first - don't be too shy or pushy, fit-in, have an opinion and make sure you listen to other people! 4 assessors sat in each corner of the room watching, listening and making notes!
- Take lunch - long day and good chance to chat
- At some point you are all sat down and given salary, pension, roster details.
- Apart from group exercise, everybody is doing things at different times.
- Interview - relaxed, all the questions on this thread were there (culture, risk, team work, CRM, fuel hedging etc). Was always given time to think of the answer. Was guided if going off track or they wanted more info about something I had said. Time went quickly (about 45 mins). 2 people (1 pilot and 1 HR) interviewing.
- Computer tests - ranged from easy (suitcase man) to extremely difficult (capacity test). I used Cockpit Web to practice and it was very accurate and true to the real thing. Look at other posts for more info as they were accurate and I cannot remember every test that was there.
- Written tests - Numerical Reasoning was very easy maths (except 1 or 2 questions) but extreme time pressure. Trick here is to not get bogged down with a question - MOVE ON. All questions the same score. Verbal Reasoning was very time pressured and quite difficult. The examples you can find on the Internet are the correct format but none seemed to match BA's difficulty level.
I got the "successful" call the next morning. Sim was about 1 month later.
Sim:
Don't remember much but here goes:
- B747-400 sim
- Speeds etc sent to you before
- 1 hour briefing before with assessor, including going through layout of cockpit etc.
- 2 of you at assessment
- Each flying for about 45 mins.
- Given 10 minutes non-assessed handling practice before your PF turn.
- Landing NOT assessed - assessment ends at decision.
- It's a "line" flight. Mine was MAN - LHR with diversion to LGW.
- Autopilot above FL100
- Below FL100 all manual, raw-data.
- PFD and ND set to rose (I think)
- Mine was a pretty basic SID from MAN to a hold at LHR before diverting to LGW for R/V ILS.
- No system/engine malfunctions
- CRM definitely a BIG part
- We weren't asked any questions when PF or PM but some people have been.
- Asked at end on your thoughts re performance - BE HONEST, don't try to hide a screw-up.
- I flew with a 4000 hour Airbus guy who hadn't trimmed a plane since training - he struggled. I was current on B737NG with 500 hours (at the time) and so some of the battle (layout, trimming etc) was won!
Got successful "you're in pool" call next day, too.
Hope this helps. I know most of it's repeated but it may save some people scrolling though this long thread.
I thought I would share with you my experience during 2008 selection.
I passed all the stages and was in the hold-pool, so it may be useful!
First of all I went to stage 1 in May 2008 and read this thread thoroughly before I went. It was extremely useful and pretty accurate (as far as I can remember).
Here's some points I remember about Day 1
- Informal, relaxed and professional
- About 6 of us (this was a low number, I believe)
- Group Exercise first - don't be too shy or pushy, fit-in, have an opinion and make sure you listen to other people! 4 assessors sat in each corner of the room watching, listening and making notes!
- Take lunch - long day and good chance to chat
- At some point you are all sat down and given salary, pension, roster details.
- Apart from group exercise, everybody is doing things at different times.
- Interview - relaxed, all the questions on this thread were there (culture, risk, team work, CRM, fuel hedging etc). Was always given time to think of the answer. Was guided if going off track or they wanted more info about something I had said. Time went quickly (about 45 mins). 2 people (1 pilot and 1 HR) interviewing.
- Computer tests - ranged from easy (suitcase man) to extremely difficult (capacity test). I used Cockpit Web to practice and it was very accurate and true to the real thing. Look at other posts for more info as they were accurate and I cannot remember every test that was there.
- Written tests - Numerical Reasoning was very easy maths (except 1 or 2 questions) but extreme time pressure. Trick here is to not get bogged down with a question - MOVE ON. All questions the same score. Verbal Reasoning was very time pressured and quite difficult. The examples you can find on the Internet are the correct format but none seemed to match BA's difficulty level.
I got the "successful" call the next morning. Sim was about 1 month later.
Sim:
Don't remember much but here goes:
- B747-400 sim
- Speeds etc sent to you before
- 1 hour briefing before with assessor, including going through layout of cockpit etc.
- 2 of you at assessment
- Each flying for about 45 mins.
- Given 10 minutes non-assessed handling practice before your PF turn.
- Landing NOT assessed - assessment ends at decision.
- It's a "line" flight. Mine was MAN - LHR with diversion to LGW.
- Autopilot above FL100
- Below FL100 all manual, raw-data.
- PFD and ND set to rose (I think)
- Mine was a pretty basic SID from MAN to a hold at LHR before diverting to LGW for R/V ILS.
- No system/engine malfunctions
- CRM definitely a BIG part
- We weren't asked any questions when PF or PM but some people have been.
- Asked at end on your thoughts re performance - BE HONEST, don't try to hide a screw-up.
- I flew with a 4000 hour Airbus guy who hadn't trimmed a plane since training - he struggled. I was current on B737NG with 500 hours (at the time) and so some of the battle (layout, trimming etc) was won!
Got successful "you're in pool" call next day, too.
Hope this helps. I know most of it's repeated but it may save some people scrolling though this long thread.
Last edited by goaroundnow; 28th Sep 2010 at 19:33. Reason: spelling

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Goaround now has pretty much hit the nail on the head with the info. All the info you need is here on this thread on previous pages.
I got to sim in 2008 but not hold pool. Can i assume that if you were in hold pool you have to do it all again? That sucks although it does make me feel slightly better for having my off day in the sim!!!
Just unearthed my stuff for another crack at the title........
I got to sim in 2008 but not hold pool. Can i assume that if you were in hold pool you have to do it all again? That sucks although it does make me feel slightly better for having my off day in the sim!!!
Just unearthed my stuff for another crack at the title........

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Having read all that, I can only add to what largegeorge says and recommend Get a Head for the Sky. All you mentioned about the day is exactly what is in the book. I knew it was written for the CTC interview but I didn't know the CTC interview was based on the BA one. I did the CTC interview a while back and it sounds identical!
Should help me give BA a good crack when the time comes! Roll on Friday!
Should help me give BA a good crack when the time comes! Roll on Friday!

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Online details
Code:
I just had a peek at the BA careers site, my details are still there from my 2008 application if I log in. If the site opens up on Friday as alluded to will I be able to use the my old details?
thanks
