BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 739
Likes: 6
From: York
I don't think it's unfair to suggest that most BA captains, certainly most LH BA Captains at any rate, are unlikely to have experienced the real low-cost world that started with the birth of Ryanair. How many could honestly hold their hands up and say they have worked 5 days of 4 sector days, 25 minute turn arounds, helping to clean the aircraft, filling up water bottles from taps outside portacabins, not getting any food or drink provided, paying for their own hotels...the list goes on.
However. I have worked 14 consecutive (LONG!) Days. Living in a sleeping bag. In a freezing cold tent. Going flying wearing an AR5 respirator. Eating cardboard sandwiches, from a cardboard box! Without a pot to p1ss in! (Swing the Tillie!) All in the mid eighties. A year or two before “low-cost” (perhaps even you?) was a twinkle in Stelios, and/or MoL’s eye?
(In fact elsewhere, I believe my record was 28 consecutive days on duty. Available for call out 24 hours a day!!)
Oh, and at times, people were shooting at me!
But of course, being one of those LH Jonnies, I’ve never known what REAL hardship is!
I defer to your superior experience.
Four Yorkshiremen indeed!
And yet, I have also known, 7 day trips to the Caribbean! Bus juice. One out, one back. Etc. Etc.
Does that make me a bad person??
Yet bizarrely, actually. The times in a scratcher in a tent were by a country mile, the best of my life!
Just because you’re sitting next to a fat old git in the LHS. Please don’t presume you’ve lived the same life they have! You MAY not be entirely correct!
Last edited by 4468; 3rd March 2018 at 23:42.

Joined: Feb 2013
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: London
Oh dear. I suppose I should have seen that coming really.
I certainly didn't mean to cast aspersions on those who have served in unpleasant conditions at Her Majesty's pleasure, or indeed anyone else who has worked different unpleasant jobs in other industries. No doubt there are countless examples of both. But then this not too brief diversion from the main topic of this thread has been about commercial aviation (which makes money for shareholders) and the stark differences between BA and some low cost carriers.
I think this point provides a good opportunity to retire from the debate and let it drift back to the central theme of BA recruitment.
I certainly didn't mean to cast aspersions on those who have served in unpleasant conditions at Her Majesty's pleasure, or indeed anyone else who has worked different unpleasant jobs in other industries. No doubt there are countless examples of both. But then this not too brief diversion from the main topic of this thread has been about commercial aviation (which makes money for shareholders) and the stark differences between BA and some low cost carriers.
I think this point provides a good opportunity to retire from the debate and let it drift back to the central theme of BA recruitment.

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 351
Likes: 9
From: uk
Either senior pilots stand up for you, and try to fight deteriorating t&c's or they don't.
It would appear you'll criticise them either way.
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Hi guys,
Understand its been mentioned a lot in the past, but could not find any info/examples on the following for the Day 1 assessment:
- The new style Verbal Reasoning test
- The current computer tests being used
If anyone could post any info it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Understand its been mentioned a lot in the past, but could not find any info/examples on the following for the Day 1 assessment:
- The new style Verbal Reasoning test
- The current computer tests being used
If anyone could post any info it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Rome
Bailey,
Computer based tests you will find examples on latestpilotjob.com under BA section, for the verbal resoning you do not need real practice like the older days but I guess if you type in on google Follow instructions verbal test you will get a good idea of what you are expected to do.
Hope it helps.
Computer based tests you will find examples on latestpilotjob.com under BA section, for the verbal resoning you do not need real practice like the older days but I guess if you type in on google Follow instructions verbal test you will get a good idea of what you are expected to do.
Hope it helps.
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Bailey,
Computer based tests you will find examples on latestpilotjob.com under BA section, for the verbal resoning you do not need real practice like the older days but I guess if you type in on google Follow instructions verbal test you will get a good idea of what you are expected to do.
Hope it helps.
Computer based tests you will find examples on latestpilotjob.com under BA section, for the verbal resoning you do not need real practice like the older days but I guess if you type in on google Follow instructions verbal test you will get a good idea of what you are expected to do.
Hope it helps.
The email invitation for day 1 still gives SHL practise papers for the old style verbal test. And suggests we still do the two computer based tests. Perhaps they have gone back to the old way of things ?
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: London
How many NTR left
So with all these offers going out which is great news. How many NTR LH people are there still waiting that did their sim October and before ?
Please reply back with a ‘yes and date of sim’
Thanks all.
Please reply back with a ‘yes and date of sim’
Thanks all.




