BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
Yes ignore by all means. Frankly I can’t believe you wouldn’t book a hotel on th bath road fr every stage. For gods sake there’s only a few stages and it’s £60 a night to eliminate the risk of the M25.
I would say it’s unlikely you’ll get another shot.
I would say it’s unlikely you’ll get another shot.
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: London
I know someone whose car broke down on the way to the interview who is now a long haul captain.
My sim partner was 20 minutes late arriving due to bad traffic on the M25, he got in too.
Disregard the rubbish written above, we've all been there. Don't worry!
My sim partner was 20 minutes late arriving due to bad traffic on the M25, he got in too.
Disregard the rubbish written above, we've all been there. Don't worry!
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 123
Likes: 9
From: UK
The BA assessment takes enough out of you without adding unnecessary financial cost as well. Travel, parking, practice sims, (hotels) - it all adds up. And that's assuming you do it only once.
CG - hope you get it rearranged and good luck with it.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 156
Likes: 42
From: UK
It’s a funny old profession when people are happy to pay £100k+ for their training, £1k on a Bose headset etc and yet don’t want to spend £60 for a hotel room when they have an assessment with the national carrier.
Aside from anything else, the delayed assessment might cost you 50-100 places on the seniority list, which might make all the difference to your lifestyle and cost you 6 months Captain’s salary down the line. Each to their own I suppose
Aside from anything else, the delayed assessment might cost you 50-100 places on the seniority list, which might make all the difference to your lifestyle and cost you 6 months Captain’s salary down the line. Each to their own I suppose
Last edited by zero/zero; 22nd March 2018 at 06:39.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
On that basis, you'll be in a hotel before every duty I presume? Unless your crystal ball advises you in advance of every single pile up on the M25.
The BA assessment takes enough out of you without adding unnecessary financial cost as well. Travel, parking, practice sims, (hotels) - it all adds up. And that's assuming you do it only once.
CG - hope you get it rearranged and good luck with it.
The BA assessment takes enough out of you without adding unnecessary financial cost as well. Travel, parking, practice sims, (hotels) - it all adds up. And that's assuming you do it only once.
CG - hope you get it rearranged and good luck with it.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 2
From: United States
3 greens
You won’t be living 100 miles away for very long if the rumours are true about the CAA puting a stop to any commute that is not 90 mins or less on AA route finder
Rumour is they are in BA now looking at this ?
You won’t be living 100 miles away for very long if the rumours are true about the CAA puting a stop to any commute that is not 90 mins or less on AA route finder
Rumour is they are in BA now looking at this ?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
For those not in the loop the fact is there is a current audit of “flying commuters”. In the run up to that audit management described what they and the CAA regard as sensible commutes, (both flying and drive) and from what they describe it will certainly be possible to live more than 100 miles away and fly in or drive in provided you make arrangements to ensure you are rested at report.
That generally seems to be not flying in overnight and as for a driver.. well they probably would throw the book at somebody if they found out they left home at e.g 2 AM to drive in for an early report......
At the end of the day no matter there’s plenty of accommodation around LHR for pre-flight (or pre-interview) rest. Nobody is going to have to live in the Home Counties or Greater London.
Supercharged PPRuNer
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 15
From: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
Several hotels around LHR offer discounted aircrew rates. All subject to availability, but work on around £40 per night for the likes of the Ibis & Premier Inn. Privately owned B&Bs can be considerably cheaper.
I have found, coming from the other end of the country, that commuting costs (around 4 trips per month and the odd night in a hotel) are no more than what I used to spend on fuel, driving round the M25 five times a week.
I have found, coming from the other end of the country, that commuting costs (around 4 trips per month and the odd night in a hotel) are no more than what I used to spend on fuel, driving round the M25 five times a week.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Wot SXTY said...
Some of the perimeter hotels offer crew rates, that may or may not beat the public rate, so caveat emptor, and there are a fair number of crew only B&Bs with bus/walking distance. Somewhere between £25 and £60ish a night would be a fair guess.
The impact in days off is a bit trickier, though not so bad if you are part time and/or long haul.
Some of the perimeter hotels offer crew rates, that may or may not beat the public rate, so caveat emptor, and there are a fair number of crew only B&Bs with bus/walking distance. Somewhere between £25 and £60ish a night would be a fair guess.
The impact in days off is a bit trickier, though not so bad if you are part time and/or long haul.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 724
Likes: 24
From: UK
Imagine if they actually enforced a 90min rule....BA would be cancelling an awful lot of flights for the foreseeable.
Which would cost the company an awful lot of money, which is why the whole audit process is simply to stop the piss taking commuting habits of a minority of crew, no more no less. The CAA will never impose something that severely damages the finances of one of its biggest cash cows. If it does, I’m buying shares in the Premier Inn group.
In other news, great to see some new DEP folks appearing on the seniority list of the long haul fleets - the chap at the bottom of my status list can finally give his shoulders a rest!
Which would cost the company an awful lot of money, which is why the whole audit process is simply to stop the piss taking commuting habits of a minority of crew, no more no less. The CAA will never impose something that severely damages the finances of one of its biggest cash cows. If it does, I’m buying shares in the Premier Inn group.
In other news, great to see some new DEP folks appearing on the seniority list of the long haul fleets - the chap at the bottom of my status list can finally give his shoulders a rest!
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
If you want the job that badly then to my mind you need to assume the m25 could be snarled up. If you have a different attitude to risk then fair enough.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 739
Likes: 6
From: York
Not that the tone of your post deserves a reply, but BA closed my original base 20 years ago.
The rumour is that BA are ‘after’ a few serial offenders, who think it perfectly acceptable to pax 8-12 hours overnight. (Potentially in economy) Then expect to operate after a little time in the CRC!
They then have a habit of sleeping through much of their operating sector!
From what I’ve heard. BA have a point!
