British Airways Hold Pool News

[binsleepen]

From the cabin crew thread on the BA CC strike, there is discussion about the presentation that Willie Walsh gave on Wed during which he was asked about further cost reductions. He said:

On cabin crew, cost reductions would be achieved by existing cost savings plus New Fleet. He said that he didn't see much scope in further cost reductions as you can only reduce the business by so much. Indeed, he was looking to grow the business by, for instance, bringing four 747s back from storage.

If these four 747s are brought back is there enough slack within the pilot community to man/women them or would new recruitment be needed?

Regards

[ETOPS]

is there enough slack within the pilot community

For July we have a CAP of 91 hrs on the Captains status which would point to us being tight on manning levels. An additional 4 frames would require more P1s thus leaving vacancies below............

[Hotel Mode]

I don't have any big contacts but gossip at cranebank and elsewhere is for a small start to recruitment late this calender year.

Good luck.

[EGKK.]

If like me you were kicked out the hold pool a while back you were probably cheesed off but not surprised.

Well for me I'd still like to get there and hope that BA survives the current situation and grows and improves in time because I'd like a chance to fly a B777 or something alike possibly to destinations that I'd would never get to see and I don't want to move to the middle east to do so!

I still think my the best chance of that is at BA. As much as everyone loves to put a downer on the whole situation I'm trying to stay positive and I hope there's a few more of you out there.

So I've been thinking...rumour is that possibly, just maybe, They will recruit 1st-2nd quarter of next year.

So if you work it backwards from say April you will need 3months notice to your current company plus 2-4months to get an email or a call to ask you to come in for a chat (hopefully just a chat). (I've assumed BA will give us 2-3months notice to prepare for the assessment/chat)

So looking at this through rose tinted glasses we could get a call or email come the end of this year.

Some may think I'm mad but hey, i still want it

Thoughts people...

[Propellerhead]

EGKK, fingers crossed you'll not be too far wide from the mark. Good interview with Willie Walsh here

Jun 10: Willie Walsh of BA - full interview - view from the top - companies - FT.com

in which he is very upbeat and positive and talks about aviation being a growth industry. Hopefully the new tax rules will see a large number of Captains taking part time, perhaps a few more retirements next year, plus there is talk of expansion of Long Haul at LGW and possibly London City long haul. Also rumours of 747s coming back from the desert (maybe to cover for 777s doing more routes out of LGW)? All speculation at the moment.

Think short haul will stay depressed for a while. The Iberia merger could help BA be more positive in expansion with a more secure financial future.

That's the postive outlook, but just wish it would hurry up and actually happen!

[qwertyuiop]

On the other hand, the new APD rates will hit longhaul hard and Spain is in a total mess.

What a sad world it is when we want to see pilots being taxed out of work.

[binsleepen]

latest email

Any other 'Hold poolers/we'll ring you first, promise' get the email today? Any thoughts? positive or negative? In my view at least they haven't forgotten us!

Regards

[billybuds]

Positive in my opinion. Firstly, as you said, it is good that they haven't forgotten about us. And I also don't think they would go through the hassle of finding a chap to take over JM's role if recruitment is not going to be in the not too distant future.

[Propellerhead]

Anyone care to expand on what was said? Have they found a replacement for JM or are they looking now? How long before they start recruiting did they say?

[evian]

E mail, was just to hand over to the new man in charge, also said there are some positive signs in the far and middle east. New man now our point of contact and JM also said as the aviation business is small that our paths were bound to cross in the future.

Having spoken to friends in BA this is what I make of the e mail:

There have been several rumors recently about BA and when they are likely to recruit. I suspect that some people may have emailed JM to confirm their interest in the company. The email therefore is to inform of the new chap, his role is more that just recruitment, it's also internal fleet transfers and I think organizing the training.

Though I would love them to recruit soon, friends say a small amount of recruitment in spring of next year. I find that an odd time as you wouldn't be on line till the end of the summer!!

Paul Nichols is the new man in charge and it is thought he was happy to disband Hold pool/we'll ring you first, promise, I think he was just going to let everyone have to apply again in the normal way. Though I have heard that there are people in his department who are working hard for us ex holdpoolers so that we may not have to jump every hoop. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Wirbelsturm]

The 'rumour' from within is that BA will be looking to recruit at some point in 2011. In addition the company seems to be running up, albeit slowly, the recruitment team in readiness.

As to the taxation issue, the Budget that netted the tax man the best returns was that which reduced the higer rate of income tax to 40%.

This gave the Governemt a smaller slice of a much, much bigger pie as people were more willing to work hard in order to retain money in their pocket and not have to hand it all to the tax man. Removing those from the top end of the 40%-50% bracket will require a considerable number more workers earning in the 22% bracket to net the same revenue.

All told a system not beneficial to the tax man and downright unfair to those who lose their tax free earnings as well giving s substansive tax payment in that bracket of £100,000-£110,000 of about 68%. Especially as the nice man at HMRC still has the wording 'everyone in the UK is entitled to a basic tax free sum'. Not quite true.

[Junta Leader]

Any other ex-hold poolers get a email/letter today?

[Busbar]

Junta Leader,

Can you expand on your post? Did you receive something today? If you did would you mind sharing it? I have a big decision to make shortly!

Thanks in advance

[evian]

Yes I got the e mail, not the best of news, here's what it said.......

"We last wrote to you on 21st July 2009 and I thought it would be helpful to update you on our pilot recruitment plans for the next 2 years.

Based on our forecast flying for summer 2011, I’m in a position to confirm that we will not be recruiting any pilots in the current financial year. Current projections support a modest requirement for pilots in mid to late 2011.

I recognise this represents a protracted period since you originally attended pilot selection and your career aspirations may have changed in the meantime. Our own pilot selection criteria are also likely to be different to those we used during our last pilot recruitment campaign and we will make this information available when we launch our campaign in 2011.

When we commence pilot recruitment, we will advertise through normal industry routes such as Flight International magazine and via the careers section of the British Airways Internet site. The purpose of this letter is to advise you that should the prospect of a career as a pilot with British Airways still be appealing to you and subject to you meeting the pilot recruitment criteria and qualifications applicable at that time, we would welcome an on-line application from you once the campaign re-opens."

[Junta Leader]

Thanks Evain, saves me copying it in - I suppose I could've been more considerate earlier!!!

Yes, not the best of news. I kinda see their point but am still disappointed nonetheless. Hopefully we'll be able to meet the 'new criteria'...

Best of Luck to all...

JL

[Busbar]

Thanks for the info guys, it is greatly appreciated!!

Good luck for when the scheme re-opens

[ltn and beyond]

ShinyTen,

Being type rated does not automatically mean you will fly your rated type at BA,
I was current on the bus before BA and they gave me a Boeing job.

Also some of my Bus pals still did a full Bus conversion at BA, to understand BA sop's and operation.

Good luck to all when we start hiring again

[License to Fly]

I think the thing to bear in mind with BA, is that things are constantly changing and recruitment could easily be larger than expected/earlier than expected ...

Friends of mine who interview, have said they have recently been contacted to see if they are still interested in doing it - BA would not be doing this if recruitment was still along way off.

Keep your glass half full and good luck everyone - its a good airline to be flying in

[flamingmoe]

Probably a silly question, given the amount of pilots in the hold pool, but are applications being accepted for future interviews?

[potkettleblack]

You never know maybe their HR department and Flight Ops talk to each other and their plan is to refill the hold pool and have a better gauge of experience levels/types flown, notice periods etc in order to bring people on line when required.