BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
I for one have no intention of giving up eighteen straight days off in peak summer for all the tea in China, especially as the CAPs this summer are likely to be so high. I’m acutely aware in part of the irony that the CAPs will remain high as a result but some respite will be needed.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
For those in the pool (and prospective poolers) planning on travelling to/from LHR/LGW by using staff travel
... you might need to know that we have found out from the union overnight that BA are going to be quite proactive from now on in checking how and when people have travelled into base prior to work - they have just announced a two month audit.. This to ensure crewmembers comply with the latest rules BA have come up regarding personal travel into base and subsequent rest at base prior to a duty. At the moment it seems BA are only going to look at those who fly in using Standby tickets or the discounted commercial tickets available to staff.
I’m sure for the vast majority here that won’t be a deal breaker but be careful about planning a lifestyle based on flying into base the same day as report, or at the very least owning up to doing the same...that might cause problems
... you might need to know that we have found out from the union overnight that BA are going to be quite proactive from now on in checking how and when people have travelled into base prior to work - they have just announced a two month audit.. This to ensure crewmembers comply with the latest rules BA have come up regarding personal travel into base and subsequent rest at base prior to a duty. At the moment it seems BA are only going to look at those who fly in using Standby tickets or the discounted commercial tickets available to staff.
I’m sure for the vast majority here that won’t be a deal breaker but be careful about planning a lifestyle based on flying into base the same day as report, or at the very least owning up to doing the same...that might cause problems
Last edited by wiggy; 3rd February 2018 at 09:48.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
Double standards methinks. Especially as British Airways’ own policy for a home standby (ie being allowed to drive two hours to the T5 Car Park) technically contravenes what they consider as being rested. Yet sit back in an airline seat for a (in some cases) 40 minute flight and you’re under the microscope as that’s apparently more fatiguing. It’s sickening.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Rex
Absolutely....
banterbus
Yes..see previous comments about plans at BA being valid for at most 0.01 or 0.001 milliseconds...
Double standards methinks.
banterbus
Is it too early to say exactly how much this is going to drain the pool
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
]TBH many drivers can't "get from home.... and report to the LHR reporting point all within two hours".........even on a good day.
That said people are going to have to live with this (or make plans to plan to live with it if they have yet to join - just said that to keep this on thread).
Rumours are starting to circulate that once the flying commuters have been audited to the company's satisfaction then some of the utterly crazy driving commutes that we all darn well know go on will get looked at.
That said people are going to have to live with this (or make plans to plan to live with it if they have yet to join - just said that to keep this on thread).
Rumours are starting to circulate that once the flying commuters have been audited to the company's satisfaction then some of the utterly crazy driving commutes that we all darn well know go on will get looked at.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Cutting grass on more unpaid leave
What are these latest ba rules for commuters. You must plan adequate rest. ie overnight hotel if you reside more than 2 hours from base?
And how will they enforce non-compliance. Temporary removal of staff travel?
And how will they enforce non-compliance. Temporary removal of staff travel?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Devil is in the detail and I may well have got this wrong but as I read it even for short haul commuters ( so MAN, GLA, AMS etc) it looks like 12 hours "rest" required between arriving at base using what BA call "personal travel" ( which seems to defined as traveling to base by air) and report for any duty...there is no mention of a local night or a room being required, just "rest".
In fact to my uneducated eye there appears to be room for some sillyness in the rules as written..for example it looks like you could beat the system by getting up at sparrows dodah to arrive at LHR at 0800, hang around in a coffee bar, not working, watch iPlayer or something all day, and then be legal for a 2000 or later report, OTOH you could sleep in at home till gone midday, fly into LHR arriving at 1900 and be deemed illegal for the same report....
IMHO probably much much more understandably there are more restrictive rules for Long Haul "commuters", even those experiencing a minimal time zone change.
No idea where we are with "punishment"....as yet we are looking at a two month audit. Just a IMHO but hopefully worse that would happen to a transgressor first time round might be a *****ing and a note on file...I wouldn't like to test the system too often though, the rules are in the Ops Manual and I wouldn't like to be the first one up against the wall.
In fact to my uneducated eye there appears to be room for some sillyness in the rules as written..for example it looks like you could beat the system by getting up at sparrows dodah to arrive at LHR at 0800, hang around in a coffee bar, not working, watch iPlayer or something all day, and then be legal for a 2000 or later report, OTOH you could sleep in at home till gone midday, fly into LHR arriving at 1900 and be deemed illegal for the same report....
IMHO probably much much more understandably there are more restrictive rules for Long Haul "commuters", even those experiencing a minimal time zone change.
No idea where we are with "punishment"....as yet we are looking at a two month audit. Just a IMHO but hopefully worse that would happen to a transgressor first time round might be a *****ing and a note on file...I wouldn't like to test the system too often though, the rules are in the Ops Manual and I wouldn't like to be the first one up against the wall.
Last edited by wiggy; 3rd February 2018 at 15:27.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
For the record and putting my neck on the line I don’t think I’ve ever had twelve hours rest at base in that case before the first day of a block of work - and neither for that matter has someone driving ninety minutes on the motorway - but not once have I reported to work unfit for duty and the number of ASR’s (absolutely minimal and none in any way related to my performance at work) submitted would seem to bear that out.
It is fortunate then that I commute on another airline most of the time outside of the gaze of over officious and prying eyes.
Last edited by RexBanner; 3rd February 2018 at 13:46.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
As soon as middle management have got bored it will be some forgotten text to be used for arse covering. It gives very good guidelines on what is not rested though. Anytime you have a min rest turn at LHR just say your are not rested in accordance with OMA.....7 as you don’t sleep in the car park.
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 940
Likes: 57
From: Scotland
The internal course list for April and May was rather short, suggesting the main training load is new entrants of one sort or another. More offers likely to come soon if that is the case...
There are also less substantial rumours of a new campaign for Airbus rated DEPs as they have apparently got the numbers v wrong yet again. Perhaps if they didn’t use antiquated legacy software to do all their manpower planning...
There are also less substantial rumours of a new campaign for Airbus rated DEPs as they have apparently got the numbers v wrong yet again. Perhaps if they didn’t use antiquated legacy software to do all their manpower planning...
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 132
Likes: 41
From: 370
Where did you get this gem from? Not saying you’re wrong, but there hasn’t been comms from BALPA, as they have to agree all P&P changes, there hasn’t been a massive outcry on yammer.... yet, and the company hasn’t issued anything on it. That said, I can see why the company would do it given the 320 manpower cock up.
Guest
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: Right of the Middle
I would say (speculating) that it’s a shortage cock up, not an overcrewing cock up. Have heard multiple sources talking of leave buyback offers on SH at LHR over the summer, and offers were made from the pool last week for May start dates.
I suspect the floodgates may be opening. Good luck to all.
I suspect the floodgates may be opening. Good luck to all.
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: UK
Re the binned SH to LH conversions - anyone with an OK bid who is yet to have a course date would have been a freeze waive. According to NS, the plan now is for no further freeze waives this year. Followed it closely as it looks like I've just missed out. Usual 0.01ms caveats notwithstanding.
Good news for those that want in and are happy to do he LH junior thing. But what about next year? We'll want to be flying those Monarch slots ourselves. Super junior LGW commands anyone?
Good news for those that want in and are happy to do he LH junior thing. But what about next year? We'll want to be flying those Monarch slots ourselves. Super junior LGW commands anyone?