Unusual EZY command course

[Elephant and Castle]

EZY + GB + Balpa have indeed agreed to screw Ezy FO's on the command waiting list. 10 GB guys started their command course as the takeover was taking place and are finishing the process about now. A futher bunch of GB Fo's have been given a CPI date and will slot in the list acording to this date. What date has been chosen? the date that puts them at the top of the list ofcourse. It must be nice to be taken over and then go straight to the top of the list. I bet this guys cannot beleive their luck! In 2008 just over 30% of commands at Ezy will go to GB guys.

[PENKO]

Hmmm, now I don't know where to reply anymore, here or in our own ezy forum.

Anyway, this seems less and less like a roumor. Elephant, where have you got this information from? IS there anyone from BALPA here who can explain what is going on before we start calling Luton?

[Kraut]

I believe this is more an "internal affair". Bring your request up at the BALPA forum, at least my suggestion.

[speedyboarding]

Could all be nonsense, however my understanding is that late last year the GB Command Review Board met and decided 8 commands were required. 8 courses subsequently handed out with the first commencing begining Feb 08 with a view to the majority being completed before the handover date to easyJet.

One unfortunate chap wasn't successful on the course and it was deemed that 2 new bods were required. This created some stir as the guys selected did have seniority but there were major question marks about minimum experience levels. (For info min hours at GB for command was 4000 reduced to 3500 in exceptional circumstances and only with 3 years experience within the company) Others further down the list with more than enough hours (and successful pre-command training reports) were allegedly told to "quieten down"

Allegedly this course commenced at CTC in Southampton last week with one single trainer for all sims and examination. Upon completion of this course the 2 candidates are to return to RHS flying for 4-6 weeks until line training is available. One would assume that an LPC would be required again in the sim before the commencement of line training - whether this will be with another examiner thus solving the legalities of a single trainer doing the entire course or not is as yet to be determined.

Anyone looking for clarification should probably speak to his or her base captain and/or Balpa reps.

[springbok449]

This kind of nonesense was always destined to happen one day at EZY because of the lack of seniority list...It was not an issue when they bought GO as the company was still rapidly expanding but now with the economy slowdown its a different story....

EZY/Balpa CC wont do anything about it, they never have done anything that didnt directly affect those on the committee...

Good Luck guys and girls from both Airlines...

[Kraut]

EZY/Balpa CC wont do anything about it, they never have done anything that didnt directly affect those on the committee...

I think this is a very nasty statement and not fair at all!

[qualitycontrol]

All depends on who is friends with whom.............

[springbok449]

Kraut,

I dont see how its a very nasty statement, it may not be a nice one but I was at EZY long enough to have witnessed certain things first hand...

Bokkie.

PS: So how exactly will the CC sort the issue out with who gets what command in the near future?

[Doug the Head]

Unusual?

Why would anyone think that something "unusual" goes on in a company that does not have a clear and transparent system (i.e. seniority!) in place...?

It's all perfectly normal, so relax!

[PENKO]

The whole idea of CPI dates should be transparent enough, shouldn't it? (apparently not, but I doubt that a seniority list would have prevented what appears to be going on)

[Onimusha]

I think its fair to say that all us ex gbers know exactly what is going on regards this particular command course and its certainly describeable at best as irregular.

There is no real requirement for this course other than the fact that it means the STC in question gets to guarantee the promotion of his vested interest. I think its hard to argue that one trainer carrying out the whole course is far from ideal, but it does cut down on possible complications as long as the trainer is carefully selected.....

easyjet fo's waiting for an LGW command should be asking questions about this. As for posting this on the company forum, that would be a good idea, other than its not anonymous and experience shows questioning these matters openly guarantees grief.

[Oxidant]

Replace "hard" with "easy" methinks?

[Starbear]

Training/Examining question

if the same instructor thing is true then it is indeed against the CAA rules. The examiner, where possible, conducting the LPC/OPC should not have been involved in the candidates training.

Respectfully suggest this really only applies to an LST rather than LPC. See extract from CAA Doc 24 with particular emphasis on the word rating. One is not normally given training for a rating renewal and I assume no new rating applicable in this case? But like many things can be read to be a little ambiguous.

3.8 JAR-FCL states that “Examiners shall not test applicants to whom flight instruction has been given by them for that licence or instrument rating except with the express consent in writing of the Authority”.

[Prince Caspian]

There are some serious concerns regarding this individual's suitability for the role of aircraft commander. His antics in recent months are well known and he is seen by many as a liability. Someone else with his track record and reputation would not have been given this opportunity.
Quite frankly, the whole thing stinks.

[Husky One]

I don't think the GB CC would be stupid enough to start this as a wind up to EZY FO's. Has their deal with management regarding commands been ratified yet? Go ask them that first. The fact this is your first post speaks volumes. Go play with your wooden spoon elsewhere.

[heebeegb]

Prince Caspian
How brave of you to hide behind that name and spout out the kind of insulting rubbish you do. 2 guys on a course, both passed. Congratulations to them both.

[fiftyfour]

Prince Caspian does not say he can't pass the course. The question is suitability as Commander (ie personal qualities). The selction process was weak - indeed was there a selection process?

[Krispin]

I have flown with the people in question, BOTH of which are top quality guys, excellent operators and very suitable for command. I cant see why everyone has a problem? seems like Prince Caspian is very bitter about something...

[heebeegb]

Likewise. And my sentiments too.

[Viking101]

Well its all about being correct and fair. EZY buying an airline and merging two lists of pilots undergoing assessments and pilots waiting for a command course is not easy. This is something the two companies should have agreed on during the negotiations before the actual take over, together with BALPA.

Unfortunately I dont think this is the fact. BALPA has done some errors internaly in EZY, like accepting too many DEC:s etc which put a lot of F/Os down the list and still waiting today for the upgrade. BALPA has stated they are working towards a transparent command progress within the company but that will never happen because of internal connections and agreements to make life easy for others. Thats the business.

So what is wrong, what is right? Should all the EZY guys be put in front of all former GB guys just because they were bought? Or should some of the GB guys come first because them having a earlier CPI date, according to their former manuals?

Just like all the other airlines merging- Good luck. There will always be victims in this business.