Virgin recruiting soon...
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: In t'sky
Al,
I would say possibly no. When the last round of recruitment went live I called HR and spoke to a very nice lady from HR (I wasn't actually expecting a call back at all) who explained that although I was close, they wouldn't pre screen candidates, but to wait until they recruited again, which is now.
I would say possibly no. When the last round of recruitment went live I called HR and spoke to a very nice lady from HR (I wasn't actually expecting a call back at all) who explained that although I was close, they wouldn't pre screen candidates, but to wait until they recruited again, which is now.
PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Everywhere in the UK, but not home!
I have over 3500 hours but no boeing nor bus rating. It's a shame that they're excluding the likes of me, there is a lot of good stock out there that they are ignoring! 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 396
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From: UK
I have over 3500 hours but no boeing nor bus rating. It's a shame that they're excluding the likes of me, there is a lot of good stock out there that they are ignoring!
Joined: May 2003
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From: Somewhere In The South China Sea
Originally Posted by Akrapovic
Might be something to do with the boeings and busses they operate??
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: u.k
Assessment day
I know the question has been asked several times but I can't seem to find any recent answers. Does anyone care to share what is involved in the current selection day? I see quite a few people have said they attended recently so a brief description of what they experienced would be very useful for those stil waiting to go through.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: UK
perhaps candidates without any of these types can't qualify for Zero Flight Time Training.
Or a Shortened Transition (STAR) course as well...
(though I don't think the 717 & 727 enable you to qualify for a STAR course)
Or a Shortened Transition (STAR) course as well...
(though I don't think the 717 & 727 enable you to qualify for a STAR course)
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Wherever the wind takes me...
I don´t have much experience in the fixed wing market anyway, but a quick question: If you have a few thousand hours in say a Learjet, but no type rating on any of the popular comercial jets (B737 or AB330), could you still land a job? Or doesn´t any of the major carriers wanna pay your typerating anymore?
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Polymer Records
I remember years back (2005?) I was at the BALPA employment conference at Heathrow and the Virgin chappy made a brief presentation.
He said Virgin wanted Airbus / Boeing time because due to the lack of landing practice available on the line at Virgin, they needed candidates fully conversant with landing a jet before they joined Virgin. I remember it so well because he also said "Get all your flying out of your system before you join us, because you'll do next to none once here". Ouch!
His words, not mine, and probably way out of date.
He said Virgin wanted Airbus / Boeing time because due to the lack of landing practice available on the line at Virgin, they needed candidates fully conversant with landing a jet before they joined Virgin. I remember it so well because he also said "Get all your flying out of your system before you join us, because you'll do next to none once here". Ouch!
His words, not mine, and probably way out of date.
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: in my own world
He said Virgin wanted Airbus / Boeing time because due to the lack of landing practice available on the line at Virgin, they needed candidates fully conversant with landing a jet before they joined Virgin. I remember it so well because he also said "Get all your flying out of your system before you join us, because you'll do next to none once here". Ouch!
The main reason why they want type rated/commonality is that it's costs less to train. Ex-military guys rarely have any problems flying, but now have problems getting in for the reason stated. During recent expansion Virgin favoured type rated Airbus pilots to the detriment of military guys - purely on time and cost of training. Hopefully someone will see sense and balanced workforce will ensue.
Master Baiter
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 301
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From: Middle Earth
Hmm, why should military guys get preference over, say someone with 4000hrs, 1000 of it on 777ER?
They've taken on lots of ex military guys at Jet2 and it's a mixed bag of standards, some good, some not ... just as you'd find amongst mere mortal civvies.
They've taken on lots of ex military guys at Jet2 and it's a mixed bag of standards, some good, some not ... just as you'd find amongst mere mortal civvies.
PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Everywhere in the UK, but not home!
It’s a shame.
I was just bemoaning the fact that my 3000+ hours flying commercially have been on EFIS equipped aircraft, including a 1000 hours on a jet which is most definitely as advanced (and maybe more advanced) as any Boeing or Airbus around (A380 excepted perhaps). But it doesn’t matter as much (as Deano777 points out) as someone who has Boeing “classic” experience.
I say again, there is a lot of good stock out there that they are ignoring!
I was just bemoaning the fact that my 3000+ hours flying commercially have been on EFIS equipped aircraft, including a 1000 hours on a jet which is most definitely as advanced (and maybe more advanced) as any Boeing or Airbus around (A380 excepted perhaps). But it doesn’t matter as much (as Deano777 points out) as someone who has Boeing “classic” experience.
I say again, there is a lot of good stock out there that they are ignoring!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 145
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From: in my own world
Nearly Man i see you're a Master Baiter however i'll reply 
No i'm not saying military guys are better (apart from fast jet guys ), however, for a while Virgin only recruited if you had an Airbus rating or alike. A balance, as always, is desirable.
No i'm not saying military guys are better (apart from fast jet guys ), however, for a while Virgin only recruited if you had an Airbus rating or alike. A balance, as always, is desirable.
