BA 777 vs Charter

[4AD]

From a hold pool swimmer:

I know variations on this theme have been done to death.... but can anyone who has experience of both shed a little light on the relative metits of each (if any!)

Thx

4AD

[Riker]

At least you have the choice! I'd go with BA 777 no question. Unless you plan to fly the 7E7 at First Choice, you should definitely take the opportunity to fly the 777 from what I hear. Plus, BA has a wide variety of routes on the 777 - although you would likely do primarily EWR, IAD and Saudi for the first few years...

You'd definitely get a lot more rest during the summer season flying for BA.... Don't give up this opportunity to be an elitest NIGEL....

[flybouy]

All depends which charter airline, what contract ( permanent or part year), what pension plan( money purchase or final salary), what position on the command list if not already a captain...etc etc...

I think you and only you yourself can decide where you stand and what you want .....nobody else will be able to see it from your position. If you are already in the hold pool and have been told it's going to a 777 with BA then you have to see your age and where you see yourself in 10 years with each outfit..........????

I have to say from where I stand in my life it would be 777 with BA...

[omoko joe]

i would say the 777 has the edge, but you'll work as hard on it as you would in charter these days..the deciding factor for me would be the ability to change fleets every few years. BA t's and c's ain't wot they used to be.

[easyJohnM]

As has been said it depends on what you want from life not just in the short term but also 10/20 years from now.

I had to make a very similar decision a few years ago although being ex Mil I was in a slightly different position with regards my options.

BA 777 (or any long haul)
Advantages
1. Longer periods away but larger blocks off on your return.
2. Higher Pay Scale eventually. If you get early command short haul is better until the 7/10 year mark. Airline specific!!!
3. Very nice ac (although the 744 has a nice bunk)
4. A lot of time spent in exotic locations.
5. No pressure of command (see point below)
Disadvantages
1. Long block periods away from Wife/kids (Place as an advantage if you hate the wife/kids)
2. Nice ac and I’m sure the autopilot loves flying it; you however only get a brief spell hands on and the occasional landing.
3. Exotic locations will include the Middle East and the same parts of the USA for a very long time until you get some seniority! Blind Lines for 5 years plus!!!!!
4. No chance of Long Haul Command for 15-18 years and come October 06 when the retirement age changes you can make this timescale more like 20-23 years

Charter (short haul)
This is a trickier assessment, as there are a multitude of airlines all with different T&C and various ideas on command structure.
Advantages
1. Home most nights after fairly short sectors although after a while this can also be as boring as sitting with your feet up for hours on end over the pond. (But not quite)
2. Ac type and age can be variable but on the whole you get more hands on and a lot more landings.
3. Early command (airline specific) and it’s always nice being the boss!
Disadvantages
1. Some airlines get more than their moneys worth and push the max hours rules.
2. Not that many night stops and rarely for any decent length of time.
3. A lot of the LoCo airlines are more vulnerable to economic pressures so your job security is less.

So in summary it all depends on what you want out of life.

777 – Nice ac/Nice Job but you will be at the bottom of the pilot pile as “only the FO” for a very, very long time.

Charter – Choose your company/ac carefully and you will be rewarded with interesting flying and relatively quick command.

You probably guessed which way I jumped when I had the choice but my retirement package from the forces helped ease the transition and in all honesty I couldn’t face the thought of such a long time in the right hand seat. However, Command is not everything and you need to look at the whole package and what best suits your lifestyle.

P.S.
If you have not already done so log onto the BALPA forum and read the article titled:

British Airways recruitment...
...what you MUST know before you sign that contract!

British Airways is recruiting at the moment, mostly for type-rated pilots.

We think it is important that you know ALL the facts, warts and all, before you sign that contract.


All the best whichever you choose.

[ETOPS]

easyJohnM

Very good post - pretty much how I see things from near the top of BA's lst.

One small correction. We now work a bit harder than in the past on the 777 fleet. Here's my Dec roster:-

LGW-DFW-LGW
LGW-ANU-UVF-ANU-LGW
LHR-YUL-LHR
LHR-RUH-KWI-LHR
LGW-BGI-LGW

As you can see 13 sectors of which I will only be taking 6 thus leaving 7 for my colleagues to hone their skills on. I am not alone in giving the co-pilots as many sectors as poss, got enough myself and they will be in command one day......

[bigbusdriver06]

If you take the 777 and don't like it, you can always leave asap - I don't think you are bonded in BA, are you? You can then go charter and be only a year or two behind where you otherwise would have been.

If you go charter and turn down the 777, BA may never invite you again and you will always wonder what it would have been like. Remember, it's always what you DON'T do that you regret.

I've never flown it, but I have a feeling that the 777 is probably THE ultimate big jet and you'll probably love it. But the sectors and the lifestyle? No thanks.

I would never have forgiven myself if I had missed out on my B767/A330/longhaul phase, it was great fun, but longterm give me charter and shorthaul.

Shorthaul is for pilots who love flying, longhaul is for pilots who love being pilots.

[RAT 5]

Correct me if I'm wrong - ducking from incoming missiles - but do BA still retire at 55 and charter at 60? That for me would be a major factor. It won't mean you're are dead in the water (air) at 55 but you could have a choice of what to do, with hopefully enough funds to make a choice. At 55 in charter you would have no choice until 60 and then maybe not enough funds anyway.
All the other pro's & con's have been stated. The pension would be another major factor. I know BA's is now similar to everyone elses, but....
Fringe benefits in retirement is also a factor. Leave BA & you are still a member of the family; leave charter and it is as if you've never existed.

[4AD]

Thanks for the info guys...

For me omoko and eJM have summed it up. A junior guy in the charters has little to lose. But BA now has much less on offer with which to draw the experienced people away from carriers where they are happy.

bbd06 makes a good point too. Long haul experience is something that is amber necter. But you soon get bored of the taste. Having flown Airbus LH, you don't need 7 years of it to learn that. (IMHO)

RAT 5: As we speak, 55 still stands for BA as nominal retirement age. But that will change soon. And with it will change the time to command within BA for new entrants. The numbers could bring a tear your eye! Say goodbye to 30 years on massive (6 figure) pensions. Hello to 25 years on whatever miserable annuity you may be able to afford...

Cheers,

4AD

[Human Factor]

I have a feeling that the 777 is probably THE ultimate big jet and you'll probably love it. But the sectors and the lifestyle? No thanks.

Pretty much sums it up. One day they'll start using it for what it was designed to do (hopefully).