First Choice Applications go online.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: UK
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I believe interview dates have been set, so those shortlisted should be contacted in due course to select their preference.
For those put off by the F/O salary as opposed to the SF/O salary think long term and appreciate that as you get older and wiser(?) benefits First Choice offer like the Company pension scheme, private medical cover(your family also covered for a very reasonable premium), permanent health insurance(full salary paid for six months then 75% paid after six months illness,to retirement age if necessary),share option scheme and so on become very important. Personally I feel these far outweigh the perceived 'hit' some may take for three years.
For those put off by the F/O salary as opposed to the SF/O salary think long term and appreciate that as you get older and wiser(?) benefits First Choice offer like the Company pension scheme, private medical cover(your family also covered for a very reasonable premium), permanent health insurance(full salary paid for six months then 75% paid after six months illness,to retirement age if necessary),share option scheme and so on become very important. Personally I feel these far outweigh the perceived 'hit' some may take for three years.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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FCA now is not all it cracked up to be. In the good old days it was an airline that you could work for with pride and the management listened to the pilots needs.
Today, well lets say, you are a bum on a seat and your voice is unheard!
Today, well lets say, you are a bum on a seat and your voice is unheard!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sometimes Here
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Chadwick, That's not my experience at all and I joined recently. I gather things weren't quite so rosy a few years ago but there seems to be a concerted effort to listen to the troops at the moment and it appears to be working. Everyone I've flown with is fundamentally happy with their lot.
BTW, other perks aside (and there are quite a few) the holiday concessions can be excellent and which other airline pays 15% into your pension? As far as I know, Virgin is the only other. That is a massive perk - many other airlines are about 9%. Over a career that difference will mount up.
BTW, other perks aside (and there are quite a few) the holiday concessions can be excellent and which other airline pays 15% into your pension? As far as I know, Virgin is the only other. That is a massive perk - many other airlines are about 9%. Over a career that difference will mount up.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
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Chadwick,
Having been with FCA for over 15 years now, I think you'll find in general it is quite a happy content company.
Like Eye Of The Ball says, it has had it's hard times, especially noticeable to those of us that have been there when days were so different!
Much effort has gone into changing the pilot/company relationship - and I for one think that it is working. Granted, there will always be niggles and various hassles, but big changes have occured over the last 12 months and many smaller ones are still evolving.
We have a good scheduling agreement - block window protection to all flying duties, so you don't arrive back off one flight finding your home life turned upside down - again! As previously mentioned also, the extras, which many forget to look at, add up to a very attractive overall package.
It's not perfect - which employer is? People I fly with are generally happy, and we enjoy our days/nights work with minimal hassle. Prospective joiners could do a lot worse............
30W
Having been with FCA for over 15 years now, I think you'll find in general it is quite a happy content company.
Like Eye Of The Ball says, it has had it's hard times, especially noticeable to those of us that have been there when days were so different!
Much effort has gone into changing the pilot/company relationship - and I for one think that it is working. Granted, there will always be niggles and various hassles, but big changes have occured over the last 12 months and many smaller ones are still evolving.
We have a good scheduling agreement - block window protection to all flying duties, so you don't arrive back off one flight finding your home life turned upside down - again! As previously mentioned also, the extras, which many forget to look at, add up to a very attractive overall package.
It's not perfect - which employer is? People I fly with are generally happy, and we enjoy our days/nights work with minimal hassle. Prospective joiners could do a lot worse............
30W
Join Date: May 2006
Location: somewhere in Europe
Age: 46
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What happend?
Got a reminder to finish my application and when I tried to get on the web-page, couldn´t log on. After a lot of fiddling and yelling at my laptop found out that the application had been canceled the very day that they send me a reminder...
Anybody else had this happen to them? Is there a way for me to finish that application?
Thanks for infos!
Anybody else had this happen to them? Is there a way for me to finish that application?
Thanks for infos!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: herethereverywhere
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Last time I looked the on-line application form closed on friday 21 July 2006.
So maybe this is why you are having trouble, the web site is no longer displaying any vacancy for pilots.
Mr M
So maybe this is why you are having trouble, the web site is no longer displaying any vacancy for pilots.
Mr M
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Afternoon,
Got an email this afternoon inviting me to interview - I'm delighted. This was after receiving an email last Friday saying thanks but no thanks! Found that amusing.
So to those that got the same 'thank you no' email - don't give up hope (yet).
Good luck to all.
L.
Got an email this afternoon inviting me to interview - I'm delighted. This was after receiving an email last Friday saying thanks but no thanks! Found that amusing.
So to those that got the same 'thank you no' email - don't give up hope (yet).
Good luck to all.
L.
sorry but it did make me laugh, Join Date: Jan 2005
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You can't unfreeze your ATPL unless you do an ATPL skills test, which is effectively an LPC after you have completed all the other requirements.
See LASORS Section G for all the details.
For info, I did 460hrs in 5 months so I could unfreeze on my first OPC/LPC.
The hours are there, you just have to ask for them.
So, when you're sat trying to keep your eyes open at 0500 with 3 hrs left to run from a night Dalaman wondering why on earth you asked for all these extra flights, just think of how much it would have cost you if you'd waited another 6 months. (You also get a quiet winter!)
The same goes for all the cadet entry/CTC people out there, it's possible to do the hours in 2 years, not 3, but it helps if you don't take loads of leave!!
See LASORS Section G for all the details.
For info, I did 460hrs in 5 months so I could unfreeze on my first OPC/LPC.
The hours are there, you just have to ask for them.
So, when you're sat trying to keep your eyes open at 0500 with 3 hrs left to run from a night Dalaman wondering why on earth you asked for all these extra flights, just think of how much it would have cost you if you'd waited another 6 months. (You also get a quiet winter!)
The same goes for all the cadet entry/CTC people out there, it's possible to do the hours in 2 years, not 3, but it helps if you don't take loads of leave!!
Moderator
Thread Starter
Latest update given to inhouse Pilots
This from the company on the current state of recruitment:
_____________________________________________________
As the total number of applicants for our pilot vacancies for Summer 2007 topped 500, we decided on Friday to temporarily suspend recruitment to enable us to start to process some of the applications. It is extremely encouraging to see that there are not only a number of Boeing and Airbus type rated pilots that are interested in working for our Company but also that there are a significant number of pilots being recommended by you. There is a very good mix of experience levels and we certainly expect this years standards of recruits to be at least as high as the "class of 2006". Interview dates have now been set throughout August and September and Pilot Managers from both the management and technical teams will interview the 72 or so short listed pilots that will be offered an interview to fill the 20 - 30 vacancies that we are expecting to have by the start of next Summer.
____________________________________________________________ _
And in reply to this rumour:
Question: "It appears from our recruitment information that we have lowered our experience requirement for new pilots"
Answer: As you are aware we have moved our approach to pilot recruitment this year to an "on-line" system. We have set the screening requirements at a level that would exclude pilots who lacked a certain level of experience or suitable qualification whilst allowing us to view the details of those applicants approaching the minimum requirement and currently employed by other airlines. We have also allowed potential recruits to project forward their hours to the end of the year when we are likely to actually recruit them. It is unlikely that a pilot would be successful with just the minimum requirement and we expect the standard of recruits to be at least as high as the class of 2006.
_____________________________________________________
As the total number of applicants for our pilot vacancies for Summer 2007 topped 500, we decided on Friday to temporarily suspend recruitment to enable us to start to process some of the applications. It is extremely encouraging to see that there are not only a number of Boeing and Airbus type rated pilots that are interested in working for our Company but also that there are a significant number of pilots being recommended by you. There is a very good mix of experience levels and we certainly expect this years standards of recruits to be at least as high as the "class of 2006". Interview dates have now been set throughout August and September and Pilot Managers from both the management and technical teams will interview the 72 or so short listed pilots that will be offered an interview to fill the 20 - 30 vacancies that we are expecting to have by the start of next Summer.
____________________________________________________________ _
And in reply to this rumour:
Question: "It appears from our recruitment information that we have lowered our experience requirement for new pilots"
Answer: As you are aware we have moved our approach to pilot recruitment this year to an "on-line" system. We have set the screening requirements at a level that would exclude pilots who lacked a certain level of experience or suitable qualification whilst allowing us to view the details of those applicants approaching the minimum requirement and currently employed by other airlines. We have also allowed potential recruits to project forward their hours to the end of the year when we are likely to actually recruit them. It is unlikely that a pilot would be successful with just the minimum requirement and we expect the standard of recruits to be at least as high as the class of 2006.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Afternoon,
I applied right at the beginning of recruitment. It's positive to hear that some have interviews lined up already, but I alas, have heard nothing!
I have quite a few turboprop hours and certainly meet the recruitment criteria. Hopefully, no news is good news! Can anyone on the inside confirm that everyone that should have an interview has heard already? Is it just a case of everyone that is getting rejected just having to wait a while for the standard PFO email to be produced?!
Good luck to everyone that got called up.
BB
I applied right at the beginning of recruitment. It's positive to hear that some have interviews lined up already, but I alas, have heard nothing!
I have quite a few turboprop hours and certainly meet the recruitment criteria. Hopefully, no news is good news! Can anyone on the inside confirm that everyone that should have an interview has heard already? Is it just a case of everyone that is getting rejected just having to wait a while for the standard PFO email to be produced?!
Good luck to everyone that got called up.
BB
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Got an Interview
Evening,
Not bragging, just keeping everyone up to date. Got an email today inviting me to interview
. Im extremely pleased and excited (not to mention quite nervous!) Not sure which interview date to choose, they go all the way through August, to the end of September. It advises me to learn about the company, so thats what ill be doing for the next month or so!!
Good luck to everyone else.....
Not bragging, just keeping everyone up to date. Got an email today inviting me to interview
. Im extremely pleased and excited (not to mention quite nervous!) Not sure which interview date to choose, they go all the way through August, to the end of September. It advises me to learn about the company, so thats what ill be doing for the next month or so!!Good luck to everyone else.....
