Virgin Roster (and other stuff)

[srjumbo]

Hoofherated, you obviously know who I am then!

[gonadz]

Big Easy

I'm sure Scroggs will agree that the manning levels on the 400 fleet are such that our rosters are much more stable at the moment.

A predicted shortfall of 400 Captains may change that during the summer but the shortfalls on the Airbus in both seats are making their rosters very difficult to fully man and therefore disruption appears to be the norm at the moment.

[scroggs]

Yep, that's about it. The 744 is a stable fleet - no new ones coming in, no old ones being retired (aircraft, that is!). The A340 is getting 4 or 5 new aircraft a year. That started two years ago and will continue for several years. With around 8-9 crews per aeroplane, that requires a large training effort. For a number of reasons, the training didn't start in time to build up a manning buffer before the aircraft started arriving, and we've been playing catch-up ever since. So the A340 roster isn't that stable, particularly for captains. For FO's - particularly new ones - the roster is fairly stable. Having said that, as an example, the trip I'm on right now is the first I've had since last year that has changed from the roster. Hardly a volatile record!

[AERO DYNAMIK]

Virgin Atlantic Hold Pool

Scroggs

Have you any latest info on how long people are waiting in the VS hold pool at the moment before being offered course start dates?

I've been swimming since December

Thanks

AD

[mr ripley]

Sorry not Scroggs (but he does appear in my logbook).

I have it on good authority (info about 2 months old though) that due to the shortage of pilots on the A340, Virgin had to get as many A340 and A330 rated and experienced pilots in as it could. Virgin also had to place those coming off the Classic on to other fleets. Courses are manned until June and Virgin have about 50 people still in the holding pool to place too.

Regards

[AERO DYNAMIK]

thanks Mr Ripley

I have 2500 hours A330

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[omoko joe]

average wait seems 9mths - 1 year. Courses filled til sept acording to my 'insider'. Anyone know better?

[expedite_climb]

FYI - Wait in the pool is only 4 1/2 months at the latest count...

AERO check your PM.

[girlsblouse]

Any idea of recruitment status. Am qualified on the A320 (1500 hrs) , used the electronic application form six months ago, but not a peep out of them.

Originally thought they may be up to their ears with A330 chaps buy have recently heard of three non-typerated guys joining.

Does anybody have experience of whether this form works or not? Or is it a case of needing a mate on the inside to wave your resume in front of the charming lady in HR?

[scroggs]

The form works. Having a mate on the inside is not required to get a job, nor is it compulsory to have an Airbus rating - but it helps. What is compulsory just now is considerably more than the 2500-3000 hours minimum stated on the website.

And Janine does not work in HR!

As for hold pool times, I'm sorry, but I can't give any more authoritative info than you've already seen here. It's true that both fleets are currently absorbing the guys from the finally-defunct Classic fleet, which will affect take-up from the pool, but that shouldn't affect things for too long.

Scroggs

[AERO DYNAMIK]

Just to second Scroggs last post....I'm in the hold pool. I know nobody in Virgin...Nobody.

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[Dan Winterland]

Scroggs - I gather a lot of FOs at GSS would love to join Virgin as the pay and rosters are better, and command prospects at GSS have diminished thanks to BA's intervention. Many have sent in their CVs apparently, but as you mention - none have joined Virgin despite being type rated!

Why?

[scroggs]

I don't know, Dan. I was present when contact was made between an ex-Virgin GSS captain and our senior management to discuss the situation. I wasn't privy to the content of the subsequent discussion but, when I later met said captain again, he told me he was satisfied that there was nothing underhand going on. That's the limit of my knowledge of the subject.

[srjumbo]

Ahh but Scroggs my dear chap, you stated in page one of this topic that I was entirely wrong about VAA not hiring anyone from GSS.
Do you retract your statement saying how wrong I was? If not then please PM me with names of who has been taken on from GSS.
Don't suppose it'll be a long message eh?

[scroggs]

srjumbo This is what I said to you:

srjumbo is entirely wrong in his assertion that there is some kind of 'agreement' between GSS and Virgin, as a senior captain from GSS who recently spoke to a senior manager at Virgin can confirm.

You will also recall that I said this on the same page, though a different post:

srjumbo as far as I'm aware, no GSS people have been employed by Virgin. I believe that 4 have applied. I can categorically confirm that there is no agreement of 'non employment' of GSS people between Virgin and GSS - such a policy would have no benefit to Virgin. If you wish to PM me, I can give you some further information.

What have I to retract or apologise for?

SS All VS commands are internal promotions. We got a bit stretched, as the command training didn't start early enough, but we are just about coping! There has been no suggestion whatsoever of DECs - and we (the pilot workforce) wouldn't wear it anyway!

[scroggs]

srjumbo further to my last, you don't appear to understand that Virgin is not recruiting for the B744. We are recruiting for the A340, which is why the vast majority of people we have interviewed have an Airbus rating. A very few non-B744-rated people were in the right place at the right time to be taken on for a full conversion when it was decided that the 744 needed a few extra people. This does not add up to a conspiracy against GSS.

[hoofhearted]

Best you let the -400 fleet know that we're not recruiting for them. They seem to think that there's a conversion course every month until at least early next year.

[scroggs]

Ok, Hoof, perhaps it'd be more accurate to say we weren't recruiting for the 744! I guess the conversions are at the rate of 4 people per course? Maybe some of those 744-rated applicants might now get a look-in, though the numbers will still be small compared to the intake for the 'Bus.

[Virginia Plane]

If you look at the bottom of the latest seniority list (from last week) there must have been about 5 or 6 A340 places for every 1 B744 place over the last year.

[hoofhearted]

Yep, and pretty much the same ratio, in reverse, at the top.