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Virgin Atlantic Hold Pool recruitment

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Virgin Atlantic Hold Pool recruitment

Old 24th Aug 2012, 23:47
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me 2. 3rd attempt!
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Old 25th Aug 2012, 07:56
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PFO for 2nd time. 4k hours on Boeing LGW based.
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Old 25th Aug 2012, 10:38
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A new day a new acronym, PFO???

Last edited by 737Jock; 25th Aug 2012 at 10:39.
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Old 25th Aug 2012, 10:57
  #104 (permalink)  
 
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737Jock,

PFO - Please Off

A polite letter/ email from an airline stating they are not interested in employing you.

Last edited by Artie Fufkin; 25th Aug 2012 at 10:58.
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Old 25th Aug 2012, 13:37
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If you have 4000 hours on a Boeing based at LGW why on Earth would you leave it to join Virgin? Really why, oh why, oh why? The new flight deck will feel the same after a month from line training, they have all routes that will quickly become boring, the pay is average by most industries standards at best and the company has one of the worst job securities for a pilot that I know - of all the pilots I know that have been made redundant 90% have come from there. Take your rejection as a gift, stay where you are and make your next move a sensible one. Virgin has little in the way of a future. If you want long haul go to emirates - like several redundant virgin pilots I know of have had to do. Why do you think Virgin 747 pilots left to join BA?

Last edited by BlackandBrown; 25th Aug 2012 at 13:37.
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Old 27th Aug 2012, 11:16
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Actually there was one 744 F/O who left last year to join BA. Several considered it but decided to stay here. A couple of F/O'S have left this year to Emirates.
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Old 27th Aug 2012, 18:16
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Blackandbrown.

My thoughts exactly, I couldn't agree more!!
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Old 27th Aug 2012, 18:55
  #108 (permalink)  
 
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Years ago the time to command was who got to 6000 hours first, 9/11 happened and the time went up to 7ish years. The recession hit and that went up to about 12 years where I think it will level off and drop a little with retirements.

The guys who have left, did so to get earlier commands or in he case of BA, job security, however, wait 15/17 years for a long haul command.

Gents, it's dealers choice. I for one do not want to live in the sandpit or eat a lot of Chinese food. Is Virgin a good option? Who knows, but for many it is a good life style with the normal disagreements with management - and still a relatively short time to long haul command.

Will it still be going in 25 years time? Again who knows, but I hope so for the industries sake.
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Old 22nd Sep 2012, 03:39
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I realise these questions may have already been answered but I appreciate any updated information. Three questions:

1. Over the last 6-12 months, what has been the fleet allocation among newhires (744 or 330/340)? Any estimates?

2. For those hired on to a particular fleet, to what extent has previous type experience played in fleet allocation? For example, do A319/20 rated pilots get A340/330 most often? Or is it based completely on fleet need at the time?

3. Can pilots ever bid another fleet? If hired onto the A330/340, do you not get the opportunity to bid the 744 or future 787?

Cheers for any update. PMs welcome.
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Old 22nd Sep 2012, 04:57
  #110 (permalink)  
 
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Originally got a PFO e-mail back in June, however received another one out of the blue yesterday inviting me for interview as their needs for 2013 have changed.

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Old 22nd Sep 2012, 07:08
  #111 (permalink)  
 
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There was more than one Virgin F/O who left for BA last year. I met them at Cranebank whilst they were doing their short BA conversion. I was surprised at quite how long both of them had been in Virgin before jumping ship.
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Old 21st Oct 2012, 07:40
  #112 (permalink)  
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Does anyone know if recruitment has finished and all successful interviewed etc?

Thanks.
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Old 27th Oct 2012, 05:20
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Virgin Recruitment

I wouldn't mind betting it has finished. This week the latest announcement to the staff spoke of an immediate suspension of recruitment with only back filling where necessary. Given the managements previous style in handling such situations, I'd fancy that the new and soon to be joiners are in possession of the most insecure jobs in aviation.

Initially, they'll be given very generous offers of unpaid leave, part time working etc. etc. with strict assurances that this will definitely not result in redundancies. Then within one week to month, depending on the simmering level of incompetence and influence of HR (A direct correlation), people will be told that due to 'Unforeseen circumstances', it is with great sadness we have to let people go. The great internal triumph for the management is the guys who thought they were helping by going part time will be laid off on a fraction of his/her original redundancy entitlement.

The last time this happened, with people scattered to the four corners of the globe, burning a hole through any savings and putting their families through untold turmoil, the management had the temerity to administer a self back slap that only 3 people had to be laid off, instead of the original 110 people originally in the crosshairs. Pilots who were safe were told that they were at risk, thus making managers jobs easier.

Sadly in this day and age options are limited and everybody who left for sandier climbs came straight back at the first opportunity, this will have only increased the chances of it happening again, More likely with increased ferrocity.

New joiners please approach with caution, your job security will have a very close link to oil price. We've screwed the pooch in most other areas of the business and have no fate left in the budget, Any further escalation between Israel and Iran and associated price spikes will only lead to uncertainty on the bottom of the Virgin seniority list, good luck to one and all

Still boys and girls, you've still got BALPA......
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Old 27th Oct 2012, 22:55
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A very accurate picture of life at Virgin sadly. Anyone joining them now who has a choice is extremely unwise IMHO. The glory days of Virgin are a long, long way behind them. The loss to easyJet/BA of their Moscow bid this week just highlights the enormous difficulties faced by their management. They are a small fish in a huge pond and are in danger of being attacked by some serious predators. Their one saving grace may yet turn out to be the 49% share held by SIA, who seem to have infinitely deep pockets. Whether or not they have infinite patience remains to be seen.
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Old 28th Oct 2012, 10:04
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On the assumption, people generally apply for jobs because their perception is they're "better" than their existing ones, if you're "experienced" and Virgin offer you a job, would you decline it because Easyjet will offer you a better deal?

Answers on a postcard.



Branson 'close to deal' on airline alliance as Virgin pushes into India | Business | guardian.co.uk

Last edited by SR71; 28th Oct 2012 at 11:22.
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Old 28th Oct 2012, 12:50
  #116 (permalink)  
 
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Or to flip that question;

if you still want a job in 5 years time, would you leave easyJet for the "better" deal at Virgin?
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Old 28th Oct 2012, 15:18
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I really don't know what to make of what i'd do if I was offerend a job with Virgin. If you wanted long haul flying but were currently flying short haul would you regard that as a good move? Based on that alone? I'm really not sure if Virgin will be around in 5 years time, yet the next day I think they could quite easily?

A tough call for anyone to make. That's fact!
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Old 29th Oct 2012, 11:58
  #118 (permalink)  
 
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As expressed by many here, the decision to move to Virgin should be thoroughly thought through. It would appear from the latest management Pravda that this year will be as bad, if not worse than last year.
On the flip side I do believe that the upper echelons have learnt the lessons of knee jerk reactions and premature lay offs. I do believe that lessons have been learned from the past and that short term savings lead to medium term problems as far as the pilots are concerned.

Initial recruitment is still ongoing with courses running at the moment and until the end of the year with new joiners arriving from EZY, QR, TCX, RYR, GSS, BMI Baby and others Add to that, command courses are continuing with those getting their command at the 12 year point approx. Looking back at posts from 7 years ago helps to put things into perspective as those currently doing their command were year 5 F/O's wondering whether VS would survive and whether they would wait 20 plus years for the left seat.

Perhaps it is better to look forward to the potential future rather than the present. I would personally rather operate a nice 2 night Capetown trip for my retirement flight rather than a double Glasgow starting at 6am at a chilly LGW. True, the days of 7 night Capetowns and 5 night Antigua's are long gone but things aren't that bad. We stay in 4/5 star city centre hotels with typically $150 per day allowances tax free and average 12-14 days off per month with a 750 hour contract. Oppurtunities exist most months for day off payments/overtime for those that way inclined, and the Company is finally moving into the 21st century by allowing part time/flexible working. After 5 years service leave reaches 40 days per year and the staff travel benefits are probably second to none.

There have been posts predicting the demise of Virgin for as long as Pprune has existed but after 28 years it is still here. That said, the airline is going to have to radically adapt to the current to last another 28 years which I believe they will do. Our much maligned boss has finally announced his "retirement" and there exists a belief he will be replaced by a seasoned CEO with a proven track record.

I must correct a previous post concerning attrition. I was wrong and 4 pilots have left in the past 18 months to BA and not 1 as i suggested. That said to lose those chaps along with another 3 to EK in the past year out of 820 pilots suggests that things aren't that bad.

To those that have recently joined I look forward to flying with you soon and sharing a beer and curry in Delhi or red wine with a nice steak in Joburg soon.

All the best
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Old 29th Oct 2012, 12:49
  #119 (permalink)  
 
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As a betting man, I'd be surprised if VAA was still around in 15 years time, but who knows!!

Its slots at LHR are worth a fortune and looking at the fate of BMI LHR crew, they've followed the slots and it hasn't worked out too badly for most. That said, VAA has been a little too quick to panic fire in the past.

If you want to fly scheduled LH and live in the UK for what are still proper T&Cs, it's probably your only option!
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Old 29th Oct 2012, 19:41
  #120 (permalink)  
 
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A great post. Thank you very much.
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