Ba A320
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
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Ba A320
I'm in the BA hold pool at the moment, having been informed I can wait until I have 2000 hours and take 777 ( will take around 6-7 months at current rate of flying) or go short haul LHR right away.
I live about 1:45 - 2 hours drive from LHR so was wondering about roster patterns/typical working week on the airbus and if its feasible to commute.
Any BA airbus drivers out there info would be much appreciated
I live about 1:45 - 2 hours drive from LHR so was wondering about roster patterns/typical working week on the airbus and if its feasible to commute.
Any BA airbus drivers out there info would be much appreciated
Couldonlyaffordafiver
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: The Twilight Zone near 30W
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I'm a 777 driver, rather than Airbus.
Keep in mind you will be frozen on your first type for up to five years (at least four anyway). If you particularly want longhaul, it will be worth waiting until you have the hours. Alternatively, if you want to join ASAP and don't care where you go, join now but keep in mind you'll be stuck on the Airbus for the duration of your freeze and will only get off it subject to vacancies elsewhere.
I'll let others comment on typical Airbus rosters.
Keep in mind you will be frozen on your first type for up to five years (at least four anyway). If you particularly want longhaul, it will be worth waiting until you have the hours. Alternatively, if you want to join ASAP and don't care where you go, join now but keep in mind you'll be stuck on the Airbus for the duration of your freeze and will only get off it subject to vacancies elsewhere.
I'll let others comment on typical Airbus rosters.
Join Date: May 2000
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Seven months seniority during a recruitment phase can make a huge difference in years to come. The people who join in the months while you are waiting will be above you for ever. They will have their choice of trips, fleets, and seats ahead of you until either they or you retire.
It could be the deciding factor in whether you will ever see a long haul command or not !
It could be the deciding factor in whether you will ever see a long haul command or not !
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: the old shed next to the runway...
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Rosters and Flying on the airbus fleet at BA is hard work.
This is basically because it is now the largest fleet in BA (approx 70 a/c) and the fleet is now being worked hard, due in part to high utilisation schedule, quicker turnarounds, fixed links, inter-terminal roster planning (t1-t4)..
This is basically because it is now the largest fleet in BA (approx 70 a/c) and the fleet is now being worked hard, due in part to high utilisation schedule, quicker turnarounds, fixed links, inter-terminal roster planning (t1-t4)..
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
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Typical month without leave will see you with approx 12 days off (give or take a day or so).
Destinations are Europe wide, and trips are anywhere from 1 to 5 days in duration, with 1-4 sectors a day.
Day trips are 2 or 4 sectors.
2 day trips tend to be 3 sectors/nightstop/3 sectors.
3/4/5 day trips tend to have 2 sectors in the middle days, but occasionally 4.
Agree with the posts above-take the job asap-7 months can be A LOT of lost seniority!
Destinations are Europe wide, and trips are anywhere from 1 to 5 days in duration, with 1-4 sectors a day.
Day trips are 2 or 4 sectors.
2 day trips tend to be 3 sectors/nightstop/3 sectors.
3/4/5 day trips tend to have 2 sectors in the middle days, but occasionally 4.
Agree with the posts above-take the job asap-7 months can be A LOT of lost seniority!
Join Date: Sep 1999
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BKB
You got a licence?
You got legs?
Then why not use both and leave the rest of us that really quite enjoy it, to it.
I'm sure we got on just fine before you arrived and we will when you leave.
Some people don't know they are born.
The world has changed in aviation yet we still get the best money, stay in the best hotels, postion in First Class, get First class travel (7 years +), 56 days leave/duty free 12/13 days off a month etc etc
If its so bad with as much respect as I can muster why don't you sod off and see how the rest get on?
I'd start with Ryanair.
But hey, some people are just born moaners.
You got a licence?
You got legs?
Then why not use both and leave the rest of us that really quite enjoy it, to it.
I'm sure we got on just fine before you arrived and we will when you leave.
Some people don't know they are born.
The world has changed in aviation yet we still get the best money, stay in the best hotels, postion in First Class, get First class travel (7 years +), 56 days leave/duty free 12/13 days off a month etc etc
If its so bad with as much respect as I can muster why don't you sod off and see how the rest get on?
I'd start with Ryanair.
But hey, some people are just born moaners.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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M1 - You are a current 737 driver, so you should know if you can hack 5 years SH or not.
2006 is to be a year of high recruitment, so you will lose a lot of seniority by waiting. With the likely changes to retirement ages later this year, by waiting you could find yourself last man in, and stuck at the bottom for years.
If you only joined BA for LH, then I guess it may be worth the wait. If you want the career, then I would join ASAP.
(PS - Starting on 777 2nd Feb - weekends in Newark beat months in Basrah any day!!)
2006 is to be a year of high recruitment, so you will lose a lot of seniority by waiting. With the likely changes to retirement ages later this year, by waiting you could find yourself last man in, and stuck at the bottom for years.
If you only joined BA for LH, then I guess it may be worth the wait. If you want the career, then I would join ASAP.
(PS - Starting on 777 2nd Feb - weekends in Newark beat months in Basrah any day!!)
Say, for example, you wait 6 months for 777. You do your time on that type but decide the routes aren't that interesting so you want to bid for another fleet. Well, guess what? While you were waiting all those chaps (and chappesses) who joined a bit earlier on the 'Bus will be ahead of you and you'll have to wait. Seniority is king.
HP
V V Lowly FO
HP
V V Lowly FO
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Hampshire physically; Perthshire and Pembrokeshire mentally.
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If BA is what you want, do not delay. Take the Airbus. Plenty of folk commute from further afield than 2 hours. Take digs close to the airport.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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If you have decided to join BA, get in ASAP. When I was training, a subsequent course was split in two for administrative reasons. They were staggered by 1 month. The second half (now a different course) were due to start on 13th September 2001. Guess what happened?
Get in now, as long as you accept 5 years on the bus.
Get in now, as long as you accept 5 years on the bus.
