British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 2

[FlyingTom]

If it helps you guess the delay in recruitment, my internal course has been put back 4 months, and I was one of the first in the queue. That fits in with the time needed to integrate BMI crews. I guess business as normal from September now. Hang in there.

[LHRbound]

Cityflyer,

You seem to be fairly well informed, it really is welcome for us to get as much accurate info as possible!! I'm sure everyone either through or waiting for selection can be positive about the future in BA.

Thanks and hoping to join you in the promised land soon!

[Fat Dog]

Didn't realise a number of BMI pilots would lose their jobs through the IAG buyout. Sorry for those in this position. I feel for you; been through it myself recently.

However, will this affect those in the hold pool?

EDIT: I guess not since as I understand it there is no merging of BMI pilots with the 'master' BA seniority list, and thus BA's requirement for mainline pilots to cover expansion/retirement remains unchanged? Have I got this correct?

[Callsign Kilo]

This is strange to say the least. My sympathies to those pilots who were made redundant. It appears redundancy has been made prior to BA effectively purchasing Bmi, so it suggests DLH have made these guys redundant. Bmi's regional bases are to be shut, so regardless of seniority, if you are based outside Heathrow then redundancy beckons. If you are Heathrow based then you will be integrated across. LIFO doesn't appear to apply at all which completely undermines the seniority system.

One thing that may not bode too well is that if these guys were a requirement then London based positions would have been offered. This doesn't appear to be the case which may suggest BA is now surplus pilots and may even make further redundancies once the integration of the LHR operation progresses. This won't be an overnight job by any stretch of the imagination. I guess LC will tell us in good time, however the extension of the holdpool to 18 months suggests that lengthy period for allowing the dust to settle is more than likely.

Fingers crossed for all concerned and condolences to those bmi guys and girls facing unemployment.

[Megaton]

There won't be any "negotiation" between the BMIcc and IAG. There will, however, be a "consultation" which is very different from "negotiation."

[Flying Wild]

Have heard that recruitment is frozen until at least March 2013 whilst the BMI integration is completed and the required headcount is reassessed.

[Callsign Kilo]

Has this information came from the Rivers/Cranebank?

[Flying Wild]

via a communication to BMI mainline pilots.

[2whites2reds]

Can you give more details FW? Recruitment is frozen as in won't reopen to applicants (nothing new), or as in no jobs from hold pool ??
Some of us hanging on to every bit of info here like dear life!

[Flying Wild]

Sorry, don't have any further info.

[no sponsor]

I heard something similar. No more courses until the next training year (after April 2013). I have nothing to do with recruitment, and neither does the person I heard that from, although they are a TRE.

[Fat Dog]

They may as well close the hold pool now then, at least everyone would know where they stand.

[2whites2reds]

Indeed Fat Dog. But they haven't - thankfully! In fact, they have extended it to 18 months. So there must be hope, or at least uncertainty. I don't think any airline can predict recruitment needs a year in advance. The industry is too changeable...

[massiveheed]

I have no further info to add but I think and perhaps someone could confirm a training year in BA now starts jan1st every year so perhaps no courses until jan 2013. Not much better but nevertheless a little for those limited by hold pool deadlines.

[Fat Dog]

Why? That makes no sense at all.

[londonmet]

SkyRocket,

Sadly that won't happen. What may happen is that they'll get fast tracked through selection then into the hold pool. It will probably be handled the same way ex-2008 hold poolers were dealt with. Also the extension of the current hold pool validity to 18 months is just BA protecting its investment in the people they've selected.

[VeroFlyer]

Off to the Middle East then to fast track the career, at least the pay will be better!

[SkyRocket10]

Well that's certainly one of the proposals that is being put forward with the added support of the BACC. Time will tell I guess, and as we all know, what they've done in the past counts for very little.

[Callsign Kilo]

Current Holdpoolers

There are under fifty guys treading water, living from speculation and very little hard evidence. Current happenings at BA have made it very difficult to forecast and I genuinely feel the only real guidance that can be given is 'you must be prepared to wait it out and see what develops.' The purchase of bmi is undoubtably a major long term coup for IAG, however it is posing as a massive swerve ball in the short term. A multitude of people have been affected.

It seems a little selfish to talk about those waiting patiently in the wings whenever 1500+ will loose their jobs due to the integration. We aren't even touching on the outcome of those within Baby and Regional. However those currently in the holdpool applied to BA when the purchase of bmi from DLH wasn't even part of the public domain. I know this means little, however the last four to six months have seen a major movement of the goalposts for potential DEPs. New joiners will now arrive on a vastly different pay scale with potentially 300+ pilots ahead of them on the MSL; and that's IF they get to join. I realise the later is undecided, however it could offer considerable consequences to someone joining an airline where the motto is "Seniority is Everything."

The above is not a complaint. Business is business and timing is everything. IAG appears duty bound to the integration of mainline, and I for one hope the transition is smooth, timely and painless. This, I think, is the best outcome for those within the holdpool looking for some degree of clarity on their positions. However I envisage a substantial wait ahead before anyone hears anything conclusive.

Who knows if what SkyRocket10 claims regarding the Regional and Baby guys will infact transpire? However I, for one, will be royaly pissed if it occurs. I am not detracting from the pain that pilots within Baby and Regional must be experiencing and I am all for giving them opportunity during the next campaign, however surely logic appeals to the holdpool being emptied first. I've just about come round to the fact that there are guys within mainline who were deemed unsuitable by assessors at Cranebank not so long ago. They will be starting their BA OCCs soon.

So I've ended sounding like a selfish soul, however I'm hoping for a fair crack of the whip somewhere down the line. A simple case of protecting your investment, which seems to be the running theme during the BA/bmi integration process.

Goodluck to those concerned.

[no sponsor]

Yes, I think you are right. BA training years are now Jan to Dec.