British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 2

[bex88]

With a fair bit of slot sitting of ex bmi slots by the SH fleet, as the new a/c arrive 787/380 converting these to LH the required pilot count will increase. FPPare destined for gatwick, airbus as I understand so where will the required pilots for these new planes come from? Well fleet transfers from SH in all probability, so where do the replacements come from? DEP? Who knows? Certainly not me and I have my suspicion that its not the recruitment team either

[Stocious]

FPPare destined for gatwick, airbus as I understand

I believe some of the requirement will be met by FPP, but others through the annual bid.

There will only be five airbus hulls at LGW initially if I recall, and surely putting all FPP pilots there will end up with a massive training requirement to manage it, combined with a very inexperienced set of FO's! There will be 90ish FPP hitting the lines this year, so I'd think they'd need to be spread out a little.

[binsleepen]

FWIW at the management chat we have during our annual SEP training I asked specifically when DEP recruitment would be reopened. He said (and he would definitely know) that he expected some next year with rather more in 2015. There were no numbers mentioned unfortunately.

Flexibility as always is the key to all things aviation related. This was the state a couple of weeks ago but plans change weekly if not daily.

The cadets should all expect to go to short haul, as they need the regular sectors to build up experience. Which fleet or base will depend on openings after the annual bid. They shouldn't expect to finish their course on the Fri and start a BA type rating the following Mon.

Regards

[PigeonVoyageur]

BA DEP recruitment

Officially, they said before starting with the selection of the first batch of FPP in 2011, that they were going to need about 800 pilots over the next 4-5 years due to retirement - of which half of it would be FPP, and the other half DEP. This makes approximately 80 FPP and 80 DEP yearly. With the availability of the ex-bmi pilots end of last year and this year, the DEP path is surely closed this year - but should re-start next year. As mentionned by binsleepen above, it looks it's going this way unless there is a drastic change of plans.

So don't lose hope

[Totally_Bananas]

"So don't lose hope"

Until Vueling open their Gatwick base

[4468]

Officially, they said before starting with the selection of the first batch of FPP in 2011, that they were going to need about 800 pilots over the next 4-5 years due to retirement

There will be no meaningful retirements until Oct 2016 at the earliest. That's the first three and a half years of the 4-5 year window.

[no sponsor]

I did hear, from a non-recruitment source (and possibly via the Chinese whisper as referenced above), a rumour of possible DEP requirements in 2014 for the long haul fleets. That rumour was a few months ago, however.

The FPP cadets will go to LHR prior to being transfered to LGW.

[Super Stall]

Again, the subject came up in the annual management chat at SEP about a month ago.

2013 FPP only, 2014 will certainly (as anyone can be) include a mix of FPP and DEP.

This directly from a pilot resources chap.

[Callsign Kilo]

Wonder if the 80 or so who fell out/are in the process of falling out of the DEP hold pool will get first dibs? It was a bit of an 'unknown' when we were told that our chance had past prior to the turn of the year. And by first dibs I mean first in line to sit the whole process again, unfortunately

[Chris Griffin]

Callsign Kilo- apparently not. Historically, BA required those who fell out of the hold pool to undergo the full assessment procedure again with no priority. Over a beer with one of the recruiters it was established that this has not changed as it deemed important to provide a level playing field. Although this will be seen as a ball ache, if you have done it once then you obviously have the requisite skills BA want.

WRT slots, I heard the same info as Super Stall, with a slight twist in that delays to the 78 are impacting on the schedule of other MH/LH types. Consequently there is some number crunching going on as more people will be required on those fleets. Early 2014 is the best assessment. The outlook is positive, it just depends on whether you can make the time frame fit. Best of British to you all.

[brian_potter]

I should have fallen out of the pool last week............not had any communication from BA as yet! Not so surprised as I've heard very little over the past year, but expecting an email any day I guess! I won't be applying again, good luck to all those who do!

[Callsign Kilo]

Well, it's their train set; they can do what they like however I would have thought that it would have been courtesy to ask if we wished to reapply for jobs that we had already been deemed suitable for? The pilot recruitment manager is a very fair guy, however I have the feeling that his hands are tied on many aspects. Many guys in the pool have moved on now, however I reckon the majority would still reapply? The guys that I mainly feel sorry for are those that 'drowned' in the pool not once but twice (those from 2008). It is also really bitter pill to swallow if you think that within 6 to 8 months of 'expiring' within theirsystem, BA could potentially reopen DEP recruitment. However, as already said, it's their train set. I am obviously swaying towards a favourable outcome for those that have resided in the pool already. The recruitment guys are a fairly decent lot, so here's hoping.

[binsleepen]

If its any comfort I was in the hold pool in 2009/10 and was kicked out. When DEP recruitment reopened in 2011 the recruitment manager (LC) emailed us and said that if we wanted to reapply he would expedite our applications. He was true to his word and I had to wait only 14 hours between application and an invite to day 1. I had to do the whole process again but at least I went in with the confidence that I had passed it all once.

I hope this gives a little comfort

[spider_man]

Did the BMI baby pilots achieve a deal through Balpa with BA giving them first shout on selection dates when DEP opens up once again?

[Flying Wild]

Originally Posted by spider_man

Did the BMI baby pilots achieve a deal through Balpa with BA giving them first shout on selection dates when DEP opens up once again?

Only if the selection opened up within 6/9 months of the closure of bmibaby. Don't see that happening to be honest.

[The Eternal JP]

4 did end up with BA Cityflyer though, and think virtually everyone did find a job they are happy enough with. If it did open up now, don't think many would be applying.

[2 Whites 2 Reds]

CNN and BBC Word News reporting BA have ordered 18 Airbus A350's.......replacements or additions to the fleet? Either way, someone has to fly the latest additions to BA's toy box when they arrive.

[Fat Dog]

"Airbus chief executive, John Leahy, said the first of IAG's new A350 aircraft would be delivered by 2018."

So probably 2019/20, way too far in the future to start thinking how that'll affect DEP recruitment.

[crj2000]

Does anyone have any up to date info on the DEP selection process?

Thanks in advance

[AlexanderH]

Yes I'm also keen to know if anyone has done this recently.