BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 124
Likes: 8
From: london
I certainly didn’t do anything like four hours in the box; as the above post says, a chat over coffee then good news a few days later.
Passing the sim certainly doesn’t make you some elite breed... they let me in 🤷🏼♂️
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
TBH I don’t think it’s the timing that’s bothering people on the line, whether they are trainers or not.
It’s the loss of the ability of a pilot to observe/screen another pilot operating in his/her natural environment that is bugging people....we must now all bow down to the wisdom of HR folks who in all probability will never have to interact with the candidates once they join the airline..
and BTW...it appears to be another example of what a certain CEO meant when he talked about “cost cutting is in (our) DNA”. If those outside BA ( perhaps some of those contemplating joining ) are sometimes puzzled by the grumbles of cost cutting at the company then they would do well to ponder upon this little tip of the iceberg...
It’s the loss of the ability of a pilot to observe/screen another pilot operating in his/her natural environment that is bugging people....we must now all bow down to the wisdom of HR folks who in all probability will never have to interact with the candidates once they join the airline..
and BTW...it appears to be another example of what a certain CEO meant when he talked about “cost cutting is in (our) DNA”. If those outside BA ( perhaps some of those contemplating joining ) are sometimes puzzled by the grumbles of cost cutting at the company then they would do well to ponder upon this little tip of the iceberg...
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: UK
Would it not be better to actually do the sim on day one? and ditch those maths and verbal reasoning tests, plus I hardly see what use the computer test actually serves.
The sim and interview surely would be a better way of assessing people.
The sim and interview surely would be a better way of assessing people.
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 11
From: EU
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 25
From: uk
Wiggy,Two Whites Two Reds.
Good morning and kindly humour me.
HR are trying to wrest control of Pilot Recruitment as it falls under their budget and not Flight Ops.
Its happened before and a Senior TC approached FoD who resisted it at that time.
HR do not understand nor would I expect them to the intensity,dynamic and mental Model required to perform in the simulator.They have minimal concept of terms such as MSA and CFIT.
Pilot Recruitment is Perhaps the only career path that is not exclusively run by HR and they don’t like it that way.
I stand corrected on Knight falling on his sword but if he wants to save his team he had better stand up to the task or it will be the thin end of the wedge.
Good morning and kindly humour me.
HR are trying to wrest control of Pilot Recruitment as it falls under their budget and not Flight Ops.
Its happened before and a Senior TC approached FoD who resisted it at that time.
HR do not understand nor would I expect them to the intensity,dynamic and mental Model required to perform in the simulator.They have minimal concept of terms such as MSA and CFIT.
Pilot Recruitment is Perhaps the only career path that is not exclusively run by HR and they don’t like it that way.
I stand corrected on Knight falling on his sword but if he wants to save his team he had better stand up to the task or it will be the thin end of the wedge.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Button Moon
Wiggy,Two Whites Two Reds.
Good morning and kindly humour me.
HR are trying to wrest control of Pilot Recruitment as it falls under their budget and not Flight Ops.
Its happened before and a Senior TC approached FoD who resisted it at that time.
HR do not understand nor would I expect them to the intensity,dynamic and mental Model required to perform in the simulator.They have minimal concept of terms such as MSA and CFIT.
Pilot Recruitment is Perhaps the only career path that is not exclusively run by HR and they don’t like it that way.
I stand corrected on Knight falling on his sword but if he wants to save his team he had better stand up to the task or it will be the thin end of the wedge.
Good morning and kindly humour me.
HR are trying to wrest control of Pilot Recruitment as it falls under their budget and not Flight Ops.
Its happened before and a Senior TC approached FoD who resisted it at that time.
HR do not understand nor would I expect them to the intensity,dynamic and mental Model required to perform in the simulator.They have minimal concept of terms such as MSA and CFIT.
Pilot Recruitment is Perhaps the only career path that is not exclusively run by HR and they don’t like it that way.
I stand corrected on Knight falling on his sword but if he wants to save his team he had better stand up to the task or it will be the thin end of the wedge.
As Wiggy eluded to above, this sort of thing is just the tip of a very big and nasty cost cutting iceberg.
The short answer is, I think many at Waterside forget what we are. An Airline. And a hugely profitable one at that despite the significant costs involves in flying big aeroplanes around the globe. The back office departments such as HR are simply there to supply admin functions to for the part of the business which actually generates the revenue. Flight Ops. Unfortunately it seems to greatly annoy some at HQ that BA continues to spend lots on flying aeroplanes.
Thats not to say there isn't room for efficiencies...but not when they come at this sort of cost. When I joined British Airlines I started to see some of the daftest things I'd ever seen in my career. Baggage dollies being intentionally left behind aeroplanes, stuck chocks, no stand guidance, crew room staplers locked away at night "just in case" (WTF!!!)...the list goes on (and this was all at our home base). Having come from airlines where this sort of s*** just wouldn't be tolerated on any level I found it tough going for the first year or so. I'd never seen anything like it. Slowly but surely (and as my colleagues promised would eventually happen) these things started to wash over me. Not because I cared any less, but simply that trying to fight the system was pointless and allowing the nonsense at BA to get to you is a recipe for some sort of breakdown at an early age! Unfortunately, there seems to be no end to the appetite for more cost cutting. It's horrible to see from the inside. There's running an efficient business and making lots of money....GREAT....then there's flogging the cash cow until it falls over and dies....NOT GREAT. IAG are firmly on a road to doing the latter if they carry on. Which they will.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: London
Just a quick one about the DEP interview, I have been speaking to a few people and got some info on what questions to expect during the interview from a HR point of view but I was wondering are many tech questions asked during it?
Are these based on your current type or the a320 also?
thanks, been trawling through this forum to see if anyone mentioned it but couldnt see anything so sorry if I missed it!
Are these based on your current type or the a320 also?
thanks, been trawling through this forum to see if anyone mentioned it but couldnt see anything so sorry if I missed it!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 124
Likes: 8
From: london
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
320 rated = no sim? Why? All sim checks were on 747 when I did it. You were not being assessed on type, but for your CRM, decision making and observed learning.
Whatever, as with all “trials” management run, it will be declared a huge success with little evidence and quickly rolled out across the board.
Whatever, as with all “trials” management run, it will be declared a huge success with little evidence and quickly rolled out across the board.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
as with all “trials” management run, it will be declared a huge success with little evidence and quickly rolled out across the board.
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: UK
By allowing 320 rated applicants to avoid a sim check it provides an incentive to apply for short-haul and gives no opportunity to negotiate a long-haul fleet since you only get a tick in the “eligible for long-haul” box during a sim check.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
I think you’re giving BA far too much credit over and above what’s really going on which is it’s cheaper not to put candidates in the sim, that’s all that matters to BA post Walsh and especially Cruz.
I’ve already stated that the process has been watered down recently by all this “suitable for long haul” nonsense. In the (not so) old days part and parcel of the BA sim assessment was looking at you with regard to your ability to pass any conversion including onto a Long Haul type if required so if you passed the sim the possibility of Long Haul was a given if you had the requisite hours. Any question mark and you failed, nowadays any question mark and you’re waved in onto the A320 Fleet seeing as no other bugger will take it.
I’ve already stated that the process has been watered down recently by all this “suitable for long haul” nonsense. In the (not so) old days part and parcel of the BA sim assessment was looking at you with regard to your ability to pass any conversion including onto a Long Haul type if required so if you passed the sim the possibility of Long Haul was a given if you had the requisite hours. Any question mark and you failed, nowadays any question mark and you’re waved in onto the A320 Fleet seeing as no other bugger will take it.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 291
Likes: 26
From: Hundred Acre Wood
For the benefit of those heading (or hoping) for the A320 at LHR, the following may be of interest. This is a breakdown of what sort of trips are available in April:
19 5-day trips of which just over half have a layover day (all in LIS)
214 4-day trips of which about 20% have a layover day (12 different destinations) and 9 have two layover days (all in TLV)
522 3-day trips of which about one third have a layover day (20 different destinations)
884 2-day trips of which 28 are night flights (DME)
1581 day trips of which 19 are four sectors
In additional 63 people will be on reserve, the details of which have been discussed before on this thread. All of this flying will be divided up between around 500 pilots. This is just a snapshot and the above numbers will change to some degree throughout the year.
The LCY-SNN-JFK-LCY trips are excluded from the above figures, as are trips extracted for training.
19 5-day trips of which just over half have a layover day (all in LIS)
214 4-day trips of which about 20% have a layover day (12 different destinations) and 9 have two layover days (all in TLV)
522 3-day trips of which about one third have a layover day (20 different destinations)
884 2-day trips of which 28 are night flights (DME)
1581 day trips of which 19 are four sectors
In additional 63 people will be on reserve, the details of which have been discussed before on this thread. All of this flying will be divided up between around 500 pilots. This is just a snapshot and the above numbers will change to some degree throughout the year.
The LCY-SNN-JFK-LCY trips are excluded from the above figures, as are trips extracted for training.
Last edited by Doug E Style; 24th February 2020 at 10:39. Reason: Clarification
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 283
Likes: 1
From: somewhere hot and sticky
For the benefit of those heading (or hoping) for the A320 at LHR, the following may be of interest. This is a breakdown of what sort of trips are available in April:
19 5-day trips of which just over half have a standover day (all in LIS)
214 4-day trips of which about 20% have a standover day (12 different destinations) and 9 have two standover days (all in TLV)
522 3-day trips of which about one third have a standover day (20 different destinations)
884 2-day trips of which 28 are night flights (DME)
1581 day trips of which 19 are four sectors
In additional 63 people will be on reserve, the details of which have been discussed before on this thread. This is just a snapshot and the above numbers will change to some degree throughout the year.
19 5-day trips of which just over half have a standover day (all in LIS)
214 4-day trips of which about 20% have a standover day (12 different destinations) and 9 have two standover days (all in TLV)
522 3-day trips of which about one third have a standover day (20 different destinations)
884 2-day trips of which 28 are night flights (DME)
1581 day trips of which 19 are four sectors
In additional 63 people will be on reserve, the details of which have been discussed before on this thread. This is just a snapshot and the above numbers will change to some degree throughout the year.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 88
From: N/A