BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: WILTSHIRE
Posts: 82
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: The Home of the Gnomes
Posts: 386
Join Date: May 2014
Location: England
Posts: 32
Not quite true is it Red9...
From day one the ex bmi boys & girls have been able to join RHS LH & therefore leave the bmi bubble... indeed I watched through my 5 year engagement freeze junior pilots do exactly that... & get commands on LH&SH! Frustrating for me yes but that was the deal. Any ex bmi Pilot bidding for a protected command also knew the deal & therefore would enter the bmi bubble, wether that’s fare or not that’s the deal. So to assume there was no choice is frankly wrong, it was their Choice!
However in 2016 Commands went so junior that a group of ex bmi pilots achieved an aspirational position, I along with many feel they should be in the BA list & why BALPA doesn’t correct this I don’t know... I guess because it doesn’t suit them & by them I mean IG. I’ve also been told that it’s to do with MPE , but that’s a load of pony because as people eventually retire it will become impossible to maintain that MPE. Don’t forget it was the ex bmi Pilots that scuppered the last JSS vote too!
Red if you want the bmi bubble to be disbanded then be my guest to complain to BALPA, we’re all BA pilots which means we all adhere to the MOA & all have a MSL position. I respect the negative aspects of the integration deal, so should everyone.
From day one the ex bmi boys & girls have been able to join RHS LH & therefore leave the bmi bubble... indeed I watched through my 5 year engagement freeze junior pilots do exactly that... & get commands on LH&SH! Frustrating for me yes but that was the deal. Any ex bmi Pilot bidding for a protected command also knew the deal & therefore would enter the bmi bubble, wether that’s fare or not that’s the deal. So to assume there was no choice is frankly wrong, it was their Choice!
However in 2016 Commands went so junior that a group of ex bmi pilots achieved an aspirational position, I along with many feel they should be in the BA list & why BALPA doesn’t correct this I don’t know... I guess because it doesn’t suit them & by them I mean IG. I’ve also been told that it’s to do with MPE , but that’s a load of pony because as people eventually retire it will become impossible to maintain that MPE. Don’t forget it was the ex bmi Pilots that scuppered the last JSS vote too!
Red if you want the bmi bubble to be disbanded then be my guest to complain to BALPA, we’re all BA pilots which means we all adhere to the MOA & all have a MSL position. I respect the negative aspects of the integration deal, so should everyone.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Uk
Age: 39
Posts: 473
BASHLH. The protected command thing is all very grey and mostly not covered in the agreement. 100% spot on with the 2016 commands though.
I just wish it could be sorted. It’s nearly 7 years now and it is still paralysis. The only way out is from the top to take a LH command (< 2 % ) of LH commands or give up your command.
Anyway I repeat myself again and again. I think we agree on the subject.
I just wish it could be sorted. It’s nearly 7 years now and it is still paralysis. The only way out is from the top to take a LH command (< 2 % ) of LH commands or give up your command.
Anyway I repeat myself again and again. I think we agree on the subject.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: united kingdom
Posts: 194
It is true The ex BMI could go right hand seat and go long haul.
Believe it or not not everyone wants long haul despite more money etc etc, so the only choice they have is to go RHS short haul if they want to leave the bubble,
I take my. Hat off to the FO’s who chose to take command and re enter the bubble to forward their career which I believe is what we all probably wanted when we first started out. I do get it as to why so many long haul pilots just stay where they are with many retiring in the RHS.
Believe it or not not everyone wants long haul despite more money etc etc, so the only choice they have is to go RHS short haul if they want to leave the bubble,
I take my. Hat off to the FO’s who chose to take command and re enter the bubble to forward their career which I believe is what we all probably wanted when we first started out. I do get it as to why so many long haul pilots just stay where they are with many retiring in the RHS.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 10
Hi all,
Anyone passed the sim recently knows the time frame from entering the hold pool to getting an offer/start date? And what fleet is currently being offered?
Thanks!
Anyone passed the sim recently knows the time frame from entering the hold pool to getting an offer/start date? And what fleet is currently being offered?
Thanks!
Last edited by cBoxMungo; 20th Dec 2018 at 10:37.
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: England
Posts: 24
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: uk
Posts: 521
By way of an update and for m’2pence worth the latest is command airbus at LHR has now gone senior, Gatwick is off the end of the list, very junior. A friend of mine who is airbus rated has just been given long haul 787, 5 days in the hold pool. I think the lady in charge has now been given the green light to offer courses out. If you’re swimming, expect news very quickly. If you’re applying, expect a very quick application process and gen up on the 767 pitch and power numbers for the assessment. You won’t have to wait long, they’re using the 76 now full time for selection. Good luck
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Winchester
Posts: 5,942
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Going East
Posts: 15
Thanks for the reply. Having run into a fair number of (usually) long haul crews on my particular shuttle I gather it has been possible in the past without being too detrimental to quality of life? I suppose you’d need at least two completely clear days off between trips or tours otherwise you could be spending an awful lot of single days off in the T5 travelodge.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Winchester
Posts: 5,942
Thanks for the reply. Having run into a fair number of (usually) long haul crews on my particular shuttle I gather it has been possible in the past without being too detrimental to quality of life? I suppose you’d need at least two completely clear days off between trips or tours otherwise you could be spending an awful lot of single days off in the T5 travelodge.
FWIW on Longhaul you are usually going to get two or more complete clear days off between trips anyway, unless you opt to reduce rest or actively try for a back to back...
Last edited by wiggy; 20th Dec 2018 at 16:20. Reason: or more

Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere but not where I want to be
Posts: 3
Stage 1 Assessment
Hi All,
I attended stage 1 of the assessment on the 3rd Dec as yet I have not heard anything regarding the outcome.
Has anyone else heard anything who attended an assessment early Dec?
Cheers.
I attended stage 1 of the assessment on the 3rd Dec as yet I have not heard anything regarding the outcome.
Has anyone else heard anything who attended an assessment early Dec?
Cheers.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Between HRG & LGW
Posts: 21
Hey bud, I attended on the same day as you - we probably spoke! I haven't heard either and kinda assumed that meant I was unsuccessful - however I phoned them yesterday and they said they haven't given any results out yet from that day and to wait patiently for an email... starting to lose my mind slightly! Good luck!
Join Date: May 2018
Location: london
Posts: 59
Hey bud, I attended on the same day as you - we probably spoke! I haven't heard either and kinda assumed that meant I was unsuccessful - however I phoned them yesterday and they said they haven't given any results out yet from that day and to wait patiently for an email... starting to lose my mind slightly! Good luck!
But I guess it’ll all remain quiet until the new year now

Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere but not where I want to be
Posts: 3
That doesn't fill me with confidence for my chances of progressing to stage 2...
Join Date: May 2018
Location: london
Posts: 59
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 34
Give them a call or send them an email guys. They're pretty approachable. You have the right to hear something within a few weeks. They should be very happy that you're taking the effort to apply for the job. Good luck with the rest of the assessments!