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WhyByFlier
Many of us within BA might largely agree.
At the end of the day, it's not faultless. However if anyone wishes to work for a British Employer, in Britain, with a superb choice of equipment and lifestyle alternatives, and a very competitive package, then BA will take some beating.
Some other employers in this global marketplace offer T&Cs to attract folks who accept the limited longevity/pressure/culture of such choices.
BA don't need to compensate for any of those things. I imagine that's maybe why recruitment windows are swamped with pilots from all over the world. Except perhaps those with golden handcuffs, who might rather be at home, but have chosen another course?
Each to their own, eh?
4468, because I should want to fly for my national airline but the fact it's so politically driven, managerially and intrinsically inept and arrogant makes me want bring it down a peg or two. To fly. To self serve. I also would like to counter people's immediate inclination to join. To offer an alternative opinion. To help with the DODAR. To play Devil's advocate.
At the end of the day, it's not faultless. However if anyone wishes to work for a British Employer, in Britain, with a superb choice of equipment and lifestyle alternatives, and a very competitive package, then BA will take some beating.
Some other employers in this global marketplace offer T&Cs to attract folks who accept the limited longevity/pressure/culture of such choices.
BA don't need to compensate for any of those things. I imagine that's maybe why recruitment windows are swamped with pilots from all over the world. Except perhaps those with golden handcuffs, who might rather be at home, but have chosen another course?
Each to their own, eh?
Join Date: Feb 2010
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It's all revisable, believe me. And that's why crap gets in and good guys don't.
I love your 'latency of error' quip. Recruitment works for Training. If Training weren't happy with the quality of product, as you seem to ascertain that you know better than the recruitment Manager does, then they would lean on 'Recruitment' don't you think?
As for the managers and military analogy, that I do find interesting. Are you ex-military? Can you back up your statement? I have a very good friend of mine is a long way up in military aviation command (flag rank) and, knowing him as well as I do, I would find exception with you statement. If the recruiters want to watch for the potential for management that's up to them. Your career path and choice through BA are your own once you've jumped through the hoops.
A good analogy is that I have a nice car that will quite easily do 150mph plus. It stops on a sixpence too (5p for the young 'uns). I would love to drive it at those speeds but the danged DFT have these ludicrous rules in place that I have to restrict myself to 70mph. I can blow hot air all over the DFT all day long and they won't listen it's their train set and they will implement what they want. It was my choice to by the vehicle knowing I would only be able to drive it at those speeds on the road. Sometimes it's a battle just not worth pursuing.
Enjoy Easyjet, I'll always give you a cheerful wave when I'm doing a Gatwick trip to the Caribbean, Maldives or Mauritius.
Last edited by Wirbelsturm; 15th Oct 2014 at 16:35.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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WBF. As a BA pilot I'm quite offended to be called 'crap' seeing as it was quite an effort to pass the selection a few years back. If you're not interested in becoming a DEP at BA why don't you just bugger off from this thread! You're energy and ramblings would be better served on the EasyJet private forums I think! You can then talk about your wonderful scheduling agreements, hotel agreements and what wonderful people you fly with at EasyJet. I seem to remember an awful lot of 'crap' as you call it at EZY.
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WhyByFlier
I hope I never fly with such a bitter person as yourself. I feel sorry for your easy colleagues. What are you doing here on a BA recruitment thread exactly?....how many BA guys are whinging on a easy recruitment thread do you think?
You didn't get in. Deal with it.
I hope I never fly with such a bitter person as yourself. I feel sorry for your easy colleagues. What are you doing here on a BA recruitment thread exactly?....how many BA guys are whinging on a easy recruitment thread do you think?
You didn't get in. Deal with it.
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Flamed for a typo, oh the shame! 
Ironically the redundancies in the military in the early 1990's were primarily politically led cost cutting exercises and the RAF/FAA/AAC were soft targets. Nothing to do with pilots who became managers, more to do with the constant head banging inter service rivalry and petty politics of MOD Whitehall. The farce that was the Sea Harrier/GR 9 withdrawal from service is a prime example. Run by accountants for accountants until they got the bill for operating out of Italy during Libya! But I digress.
I'm not deriving all the negatives I am merely trying to ascertain why you have such a vitriolic hatred for a system that you are neither part of nor have the power or position to influence.
It is what it is and seems to have served BA well. Former colleagues of mine have passed and enjoyed their time in BA and some have failed and taken it on the chin and progressed. That's it. Not worth all the heartbeats.
If you have a better system then I'm sure the manager Recruiting would be happy to hear it, he reads all this gumpf as far as I know.
Ironically the redundancies in the military in the early 1990's were primarily politically led cost cutting exercises and the RAF/FAA/AAC were soft targets. Nothing to do with pilots who became managers, more to do with the constant head banging inter service rivalry and petty politics of MOD Whitehall. The farce that was the Sea Harrier/GR 9 withdrawal from service is a prime example. Run by accountants for accountants until they got the bill for operating out of Italy during Libya! But I digress.
I'm not deriving all the negatives I am merely trying to ascertain why you have such a vitriolic hatred for a system that you are neither part of nor have the power or position to influence.
It is what it is and seems to have served BA well. Former colleagues of mine have passed and enjoyed their time in BA and some have failed and taken it on the chin and progressed. That's it. Not worth all the heartbeats.
If you have a better system then I'm sure the manager Recruiting would be happy to hear it, he reads all this gumpf as far as I know.
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WBF.... Wow! And like the Murphy's.......
Assuming you see yourself as one of the 'good guys', at what stage in the process were you weadled out? Perhaps now is the time to crawl back under your rock and leave this thread to others for more constructive use!
It's all revisable, believe me. And that's why crap gets in and good guys don't.
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P.s. I'll wave back wirby when I've finished my Inverness and back 2 sector day by 1000, am heading home for a game of golf/ walk of the dog/ lunch with friends, beer with friends, meal with my family and sleep in my bed. Or of course if you're flying my family and me on our bucket and spade holiday! How proud I'll be that the creme de la creme BA pilot specifically waved at me with all his braid, his hat and name badge!
Horses for courses. Why the need to be so aggressive on a public forum? If you truly stand behind your views then air them without the vitriol and with constructive criticism, it gets you noticed and understood better. Enjoy the golf, I've always been crap at it, oh, and, generally, the wife always comes with me.
Anyhoo, enough of this jolly banter, back onto the thread.......
Join Date: Jul 2006
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WBF, you can call me pompous, which I guess takes one to know one. You are obviously one who calls people 'chap'
, but I honestly have no idea what you are on about! You serve no purpose to this thread, and are thus a troll. Hope you enjoy 4 sectors forever, one reason I left! I guess you are too good for the likes of BA! I'll go back to my nice pint in the centre of Rome!
, but I honestly have no idea what you are on about! You serve no purpose to this thread, and are thus a troll. Hope you enjoy 4 sectors forever, one reason I left! I guess you are too good for the likes of BA! I'll go back to my nice pint in the centre of Rome!
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We've got to remember that BA is not just employing UK pilots, and therefore I can't see a day when it can't recruit sufficient numbers.
Like others have said, it's their train set and recruitment is not perfect with the odd lemon passing through. The problem BA have is that people rarely leave, and hence it's not such an issue if people are seeing the grass is not greener and actually moving to the sandpit/back to ezy etc.
There is an increasing awareness that BA isn't perfect (and never has been), but that's life.
I'd also say the flightdeck (in BA and elsewhere) has a broader cross section than 20 years ago, but that is wholly unscientific.
Like others have said, it's their train set and recruitment is not perfect with the odd lemon passing through. The problem BA have is that people rarely leave, and hence it's not such an issue if people are seeing the grass is not greener and actually moving to the sandpit/back to ezy etc.
There is an increasing awareness that BA isn't perfect (and never has been), but that's life.
I'd also say the flightdeck (in BA and elsewhere) has a broader cross section than 20 years ago, but that is wholly unscientific.
For someone joining next year what's a realistic time period before one has enough seniority to comfortably commute to LHR/LGW on SH? Or is this becoming a thing of the past?
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Also, if you were to start at LGW how difficult would it be to transfer to LHR and how long would this take?
Can LHR airbus crews bid for LGW work or is it fully covered?
Cheers
Can LHR airbus crews bid for LGW work or is it fully covered?
Cheers
Join Date: Oct 2004
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FullyFullyReady
I wouldn't recommend commuting during your intro to BA. (Though I suppose you could?) So that would cover about the first 6-8 weeks. (Cheapish accommodation available) After that I can't see why you couldn't commute. It could work just as well for you as anyone senior. Though I think it's 6 months before you qualify for staff travel?? Also you might expect to do more standby duties than seniors, which run for 4 weeks, including 7 'fixed' days off, plus other 'ad hoc' days off during the 'working' 3 weeks, including a 2 day block. (Perhaps one Reserve month per year????)
alpha.charlie
In BA there is an Engagement Freeze of 5 years. Because this is based on qualifying training years, it is often less. During this period BA will do with you whatever suits them. Including for example, changing your fleet of joining!!
Since freezes are only type freezes, (not base freezes) I can't imagine any circumstance where you couldn't transfer to Heathrow Airbus after an absolute maximum of 5 years.
Of course by that time you will also have a valid bid to other BA fleets too. Success based on availability of course, but Airbus transfer LGW to LHR would involve NO additional freeze. It's essentially a freebee!
I wouldn't recommend commuting during your intro to BA. (Though I suppose you could?) So that would cover about the first 6-8 weeks. (Cheapish accommodation available) After that I can't see why you couldn't commute. It could work just as well for you as anyone senior. Though I think it's 6 months before you qualify for staff travel?? Also you might expect to do more standby duties than seniors, which run for 4 weeks, including 7 'fixed' days off, plus other 'ad hoc' days off during the 'working' 3 weeks, including a 2 day block. (Perhaps one Reserve month per year????)
alpha.charlie
In BA there is an Engagement Freeze of 5 years. Because this is based on qualifying training years, it is often less. During this period BA will do with you whatever suits them. Including for example, changing your fleet of joining!!
Since freezes are only type freezes, (not base freezes) I can't imagine any circumstance where you couldn't transfer to Heathrow Airbus after an absolute maximum of 5 years.
Of course by that time you will also have a valid bid to other BA fleets too. Success based on availability of course, but Airbus transfer LGW to LHR would involve NO additional freeze. It's essentially a freebee!
Last edited by 4468; 21st Oct 2014 at 20:53.
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Regarding commuting, whilst I understand it could be a bit of a ball ache (particularly early on), are there certain cities it'd be more difficult to commute from? Perhaps due to there already being a ton of crew commuting from that location, so making it less likely for more junior pilots to get a jumpseat if necessary?
4468, I think you're right about the 6 months prior to staff travel kicking in.
PS. I'm referring to short haul Airbus, either LHR or LGW.
4468, I think you're right about the 6 months prior to staff travel kicking in.
PS. I'm referring to short haul Airbus, either LHR or LGW.
Join Date: May 2014
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Non Type Rated Recruitment
According to a skipper I flew with 2 days ago who is on the Recruitment team BA are about to open up for Non Type Rated DEP. This has also been stated on the BALPA company forum this morning.
I don't have any details of Hours or Min MTOW Requirements but it's certainly looking positive for those wishing to apply who do not have a current BA type on their licence
Our Postings & Promotions Chap in BALPA has also stated last night that the Aspirational fleet moves are hopefully going to be published at the end of Oct. He has confirmed BA require close to 300 new pilots into the business in 2015.
Hopefully a bit of good news all round... Hope this helps,
I don't have any details of Hours or Min MTOW Requirements but it's certainly looking positive for those wishing to apply who do not have a current BA type on their licence
Our Postings & Promotions Chap in BALPA has also stated last night that the Aspirational fleet moves are hopefully going to be published at the end of Oct. He has confirmed BA require close to 300 new pilots into the business in 2015.
Hopefully a bit of good news all round... Hope this helps,
Mayday X 3
Basic answer to the basic question is yes....., though if there's tonnes of flights as well as tonnes of crew there might not be a problem, it's the destinations with only 1/2/3 flights a day that can be a real PITA to commute to/from 
.
If you are able to give some idea of where you are thinking of without being too specific (e.g. England, Scotland, Europe) I guess one of the "locals" who is familiar with their own bunfight would be able to be a bit more specific.
I can confirm it is 6 months before staff travel kicks in.
are there certain cities it'd be more difficult to commute from? Perhaps due to there already being a ton of crew commuting from that location, so making it less likely for more junior pilots to get a jumpseat if necessary?
.If you are able to give some idea of where you are thinking of without being too specific (e.g. England, Scotland, Europe) I guess one of the "locals" who is familiar with their own bunfight would be able to be a bit more specific.
I can confirm it is 6 months before staff travel kicks in.
BA Non-type rated recruitment
To set the scene.... BA are about to announce Pilot recruitment of Non-type rated applicants. The total requirement next year will be in the region of 300 new joiners made up of FPP cadets, type rated applicants and ex-mil managed path.
As both the FPP and ex-mil numbers would seem to add up to around 100 and there is clearly a shortage of the type rated candidates it would seem to be a great opportunity for others to try for a place.
Minimum qualifications etc will no doubt follow in due course..
Any takers?
As both the FPP and ex-mil numbers would seem to add up to around 100 and there is clearly a shortage of the type rated candidates it would seem to be a great opportunity for others to try for a place.
Minimum qualifications etc will no doubt follow in due course..
Any takers?