BA 747 rostering
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Will try to answer these as best i can.
1. Yes you can fly part time, but have to bid for it and it doesn't mean only 2 trips per month, you get a block of time off instead and the length of that block depends on which part time contract you're on.
2. Yes the african routes don't involve a large time change, and for me personally I find the eastern routes suit my body clock as i tend to stay on UK time. Going to the states is for me the hardest to deal with.
3. We do month long standby blocks which can include no home standbys or you may get quite a few. You will be called the night before between 5 and 8 and they will give you a trip or standby, if they don't call you're off.
Home standbys should be within 2 hours of LHR.
4. All depends on flight length and frequency of that service and sometimes you may get longer when 2 a/c types operate to the destination. Longer ones are PHX, MEX, MRU due to non daily flts. Would take me ages to list current slip lengths.
5. No
6. Not from LHR (exept to Cardiff for maintenance, which will go to standbys or time assignable). There are some shuttle flights downroute though, BAH-DOH and GRU-GIG/EZE.
7. Late check ins and early returns are best, these are JNB, CPT, HKG, SIN, BKK, GRU, and few others. Most of these trips are fairly senior.
8. Yes, with bidline you don't bid for a destination, you bid for a line with a month of work with specific trips on it. At stage 2 you bid for specific trips to fill in any gaps there may be (due to trips on the orignal line being clashed off due leave, sims, carry in trips or any other pre allocated duty.)
1. The 747 is a lovely a/c to fly, but don't come for that reason, handling opportunities are few and far between, because there are not many 2 crew trips and you will only do 1 or 2 sectors a month. As for the SOPs, they are not restrictive when it comes to manual flying, so long as you choose your time!
2. 90% of the skippers are very laid back and easy to get on with as with the rest of BA. In over 10 years have never had any significant problems, although there are inevitably a few names floating about!
3. The mood on long haul flights is generally relaxed. As long as you do your duties, getting out a magazine, paper, book etc is fine.
Hope that helps a bit, i'm sure others may be able to explain some of these things more clearly.
1. Yes you can fly part time, but have to bid for it and it doesn't mean only 2 trips per month, you get a block of time off instead and the length of that block depends on which part time contract you're on.
2. Yes the african routes don't involve a large time change, and for me personally I find the eastern routes suit my body clock as i tend to stay on UK time. Going to the states is for me the hardest to deal with.
3. We do month long standby blocks which can include no home standbys or you may get quite a few. You will be called the night before between 5 and 8 and they will give you a trip or standby, if they don't call you're off.
Home standbys should be within 2 hours of LHR.
4. All depends on flight length and frequency of that service and sometimes you may get longer when 2 a/c types operate to the destination. Longer ones are PHX, MEX, MRU due to non daily flts. Would take me ages to list current slip lengths.
5. No
6. Not from LHR (exept to Cardiff for maintenance, which will go to standbys or time assignable). There are some shuttle flights downroute though, BAH-DOH and GRU-GIG/EZE.
7. Late check ins and early returns are best, these are JNB, CPT, HKG, SIN, BKK, GRU, and few others. Most of these trips are fairly senior.
8. Yes, with bidline you don't bid for a destination, you bid for a line with a month of work with specific trips on it. At stage 2 you bid for specific trips to fill in any gaps there may be (due to trips on the orignal line being clashed off due leave, sims, carry in trips or any other pre allocated duty.)
1. The 747 is a lovely a/c to fly, but don't come for that reason, handling opportunities are few and far between, because there are not many 2 crew trips and you will only do 1 or 2 sectors a month. As for the SOPs, they are not restrictive when it comes to manual flying, so long as you choose your time!
2. 90% of the skippers are very laid back and easy to get on with as with the rest of BA. In over 10 years have never had any significant problems, although there are inevitably a few names floating about!
3. The mood on long haul flights is generally relaxed. As long as you do your duties, getting out a magazine, paper, book etc is fine.
Hope that helps a bit, i'm sure others may be able to explain some of these things more clearly.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Add the following destinations to the 2-man list on the -400:
MIA (summer months)
LOS
BAH
CAI
BKK has returned to 4-man this summer, prob not in the winter.
MIA (summer months)
LOS
BAH
CAI
BKK has returned to 4-man this summer, prob not in the winter.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Does BA ever operate 3 man crews LHR / HKG / LHR?
If so what conditions are these rostered under... (ie: Sector time, slip time HKG, min number of rest days after pattern)
If so what conditions are these rostered under... (ie: Sector time, slip time HKG, min number of rest days after pattern)
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Yeah, in the summer the early one (there are 3) is 3 crew. You still get about the same time there which is about 55 hours. It is obviously a fairly junior trip.
In winter all 3 are 4 crew.
You don't necessarily get any time off after as it depends what you bid for as Bidline is totally flexible so long as its legal. Although if you're on a Blind line (when BA are responsible for rostering you), then I believe you would get 3 local nights.
Sector length is about 11 out and 12ish back.
In winter all 3 are 4 crew.
You don't necessarily get any time off after as it depends what you bid for as Bidline is totally flexible so long as its legal. Although if you're on a Blind line (when BA are responsible for rostering you), then I believe you would get 3 local nights.
Sector length is about 11 out and 12ish back.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Purely as a nosy ATCO, how are the EGLL-YSSY routes rostered? How long do you get to spend at each destination (I think its Bangkok or Singapore en-route to Oz?)? What's the total time you're away and how many times a year would you expect to do those trips? Finally, how long do you get off when you get back to Blighty? 
Join Date: May 2000
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Leave UK in the evening, arrive the following evening in SIN/BKK, next day is free, leave SIN/BKK in the evening, arrive Sydney in the morning, leave Sydney the next afternoon, arrive SIN/BKK that evening, next day free, leave SIN/BKK following evening arriving back into LHR the next morning. 9 day trip.
As to how often you go there, you might go every other month if you are senior, you might never see the place if you are junior or don't want to go. The trip is reasonably popular, hence senior, but a 9 day trip in order to spend 30 hours jet lagged in Sydney does not appeal to me. When you get back to the UK you could have two days off, but it's quite possible to back into work the next day if you want it.
As to how often you go there, you might go every other month if you are senior, you might never see the place if you are junior or don't want to go. The trip is reasonably popular, hence senior, but a 9 day trip in order to spend 30 hours jet lagged in Sydney does not appeal to me. When you get back to the UK you could have two days off, but it's quite possible to back into work the next day if you want it.
Last edited by Hand Solo; 29th Feb 2008 at 14:23.
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hi guys just a quick question about lifestyle downroute...is it true that flight deck and cabin crew have separate hotels? what is the quality of the hotels like? cheers, paul. (bigdunc)
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Hi everyone, some great information on here. If there are any B744 guys who would be willing to email me some example rosters, it would be much appreciated! Just been offered a course, so I'd like to get a heads up on what to expect!
PM me and I will send you my email address. Much appreciated!
PM me and I will send you my email address. Much appreciated!
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bigdunc
There are only 2 places downroute where we don't stay with c crew. They are Narita and Jo'burg.
The standard of hotels is generally pretty good, most being 4 star+. There are a few exceptions though. BALPA have a criteria that ensures we stay in town in most places, and that noise levels, room service and various other things are of an acceptable standard.
The social side with crew when downroute varies hugely depending on where you are, and what the crew are like.
The standard of hotels is generally pretty good, most being 4 star+. There are a few exceptions though. BALPA have a criteria that ensures we stay in town in most places, and that noise levels, room service and various other things are of an acceptable standard.
The social side with crew when downroute varies hugely depending on where you are, and what the crew are like.
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Taralluccio,
Thanks for the kind comment, I was thrilled when I got the call. I have 2300 hours total time, 900 hours B737, 1100 hours A320. I believe they do require at least 2000 hours TT for the long haul fleets, as this was a specific question they asked me when they made me the offer. Other than that, I do not know what specific criteria they look for. Maybe someone else knows??
Just counting down the weeks now!
Thanks for the kind comment, I was thrilled when I got the call. I have 2300 hours total time, 900 hours B737, 1100 hours A320. I believe they do require at least 2000 hours TT for the long haul fleets, as this was a specific question they asked me when they made me the offer. Other than that, I do not know what specific criteria they look for. Maybe someone else knows??
Just counting down the weeks now!
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So from that am I right in saying that total hours is irrelevant since you need 2000hrs+ Jet >25T? I thought it was just 2000hrs+ total?
I comfortably fall into the latter category but not the first and I am not keen on short haul if it can be avoided!!!
I comfortably fall into the latter category but not the first and I am not keen on short haul if it can be avoided!!!
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That is correct, when they called me to make the offer, they asked me to confirm whether I had A) 2000+ TT and B) More than 1000 hours on Jet >25t. So yes..you need the jet time I think.
LVLCHG
Welcome to BA.
Bidline is a rather complicated system, but don't worry about it, you will pick it up, and you will grow to appreciate it, just as virtually every other new pilot in BA before you has done.
Below are three rosters, for three different F/Os of varying degrees of seniority on the B747, during a recent month. I think they are reasonably representative of a typical line for that seniority.
All these lines were bid for (not assigned), all earned roughly the same amount of credit, all were sufficient work for that particular month, which was an average month. The amount of work required over a year is fixed, but the amount of work required each month can, and does, vary, at BA's discretion.
After those three months you will be on your own, bidding monthly for work lines, which may well include a month on standby. However, if on a standby month, you will automatically receive full pay for that month, regardless of how much or how little you work.
You will hear moans about Bidline, but few who have used it would ever want to go back to being rostered!
Good Luck with the B747 course.
Bellerophon
Welcome to BA.
Bidline is a rather complicated system, but don't worry about it, you will pick it up, and you will grow to appreciate it, just as virtually every other new pilot in BA before you has done.
Below are three rosters, for three different F/Os of varying degrees of seniority on the B747, during a recent month. I think they are reasonably representative of a typical line for that seniority.
All these lines were bid for (not assigned), all earned roughly the same amount of credit, all were sufficient work for that particular month, which was an average month. The amount of work required over a year is fixed, but the amount of work required each month can, and does, vary, at BA's discretion.
- Senior F/O: BKK/SYD (9), JNB (5), BLR (4). 18 Days On / 12 Days Off
- Middle F/O: NRT (4), DEL (3), SFO (4), JNB (5). 16 Days On / 14 Days Off
- Junior F/O: BLR (4), MIA (3), MEX (5), NRT (4). 16 Days On / 14 Days Off
After those three months you will be on your own, bidding monthly for work lines, which may well include a month on standby. However, if on a standby month, you will automatically receive full pay for that month, regardless of how much or how little you work.
You will hear moans about Bidline, but few who have used it would ever want to go back to being rostered!
Good Luck with the B747 course.
Bellerophon
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Bellerophon,
Thanks very much for the information there.. I appreciate that. Looks like some excellent route variety on the fleet!
I have been told to expect a lot of east coast stuff to start with, or 'what is left', which goes without saying with low seniority. However, is it possible to pick up the SFO's, MAU's, etc being junior?
To be honest, if my month involves me going to JFK a few times.. I can live with that!! I'm just glad to have been offered a place on the 747...anything else is a bonus.
As for my hours, I applied with just under 2000 hours. By the time I had gone through selection and the sim, I had cleared 2000.
Cheers!
Thanks very much for the information there.. I appreciate that. Looks like some excellent route variety on the fleet!
I have been told to expect a lot of east coast stuff to start with, or 'what is left', which goes without saying with low seniority. However, is it possible to pick up the SFO's, MAU's, etc being junior?
To be honest, if my month involves me going to JFK a few times.. I can live with that!!
I'm just glad to have been offered a place on the 747...anything else is a bonus. As for my hours, I applied with just under 2000 hours. By the time I had gone through selection and the sim, I had cleared 2000.
Cheers!
Last edited by LVLCHG; 2nd Mar 2008 at 19:26.
LVLCHG
...I have been told to expect a lot of east coast stuff to start with...
Yes, that is very probable.
The drawback with these trips is not that they are difficult or unpleasant places to visit, it is that they tend to be low credit, two crew, three or four day trips, meaning you need to do five/six of them a month to fulfil your work requirement.
It is the repetitive nature of this sort of 3 ON 2 OFF roster that becomes quite fatiguing.
...is it possible to pick up the SFO's, MAU's, etc being junior?...
SFO yes, many junior F/Os get those, often on something on a blind line, which you'll learn about in due course. MRU no, not so likely!
...To be honest, if my month involves me going to JFK a few times.. I can live with that!!...
I like JFK. Just as well, I've been there a lot!
...I'm just glad to have been offered a place on the 747...anything else is a bonus...
That's the way to look at it, lots of people will gladly swop with you if you don't want it! If the recruitment profile that is currently being talked about for the next five years actually happens, you will see a lot of people coming in beneath you.
Regards
Bellerophon
...I have been told to expect a lot of east coast stuff to start with...
Yes, that is very probable.
The drawback with these trips is not that they are difficult or unpleasant places to visit, it is that they tend to be low credit, two crew, three or four day trips, meaning you need to do five/six of them a month to fulfil your work requirement.
It is the repetitive nature of this sort of 3 ON 2 OFF roster that becomes quite fatiguing.
...is it possible to pick up the SFO's, MAU's, etc being junior?...
SFO yes, many junior F/Os get those, often on something on a blind line, which you'll learn about in due course. MRU no, not so likely!
...To be honest, if my month involves me going to JFK a few times.. I can live with that!!...
I like JFK. Just as well, I've been there a lot!
...I'm just glad to have been offered a place on the 747...anything else is a bonus...
That's the way to look at it, lots of people will gladly swop with you if you don't want it! If the recruitment profile that is currently being talked about for the next five years actually happens, you will see a lot of people coming in beneath you.
Regards
Bellerophon