British Airways Hold Pool News
It's c**p news, i know but let's look at the positives...we get the first go at it when they need more pilots. I'm sure they'll look upon us more favourably as we made it all the way last time.
It could pick up sooner then they anticipate and we could get a letter/email or call mid 2010 asking us to come in again for the fun and games of the assessment, it may be a waterd down version for us...who knows?
It's effectively out of all our hands. If you still want it when the time comes, go get it! Things may change by then and you may not want it.
one thing is for sure and that is it will pick up, it always has...it's just a case of when.
Can anyone who had a similar situation around 2001 tell us what it was like 2nd time around? Anyone get in first time only to be told no second time around...
It could pick up sooner then they anticipate and we could get a letter/email or call mid 2010 asking us to come in again for the fun and games of the assessment, it may be a waterd down version for us...who knows?
It's effectively out of all our hands. If you still want it when the time comes, go get it! Things may change by then and you may not want it.
one thing is for sure and that is it will pick up, it always has...it's just a case of when.
Can anyone who had a similar situation around 2001 tell us what it was like 2nd time around? Anyone get in first time only to be told no second time around...
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I am Very Sorry to hear about the ending of the hold pool.
Its a sad day for all of you, but the bright side is that you can apply again with some priority in the future.
BA are in a very bad way financially, as are many of the legacy carriers and may not survive without more major cut backs. (Maybe a lucky escape)
I hate to see anyone loose jobs or the prospect of a job. (Been there myself too often)
Best wishes to you all, and good luck in the future.
Its a sad day for all of you, but the bright side is that you can apply again with some priority in the future.
BA are in a very bad way financially, as are many of the legacy carriers and may not survive without more major cut backs. (Maybe a lucky escape)
I hate to see anyone loose jobs or the prospect of a job. (Been there myself too often)
Best wishes to you all, and good luck in the future.
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Disapointing news, but not completely unexpected given the circumstances.
I am happy with BA giving us the first go at positions when recruitment does eventually pick up. One could argue that the more fresh straight out of MCC guys and galls graduating between now and 2011 have the advantage, so I appreciate the recognition of our commitment to BA.
I'm not holding my breath for an earlier recovery of the situation, but when things do pick up have confidence in the fact that we have been positively assessed by BA before.
I agree with EGKK that it would be interesting to learn about some experiences from post 9/11 pilots.
I am happy with BA giving us the first go at positions when recruitment does eventually pick up. One could argue that the more fresh straight out of MCC guys and galls graduating between now and 2011 have the advantage, so I appreciate the recognition of our commitment to BA.
I'm not holding my breath for an earlier recovery of the situation, but when things do pick up have confidence in the fact that we have been positively assessed by BA before.
I agree with EGKK that it would be interesting to learn about some experiences from post 9/11 pilots.
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Ah well....
Inevitable really given the state of the global economy. I can only take heart when JM offers those evicted from the pool the chance to apply first before opening the competition to the wider community; who knows when this will be though.
Fingers crossed for an improvement sooner rather than later.
I wonder if they'll need 4 more carefully crafted 'essay' answers again...
JL
Inevitable really given the state of the global economy. I can only take heart when JM offers those evicted from the pool the chance to apply first before opening the competition to the wider community; who knows when this will be though.
Fingers crossed for an improvement sooner rather than later.
I wonder if they'll need 4 more carefully crafted 'essay' answers again...
JL
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Oh well, such is life. Nothing different to what I expected. I have just been reminded about what is important in life anyway by the serious illness of a child very close to my family, so I ain't gonna be bothered by something as trivial as a Job.
I would like to thank all those on here that helped me to pass the recruitment process in the first place - the origonal thread on that was a gem..
Personally I think 2011 for BA expanding again is unduly optimistic - I have yet to see any indication that the economy will make a meaningful recovery - the banks and public sector which largely caused this mess have not changed their mentality one bit, and as Einstein said - "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
Also many people seem to be equating the word "recovery" with "return to where we were" which is never gonna happen. That was false growth based on debt and governmnent excess.
I'd still love to work for BA, I think they are the employer of choice in the industry in the UK at the moment, but another 4-5 years is quite significant at my age and current stage in my career so I guess I'll just take a view if and when they start recruiting again. Hell, unless someone in whitehall gets a grip we'll all be living in the middle east by then anyway!
Thanks again to those who posted details o f their experiencess in the recruitment process and to those in BA who kept us updated on here with company info.
I would like to thank all those on here that helped me to pass the recruitment process in the first place - the origonal thread on that was a gem..
Personally I think 2011 for BA expanding again is unduly optimistic - I have yet to see any indication that the economy will make a meaningful recovery - the banks and public sector which largely caused this mess have not changed their mentality one bit, and as Einstein said - "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
Also many people seem to be equating the word "recovery" with "return to where we were" which is never gonna happen. That was false growth based on debt and governmnent excess.
I'd still love to work for BA, I think they are the employer of choice in the industry in the UK at the moment, but another 4-5 years is quite significant at my age and current stage in my career so I guess I'll just take a view if and when they start recruiting again. Hell, unless someone in whitehall gets a grip we'll all be living in the middle east by then anyway!
Thanks again to those who posted details o f their experiencess in the recruitment process and to those in BA who kept us updated on here with company info.
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Personally I think 2011 for BA expanding again is unduly optimistic
Best of luck to all who are now 'beached'. Annoying I know but give it another shot. I feel it will be a slightly different company in 2011 but certainly one worth working for.
W2P
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W2P - I fear you are being a little too optimistic. I would suggest some of the aircraft on order will now just replace the 'older' and more 'fuel-hungry' fleet within BA.
With no 'recovery' on the horzion BA will continue to suffer as the Premium traffic will continue to dry up.
Hard times ahead...
With no 'recovery' on the horzion BA will continue to suffer as the Premium traffic will continue to dry up.
Hard times ahead...
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I really wouldn't be too sure.
The thrust of the VR agreement was to get it 'sorted' as soon as possible as the company is keen to recruit.
Recruit under what T's & C's remains to be seen but with the 777 fleet expanding and the 787/380 fleet on the way with the crewing levels to match then I think the next few years could be interesting. BA runs, at the moment, at about 3000-3200 pilots. Any significant aircraft orders above and beyond those already ordered and ratified for mainline (away from the now defunct Openskies debacle) will need crewing.
A year or two maybe but, if the company survives the rubbish from Unite, interesting times ahead.
The thrust of the VR agreement was to get it 'sorted' as soon as possible as the company is keen to recruit.
Recruit under what T's & C's remains to be seen but with the 777 fleet expanding and the 787/380 fleet on the way with the crewing levels to match then I think the next few years could be interesting. BA runs, at the moment, at about 3000-3200 pilots. Any significant aircraft orders above and beyond those already ordered and ratified for mainline (away from the now defunct Openskies debacle) will need crewing.
A year or two maybe but, if the company survives the rubbish from Unite, interesting times ahead.
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I would say that it is far too premature to forecast when recruitment will next begin at BA. They are still hurting as is the rest of the industry and whilst BA will probably survive, other British operators may not. The business plan that BA has now might be completely different at the end of the recession.
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Wobble - thanks for all that - but at the risk of appearing pessimistic - I still don't see that there is the economy, or market for BA to expand. The plan they have at the moment may look like 2011 recruitment is going to happen, but I still think there is another chapter to be written in this whole affair (the country / global economy, not just BA!).
I'm sure BA will sort the unite issue - after all there are 3 million unemployed - 1 million of which are 18-25 year olds - Unite must understand that they can't push it too much. I'm also sure that BA will stay in business and become 'fit' to suit the market going forward. However the govnerments response to Ryanairs threats are that they are going to push ahead with the Air passenger duty rises and are not going to help the industry at all, Cameron's lot apear to be buying al this environmental bull as well, so no help expected there either.
This year, despite the recession, the other hub airports in europe have seen passenger rises, indicating that transit pax are starting to avoid the UK. couple this with the fact that there is absolutely no indication of any economic recovery, then I really cannot see where BA expect to get the passenger growth to fit this plan.
I hope i'm wrong, but I don't think I will be. I guess I'll come back and have a look in 2012 and add another post to this thread!
I'm sure BA will sort the unite issue - after all there are 3 million unemployed - 1 million of which are 18-25 year olds - Unite must understand that they can't push it too much. I'm also sure that BA will stay in business and become 'fit' to suit the market going forward. However the govnerments response to Ryanairs threats are that they are going to push ahead with the Air passenger duty rises and are not going to help the industry at all, Cameron's lot apear to be buying al this environmental bull as well, so no help expected there either.
This year, despite the recession, the other hub airports in europe have seen passenger rises, indicating that transit pax are starting to avoid the UK. couple this with the fact that there is absolutely no indication of any economic recovery, then I really cannot see where BA expect to get the passenger growth to fit this plan.
I hope i'm wrong, but I don't think I will be. I guess I'll come back and have a look in 2012 and add another post to this thread!