Virgin Atlantic Master thread volume 2
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The bottom line is, that an airline like Virgin has to ensure it gets the right type of person. Look at PPJN it comes under the heading 'Legacy'. In other words if you get there you cant go any higher really when you think about it. Your at the top of the industry in one of the top airlines.
The hours are there for a reason. They want experience and maturity. Even if you were one of these lucky ones to have been flying from 16, by the time you got your CPL and got anywhere near those sort of hours, your going to be on the upper side of your twenties, if not early thirties. Thats my opinion anyway.
They want maturity and experience, guys and girls who will stay and have a life outside of flying, house wife kids etc. Someone who is stable
The hours are there for a reason. They want experience and maturity. Even if you were one of these lucky ones to have been flying from 16, by the time you got your CPL and got anywhere near those sort of hours, your going to be on the upper side of your twenties, if not early thirties. Thats my opinion anyway.
They want maturity and experience, guys and girls who will stay and have a life outside of flying, house wife kids etc. Someone who is stable
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Scroggs,
Can I take it as read that, BAe146/ RJ100, DC9, F100, MD 80 series types, have now gone by the way side?
How much of the 2500hr (4000+) do you now need on the Boeings or Airbuses? As I know a fair few Flybe pilots have been taken on in the past with good BAe146 or CRJ time.
Can I take it as read that, BAe146/ RJ100, DC9, F100, MD 80 series types, have now gone by the way side?
How much of the 2500hr (4000+) do you now need on the Boeings or Airbuses? As I know a fair few Flybe pilots have been taken on in the past with good BAe146 or CRJ time.
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I've been trying without any success to get an interview with VA for about 7 years now. 6000hrs, married, kids and 3,500 hrs on BAe146. Seems a few 146 jockeys had problems a while ago and blackened the rest of us. Nevertheless, I'll keep on pestering.....
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That certainly does not help but feed back on a very good friend of mine who joined on the 747 in July 2005 assures me that he did not let the side down.
The only problem is, it would appear that he was the last of I46/Flybe guys to join.
Best I go get some A320 or 7 something 7 time.
The only problem is, it would appear that he was the last of I46/Flybe guys to join.
Best I go get some A320 or 7 something 7 time.
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stansdead - come on man, read things carefully before you start having a go!
Firstly, most of us know that scroggs is not involved in Virgin recruitment and/or the policies thereof. I therefore preempted my original question by clarifying that I knew that, read it again.
Secondly, scroggs did indeed point out the experience requirements succinctly, and if you RTFQ I never said that I didn't like it, I just wanted his educated view, (or anyone else's for that matter) on the relevance of the fast jet thing.
What part of "I'm not in the 1500hrs TT, CRJ/EMB rating bracket, and I haven't got an application in either." do you not understand stansdead???
My second post was just a reaction to scroggs' comment of "Happier now?" which I interpreted (possibly wrongly) as sarcasm.
Guys let's get one thing straight, obviously I am not qualified to comment on whether Virgin's experience requirements are right or wrong, I was simply interested in understanding the reasons behind them. If Virgin wants to attract a certain type of recruit then their requirements will obviously reflect that, and good for them.
I have several friends at Virgin from backgrounds ranging from RAF Hawk to civvy 146, and they are a very happy bunch, unfortunately on here I seem to have rooted out the 'snappier' types.
Firstly, most of us know that scroggs is not involved in Virgin recruitment and/or the policies thereof. I therefore preempted my original question by clarifying that I knew that, read it again.
Secondly, scroggs did indeed point out the experience requirements succinctly, and if you RTFQ I never said that I didn't like it, I just wanted his educated view, (or anyone else's for that matter) on the relevance of the fast jet thing.
...it is not going to change it's policies to suit your logbook or ratings I am afraid.
GOOD LUCK in your pursuit of joining us.
My second post was just a reaction to scroggs' comment of "Happier now?" which I interpreted (possibly wrongly) as sarcasm.
Guys let's get one thing straight, obviously I am not qualified to comment on whether Virgin's experience requirements are right or wrong, I was simply interested in understanding the reasons behind them. If Virgin wants to attract a certain type of recruit then their requirements will obviously reflect that, and good for them.
I have several friends at Virgin from backgrounds ranging from RAF Hawk to civvy 146, and they are a very happy bunch, unfortunately on here I seem to have rooted out the 'snappier' types.
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jcb1
If you have friends in VS with Hawk to 146 time, why don't you ask them as to the theories behind the fast jet thing?
You come over as a hard done by moaner.............. and I am not a snappy type really.
If you have friends in VS with Hawk to 146 time, why don't you ask them as to the theories behind the fast jet thing?
You come over as a hard done by moaner.............. and I am not a snappy type really.
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JCB Sorry if it seemed a bit sarcastic - forgot the 
smiley! My point was that it pays to read the requirements very carefully, and not to make assumptions. Virgin is not a place to make too frivolous an application. That said, if you're close to the minimum requirements, likely to meet them soon, and you have a suspicion that recruiting is about to increase (not the case right now), sometimes it can't hurt to jump the gun a bit. Requirements change...
As for the BAe 146 chaps, I can't comment about any individual histories. The fact is that, for the moment, those are the minimum requirements. They have been 'lower' in the past (in terms of type and hours), and that has occasionally caused problems. The fact is that this airline is longhaul only, and there is no opportunity to brush up on large-aircraft handling skills. If you don't have them when you get here, you certainly won't have them 5 years later! One or two landings a month is the norm for an FO - and you will be one for 8 to 10 years. That's why the company insists you learn your trade elsewhere, get the aircraft enthusiasm bit out of your bloodstream, and come to Virgin when lifestyle means more than how many times a day you get it up...
Scroggs
smiley! My point was that it pays to read the requirements very carefully, and not to make assumptions. Virgin is not a place to make too frivolous an application. That said, if you're close to the minimum requirements, likely to meet them soon, and you have a suspicion that recruiting is about to increase (not the case right now), sometimes it can't hurt to jump the gun a bit. Requirements change...As for the BAe 146 chaps, I can't comment about any individual histories. The fact is that, for the moment, those are the minimum requirements. They have been 'lower' in the past (in terms of type and hours), and that has occasionally caused problems. The fact is that this airline is longhaul only, and there is no opportunity to brush up on large-aircraft handling skills. If you don't have them when you get here, you certainly won't have them 5 years later! One or two landings a month is the norm for an FO - and you will be one for 8 to 10 years. That's why the company insists you learn your trade elsewhere, get the aircraft enthusiasm bit out of your bloodstream, and come to Virgin when lifestyle means more than how many times a day you get it up...
Scroggs
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Scroggs - thanks for that, much appreciated. 
Stansdead - I'm grounded enough to know that although our profession is not what it was when I started in the early 90s, it's still one of the best jobs in the world, so who am I to moan. However, I have a very enquiring mind, and I'm sure many of us have had a good laugh at some of the experience requirements listed in the ads at the back of Flight. I'm not knocking HR departments for rooting out a specific type of candidate, but sometimes it's very amusing, and I'm a sort who likes to understand why, whether it be Insurance, ZFT, lack of knowledge, etc.
With regard to Anotherflapoperator's earlier comment regarding a possible 'rogue' batch of ex-146 drivers, if one compares the flightdecks of the 340/747 and 146 they are a world apart, could this have been a factor?
Stansdead - I'm grounded enough to know that although our profession is not what it was when I started in the early 90s, it's still one of the best jobs in the world, so who am I to moan. However, I have a very enquiring mind, and I'm sure many of us have had a good laugh at some of the experience requirements listed in the ads at the back of Flight. I'm not knocking HR departments for rooting out a specific type of candidate, but sometimes it's very amusing, and I'm a sort who likes to understand why, whether it be Insurance, ZFT, lack of knowledge, etc.
With regard to Anotherflapoperator's earlier comment regarding a possible 'rogue' batch of ex-146 drivers, if one compares the flightdecks of the 340/747 and 146 they are a world apart, could this have been a factor?
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Totally worlds apart, granted. The problem is that a number of ex 146 pilots do manage the transition well enough, but when a few had problems it appeared to smear the type and give the rest of us poor unfortunate souls no chance of getting anywhere. Such is life. Just a rumour from a couple of years ago though, no concrete evidence either way.
I'm only still on the 146 becuase my company (well until 0800 tomorrow it seems
) couldn't give a toss about investment or anything other than using us to offload one of their less than profitable parts. I get to live at home rather than commute to work. I should take a deep breath and try a 737 company asap if I ever want to get a chance it seems. Again, that's life. I wouldn't begrudge VS anything in not offering me an interview, it's supply and demand and they've got what a lot of us want, so good luck to anyone that does get in. I'll keep on trying though.
I'm only still on the 146 becuase my company (well until 0800 tomorrow it seems
) couldn't give a toss about investment or anything other than using us to offload one of their less than profitable parts. I get to live at home rather than commute to work. I should take a deep breath and try a 737 company asap if I ever want to get a chance it seems. Again, that's life. I wouldn't begrudge VS anything in not offering me an interview, it's supply and demand and they've got what a lot of us want, so good luck to anyone that does get in. I'll keep on trying though.
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Yes Flaps, looks like an OK office - Q400 Flightdeck.
A bit of time in that and you'd be ripe for the move to Virgin.
A bit of time in that and you'd be ripe for the move to Virgin.
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If anyone could shed some light.....
Dear all,
I was pleased to receive an email from Gemma stating that I should reapply so that their web data base could be updated.
From the above post replies I read that some other fellow pilots had received the same type of email.
Is that a good sign? or is it just a way of clearing up their clogged web data base with unwanted CVs?
And a last one, what's next? do we still wait until the next email ?or is there any chance of seeing some of the rays of the sunshine soon....
Thank you
I was pleased to receive an email from Gemma stating that I should reapply so that their web data base could be updated.
From the above post replies I read that some other fellow pilots had received the same type of email.
Is that a good sign? or is it just a way of clearing up their clogged web data base with unwanted CVs?
And a last one, what's next? do we still wait until the next email ?or is there any chance of seeing some of the rays of the sunshine soon....
Thank you
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Err!
Why would you want to join Virgin?
This year (as many before) it is going to make less than 1% return on sales. BA is making 7-8% despite the CC strike action, pension defecit, fog, baggage breakdown and legacy costs.
The big question is if BA can do this and Virgin can't, will Virgin still be here in 2 years???? If the EU-US agreement goes ahead I cannot see Virgin surviving and why should they? Despite being a "Virginite" I despair. With their current incompetent management structure how do they propose to make money and beat off untold competition. Unfortunately I think the best advice that can be offered is to look elsewhere.
They have launched IGrasp as a recruitment tool but really they should be launching Igivea***** about the company!
Think very carefully and look at the greats of yesteryear, Dan's, Cally, Air Europe, Novair etc and ask yourself the question will Virgin still be here? Will the UK government protect it?
Vex
This year (as many before) it is going to make less than 1% return on sales. BA is making 7-8% despite the CC strike action, pension defecit, fog, baggage breakdown and legacy costs.
The big question is if BA can do this and Virgin can't, will Virgin still be here in 2 years???? If the EU-US agreement goes ahead I cannot see Virgin surviving and why should they? Despite being a "Virginite" I despair. With their current incompetent management structure how do they propose to make money and beat off untold competition. Unfortunately I think the best advice that can be offered is to look elsewhere.
They have launched IGrasp as a recruitment tool but really they should be launching Igivea***** about the company!
Think very carefully and look at the greats of yesteryear, Dan's, Cally, Air Europe, Novair etc and ask yourself the question will Virgin still be here? Will the UK government protect it?
Vex
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E-mail on line update?
So in response to Gemmas recent E-mail I decided to have another look at my Application, entering my reference number etc. It put me back to the original start of the form, up to and including can you swim 25 meters. On clicking the next button it told me that I had already applied for this job; which is fine but how would I update say, hours on type at a later date if it does not let me past this stage?
Would I have to reapply as if this was my very first application?
Would the original ref number given to me, stop this from happening again?
If I do not submit the refrence number, would I still be able to update my application after the cutoff date 12th March?
Scroggs, perhaps you may be able to throw some light on this.
Many Thanks.
Would I have to reapply as if this was my very first application?
Would the original ref number given to me, stop this from happening again?
If I do not submit the refrence number, would I still be able to update my application after the cutoff date 12th March?
Scroggs, perhaps you may be able to throw some light on this.
Many Thanks.
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Not sure of the answer to this! I suggest you email Gemma directly with the question. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that CV updates weren't catered for when they designed the online application!
Scroggs
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very well thank you, but what is Gemma's email, since that in her email it says that it's an auto reply and that no one ever looks in that email account...or am I missing something?
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