Is BA still the Holy Grail of airlines?!
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true. I was just responding to the original post which asked if BA was the holy grail of airlines. He didn't qualify that by saying European airlines or airlines based in the UK.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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A question if i may?
Lets say I am a year one SH FO (LHR), would the remaining bid lines allow a junior FO to have a roster meaning they could commute from the midlands? ( Touring Roster) Or would you end up with space ship miles on the car and a second home on the M40!!??
Cheers
SOP
Lets say I am a year one SH FO (LHR), would the remaining bid lines allow a junior FO to have a roster meaning they could commute from the midlands? ( Touring Roster) Or would you end up with space ship miles on the car and a second home on the M40!!??
Cheers
SOP
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SOP
You can probably work on 10+ reports a month as a junior SH. I commute from the top end of the M40 and its a fairly easy drive (<1hr30 to the car park).
Of course that would be for a 'normal' month with no leave or duty free week. As being at the bottom of the list would mean a 'Blindline' - ie being given a roster consisting of the trips not chosen by more senior pilots - it would almost certainly involve working every weekend. Thats the biggest moan from Junior pilots in either seat - its easy to go for quite a few months without having a weekend off.
However, getting the seniority to change that often doesnt take more than a couple of years - the rumour at the moment talks of up to 500 places moving in the next 6 years (so there would be 500 people junior to you in the company) as a result of the most senior guys retiring at 60 and tax changes meaning part time looks very tempting. Of course that is only a guess and it could be only 200. There has never been an average move each year - many of the current most senior LH Captains waited 20 years + for their first (SH) command.
As far as training goes, I have no complaints at BA. Sim checks have recently been reformed, so the old style box-ticking 'RTO-EFATO-ILS-GA-NPA-OEI landing' session is now just once a year, and the second check is very much more focussed on open ended LOFT excercises and perceived training needs that have been thrown up by SESMA and FCR's. Equally, as an FO, you'll fly frequently with a training Captain, almost all of whom are more than happy to run your flights as (very informal) training sectors if you so wish.
Holy Grail? Not quite, but its a great laugh most of the time, the pay is good, the rosters are totally stable (which to me is the biggie) and the lifestyle choices (SH/LH/Part time) are good. We even have a new online trip swap system which has the potential to be a game changer.
You can probably work on 10+ reports a month as a junior SH. I commute from the top end of the M40 and its a fairly easy drive (<1hr30 to the car park).
Of course that would be for a 'normal' month with no leave or duty free week. As being at the bottom of the list would mean a 'Blindline' - ie being given a roster consisting of the trips not chosen by more senior pilots - it would almost certainly involve working every weekend. Thats the biggest moan from Junior pilots in either seat - its easy to go for quite a few months without having a weekend off.
However, getting the seniority to change that often doesnt take more than a couple of years - the rumour at the moment talks of up to 500 places moving in the next 6 years (so there would be 500 people junior to you in the company) as a result of the most senior guys retiring at 60 and tax changes meaning part time looks very tempting. Of course that is only a guess and it could be only 200. There has never been an average move each year - many of the current most senior LH Captains waited 20 years + for their first (SH) command.
As far as training goes, I have no complaints at BA. Sim checks have recently been reformed, so the old style box-ticking 'RTO-EFATO-ILS-GA-NPA-OEI landing' session is now just once a year, and the second check is very much more focussed on open ended LOFT excercises and perceived training needs that have been thrown up by SESMA and FCR's. Equally, as an FO, you'll fly frequently with a training Captain, almost all of whom are more than happy to run your flights as (very informal) training sectors if you so wish.
Holy Grail? Not quite, but its a great laugh most of the time, the pay is good, the rosters are totally stable (which to me is the biggie) and the lifestyle choices (SH/LH/Part time) are good. We even have a new online trip swap system which has the potential to be a game changer.
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As 'junior trash' you'll end up with a blind line with all the stuff left over from the bidding process. Commuter lines which comprise 4/5 day tours are extremely popular, particularly with the folks nth of Hadrian's Wall. That said, some senior, non-commuters, get the 'commuter lines' and clash some of the trips out and some of these can fall through to be allocated to the BL holders like you!
My feeling is that you will be racking up a lot of mway miles tho' I know plenty of folks who drive down from the E/W midlands and the nthwest. Hope this is of use. Rgds, Sid
My feeling is that you will be racking up a lot of mway miles tho' I know plenty of folks who drive down from the E/W midlands and the nthwest. Hope this is of use. Rgds, Sid
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Thanks guys
On average would these Blind Lines include night stopping or would I end up at LHR everynight and looking at a massive daily commute?
I gather there is no requirment to be within a 60/90 min call from standby?
What is the general roster pattern for " Junior trash " SH FO? 5 on 2 off etc
On average would these Blind Lines include night stopping or would I end up at LHR everynight and looking at a massive daily commute?
I gather there is no requirment to be within a 60/90 min call from standby?
What is the general roster pattern for " Junior trash " SH FO? 5 on 2 off etc
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You'll prob end up with a mix of stuff - low credit day trips and some 2,3,4 and 5 day tours. The high credit day trips eg Ist, get hoovered up by senior guys for obvious reasons - the more high credit days you do, the less days you are at work. The roster pattern will be quite varied and cannot be summarised as 5 on 2 off etc....
)
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Virgin are still the best airline to work for in the UK by a long chalk.Motivation still reasonably good considering the industry at the moment, personally I've never had it so good.
Virgin are still the best airline to work for in the UK by a long chalk
