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BMI Mainline
Is there any likelyhood of recruitment at BMI on to the Airbus? I am aware of a fair few going to BA from there.
Is it a happy place to work? What's the time to command? How many hours a month on average? Is it succeeding?
Is it a happy place to work? What's the time to command? How many hours a month on average? Is it succeeding?
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I have been with BMI just over 5 years and agree it is a great company to work for. The outlook is good. The second A330 is back next month and more mid-haul A321's coming next year.
Good luck to all when recruitment starts again!
Good luck to all when recruitment starts again!
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Speaking with BB recently, the departures to BA etc are expected to be a slow trickle over a period of time. No unseemly rush for the exit is envisaged.
He's in contact with the desert squadron, some of whom want to come back as and when. He also said we stil have a holding pool, and would tend to call from there as and when before opening to external recruitment.
We would not be a place for people to expect early command opportunities. We do curently have demoted captains, as well as a large number of SFOs ready for command. Keep an eye on the website as any vacancies I think are posted there.
As for other questions, I think Scudbus sums it up quite enthusiatically.
He's in contact with the desert squadron, some of whom want to come back as and when. He also said we stil have a holding pool, and would tend to call from there as and when before opening to external recruitment.
We would not be a place for people to expect early command opportunities. We do curently have demoted captains, as well as a large number of SFOs ready for command. Keep an eye on the website as any vacancies I think are posted there.
As for other questions, I think Scudbus sums it up quite enthusiatically.
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I would agree with the above comments. I've been with bmi for around thirteen years now, nine of them as a pilot. Over that time the airline has certainly changed in shape/size and direction.
In terms of work patterns, I am a SFO on the A320/330, and have averaged no more than around 600 hours in the last few years, so bank on around 50 to 60 hours to month. I think the shorthaul only guys may do slightly more. It may all change in the future as we progress to longer range routes that will demand an increase in our flying hours.
The other great thing about bmi is the variety of work (if that's your cup of tea). I've done anything from low cost (bmi baby), through to charters, longhaul, mid haul, domestic and european nightstops. The training is also excellent and I've nothing but good things to say about this part of the company.
The company has certainly been through some tough times with a pretty savage redundancy program a few years back. The financial performance is certainly coming together, but with a lot more work to do. I think the new CEO, and indeed flight operations management, are committed to turning the company around, and any newfound optimism in the troops certainly filters down from the man at the top, who has done a fantastic job at his previous airlines.
In terms of the future, I believe we will probably progress to longer range routes within europe and the middle east, coupled with a return to transatlantic flying as stated by the new CEO. Also, it is worth noting we are one of the few airlines at Heathrow that can expand. With a sizeable chunk of slots - that in the past have been used for slot fillers/leased out to other airlines - when these return or are used for longer range routes = expansion and hopefully upwards movement for all of us...
Money. Hmm, I think the pension rates for the DC scheme are currently around 11% from the company for a minumium 5% contribution from me.... I don't think new joiners will get this, and is certainly something I believe the union are working on. In terms of take home pay, I average around £3300 in my main pay cheque, with around £700 in flight pay paid mid month. That has been with a good amount of nightstops away.
Overall, a good place to work. Not perfect....but where is?
The greatest thing about bmi is the people who work there. I have spent many a downroute trip with most crew very sociable and always up for a beer or party!
Good luck, let me know if you need any further information!
Lex
In terms of work patterns, I am a SFO on the A320/330, and have averaged no more than around 600 hours in the last few years, so bank on around 50 to 60 hours to month. I think the shorthaul only guys may do slightly more. It may all change in the future as we progress to longer range routes that will demand an increase in our flying hours.
The other great thing about bmi is the variety of work (if that's your cup of tea). I've done anything from low cost (bmi baby), through to charters, longhaul, mid haul, domestic and european nightstops. The training is also excellent and I've nothing but good things to say about this part of the company.
The company has certainly been through some tough times with a pretty savage redundancy program a few years back. The financial performance is certainly coming together, but with a lot more work to do. I think the new CEO, and indeed flight operations management, are committed to turning the company around, and any newfound optimism in the troops certainly filters down from the man at the top, who has done a fantastic job at his previous airlines.
In terms of the future, I believe we will probably progress to longer range routes within europe and the middle east, coupled with a return to transatlantic flying as stated by the new CEO. Also, it is worth noting we are one of the few airlines at Heathrow that can expand. With a sizeable chunk of slots - that in the past have been used for slot fillers/leased out to other airlines - when these return or are used for longer range routes = expansion and hopefully upwards movement for all of us...
Money. Hmm, I think the pension rates for the DC scheme are currently around 11% from the company for a minumium 5% contribution from me.... I don't think new joiners will get this, and is certainly something I believe the union are working on. In terms of take home pay, I average around £3300 in my main pay cheque, with around £700 in flight pay paid mid month. That has been with a good amount of nightstops away.
Overall, a good place to work. Not perfect....but where is?
The greatest thing about bmi is the people who work there. I have spent many a downroute trip with most crew very sociable and always up for a beer or party!Good luck, let me know if you need any further information!
Lex
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Scubus
Its great to have someone on here with so much experience in the company. Can you let me know if you're at least an SFO now? Are there any benefits to it? Also, im interested if you feel you will (as a company) pull through the hard times as I heard things arent looking so good? 330's possibly?
WF
Its great to have someone on here with so much experience in the company. Can you let me know if you're at least an SFO now? Are there any benefits to it? Also, im interested if you feel you will (as a company) pull through the hard times as I heard things arent looking so good? 330's possibly?
WF
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It's nice to read something positive for a change, and encouraging to see thre are still employers who people want to work for. Good luck to all. My question to all those lucky enough to be on the inside here is, would BMI ever get to the stage where they would take a light jet pilot ( 5.6 tonnes) with circa 2500 hours, and if so, is that maybe a couple of years off?
Stay safe.
G
Stay safe.
G
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Lex
Do you do many standbys in the company as a whole? Can you give us a bit of detail on a typical roster with days off etc? How long do you think it is to command? 10 years? (I know things can be fluid).
Lastly, any signs of external recruitment in the next 1-2 years that you know of?
Thanks
CC
Do you do many standbys in the company as a whole? Can you give us a bit of detail on a typical roster with days off etc? How long do you think it is to command? 10 years? (I know things can be fluid).
Lastly, any signs of external recruitment in the next 1-2 years that you know of?
Thanks
CC
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Hi CC
I think the company will recruit externally in the next few years – but – this is my opinion only.
We are just about to repromote some of the demoted Captains from a year or so ago, plus there are some guys leaving for BA and a couple to VS. In addition, there should be some expansion at the back end of this year/start of 2012 with the arrival of three extra A321s.
I know we still have some guys that were made redundant and headed out to the ME waiting to come back before any external recruitment begins. Any big recruitment will be driven by expansion of the long haul fleet.
In terms of time to command, as you say, an entirely moveable feast. I think the figure at the moment is around 12 years. The contraction in the company size in the last few years, plus the change in retirement age has contributed to this.
I am a Mixed Fleet pilot, so I do a period of reserve (standby) three times a year. Each of these used to be of duration 12 – 14 days I think. The A320 fleet do on average a standby block of five days duration every roster period, so probably end up with about the same amount of standby. Typical Roster:
Day 1 OFF
Day 2 OFF
Day 3-8 LHR-IST-DXB-IST-LHR (A330 Turkish Wet Lease trip)
Day 9 OFF
Day 10 OFF
Day 11 OFF
Day 12 LHR-MXP-LHR
Day 13 LHR-DUB-LHR-DUB-LHR
Day 14 OFF
Day 15 OFF
Day 16-20 LHR-BEY-LHR (Midhaul trip)
Day 21 OFF
Day 22 OFF
Day 23 OFF
Day 24-27 LHR-RUH-LHR (A330 trip)
Day 28 OFF
Lex
I think the company will recruit externally in the next few years – but – this is my opinion only.
We are just about to repromote some of the demoted Captains from a year or so ago, plus there are some guys leaving for BA and a couple to VS. In addition, there should be some expansion at the back end of this year/start of 2012 with the arrival of three extra A321s.
I know we still have some guys that were made redundant and headed out to the ME waiting to come back before any external recruitment begins. Any big recruitment will be driven by expansion of the long haul fleet.
In terms of time to command, as you say, an entirely moveable feast. I think the figure at the moment is around 12 years. The contraction in the company size in the last few years, plus the change in retirement age has contributed to this.
I am a Mixed Fleet pilot, so I do a period of reserve (standby) three times a year. Each of these used to be of duration 12 – 14 days I think. The A320 fleet do on average a standby block of five days duration every roster period, so probably end up with about the same amount of standby. Typical Roster:
Day 1 OFF
Day 2 OFF
Day 3-8 LHR-IST-DXB-IST-LHR (A330 Turkish Wet Lease trip)
Day 9 OFF
Day 10 OFF
Day 11 OFF
Day 12 LHR-MXP-LHR
Day 13 LHR-DUB-LHR-DUB-LHR
Day 14 OFF
Day 15 OFF
Day 16-20 LHR-BEY-LHR (Midhaul trip)
Day 21 OFF
Day 22 OFF
Day 23 OFF
Day 24-27 LHR-RUH-LHR (A330 trip)
Day 28 OFF
Lex
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Question for Lex
How can you have been a pilot at bmi 9 years? 9 years ago, soon after 9/11, 67 of us FO's were told to leave, the original number being over 100. I certainly chose not to return, being eventually offered CWL at Baby. Oerhaps most other sacked pilots also refused the insulting offer, in which case room would have been made for new folk. Not good. You also make reference to a savage job-cut programme. Sounds like bmi are ok if you can get clear of their periodic job-cuts. I despised that old diva Bishop, and his sycophants. I hope you have better management there now. Your roster looks easy enough!
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Mr.Bloggs, you wouldn't recognise the place.
I've noticed a difference at bmi in just the short time I've been there. As a place to work, bmi is excellent. The people are superb and the working environment great. Apart from the balance sheet, then I think it's definately one of the best airlines to work at long term. It might frustrate at times as the modernisation programme takes time to roll through, but that's hardly surprising thanks to the mess a certain previous owner left it in.
I'm very happy there and I'm a notoriously picky so and so.
I've noticed a difference at bmi in just the short time I've been there. As a place to work, bmi is excellent. The people are superb and the working environment great. Apart from the balance sheet, then I think it's definately one of the best airlines to work at long term. It might frustrate at times as the modernisation programme takes time to roll through, but that's hardly surprising thanks to the mess a certain previous owner left it in.
I'm very happy there and I'm a notoriously picky so and so.
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Just to back up what as been said about Bmi.
I have just started my fourth year there, and am very happy. It was a tough last year with Lufthansa starting the restructuring program with a load of guys forced into taking voluntary redundancy, but things are starting to change slowly with Wolfgang Prock-Schauer in charge. We have just started to see some of the guys return who took VR, which is great for the airline and great for them. It will be great to see some new faces in the future too.
With a network that covers parts of the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, Russia and the middle east, it is a great airline for new pilots to start with. You get to build your experience at a fair rate of knots flying into some interesting places, and benefit from a training program that is respected in the industry.
I can only reiterate one of things that makes Bmi so special are the people that work there. 99 times out of a 100 it is a pleasure to go to work.
I look forward to the future of Bmi.
I have just started my fourth year there, and am very happy. It was a tough last year with Lufthansa starting the restructuring program with a load of guys forced into taking voluntary redundancy, but things are starting to change slowly with Wolfgang Prock-Schauer in charge. We have just started to see some of the guys return who took VR, which is great for the airline and great for them. It will be great to see some new faces in the future too.
With a network that covers parts of the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, Russia and the middle east, it is a great airline for new pilots to start with. You get to build your experience at a fair rate of knots flying into some interesting places, and benefit from a training program that is respected in the industry.
I can only reiterate one of things that makes Bmi so special are the people that work there. 99 times out of a 100 it is a pleasure to go to work.
I look forward to the future of Bmi.
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Lex
Thank you so much for the info, that's alot of days off
is that typical for the 320 only chaps too?
Another question if I may, I am looking at relocating to the M4 corridor (no idea where yet), let assume I have less than a 1hr commute to LHR, how easy is it to get to the crew room as far as time is concerned once you pull up in the car park? What I am really getting at is how long is it to report for standby and how much extra time do you need once you arrive at LHR to actually check in on the system?
Thanks once again.
CAT3
Thanks for the info too. I would love to make a career out of bmi, here's hoping for some external recruitment in the next 2 years or so.
CC
Thank you so much for the info, that's alot of days off
is that typical for the 320 only chaps too?Another question if I may, I am looking at relocating to the M4 corridor (no idea where yet), let assume I have less than a 1hr commute to LHR, how easy is it to get to the crew room as far as time is concerned once you pull up in the car park? What I am really getting at is how long is it to report for standby and how much extra time do you need once you arrive at LHR to actually check in on the system?
Thanks once again.
CAT3
Thanks for the info too. I would love to make a career out of bmi, here's hoping for some external recruitment in the next 2 years or so.
CC
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CC,
The car park for crew is located on the north side of LHR, by the Park Inn hotel, just off the bath road.
If you time is right, you can usually get into the crew room and report for duty in about 13 mins, from the time you have hopped on the bus. The crew room is now located airside, so you have to go through security before you report, so depending on how busy security is will depend of time of course.
Oh, and days off for the A320 guys is representative of what Lex has posted. Mind you in February I was rostered 7 days off before my 2 week leave, so had most of the month off.
All the best.
The car park for crew is located on the north side of LHR, by the Park Inn hotel, just off the bath road.
If you time is right, you can usually get into the crew room and report for duty in about 13 mins, from the time you have hopped on the bus. The crew room is now located airside, so you have to go through security before you report, so depending on how busy security is will depend of time of course.
Oh, and days off for the A320 guys is representative of what Lex has posted. Mind you in February I was rostered 7 days off before my 2 week leave, so had most of the month off
.All the best.
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I'm glad things have improved. I worked there for 15 years before leaving for another airline four years ago (just before BMed) and haven't missed it on one working day since.
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CC
Standby call out is 2 hours for pilots which includes reporting airside. Subtracting the 20 minutes worst case scenario of having just missed a car park bus & passing through security you still have quite a large chunk of M4 corridor at your disposal.
I would also like to echo the comments above about working for bmi.
TTO
(15 years with the company)
Standby call out is 2 hours for pilots which includes reporting airside. Subtracting the 20 minutes worst case scenario of having just missed a car park bus & passing through security you still have quite a large chunk of M4 corridor at your disposal.
I would also like to echo the comments above about working for bmi.
TTO
(15 years with the company)
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I have also noticed how much more pleasant the working atmosphere has become at bmi. Rosters should average out at 10 days off in every 28; for my last few I have generally only had 9, so I'm now on a larger block of days off to make up the numbers.
As already posted, narrowbody pilots are usually rostered a 5 day block of standbys in every roster period; this is almost always changed to flying (not necessarily the whole block, but some of it) before the standby block actually starts. On the whole I would estimate I fly about 90-95% of my standbys; airport standbys, on the other hand, I probably only fly about 2/3 of them.
There is only one destination in the route network that I dislike flying to; unfortunately so do most of the pilots, so it is rarely possible to swap it away!
As already posted, narrowbody pilots are usually rostered a 5 day block of standbys in every roster period; this is almost always changed to flying (not necessarily the whole block, but some of it) before the standby block actually starts. On the whole I would estimate I fly about 90-95% of my standbys; airport standbys, on the other hand, I probably only fly about 2/3 of them.
There is only one destination in the route network that I dislike flying to; unfortunately so do most of the pilots, so it is rarely possible to swap it away!