BA Direct Entry Pilot.
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Don't pay for a practice sim.
Whoever's assessing your sim will be experienced at the game and will know straight away if you've spent several hours having a go at it (esp. if you went from PA34 for A320 like many people).
You get an unassessed take-off, circuit, approach and landing for "free" at the start of the session and you figure out what the steering wheel thing is fairly quickly. The assessor was shouting "TRIM!" from the back during mine so it's not like they throw you in at the deep end to see what happens.
Whoever's assessing your sim will be experienced at the game and will know straight away if you've spent several hours having a go at it (esp. if you went from PA34 for A320 like many people).
You get an unassessed take-off, circuit, approach and landing for "free" at the start of the session and you figure out what the steering wheel thing is fairly quickly. The assessor was shouting "TRIM!" from the back during mine so it's not like they throw you in at the deep end to see what happens.
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Recent Interview Questions
Hi everyone,
Going to the second stage interview next week.
Just wondered if the format was pretty much the same as it has been the last few years?
Collected some various example questions but everything seems to be for 2014 and later, the same as what seems to be on pprune.
If anyone had some updated info/questions I'd really appreciate it.
Going to the second stage interview next week.
Just wondered if the format was pretty much the same as it has been the last few years?
Collected some various example questions but everything seems to be for 2014 and later, the same as what seems to be on pprune.
If anyone had some updated info/questions I'd really appreciate it.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Actually not practising is not terrible advice. It really depends on where you are coming from. I got through on the 757 sim without paying thousands of pounds for a practice sim. Currently flying a 737 out in the middle east and smashed a few raw data ILS's and departures before coming but otherwise just concentrated on honing my CRM skills and such like, I believe that's what they are really looking for.
Thats not to say paying for a sim is a complete waste of money but try and use the resources on offer to you in your current job if you can. Talk to CRM trainers, practice hand flying and delve into the CAA books on CRM.
Thats not to say paying for a sim is a complete waste of money but try and use the resources on offer to you in your current job if you can. Talk to CRM trainers, practice hand flying and delve into the CAA books on CRM.
Last edited by VeroFlyer; 2nd Mar 2016 at 16:36.
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Paying for a couple of hours in a sim is a good idea - if that's what it takes to give you the confidence / heads up to give the BA sim your best shot.
Let's face it - £500-£1500 or whatever it costs, it's the cheapest type rating you'll ever do these days!
Let's face it - £500-£1500 or whatever it costs, it's the cheapest type rating you'll ever do these days!
Well said Boing7117 - the last bit is very true. Someone above said that it made no sense to prepare long and hard for day 1 and 2 and go to the sim rusty. So a few hours to remove that would certainly be advisable, however my advice would be to ensure you show improvement during the sim. I'm sure they want to see that you have good CRM and just as important, that you are trainable. They are investing a type rating in you most likely, so showing improvement I think looks far better then flying like an ace who's had numerous hours practice prior to the assessment.
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Hi All,
Think the subject has been mentioned a couple of times before, anyone who could shed some light on the obnoxious 12 months ban
. Is BA going to change it anytime soon?? A 6 months ban these days would make much more sense IMO.
Thanks
Think the subject has been mentioned a couple of times before, anyone who could shed some light on the obnoxious 12 months ban
. Is BA going to change it anytime soon?? A 6 months ban these days would make much more sense IMO.Thanks
haha - for him I guess, but it's nice to have a bit of confidence and think for BA too 
I've failed day 1 a few times now, does that automatically mean I won't be an asset to the company the day I finally pass?
I've failed day 1 a few times now, does that automatically mean I won't be an asset to the company the day I finally pass?
Regarding the sim, there is no one size fits all answer. If you fly short haul on a Boeing type, just doing some raw data flying and armchair prep will leave you fine. If you fly the 320, raw data might also be enough (it was all my sim partner, who passed, did) though equally reminding yourself what thrust levers and the trim switch do might also help.
If you are flying long haul, I would imagine some specific sim prep for a high workload raw data manual flying exercise would be a very good idea. We are generally judges of our own strengths and weaknesses on the flight deck and you will probably know what's best for you.
If you are flying a turboprop the whole thing will probably feel like a rest cure, though if you are worried about a slippery jet a sim might help boost your confidence.
They are not necessarily looking for "improvement" as such, but I was told in my briefing we were being assessed on:
- flying ability
- command potential/decision making
- trainability
Best of luck!
If you are flying long haul, I would imagine some specific sim prep for a high workload raw data manual flying exercise would be a very good idea. We are generally judges of our own strengths and weaknesses on the flight deck and you will probably know what's best for you.
If you are flying a turboprop the whole thing will probably feel like a rest cure, though if you are worried about a slippery jet a sim might help boost your confidence.
They are not necessarily looking for "improvement" as such, but I was told in my briefing we were being assessed on:
- flying ability
- command potential/decision making
- trainability
Best of luck!
They're also looking to see a positive learning curve ie a continuous improvement through the session such that the applicant demonstrates trainability (apologises for made-up word).
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Well, I guess for both. ahaha yep that is idealistic.
Anyway I guess I should take that for a no. So I have to imagine the guys that were called back before the 12 months expired were already rated on a type BA is currently using.
Anyway I guess I should take that for a no. So I have to imagine the guys that were called back before the 12 months expired were already rated on a type BA is currently using.
Ladies/Gents
Bidline/Fixed Flying Pay
Result of ballot on pay deal just announced, long story short, the two main bullet points probably of most relevance to prospective joiners are:
1. Bidline will go ASAP in favour of a customised version of JSS.
2. Fixed monthly Flying Pay Allowance binned, it's back to the variable Flying Hour Rate.
Bidline/Fixed Flying Pay
Result of ballot on pay deal just announced, long story short, the two main bullet points probably of most relevance to prospective joiners are:
1. Bidline will go ASAP in favour of a customised version of JSS.
2. Fixed monthly Flying Pay Allowance binned, it's back to the variable Flying Hour Rate.
TBH I'm not sure I want to go there ....we've had an ongoing and what has been at times a very unpleasant "on-line" debate via the Union forum in the run up to the ballot, and I'm not sure I want to repeat it here.
However anyone joining in the near future will no doubt be exposed to the fall out from this ballot so what I would say, all very much IMHO:
Some think Bidline is doomed now we are "full EASA" so we need to move on, some don't. Some think JSS might flatten the seniority gradient, some think it might steepen it...personally I honestly don't think anybody will know for sure how rostering will work until they've seen it in action so voting either way on this was a real leap of faith.
As far as the flying pay, the company didn't like the fixed monthly payment and were determined to go back to a variable rate, and they pretty much linked the continuation of a pilot bonus scheme to returning to the variable scheme. As a result on the line opinion was split - some like variable rate (work higher hours = get paid more) plus the chance of a bonus if the company continues to perform well, but some ( particularly those looking to get loans, mortgages) are not best pleased at the prospect of losing a fixed figure from the monthly payslip.
To give you an idea of the split in opinion, of those that returned votes:
54.4% voted to end Bidline/ go to JSS and get rid of the Fixed Flying pay.
43.8% voted to keep Bidline and keep Fixed flying pay....
1.8% voted for neither ( a somewhat controversial Option on the ballot paper)
....and would you believe over 20% of those who could have voted didn't return a vote ( which was electronic).....at all. Given this was quite possibly the most important ballot we've had in BA BALPA for over 20 years all I can say about those individuals not voting is
However anyone joining in the near future will no doubt be exposed to the fall out from this ballot so what I would say, all very much IMHO:
Some think Bidline is doomed now we are "full EASA" so we need to move on, some don't. Some think JSS might flatten the seniority gradient, some think it might steepen it...personally I honestly don't think anybody will know for sure how rostering will work until they've seen it in action so voting either way on this was a real leap of faith.
As far as the flying pay, the company didn't like the fixed monthly payment and were determined to go back to a variable rate, and they pretty much linked the continuation of a pilot bonus scheme to returning to the variable scheme. As a result on the line opinion was split - some like variable rate (work higher hours = get paid more) plus the chance of a bonus if the company continues to perform well, but some ( particularly those looking to get loans, mortgages) are not best pleased at the prospect of losing a fixed figure from the monthly payslip.
To give you an idea of the split in opinion, of those that returned votes:
54.4% voted to end Bidline/ go to JSS and get rid of the Fixed Flying pay.
43.8% voted to keep Bidline and keep Fixed flying pay....
1.8% voted for neither ( a somewhat controversial Option on the ballot paper)
....and would you believe over 20% of those who could have voted didn't return a vote ( which was electronic).....at all. Given this was quite possibly the most important ballot we've had in BA BALPA for over 20 years all I can say about those individuals not voting is
Last edited by wiggy; 4th Mar 2016 at 14:10.
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Existing Bidline was largely rendered extinct by the advent of EASA, mainly the requirement for a certain number of days off after a Longhaul trip crossing four or more timezones.
We were being asked to choose between "Bidline 17" or a BA version of Jeppesen Strict Seniority, both of which it was argued were more useable with EASA. The controversy comes when you realise that neither system exists yet and we were basically being asked to vote based upon a series of statements about each. Oh yes, and the percentage pay deal side of it was identical for both options, with some sweeteners for the preferred deal. So not really a pay ballot.
Anyway, we are where we are so we'll see if JSS actually works.
Ref FPA or Flying Pay, FPA is guaranteed monthly, Flying Pay is hours dependent. It will be interesting to see how mortgage providers interpret it for the most junior.
We were being asked to choose between "Bidline 17" or a BA version of Jeppesen Strict Seniority, both of which it was argued were more useable with EASA. The controversy comes when you realise that neither system exists yet and we were basically being asked to vote based upon a series of statements about each. Oh yes, and the percentage pay deal side of it was identical for both options, with some sweeteners for the preferred deal. So not really a pay ballot.
Anyway, we are where we are so we'll see if JSS actually works.
Ref FPA or Flying Pay, FPA is guaranteed monthly, Flying Pay is hours dependent. It will be interesting to see how mortgage providers interpret it for the most junior.
Perhaps those not voting are close to retirement and took the decision that the choice wasn't theirs to make?
3Greens
i thought the turnout was 65%
FWIW there was a bit of confusion caused by one or two "wags" on the Union forum chucking some ficticious figures around just before the official announcement....
Questions:
1. When is this being implemented?
2. What happens to the "Fixed flight pay" for those of us joining who are unlikely to see an aircraft for the first few months of training and had perhaps done sums based on the pay numbers given to us by BA? Do you simply get nothing?
3. What exactly are these statements about JSS and how is it supposed to work?
I am working my notice at the moment and obviously don't regret my decision to leave the land of the Irish loco at all but have no information about the current pay deal beyond what BA have given me and wouldn't know about this change except for what people have posted on here.
1. When is this being implemented?
2. What happens to the "Fixed flight pay" for those of us joining who are unlikely to see an aircraft for the first few months of training and had perhaps done sums based on the pay numbers given to us by BA? Do you simply get nothing?
3. What exactly are these statements about JSS and how is it supposed to work?
I am working my notice at the moment and obviously don't regret my decision to leave the land of the Irish loco at all but have no information about the current pay deal beyond what BA have given me and wouldn't know about this change except for what people have posted on here.