thomsonfly queries
Join Date: Sep 2005
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I'm after a bit of advice here guys. Just done Assessment stage 1 and have my fingers crossed. In the pack up for stage 2, which they gave me as I left, there is a basing preference sheet.
Now jumping the gun a bit - but if i pass stage 1 and having had an unusually good day get thru' the psych interview and sim on stage 2, I want to punt for a base in the south. Gatwick or B'mouth would be ideal. However I want to go for something realistic and not appear too necky. I'm soon to be ex-military so don't care what jet I fly.
Any thoughts/views on Gatwick V B'mouth V BRS/757 V 737 etc would be most welcome. A link to a web page showing what aircraft are at what bases would also be a win!
Nightmare would be to be offered Glasgow although I'd still say "thanks very much" (once I'd sobered up) as it's Thomson I want to work for!
Now jumping the gun a bit - but if i pass stage 1 and having had an unusually good day get thru' the psych interview and sim on stage 2, I want to punt for a base in the south. Gatwick or B'mouth would be ideal. However I want to go for something realistic and not appear too necky. I'm soon to be ex-military so don't care what jet I fly.
Any thoughts/views on Gatwick V B'mouth V BRS/757 V 737 etc would be most welcome. A link to a web page showing what aircraft are at what bases would also be a win!
Nightmare would be to be offered Glasgow although I'd still say "thanks very much" (once I'd sobered up) as it's Thomson I want to work for!
Join Date: May 2004
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dryyoureyes,
hope all goes well.
I would suggest you go for the 737 and you can get BOH or LGW easily. On the 756 you definitely dont get BOH and you might be able to get LGW but not straight away. My guess is you will be based somewhere else for 6 months to a year.
There is no site that depicts the fleet/bases of Tfly. Even if you find one is definetely inaccurate since more and more airplanes are coming and are shuffled around.
Rouglhy from top of my head:
Coventry: 4 737-500
Luton :1 757, 1 767-200, 1 737-800
Gatwick: ...many 757/767 and one 737-300 for now
Manchester : many 757/767 and one 737-300
Cardiff: 1 757 and 1 737-300
Doncaster: 3 737-300 , 1 737-800
Bristol : 1 757
Teeside : 1 737-800
Newcastle : Think shares -800 with Teeside and has 1 or 2 757
Glasgow : not sure how many but no 737 yet.
Birmingham : 757/767 only (2 or 3 a/c).
B'mouth: Only 737 (dont know how many or what kind).
Stansted : 757 only (I think only 1)
Hope it helps
hope all goes well.
I would suggest you go for the 737 and you can get BOH or LGW easily. On the 756 you definitely dont get BOH and you might be able to get LGW but not straight away. My guess is you will be based somewhere else for 6 months to a year.
There is no site that depicts the fleet/bases of Tfly. Even if you find one is definetely inaccurate since more and more airplanes are coming and are shuffled around.
Rouglhy from top of my head:
Coventry: 4 737-500
Luton :1 757, 1 767-200, 1 737-800
Gatwick: ...many 757/767 and one 737-300 for now
Manchester : many 757/767 and one 737-300
Cardiff: 1 757 and 1 737-300
Doncaster: 3 737-300 , 1 737-800
Bristol : 1 757
Teeside : 1 737-800
Newcastle : Think shares -800 with Teeside and has 1 or 2 757
Glasgow : not sure how many but no 737 yet.
Birmingham : 757/767 only (2 or 3 a/c).
B'mouth: Only 737 (dont know how many or what kind).
Stansted : 757 only (I think only 1)
Hope it helps
Join Date: Jun 2004
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ThompsonFly Interview
Hi there,
Was just wondering if anyone who was interviewed on the 22nd of June heard anything back from HR?
I found the math test to be like nothing I've ever done and nothing at all like Ali told me about. You either have to have just graduated from school or have been a mathemation for many years to do those sums. The algebra was mostly fractions, there was alot of quadratics...alot and lots of division/multiplication sums with numbers in the middle missing. I had never seen these kind of sums, so I just guessed them all. Someone said to me after the math test that he would be worried if he already didn't have a job. There must be a few different math tests in their arsonal. The verbal reasoning test was ok, nothing to get your heads in a twist over, just read it carefully. We didn't do the group test due to a time constraint, so, it was a rather short day. We all were given the sim profiles, so when you get yours, don't think you automatically come back for stage two.
A line captain gave us the lowdown on the company, benefits, etc, and it looks like a wonderful company to work for. However, it is for a pilot pool again, but we were assured that the pool won't be too deep.
Good luck to all of you going for the interview.
Was just wondering if anyone who was interviewed on the 22nd of June heard anything back from HR?
I found the math test to be like nothing I've ever done and nothing at all like Ali told me about. You either have to have just graduated from school or have been a mathemation for many years to do those sums. The algebra was mostly fractions, there was alot of quadratics...alot and lots of division/multiplication sums with numbers in the middle missing. I had never seen these kind of sums, so I just guessed them all. Someone said to me after the math test that he would be worried if he already didn't have a job. There must be a few different math tests in their arsonal. The verbal reasoning test was ok, nothing to get your heads in a twist over, just read it carefully. We didn't do the group test due to a time constraint, so, it was a rather short day. We all were given the sim profiles, so when you get yours, don't think you automatically come back for stage two.
A line captain gave us the lowdown on the company, benefits, etc, and it looks like a wonderful company to work for. However, it is for a pilot pool again, but we were assured that the pool won't be too deep.
Good luck to all of you going for the interview.
DryYourEyes, when you got the base preference sheet it should have come with the advice bid for what you want. This means that if you want to fly the 757/767 out of Gatwick then put that as your number one choice, then put your next choice and so on (presumably leaving Glasgow till last). You will not enhance your chances of getting in by bidding for what you think is an unpopular base, you'll just make your life miserable by being somewhere you didn't want to be!! As for choosing between the 757/767 and the 737 it is a choice between an easy life on a Carribbean beach and working hard for a week at all times at least 200 miles away from your home 
Join Date: May 2004
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Aggree with Student in Debt as far as "bid for what you want".
Don't agree with the later part of his post (l-haul s-haul comparison). Of course that's just a personal "thing".
Bear in mind this. In order to get the "good" longhaul trips, you will have to be senior enough. For every 4 night Orlando there are 10 bullet Barbados flights. Additionally, in order to spend a few days on the beach every year, you will have to endure the night Pafos-Bodrum etc that the 756 fleet has to offer. The very long hours of shear boredom at 37000 ft. The odd long haul trip (especially for jnr pilots) comes with a high price.
Don't agree with the later part of his post (l-haul s-haul comparison). Of course that's just a personal "thing".
Bear in mind this. In order to get the "good" longhaul trips, you will have to be senior enough. For every 4 night Orlando there are 10 bullet Barbados flights. Additionally, in order to spend a few days on the beach every year, you will have to endure the night Pafos-Bodrum etc that the 756 fleet has to offer. The very long hours of shear boredom at 37000 ft. The odd long haul trip (especially for jnr pilots) comes with a high price.
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I was lucky enough to get through the whole process and was offered FO on 737 out of Manchester or DONCASTER OR 757/767 out of Manchester or Cardiff, it took them 2 weeks plus to give us the results from 1st stage
. So I wouldn't be to worried if I hadn't heard back yet! Easier said than done I know, anyways good luck!
. So I wouldn't be to worried if I hadn't heard back yet! Easier said than done I know, anyways good luck!
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Studentindebt/gonso
thanks to you both for taking the trouble to give me such detailed replies. Sounds as though there is the ever present element of luck,timing and what floats your boat with this and, of course, if you don't ask you don't get!
Even working hard 200 miles from home for a week at a time is a step up from what is currently on offer with my present employer. At least I've now got some good pointers to help me make choices with Thomson if/when the time comes. I'll let you know how it goes
thanks to you both for taking the trouble to give me such detailed replies. Sounds as though there is the ever present element of luck,timing and what floats your boat with this and, of course, if you don't ask you don't get!
Even working hard 200 miles from home for a week at a time is a step up from what is currently on offer with my present employer. At least I've now got some good pointers to help me make choices with Thomson if/when the time comes. I'll let you know how it goes
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Hi Jets62
I was there in the morning - are you the smoothie who bought the Chocolates for Denise?
Haven't heard anything yet which I understand is a good thing. I'm more worried about the Psych test than the maths - it's not pretty inside my head!
I was the military bloke by the way! Good luck!
I was there in the morning - are you the smoothie who bought the Chocolates for Denise?
Haven't heard anything yet which I understand is a good thing. I'm more worried about the Psych test than the maths - it's not pretty inside my head!
I was the military bloke by the way! Good luck!
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slowbird 1
They called me the day after the sim & interview to offer me the job but It isnt always like that. So if they didnt call you yet doesn't mean youre not gonna get it!
They called me the day after the sim & interview to offer me the job but It isnt always like that. So if they didnt call you yet doesn't mean youre not gonna get it!
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Yep I'm the smoothy with the chocolates....Hey, she asked for them... Good to hear that no-one from my interview date has heard yet. I thought Helen (the line captain) said that they only had sim dates until early July? Oh well like you all say in pom-land, "no news is good news".
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There are 757 courses running in August as well to the best of my knowledge. Quite how is another matter because as a Ground Trainer I'm up to my plums already. Not an expert on Sim bookings etc but I am led to believe that there is capacity. Seeing as chocs for HR works, should I end up running any part of your training I have 2 words for you: Bombay Saphire.
As for type / basing: What do you want really? If you go MAN, BHX or LGW 756 then the long haul will be a wait but it will happen. The senior Capts and FOs at these bases do Long Haul on a rotating bid, usually 3 rounds per season, 2 seasons a year. Each time you get a trip you bid for, you go to the bottom of the list. The score is essentially zeroed at the start of each season although there is a little bit of seniority bias at the start of the winter (the senior Capts and FOs from bases other than those above are added in the winter because the trip list is bigger). All this means that even if you are the most junior guy on the Long Haul list, the 5 day Denvers etc are within your grasp. It is about as fair as it can be made.
You will pay your dues however. You won't go on the Long Haul list for a while and probably won't even go on the 76 for a year or so, especially if you are an SO at a base that has no 76. One of the gripes at MAN for example is that as a 76 heavy base, the 76 rated guys spend all their time away because the 75 only rated lads are doing the 75 flying at base which limits the work available for the dual rated bods. Still with me? The "Big" aeroplane does a lot of long nights in summer but then it's more varied flying. Horses for Courses.
It is also harder to lose your phone eh Pete?!
There will be opportunities I guess on the 75 because a good few guys are looking at going for earlier Commands on the 73, freeing up RHS on the 75.
Whatever, it's a top company to work for, T&Cs are a good overall package, sure you want to weep on occasion watching management disappearing up their own hoop but show me a company any different. BALPA is strong and has a good working relationship with the company so we do pretty well generally.
As for type / basing: What do you want really? If you go MAN, BHX or LGW 756 then the long haul will be a wait but it will happen. The senior Capts and FOs at these bases do Long Haul on a rotating bid, usually 3 rounds per season, 2 seasons a year. Each time you get a trip you bid for, you go to the bottom of the list. The score is essentially zeroed at the start of each season although there is a little bit of seniority bias at the start of the winter (the senior Capts and FOs from bases other than those above are added in the winter because the trip list is bigger). All this means that even if you are the most junior guy on the Long Haul list, the 5 day Denvers etc are within your grasp. It is about as fair as it can be made.
You will pay your dues however. You won't go on the Long Haul list for a while and probably won't even go on the 76 for a year or so, especially if you are an SO at a base that has no 76. One of the gripes at MAN for example is that as a 76 heavy base, the 76 rated guys spend all their time away because the 75 only rated lads are doing the 75 flying at base which limits the work available for the dual rated bods. Still with me? The "Big" aeroplane does a lot of long nights in summer but then it's more varied flying. Horses for Courses.
It is also harder to lose your phone eh Pete?!
There will be opportunities I guess on the 75 because a good few guys are looking at going for earlier Commands on the 73, freeing up RHS on the 75.
Whatever, it's a top company to work for, T&Cs are a good overall package, sure you want to weep on occasion watching management disappearing up their own hoop but show me a company any different. BALPA is strong and has a good working relationship with the company so we do pretty well generally.
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Hi there Yeoman,
Thanks for the heads-up. Not sure what base/type I want, not even sure I have the job yet, but the 75 fleet would interest me though - if I was to be accepted.
Who's the Bombay Saphire for...your nerves or mine
Thanks for the heads-up. Not sure what base/type I want, not even sure I have the job yet, but the 75 fleet would interest me though - if I was to be accepted.
Who's the Bombay Saphire for...your nerves or mine