BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Are there actually more openings, or is this statement simply intended to encourage more applications?
Given recent comms (which I can't repost here) it sounds as if the company is still really struggling to come to up with any firm up idea as to DEP/FPP numbers needed and where they will go over the next year, other than it will be into three figures.
Last edited by wiggy; 2nd Oct 2015 at 12:47.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think joining with an A320 rating means you're only going one place at all. Have met a handful of 320-rated new joiners from EZY, Lingus and Monarch who all went 787. Frustrating for seat-frozen SH guys but thems the rules and it all comes out in the wash in the end.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think joining with an A320 rating means you're only going one place at all. Have met a handful of 320-rated new joiners from EZY, Lingus and Monarch who all went 787. Frustrating for seat-frozen SH guys but thems the rules and it all comes out in the wash in the end.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think this year was probably a one off wrt DEPs with just Airbus experience going to the long haul fleets. We've got plenty of currently employed Airbus rated FOs who are desperate to move to long haul. They've so far been denied this opportunity due to an overloaded training department, but I'm not convinced that argument will work for much longer. I have no inside information. I'm simply pointing out that the exceptional circumstances of this past year do not necessarily apply going forwards.
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Close to minimums
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There have been a few mentions recently of "an October shakeup" and how it's something people are waiting for. As I am not sure what this exatly refers to could someone please explain?
Is it something that happens every October?
Is it something that happens every October?
GS,
Reading between lines elsewhere I think you're correct.
I believe the Reps involved in the recruitment arena (who do a good but thankless task most of the time) got a fair amount of "heat" from many incumbent pilots who felt they were disadvantaged by the last round of recruitment. As a result I'm not sure you will see quite as many, if any, DEPs to Longhaul this time round, but then again, I have been known to be wrong on many occasions.....
Reading between lines elsewhere I think you're correct.
I believe the Reps involved in the recruitment arena (who do a good but thankless task most of the time) got a fair amount of "heat" from many incumbent pilots who felt they were disadvantaged by the last round of recruitment. As a result I'm not sure you will see quite as many, if any, DEPs to Longhaul this time round, but then again, I have been known to be wrong on many occasions.....
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rex
Are you saying your source suggested people will be recruited onto long haul because it is the only position that DEPs with decent experience levels are prepared to sign up for? That suggests to me that short haul T's and Cs need to rise. If BALPA allows recruitment into long haul for this reason, they surely aren't doing their job properly? Short haul commands are already close to becoming so junior that short haul FOs can move right to left on type. What are they going to be told when they want to do that? "Sorry, you're frozen because we can't recruit into your seat. We are giving your Command to that more junior long haul FO who blocked your move to long haul a few years ago." Where will it all stop?
Are you saying your source suggested people will be recruited onto long haul because it is the only position that DEPs with decent experience levels are prepared to sign up for? That suggests to me that short haul T's and Cs need to rise. If BALPA allows recruitment into long haul for this reason, they surely aren't doing their job properly? Short haul commands are already close to becoming so junior that short haul FOs can move right to left on type. What are they going to be told when they want to do that? "Sorry, you're frozen because we can't recruit into your seat. We are giving your Command to that more junior long haul FO who blocked your move to long haul a few years ago." Where will it all stop?
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Here & there
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Rex
Interested to know where you heard that there are people in the hold pool without the requirements for a ZFTT course? Meeting these requirements through either minimum hours or sectors was needed to apply, as I'm certain you are aware, so it would surprise me if this was the case. Besides the requirements aren't that demanding, especially the sector requirement.
I'm also interested in knowing what the "October shakeup" is all about, has anyone got anymore information on this?
Cheers
Interested to know where you heard that there are people in the hold pool without the requirements for a ZFTT course? Meeting these requirements through either minimum hours or sectors was needed to apply, as I'm certain you are aware, so it would surprise me if this was the case. Besides the requirements aren't that demanding, especially the sector requirement.
I'm also interested in knowing what the "October shakeup" is all about, has anyone got anymore information on this?
Cheers
Approaching Minima
I suspect it's reference to nothing more sinister or earth shattering than the results of the first "Crystal" run being announced (actually it is pretty significant if you don't get what you want...). That's the computer process that amongst other things churns out the results from the summer bid for internal transfers and AFAIK the list of who is probably going to get what is due end of Oct. The results of that give a clue as to the scale of movement between fleets/seats next training year and might give an indication of the scale of external recruiting.
GS-Alpha
Agree 100% with the sentiments expressed in your previous post. I know some pretty p'd off folks on short haul who had their move to a Long Haul seat blocked last year despite them having the required hours/experience. I am also aware that the main reason given for this was a lack of training capacity, which is down to the company, not the union. Even so I'm not sure the union reps will be able to hold the line for another year if people continue to feel their aspirational move from short haul to long haul is being blocked and they then see DEPs going straight to Long Haul seats.
I'm also interested in knowing what the "October shakeup"
GS-Alpha
Agree 100% with the sentiments expressed in your previous post. I know some pretty p'd off folks on short haul who had their move to a Long Haul seat blocked last year despite them having the required hours/experience. I am also aware that the main reason given for this was a lack of training capacity, which is down to the company, not the union. Even so I'm not sure the union reps will be able to hold the line for another year if people continue to feel their aspirational move from short haul to long haul is being blocked and they then see DEPs going straight to Long Haul seats.
Last edited by wiggy; 4th Oct 2015 at 08:13.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There have been a few mentions recently of "an October shakeup" and how it's something people are waiting for. As I am not sure what this exatly refers to could someone please explain?
Is it something that happens every October?
Is it something that happens every October?
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: FL370
Age: 38
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interested to know where you heard that there are people in the hold pool without the requirements for a ZFTT course? Meeting these requirements through either minimum hours or sectors was needed to apply, as I'm certain you are aware, so it would surprise me if this was the case. Besides the requirements aren't that demanding, especially the sector requirement.
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Here & there
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see, that explains things. Thanks!
Hopefully all of us in the hold pool will have some news over the coming months then, following the 'shake up'.
Good luck to everyone!
Hopefully all of us in the hold pool will have some news over the coming months then, following the 'shake up'.
Good luck to everyone!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi guys, deleted my previous posts as its clear they were a bit misleading and caused a bit of confusion with possibly the wrong terminology used. The situation that I was alluding to was that I was led to believe that you needed 3000 hours (including 1000 Jet) to go onto a long haul fleet with ZFT training, which many in the pool don't have. So just that if you're joining with more experience than that you might be surprised, that's all. Anyway I stand to be corrected.
Last edited by RexBanner; 4th Oct 2015 at 09:03.
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 2011 intake are all unfrozen next year. There's a whole load of Airbus F/Os waiting to go long haul as they can't take the relentless nature of short haul any longer, partly due to the BALPA agreed change to the duty-rig. There are 80 FPPs finishing training, and there's only one fleet they can join.
Denying unfrozen F/Os their place on LH isn't going to go down well.
Denying unfrozen F/Os their place on LH isn't going to go down well.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The initial FPP plan was for 400 over 5 years.
Your last post is a lot clearer Rex thanks. I think all a future more experienced candidate can conclude is that people already in the hold pool will not go to long haul ahead of them. However, I don't think they can say they'll get a long haul place ahead of an unfrozen apirational bidder. The bottom 1/5th of the 747 are new DEPs as it is!
Your last post is a lot clearer Rex thanks. I think all a future more experienced candidate can conclude is that people already in the hold pool will not go to long haul ahead of them. However, I don't think they can say they'll get a long haul place ahead of an unfrozen apirational bidder. The bottom 1/5th of the 747 are new DEPs as it is!
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Close to minimums
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It must be hard for the airline to balance the business needs for recruitment and also try to meet the fleet transfer requests from the existing pilot workforce. Are this and next year's numbers of 300+ pilots to be recruited each year so extraordinarily high that inevitably less fleet transfers will be granted? The training capacity and costs are too great, surely? Or is BA considered large enough to absorb these extra costs?
What is written in a BA pilot's contract regarding fleet transfer? I assume there is no guarantee after 5 years of having any request granted.
What is written in a BA pilot's contract regarding fleet transfer? I assume there is no guarantee after 5 years of having any request granted.
I assume there is no guarantee after 5 years of having any request granted.
Last edited by wiggy; 5th Oct 2015 at 14:07. Reason: deleting ing