BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: uk
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: uk
Cheers. I passed mid December. Start end of March. 380.
Last edited by P0tt3r; 20th January 2016 at 19:24.
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: UK
Excuse my ignorance and possibly misdirected hope in this matter, but it seems BA are still very much desperate for pilots, although now it's mostly for long haul. What's to stop them from taking the boys and girls with less than the 1000 hours of jet (possibly 0 hours jet 
) that are already in the hold pool for LH rather than SH? I don't see anything legality wise, so is there a lot of extra training involved to comply with regulations or is this just BA's own made up limit that they technically could change if they so wished?
Thanks for any help clearing this up
) that are already in the hold pool for LH rather than SH? I don't see anything legality wise, so is there a lot of extra training involved to comply with regulations or is this just BA's own made up limit that they technically could change if they so wished?Thanks for any help clearing this up
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Amity Island
Otto
You make an interesting point. And not having anything to do for 15 minutes here's my thoughts - it comes with a major BS warning !!
I initially thought it was an insurance thing .... ie the insurance company gives BA a preferred rate based on prescribed experience levels. But I've flown with many skippers who went direct onto 'the classic' strait out of the RAF (fast jet) and also some from ATRs at CityFlyer.
Now of course the tornado is a jet but given the total lack of handling similarities with it and a heavy pax jet it's hard to see how these guys were deemed any more proficient than say a current Dash8 pilot (for example) - yet sure enough there are dozens or Harrier and Tornado guys who back in the mid 90s lef the service and went straight onto the 747-2. The Cityflyer turboprop guys and gals are a rarer breed but it did happen and hence it proves its sure as hell not insurmountable. In fact IMHO having flown private, regional, short, medium and LH - the turboprop regional was by far the most challenging aircraft to fly and I venture to say I would have taken to longhaul (380) like a duck to water.
Now in both cases above (RAF & Cityflyer et al) circuit training in some very heavy tin was done and thats currently not part of the BA training dept zeitgeist.
Any thoughts (very succinctly) on what Virgin will do with their cadet cruise-pilots. X years down the line they're gonna be ready for the 'upgrade' and either have to do circuits or be farmed out for a year or two a bit like Thomas Cook did to Flybe.
Blue skies to all
CB
You make an interesting point. And not having anything to do for 15 minutes here's my thoughts - it comes with a major BS warning !!
I initially thought it was an insurance thing .... ie the insurance company gives BA a preferred rate based on prescribed experience levels. But I've flown with many skippers who went direct onto 'the classic' strait out of the RAF (fast jet) and also some from ATRs at CityFlyer.
Now of course the tornado is a jet but given the total lack of handling similarities with it and a heavy pax jet it's hard to see how these guys were deemed any more proficient than say a current Dash8 pilot (for example) - yet sure enough there are dozens or Harrier and Tornado guys who back in the mid 90s lef the service and went straight onto the 747-2. The Cityflyer turboprop guys and gals are a rarer breed but it did happen and hence it proves its sure as hell not insurmountable. In fact IMHO having flown private, regional, short, medium and LH - the turboprop regional was by far the most challenging aircraft to fly and I venture to say I would have taken to longhaul (380) like a duck to water.
Now in both cases above (RAF & Cityflyer et al) circuit training in some very heavy tin was done and thats currently not part of the BA training dept zeitgeist.
Any thoughts (very succinctly) on what Virgin will do with their cadet cruise-pilots. X years down the line they're gonna be ready for the 'upgrade' and either have to do circuits or be farmed out for a year or two a bit like Thomas Cook did to Flybe.
Blue skies to all
CB
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: uk
I would suggest that with sub-2000hrs, going into an environment where you'll land infrequently, sometimes to the point of being near to going out of recency, would do you no favours at all. Just an opinion, and not linked to anyone's policy.
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,484
Likes: 711
From: UK
I have to agree. Family friend on LH did only 11 landings in a 6 month period last year. 2 were CAT II/III autoland, so only 9 manual landings.
Compare that to shorthaul where you might get 5-10 a week rather than 2 a month
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: UK
Thanks for the replies, and I would very much agree with you guys on recency and so forth. That would explain the 2000 hour demand with which I agree, it's more the jet part of it that I would dare to suggest isn't absolutely necessary. Funnily enough I would actually prefer SH to start with and then see what happens, but I'd rather get in at all and straight in on LH than to be timed out in the pool just for being a TP:er... 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,484
Likes: 711
From: UK
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: York
Nothing seems to have changed apart from the sim itself. The best tip I can give is to buy 757 Professional for X-Plane. It was identical to the real thing except for the speed tape was missing. Even the power settings worked. Helped me feel much more relaxed knowing where everything was. Got into the hold pool just before Christmas.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
The other thing to remember is that on LH you'll be acting PIC when the skipper's in the bunk so there are also experience requirements related to that.
what about when skipper goes for a piss on SH
Well...unless he/she's got a rather large bladder or serious GI problems they aren't likely to be off the flight deck for several hours.......
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,484
Likes: 711
From: UK
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Southern Hemisphere
looking for career advice in europe
Ladies and gentleman, i am brand new to pprune, and am hoping someone in the know may be able to help me.... Is there any information out there as to when BA may open up direct entry pilot recruitment for A320 again. Am in the middle of converting my full atpl to easa atpl just now. Currently have 2000 hours on dash 8, 3000 total, therefore don't quite meet requirements for BA long haul. Very keen on BA, but general info on uk airline industry would be most appreciated.
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: UK
Geronemo,
I was at an interview late last year (end of November), officially from the horses mouth, they are looking to hire in the region of 350 guys this year. Apparently quite short on long haul at the moment, hence the long haul vacancy, and the big drive in the ME to get type rated 777,787,A380 guys to come back - the scheduled 3 day open day in DXB had to be extended to 5 days as it was so over subscribed! Read from that what you will but I would guess SH would open up again this year once they have got some space in the training department... but that is my own opinion not fact.
I was at an interview late last year (end of November), officially from the horses mouth, they are looking to hire in the region of 350 guys this year. Apparently quite short on long haul at the moment, hence the long haul vacancy, and the big drive in the ME to get type rated 777,787,A380 guys to come back - the scheduled 3 day open day in DXB had to be extended to 5 days as it was so over subscribed! Read from that what you will but I would guess SH would open up again this year once they have got some space in the training department... but that is my own opinion not fact.
