BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Just to add to ETOPS’s comments....there was pretty much zero for 15 years from mid 70’s through late 80’s but ever since the first batch of “modern” 
DEPs and Prestwick cadets joined (in I think ‘88) there has been a pretty steady trickle of recruitment over the years, even during the 10 years when retirements almost stopped due to the change in the retirement age (there was however still an incoming trickle simply due to ill Heath attrition and/or people simply leaving anyway before 65).
I agreew ith ETOPS that the upturn we are seeing at the moment is I suspect based on nothing more sinister than the need to replace those now retiring at or close to 65, plus some expansion.
DEPs and Prestwick cadets joined (in I think ‘88) there has been a pretty steady trickle of recruitment over the years, even during the 10 years when retirements almost stopped due to the change in the retirement age (there was however still an incoming trickle simply due to ill Heath attrition and/or people simply leaving anyway before 65).I agreew ith ETOPS that the upturn we are seeing at the moment is I suspect based on nothing more sinister than the need to replace those now retiring at or close to 65, plus some expansion.
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
From: UK
Add the fact that many many more people have chosen to go part-time, particularly in short haul, then you have the reasons why recruitment is running. To understand why you’d have to do a year or so of flying in BA SH....
There are more than a 1000 pilots now in BA than there was 7 years ago. The BMI takeover accounts for about 300 of those, the rest recruitment.
There are more than a 1000 pilots now in BA than there was 7 years ago. The BMI takeover accounts for about 300 of those, the rest recruitment.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
There was a recruitment ban which lasted several years in the early noughties too. NAPS was closed to new BA employees sometime in 2003 and the ban had already been in place for a significant period of time at that point. I remember the BALPA mantra was that they could not legally do anything until the first pilot was recruited without a NAPS pension. I think it was several years until that actually happened, by which time it seems the membership had got used to the idea, and voted to accept BARP for new pilots. I cannot remember how long the recruitment ban lasted, but I would guess close to five years?
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hello folks,
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Button Moon
A few guys I know have struggled getting an interview date sorted. From what I gather it’s just a case of patiently waiting for slots to open up and keep checking. Frustrating I know.
As for what fleet you might get offered.....being Bus rated doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll use that but would imagine they’ll try to if poss. As I said above, a guy I know is A330/A350 currently and has a start date on the 777. A350 DEP’s are probably a way off yet judging by the internal comms but never say never.
You could literally be offered anything but wouldn’t expect BA to start you on something and then switch you to the 320 on day one. As I said, never say never.
Best of luck with it.
As for what fleet you might get offered.....being Bus rated doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll use that but would imagine they’ll try to if poss. As I said above, a guy I know is A330/A350 currently and has a start date on the 777. A350 DEP’s are probably a way off yet judging by the internal comms but never say never.
You could literally be offered anything but wouldn’t expect BA to start you on something and then switch you to the 320 on day one. As I said, never say never.
Best of luck with it.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: WILTSHIRE
Hello folks,
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 18
From: London
FRYVA,
I know two people with current 320 ratings, and no Boeing experience, whom have recently started on the 777. It does seem rather hard to predict what fleet you will be offered and seems very dependent on needs at that time (/ day!). This assumes long haul suitability demonstrated in the sim of course.
I'm sure someone will have a contrary story, but I have been told that offers have only ever been changed on a very small number of occasions and this has always been from one LH fleet to another. If you're not interested in SH, personally, I'd not worry about the 'bait and switch' you describe.
Good luck.
I know two people with current 320 ratings, and no Boeing experience, whom have recently started on the 777. It does seem rather hard to predict what fleet you will be offered and seems very dependent on needs at that time (/ day!). This assumes long haul suitability demonstrated in the sim of course.
I'm sure someone will have a contrary story, but I have been told that offers have only ever been changed on a very small number of occasions and this has always been from one LH fleet to another. If you're not interested in SH, personally, I'd not worry about the 'bait and switch' you describe.
Good luck.
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 91
Likes: 4
Hello folks,
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
Couple of quick questions...
a) I have recently been offered an interview date 2 weeks or so back but whenever I try to click on a date there is nothing there (“No entries so far”). Any top tips for actually getting a foot in the door here?
b) I have c.6000 total with A320, A330/A350 on my licence (despite never flying the A350 but, alas...) . Current on both. To be blunt, knowing what I do I have zero interest in SH at BA. Any idea what fleet I would likely be offered? And, if for example, I was offered the A350, what, if any, is the chances of the old bait and switch before starting onto the A320?
Many thanks in advance 👍🏻
They choose your suitability for LH/SH depending on how well you do in the Sim.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Cutting grass on more unpaid leave
They choose your suitability for LH/SH depending on how well you do in the Sim.
This assumes long haul suitability demonstrated in the sim of course.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Some would have you believe those who excel go to LH. Those that just meet the standard go to SH to gain experience. 🤔 sounds like a lot of rubbish to me.
Ex BMI pilots.......there are no more than 180-200 now.
Ex BMI pilots.......there are no more than 180-200 now.
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 18
From: London
EDIT - To be clear, you get.determined as LH suitable or not. That doesn't mean you'll be a assigned a LH fleet, just that you can be. And it certainly doesn't imply that the 'cream' are all being sent LH.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Cutting grass on more unpaid leave
You will require an unfrozen ATPL and I’m guessing 2,000 hours anyway.
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 940
Likes: 57
From: Scotland
The short answer is are you likely to get through to the line in absolute minimum time, given that the course is compressed to the absolute legal minimum and your 7th landing on type will be during your final check.
Training capacity is is bursting at the seams, and BA have some very unusual ways of doing things that take time to get used to if you come from somewhere more sensible.
Training capacity is is bursting at the seams, and BA have some very unusual ways of doing things that take time to get used to if you come from somewhere more sensible.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 25
From: uk
Long Haul suitability is your ability to effectively demonstrate the transition from your present type to the 767 sim at this time during the assessment.In short how good are your pure handling skills and whether you can cope with just two or three landings in marginal weather on LH type.Used to be in excess of 2000 hours,but assessment has evolved and is the judgement of the assessor,subjective.
Just heard 737 applicant,sim on Monday,777 offered Tuesday. Good luck.
Just heard 737 applicant,sim on Monday,777 offered Tuesday. Good luck.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: UK
Long Haul suitability is your ability to effectively demonstrate the transition from your present type to the 767 sim at this time during the assessment.In short how good are your pure handling skills and whether you can cope with just two or three landings in marginal weather on LH type.Used to be in excess of 2000 hours,but assessment has evolved and is the judgement of the assessor,subjective.
Just heard 737 applicant,sim on Monday,777 offered Tuesday. Good luck.
Just heard 737 applicant,sim on Monday,777 offered Tuesday. Good luck.
After 18yrs of one or two landings a month on long haul it’s safe to say my pure handling skills were better when I was 19 flying Highlands & Islands in an ATP - so I’d now be sent SH A320 to improve I guess!!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 204
Likes: 13
From: UK
The likelihood is once you get put into a LH fleet at BA, you will probably never leave. It is therefore important that LH takes the most experienced DEP's for the wide bodies. So essentially recruitment are saying to anyone who is offered short haul only "You have all the skills but lack the experience" or "You have the experience but the skills need some work"
It's up to the applicant to choose which assessment was made!
Joined: Mar 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 181
Likes: 21
From: Hamburg
Merely for illustration, two chaps whom I know well, both with plenty of 4-jet command time, were offered 777 and 747. Then, during their first week with BA, whilst doing induction and generic SEP training, they were suddenly switched to the 767 and A320 respectively! So yes, it does happen.
