British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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You can't just throw something like that out there without saying some details on where you heard it and the likely reliability of the source. Also, there is a difference between stopping recruitment and slowing recruitment - did your source specify a total freeze?
Personally I have an assessment date with BA shortly and haven't been advised of any cancellation - So who knows, but that would suggest not. I certainly hope that there is still a potential job on the table!
Personally I have an assessment date with BA shortly and haven't been advised of any cancellation - So who knows, but that would suggest not. I certainly hope that there is still a potential job on the table!
Last edited by rusty_y2k2; 8th Jun 2008 at 18:21.
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That rumour came from contacts in flight training in BA. Details vary. I've heard some747's to be grounded. Also heard the same thing for 75/76 and 73. Who knows? Fact is, the landscape will be different week by week for some time to come.....
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That's certainly true, it's going to be a very dynamic situation I'm sure. Unfortunately its a hard one to wrap one's head around and that'll make it a difficult interview topic!
Thanks for clarifying the statement - appreciated.
Thanks for clarifying the statement - appreciated.
I've heard some747's to be grounded. Also heard the same thing for 75/76 and 73. Who knows?
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SIM assessment
Hi.
I have a forthcoming sim and am booking two hours on a 737ng south of Gatwick with the same EHSI(ND) and EADI(PFD) as the 747 used for the assessment. The instructor has a very good record of getting people through the sim assessment. I did a couple of hours and it was invaluable- particlularly for getting your head around cockpit set-up, navaids, briefing etc as well as the actual hand flying, manual trim, power/pitch couples etc....
I am booking two hours on Fri 20th for a brush-up session. If anyone would like to share the session and have an hour each as PF/PNF the cost would be about £120.
If you have passed the 1st assessment day and are interested please pm me.
I have a forthcoming sim and am booking two hours on a 737ng south of Gatwick with the same EHSI(ND) and EADI(PFD) as the 747 used for the assessment. The instructor has a very good record of getting people through the sim assessment. I did a couple of hours and it was invaluable- particlularly for getting your head around cockpit set-up, navaids, briefing etc as well as the actual hand flying, manual trim, power/pitch couples etc....
I am booking two hours on Fri 20th for a brush-up session. If anyone would like to share the session and have an hour each as PF/PNF the cost would be about £120.
If you have passed the 1st assessment day and are interested please pm me.
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Future recruitment
I have recently spoken to the pilot recruiter at BA about interview dates for my phase 1 assessment (August dates will be out by the end of next week) and I asked her if BA were planning to cut cut back on recruitment in light of the high price of oil etc and her answer was, "No, quite the opposite actually, we have our quota to fill this year and it hasn't changed".
Happy job hunting.
Happy job hunting.
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Just a question to those hiring the 737NG in light of sim checks in the 744. I know the screens, mcp etc are very similar but i'm told the big thing you need to nail are the power settings(which are EPR). Surely it's better to pay a little more & get a 744 sim??? I assume they are hard to get you hands on tho.........
It may be the second best choice for those coming from aircraft other than Boeing i guess. Personally i'm just getting lots of free practice(no AP, AT or FD) flying punters around europe in the 737..........
Well if i get a check i'll be busting my balls to get my hands on a 744 sim rather than waste a BIG opportunity.........
It may be the second best choice for those coming from aircraft other than Boeing i guess. Personally i'm just getting lots of free practice(no AP, AT or FD) flying punters around europe in the 737..........
Well if i get a check i'll be busting my balls to get my hands on a 744 sim rather than waste a BIG opportunity.........
Before you get too hung up on the technicalities of flying the 744, remember that BA assumes that DEPs can pole an aircraft around. They are looking for you to demonstrate your "soft" skills 
so remember to ask open questions, interactive briefs, talk about "how" you plan to fly the approach etc.
so remember to ask open questions, interactive briefs, talk about "how" you plan to fly the approach etc.
Just don't hire BA simulator at Cranebank, or it'll be immediately obvious from security records that you've done some practice!
The only other 744 simulator in the UK is the CAE one at Gatwick (Burgess Hill).
BA want the candidates to do well but I have it from a reasonably reliable source that getting some practice in beforehand on company sims is frowned upon. They want you to do well but don't expect you to have any experience of the 744. They want to see your basic skills, CRM and learning curve. They're not looking for a North Atlantic Baron in the sim check.... that's not to say however that they'll accept shoddy flying!
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Ham's advice is very good its not a proficent 747 operator they are looking for, its the normal things: Teamwork, crm, capacity, airmanship etc and of course do the flying skills match the CV and is there an improvemen on the day.
I was told by a recruiter that the 747 sim is used as a " skills leveling tool" in much the same way the 1-11 sim was, as it is now the type most of the candidates are unlikely to have experience on..
I was told by a recruiter that the 747 sim is used as a " skills leveling tool" in much the same way the 1-11 sim was, as it is now the type most of the candidates are unlikely to have experience on..
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Who cares if the power settings are done in EPR or N1. EPR is just a function of how efficiently the engine is running. We fly a mixed EPR/N1 fleet 777 and does it pose any problems? NO
WHy? You still set the power according to N1 in flight.
Furthermore this whole sim hiring thing won't do you much good, its all about CRM / MCC skills. None of the detail is particularly hard, it was more useful in the times of the BAC1-11.
But don't listen to me, obviously do with what you feel comfortable with but I'd say it's a waste of money if you have seen the inside of a commercial airliner before.
WHy? You still set the power according to N1 in flight.
Furthermore this whole sim hiring thing won't do you much good, its all about CRM / MCC skills. None of the detail is particularly hard, it was more useful in the times of the BAC1-11.
But don't listen to me, obviously do with what you feel comfortable with but I'd say it's a waste of money if you have seen the inside of a commercial airliner before.
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Sorry for the harsh tone but had enough of supposed 'sim' companies exploiting guys on every single turning. Telling them that is what is required to get into the company or into aviation.
I rather be blunt and get the message through.
Btw I work for BA on the 777
I rather be blunt and get the message through.
Btw I work for BA on the 777
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Shaka Zulu,
Couldn't agree more with you. Everyone preparing for their sim has the impression that BA are solely concerned with flying the 74 perfectly.
Thankfully i had some useful info given to me from a friend within the company that CRM, Leadership and Decision- making skills are the key. Hence i didn't waste alot of money on the sim, yet still got through.
For those who are preparing for sim:
Yes, practise as much raw data flying as you feel comfortable with ( i was on the bus and fying track/ fpa and manual thrust did help) I got flight sim for my pc and worked continually on the pitch/ power settings that BA gave me. It works!!
But more importantly think about how you will lead the flight as handling pilot ( especially if you have a ' bomb on board threat' etc in cruise), using ALL resources available to you. This will be the key to passing the sim.
Couldn't agree more with you. Everyone preparing for their sim has the impression that BA are solely concerned with flying the 74 perfectly.
Thankfully i had some useful info given to me from a friend within the company that CRM, Leadership and Decision- making skills are the key. Hence i didn't waste alot of money on the sim, yet still got through.
For those who are preparing for sim:
Yes, practise as much raw data flying as you feel comfortable with ( i was on the bus and fying track/ fpa and manual thrust did help) I got flight sim for my pc and worked continually on the pitch/ power settings that BA gave me. It works!!
But more importantly think about how you will lead the flight as handling pilot ( especially if you have a ' bomb on board threat' etc in cruise), using ALL resources available to you. This will be the key to passing the sim.
Last edited by Illusory; 12th Jun 2008 at 16:21.