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Virgin recruiting soon...

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Virgin recruiting soon...

Old 22nd Sep 2019, 09:14
  #1281 (permalink)  
 
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Can I add to Corporaljones' questions please...

7.) Is it possible to change fleets e.g. Airbus to Boeing?
8.) Are Virgin's financials about as good as they've ever been (Delta backing, expansion etc)
9.) Any ideas about part time working options?
10.) Is much time spent travelling within U.K. e.g. Up to Edi for a charter flight etc.
11.) Already asked before but important to know, do you get a nice couple of days downroute (esp. West Coast and Caribbean)

Thanks everyone. Another one looking at leaving BA as current atmosphere stinks.
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Old 22nd Sep 2019, 13:38
  #1282 (permalink)  
 
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1) Around 9 years currently. Some fleet transfers but generally command on type. No particular advantage in terms of command in switching fleets.
2) Reasonable social depending on destination. It’s rare that you’re Billy No-Mates.
3) Generally open atmosphere. As most join with quite a bit of experience, it’s assumed you know your job and you’re respected for that.
4) minimum 2 days off after a short trip (3 day block of work), 3 after something longer.
5) Can request up to 2 trips per month. Pilots are in one of three groups which rotate month by month so even if you’re the most junior, every third month your group will be top bid group so therefore effectively in the top third of seniority,
6) If the block time is on average more than 10 hours outbound then you get minimum 2 local nights downroute.


7) No real process for fleet change until new aircraft types come in: you’ll be matched on joining depending on your experience and where the need is.
8) Feeling is that VS is probably in the best financial position it’s been in for some time, but you never know the whole truth!
9) Part time is currently being rejigged so no comment
10) Depends on fleet but there is a bit of that. Mitigated by some of those trips requested by people who live nearby
11) See 6
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Old 22nd Sep 2019, 15:48
  #1283 (permalink)  
 
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Do many people commute or is it possible to get more than 2-3 days off in a row without using leave?
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Old 23rd Sep 2019, 05:38
  #1284 (permalink)  
 
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I see Zenon has taken over recruitment process and introduced a rather, dare I say it, Nigel approach to taking guys and girls on. Assuming one ticks all the Human Remain boxes, I guess you then proceed to sit down with actual VS recruitment.
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Old 24th Sep 2019, 08:24
  #1285 (permalink)  
 
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Virgin Atlantic page says

you’ll need to have a minimum experience of 1500 flying hours on the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or Boeing 737NG/MAX/737/747/757/767/777/787.

zenon page says

If you have minimum experience of 1500 total jet aircraft flying hours (not including time spent on solely as a cruise pilot) on either the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or the Boeing 737NG/MAX/747/757/767/777/787 and actively flying one of these aircraft with a minimum of 500 hours on current type, we'd like to hear from you.

spot the difference competition. You score max points if you notice zenon has missed the 737 classic out of its list. Who’s made the mistake, Atlantic or zenon? . Could make a big difference to some...
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Old 27th Sep 2019, 06:43
  #1286 (permalink)  
 
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Ask yourself what type of cynical management would bring in new starting pay levels of 2 or 3 increments, just as there are a whole bunch of experienced pilots looking for jobs.
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Old 27th Sep 2019, 10:31
  #1287 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by farefield
Ask yourself what type of cynical management would bring in new starting pay levels of 2 or 3 increments, just as there are a whole bunch of experienced pilots looking for jobs.
Management said they won't be taking advantage of Thomas Cook pilots, so they will join on the normal pay scale (assuming they meet experience requirements). And FYI, the introduction of 2-3 pay points at the bottom of the current scale are just a wish by management, yet to be agreed by the union. It's not entirely clear if these new pay points are for all new pilots, or just inexperienced pilots who don't meet Senior FO criteria (minimum entry requirements have been lowered).
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 07:34
  #1288 (permalink)  
 
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FYI pilot discussion and questions (on this subject) have not been answered on the company love-in forum and the thread has been closed down.

Delta Airlines pilot union already say they are being undercut on the JFK route by an airline paying way less than them and only having 2 pilots on the flight deck.
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 10:35
  #1289 (permalink)  
 
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Still has to be agreed by the union with a ballot to the pilots...so it's up to the workforce.
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 11:26
  #1290 (permalink)  
 
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Would someone be able to elaborate or share a typical roster for the Boeing fleet? Coming from a SH background it would be useful to see what to expect.
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 11:49
  #1291 (permalink)  
 
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I know it’s early days but did anyone receive any other info from Zenon? I recived a couple of thank you emails and a GDPR email so far.

As a general view from inside, is this going to be a massive hold pool filling exercise where Zenon create a database of suitable candidates that Virgin then pick from over the next few years? That would explain the full quota of aircraft types they have opened it up to, A319 all the way to 777! In the past they have been type specific.

Someone previously said they wouldn’t give priority to TCX pilots, that seems a bit strange, the A330 guys operated the some of the same routes and could start on Monday. Seems strange if we look back at the MON scenario.

Lastly, anyone with any experience of the Zenon process? Compass test? Other known tools?

M81
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 15:11
  #1292 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by AlsWings
Would someone be able to elaborate or share a typical roster for the Boeing fleet? Coming from a SH background it would be useful to see what to expect.
If you are on the 330, 5 or 6 trans Atlantics per month. Knackering.
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 16:45
  #1293 (permalink)  
 
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I am sure they will prioritise the TCX pilots, but I don't think courses will start till the new year!

Think with zenon, it will be create a hold pool, that the airline can pick from for the next few years.
Initial interviews, sim etc... conducted by Zenon, then a final interview with Virgin.
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Old 28th Sep 2019, 22:35
  #1294 (permalink)  
 
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Is there a new selection process such as numerical and verbal reasoning tests?
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Old 30th Sep 2019, 22:13
  #1295 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Dark Stanley
Virgin Atlantic page says

you’ll need to have a minimum experience of 1500 flying hours on the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or Boeing 737NG/MAX/737/747/757/767/777/787.

zenon page says

If you have minimum experience of 1500 total jet aircraft flying hours (not including time spent on solely as a cruise pilot) on either the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or the Boeing 737NG/MAX/747/757/767/777/787 and actively flying one of these aircraft with a minimum of 500 hours on current type, we'd like to hear from you.

spot the difference competition. You score max points if you notice zenon has missed the 737 classic out of its list. Who’s made the mistake, Atlantic or zenon? . Could make a big difference to some...
I got an email I don't meet the required hours. I have 2400tt of which 2000 are jet, but only 1000 are A320.
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Old 30th Sep 2019, 23:11
  #1296 (permalink)  
 
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Also after an example junior B787 roster please... also would someone mind outlining the part time options available?

thanks
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Old 1st Oct 2019, 06:42
  #1297 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Dark Stanley
Virgin Atlantic page says

you’ll need to have a minimum experience of 1500 flying hours on the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or Boeing 737NG/MAX/737/747/757/767/777/787.

zenon page says

If you have minimum experience of 1500 total jet aircraft flying hours (not including time spent on solely as a cruise pilot) on either the Airbus A319/320/321/330/350 or the Boeing 737NG/MAX/747/757/767/777/787 and actively flying one of these aircraft with a minimum of 500 hours on current type, we'd like to hear from you.

spot the difference competition. You score max points if you notice zenon has missed the 737 classic out of its list. Who’s made the mistake, Atlantic or zenon? . Could make a big difference to some...
Why do airlines require 500 hours on your current type if you’re non-type rated? You could have 10,000h on B747 and now currently fly say a B767 with 300h on type and wouldnt qualify.
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Old 1st Oct 2019, 07:58
  #1298 (permalink)  
 
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Got the thanks but no thanks email too... pretty frustrating...

Use to just be 2500hrs, previous Boeing and Airbus experience didn't it?

Last edited by Wodka; 11th Dec 2019 at 20:57.
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Old 1st Oct 2019, 11:03
  #1299 (permalink)  
 
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Has anyone had a response from Zenon? Haven't heard anything since applying a week ago
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Old 1st Oct 2019, 11:54
  #1300 (permalink)  
 
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Just a couple of emails to say that my details have been passed to an advisor, and also a GDPR email/consent?
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