BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[NigelOnDraft]

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

[binsleepen]

Slow jet,

It's true I have flown with him. He now has a longhaulish cmd. Right place right time and in BA the right bid.

Regards

[overstress]

There are several DEPs on the -400 from that recruitment in 96-7 who are still SFOs on the -400. That gives you a measure of stagnation in BA.

[lookoutbelow]

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.

[Stocious]

Maybe for commands on a LH fleet, but equally they could easily have had SH commands by now if they'd so desired.

[zeddb]

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

Hmm...they didn't seem very interested at the time when BALPA tried to raise some hope for us. Most of the guys and gals have since disappeared off to the sandpit and other destinations although there are a few of us likely to be around in the near future and I for one would certainly have a go, worth a try and a far better alternative than looming unemployment.

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?

[eaglesnest1972]

Any info on how the 320 DEP recruitment is going?

[no sponsor]

I flew with someone who is an assessor, and they explained they were inundated with applications from Monarch. No shortage of highly qualified quality people.

[eaglesnest1972]

Exactly what expected.
Thanks mate

[Superpilot]

75% of whom won't even make it past First Stage because BA have a profile that needs fitting.

[eaglesnest1972]

that's interesting to know mate...

[kirungi1]

Superpilot, that is very interesting

[no sponsor]

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.

[wiggy]

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 !

As I think may have been mentioned before direct recruitment to Long Haul is not new, no rule change required or Irish CEO needed .

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.

Entirely possible and all above board, as has been said right place, right time.

[Callsign Kilo]

Mate of mine is completely convinced by a mate of his that the latter got straight into BA 747 circa 1997.

Nothing new here. The last big DEP intake circa 2010/11 saw people go directly to the 744 fleet. I knew a number of them as they once flew for my current outfit. They had zero LH experience, but were Boeing rated.

[Wirbelsturm]

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.

[zeddb]

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.

Point taken, still beats the dole queue though and in my own case at least, it's not for twenty or thirty years, more like nine or ten. I can think of worse places to sail off into the sunset, assuming I could ever get past selection.

Expect nothing, then you are never disappointed.

[FANS]

I didn't realise Vueling operated long haul? Or can you transfer between the two?

[Wirbelsturm]

I didn't realise Vueling operated long haul? Or can you transfer between the two?

AFAIK they don't do LH.
Always willing to be corrected though.

[Wirbelsturm]

The 'rumour' within the company is that DEP direct to LH will be going ahead.

No ideas on when or what fleet.