BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by SkyRocket10

I have it on good authority from a senior manager at LGW that all the additional slots will be operated by wet leased aircraft this summer. Therefore, I would expect any recruitment to be for 2018.

I assume you mean 2019 if this coming summer (2018) the plan is to wet lease?

I'm sure it has occurred to the recruitment team at BA that there is a looming requirement for more pilots as a result of the Monarch slots / increased retirements / increased part time / JSS etc. At the same time they will be aware that by allowing the hold pool to expire there will be a costly requirement to re-run the entire selection process. I don't believe that outcome is in BA's interests as they would lose access to the immediate supply of quality people that the hold pool was intended to supply. As others have pointed out, relying entirely on cadets risks being unable to deliver the necessary training programme.

Even if recruitment of DEP's is not imminent, some sort of fudge to allow the current hold poolers access to jobs beyond their existing expiry dates looks likely to me.

[3Greens]

BA can’t plan for what remains of Wednesday. I think you underestimate the l evels of ineptitude within middle management in BA. Having served 18years, I will guarantee that at some point it will dawn on them that these new slots require shed loads of drivers; and the flood gates will open again. That coupled with the new rostering system to be introduced in June, which already looks like being a crock of sh1t3, will lead a drive for more pilots.

[Smooth Airperator]

I would suggest that any experienced pilot applying for a BA job in the future not bother until BA have signed and delivered to you a note that promises your employment ahead of any cadet. Otherwise you're wasting your time, effort and money on what is essentially a recruitment methodology that is as worse as RYRs (remember the outrage when they charged €250? well attending BA assessment days can cost some people £2,000 a pop if they're travelling from the Sandpit or Far East over 2 or 3 separate days).

[GS-Alpha]

Wet leases may be an option being considered for the short term, but I do not believe for one moment that a final decision has actually been made yet. BA just do not work that fast.

[blimey]

BA can’t plan for what remains of Wednesday. I think you underestimate the levels of ineptitude within middle management in BA.

You've brightened my evening.

[wiggy]

Must admit that post made me giggle as well... many a true word, or perhaps “if Carlsberg did posts describing the workings of BA”.....

Perhaps I should explain to our onlookers that IMHO a lot of this confusion as to what day of the week it is /which plan are we on today is of course not helped the increasing use of yammer as an official comms tool...

[average-punter]

Originally Posted by Smooth Airperator

I would suggest that any experienced pilot applying for a BA job in the future not bother until BA have signed and delivered to you a note that promises your employment ahead of any cadet. Otherwise you're wasting your time, effort and money on what is essentially a recruitment methodology that is as worse as RYRs (remember the outrage when they charged €250? well attending BA assessment days can cost some people £2,000 a pop if they're travelling from the Sandpit or Far East over 2 or 3 separate days).

A very sensible piece of advice. I still maintain that if I were in the hold pool and "expired" I'd want my expenses to be reimbursed.

[wiggy]

if I were in the hold pool and "expired" I'd want my expenses to be reimbursed.

I understand the sentiment but you are wildly optimistic.

This is the airline that has been trying very hard to terminate it’s policy of reimbursing employes for expenses incurred if they use an AME external to BA for their Class 1’s and it is also the operator which (unlike some others) won’t fork out to provide any form of respiratory protection for employees currently slipping in DEL.

Good luck claiming for expenses as a non employee.

[average-punter]

Oh yes I know there is zero chance of that happening but it certainly would be th decent thing to do. As someone alluded too earlier it costs a small fortune for some candidates

[tubby linton]

Originally Posted by GS-Alpha

Wet leases may be an option being considered for the short term, but I do not believe for one moment that a final decision has actually been made yet. BA just do not work that fast.

I would find wet-leases probably using aircraft from a pariah state of the Middle East particularly galling knowing that a long established UK airline was put out of business partly because senior IAG management wanted them gone.

[wiggy]

Average-p

it certainly would be th decent thing to do.

Yes it would, but sadly you (and others) now have another insight into the “BA way”.

I’d be interested if any other airlines have been known to reimburse expenses in similar circumstances.

[thetimesreader84]

I don’t have the emails to hand (given that I went through selection a while ago, and lots happened since then), but I remember it stating explicitly that BA wouldn’t reimburse any costs incurred by candidates attending waterside.

[G SXTY]

My most recent interview where expenses were reimbursed was in 1990.

Since then, off the top of my head, Ive had at least 13 job interviews, and no-one - in any industry - has offered to pay for expenses. (The only exception was airlines in the sandpit, who provided an air ticket and hotac for the interview).

It's not just BA that won't pay, it's the modern world.

[thetimesreader84]

I would find wet-leases probably using aircraft from a pariah state of the Middle East particularly galling...

Agreed. Especially as it looks like the whole thing was a “you scratch my back...” deal between BA, CAA and XXX airlines.

[Retrojet]

Anyone else read the update email...Anyone had a phone call yet? Airbus...LHR...LGW.....other fleet?

[JB007]

Could be short notice for ‘quality’ wet-leased available aircraft/crews - especially given ACMI recruitment and its short-term contract nature!

Would BA use Latvian/Lithuanian registered aircraft?!?

[JW411]

Why should they not?

[VJW]

Heard through a mate near the top of the pool- 4 x B747 offers gone out today. Whoopee

[Saab0409]

Got the update email as well, limited number of offers to be made for starting date in march 2018. That's at least something positive! From no DEP in 2018, to a limited number. I do however wonder if its just for type rated guys and gals seeing as the update mentioned, 'for those eligble'.

[MOA]

'For those eligible' - maybe read 'eligible for ZFT' for DEP Long Haul? Not too many rated 744 bods in the pool I would have thought.

Best of luck!

4 more 'more junior' bidders on the 744 than me, lovely! JSS implementation excepted....