BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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DEP LH has been offered in the past - as you say, '96-'97 certainly. In fact I was offered 747 but pushed for 757/767 and got it.
LGW Commands were effectively "DEC" about then as well... as you say, it would be via a LHR fleet, but the LGW T&Cs poor enough, and rate of progression/retirements elsewhere, many took it soon after joining.
Since then the 65 retirement age, stagnation, improved LGW T&Cs mean the LGW Command time is now high (but not as high as LHR of course), and we have plenty of SH P2s desperate to get to LH and eligible. That is why LH DEP recruitment might cause a few ripples
LGW Commands were effectively "DEC" about then as well... as you say, it would be via a LHR fleet, but the LGW T&Cs poor enough, and rate of progression/retirements elsewhere, many took it soon after joining.
Since then the 65 retirement age, stagnation, improved LGW T&Cs mean the LGW Command time is now high (but not as high as LHR of course), and we have plenty of SH P2s desperate to get to LH and eligible. That is why LH DEP recruitment might cause a few ripples
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Lindsay Craig has posted a LinkedIn update today asking for any B747-4 rated pilots that might be interested in joining BA to register for regular email alerts via the BA Careers portal.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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It's a shame BA doesn't just swallow up the spare (if any) GSS guys and gals that were unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of BA's cargo policies
I suppose that the existing folk who wanted a shot at LH might be a bit fed up, but not half as fed up as the GSS crews were when we got pushed out onto the street earlier this year.
Remember, there's always someone worse off than yourself, especially outside of the BA bubble, try and have a bit of sympathy. Anyway most of us remnants are in our last 10 years or so and will likely be retired to the desert along with the airframes. All you young thrusting types can enjoy yourselves on the 777/787/A380.
Any idea when it might happen?
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Come on guys, it ain't rocket science. There's loads of stuff on here to help get you through. BA selection is always about giving good examples to the questions in the interview, No examples..no job offer. Openness and effectiveness to getting to the goal in the team stuff. A bit of mental maths and verbal reasoning tests (lots of good places to practice those online), and then the sim (lots on here about that too).
Despite what you may think of the process, that's the process, and there's no secret to it.
Despite what you may think of the process, that's the process, and there's no secret to it.
But, these days, beancounters rule and I daresay that existing rules can be easily circumnavigated in the interests of company economic health. Cripes, I am beginning to sound like Walshie !
Some of us joined BA as DEPs quite a while back with no heavy or four jet experience and went straight on to the "classic 747"....and 18 months later some of those were sitting in the RHS of brand new 744's (Reason probably being the BA pilot short haul position was apparently quite lucrative at the time).
Mate of mine is completely convinced by a mate of his that the latter got straight into BA 747 circa 1997.
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Mate of mine is completely convinced by a mate of his that the latter got straight into BA 747 circa 1997.
Last edited by Callsign Kilo; 17th Sep 2014 at 08:43.
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DEP onto LH has happened many times in the past and, unfortunately for those stuck on SH at the moment, will probably happen again.
Whilst this will be a bitter pill for those wishing to transfer from SH to LH it is mainly going to be generated by training capacity. In order to release a SH pilot to a LH conversion course his/her seat needs to be filled prior to release.
Possibly due to a bit of shortsighted planning BA are struggling with workload on SH and the training department is already stretched with the projected training of current allocated DEP's and FPP's.
The LH fleets continue to grow however with the recent delivery of the final 777-300 and the last 787-800. There is now a short breather before commencement of 787-9 and 787-10 deliveries next year and we are still awaiting a decision on the 777X.
There is rumor that there is little or no training capacity on the Airbus to allow fleet transfers to go ahead in the current training year. BA has thumb screwed the trainers to the point where they are, quite rightly, balking at forced overtime.
Given the above scenario and the necessity for crews on the LH fleets especially as the 744 retirement programme inevitably drags there is a good business case for DEP LH entry.
Always keep in the back of the mind though that you will join at the very bottom and, when capacity allows, all of those wishing to transfer from SH to LH with valid bids will join the fleet roster ahead of you. It's a long journey at the bottom with a new rostering system that will undoubtedly benefit the company more than you.
Whilst this will be a bitter pill for those wishing to transfer from SH to LH it is mainly going to be generated by training capacity. In order to release a SH pilot to a LH conversion course his/her seat needs to be filled prior to release.
Possibly due to a bit of shortsighted planning BA are struggling with workload on SH and the training department is already stretched with the projected training of current allocated DEP's and FPP's.
The LH fleets continue to grow however with the recent delivery of the final 777-300 and the last 787-800. There is now a short breather before commencement of 787-9 and 787-10 deliveries next year and we are still awaiting a decision on the 777X.
There is rumor that there is little or no training capacity on the Airbus to allow fleet transfers to go ahead in the current training year. BA has thumb screwed the trainers to the point where they are, quite rightly, balking at forced overtime.
Given the above scenario and the necessity for crews on the LH fleets especially as the 744 retirement programme inevitably drags there is a good business case for DEP LH entry.
Always keep in the back of the mind though that you will join at the very bottom and, when capacity allows, all of those wishing to transfer from SH to LH with valid bids will join the fleet roster ahead of you. It's a long journey at the bottom with a new rostering system that will undoubtedly benefit the company more than you.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Always keep in the back of the mind though that you will join at the very bottom and, when capacity allows, all of those wishing to transfer from SH to LH with valid bids will join the fleet roster ahead of you. It's a long journey at the bottom with a new rostering system that will undoubtedly benefit the company more than you.
Expect nothing, then you are never disappointed.
