BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Walmington-on-Sea
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I take your point, but for those of us having gone through the long process that is BA recruitment, presumably because what may be on offer is still better than where we are, it’d be nice to have some idea of what may be available instead of just treading water waiting to drown. Perhaps for some the future hinges on what fleet (SH/LH) is offered, but would be nice to know.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: uk
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Ten years ago the hold pool was drained due financial crisis knock on and swimmers had to reapply two years later if they felt the need.
i don’t think that will repeat and 2020 courses will be available and those in hold pool dovetailed in to courses where required.
Six 787 and further seven 350s to be delivered by end 2020.
Good luck
i don’t think that will repeat and 2020 courses will be available and those in hold pool dovetailed in to courses where required.
Six 787 and further seven 350s to be delivered by end 2020.
Good luck
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: South East
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Same, been swimming since March. Last told a start date Jan/Feb and would be told Sep/poss Oct. It’s all gone very quite recently. I think the T’cook situation is likely to have a big impact on our start dates.
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: UK
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Any idea whether BA have actually taken on guys/girls from Thomas Cook?
Reason being in as some of you will find out BA very works very very much by "process" and personally, IMVHO, I can't see BA side stepping the whole current recruiting system and bypassing those in the DEP hold pool to get ex Thomas Cook pilots on-line...but that's just my take on it..
I think UK/world economic factors are going to have a much bigger effect on uptake from the hold pool than the demise of Thomas Cook.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Right of the Middle
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As doubtless you know, seniority is king at BA, which essentially starts with your sim assessment date. That is the order in which start date offers are given (fleet/LH/SH specific of course, depending on requirements).
And so I’d expect BA to follow that script this time. They got a bit of stick for not doing what VS did, who made a big noise about offering opportunities to Monarch pilots, but as Wiggy says, the company are very process driven.
And the reality is that Virgin likely made a noise to generate some good PR, and the number of MON pilots they took on ahead of those they had already assessed was probably very very small...
FCR
Last edited by FoxChaRomeo; 19th Oct 2019 at 16:40. Reason: Grammar
Join Date: May 2019
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Also keep in mind that they surely want as much flexibility RE: fleet planning as they can get. Given most people have a 3 month notice period, it seems logical that they’d offer people start dates with 3 months and 1 day to go, with 1 day to respond to the offer.
All that to say: for start dates in Feb they don’t need to make the offer until the end of November at the latest.
H
All that to say: for start dates in Feb they don’t need to make the offer until the end of November at the latest.
H
How come people in the hold pool are starting courses before those already in the pool??
As you say, are BA not process driven, therefore we should all be in order. ?
swimming since March.
As you say, are BA not process driven, therefore we should all be in order. ?
swimming since March.
Join Date: Nov 2018
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I think that's the underlying query. I can only repeat that I'm highly sceptical, it's not the "BA way"....the only justification for any jumping that does happen might be the sort of scenario Jock Trapped has described.
Last edited by wiggy; 20th Oct 2019 at 06:39.
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A few TCX pilots have been prioritised, screened, offers made, accepted and have start dates. Mix of 320/350 offers. Not a lot and not a threat to remaining hold poolers. Don’t know exact numbers but this is from a trainer.
For 2020 the numbers vary greatly. Brexit, possible economic downturn, TCX demise, perhaps another airline going bankrupt in LGW, who knows? It all has a massive impact on recruitment. Even the IA going on will influence the bean counters. And that’s the biggest point, we need pilots, desperately. But not a single one has been approved yet by the budget. The airline is run by finances, they approve the budget and then flight OPS will try their best to make it work. Frustrating for all. We on the line feel the beating of the whip and could use the extra ladies and gents!
Before anybody asks, numbers ranging from 0 recruitment (highly unlikely) to 400 (highly unlikely) for next year. So somewhere in the middle? I joined BA 2 years ago on SH, gave up a regional jet command. Is it perfect? No, far from it. But after surviving three struggling airlines, this is a breath of fresh air!
is it hard work? Yes. Am I happy I did it? Yes. Long term vision is key. I couldn’t see myself commuting to a 6-3 pattern regional job on an old jet. 4-5 sectors a day for the rest of my career. Get in, do your thing, have fun on the line (interesting destinations and lovely people to fly with 99 out of a 100).
Just my two cents
For 2020 the numbers vary greatly. Brexit, possible economic downturn, TCX demise, perhaps another airline going bankrupt in LGW, who knows? It all has a massive impact on recruitment. Even the IA going on will influence the bean counters. And that’s the biggest point, we need pilots, desperately. But not a single one has been approved yet by the budget. The airline is run by finances, they approve the budget and then flight OPS will try their best to make it work. Frustrating for all. We on the line feel the beating of the whip and could use the extra ladies and gents!
Before anybody asks, numbers ranging from 0 recruitment (highly unlikely) to 400 (highly unlikely) for next year. So somewhere in the middle? I joined BA 2 years ago on SH, gave up a regional jet command. Is it perfect? No, far from it. But after surviving three struggling airlines, this is a breath of fresh air!
is it hard work? Yes. Am I happy I did it? Yes. Long term vision is key. I couldn’t see myself commuting to a 6-3 pattern regional job on an old jet. 4-5 sectors a day for the rest of my career. Get in, do your thing, have fun on the line (interesting destinations and lovely people to fly with 99 out of a 100).
Just my two cents
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is it hard work? Yes. Am I happy I did it? Yes. Long term vision is key. I couldn’t see myself commuting to a 6-3 pattern regional job on an old jet. 4-5 sectors a day for the rest of my career. Get in, do your thing, have fun on the line (interesting destinations and lovely people to fly with 99 out of a 100).
Just my two cents
every day is a school day when it come to understanding the BA way..TBH I can't see how anybody recently made redundant by TCX having already been given start dates doesn't potentially "threaten" in some way shape or form some of those remaining in the hold pool, but I think I'd best leave that for others better placed to debate.
Thanks for the update.
Additionally, if TCX holdpoolers have been prioritised that’s a bit of a joke. It’d definitely jeopardise everyone in the holdpool they’ve leapfrogged, it’s simply has to have done. At the very least it’s put them up the seniority list which in itself is a joke. I wonder if BA called everyone in the hold pool to ask if they’re still in work, or just assumed it’s only TCX crew that aren’t working since applying. I doubt it.
Join Date: May 1999
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Best T&C’s in the industry? That’ll be a hell of a fight to achieve this- as a new joiner you don’t even have as good a T&C as your slightly longer serving colleagues.
Additionally, if TCX holdpoolers have been prioritised that’s a bit of a joke. It’d definitely jeopardise everyone in the holdpool they’ve leapfrogged, it’s simply has to have done. At the very least it’s put them up the seniority list which in itself is a joke. I wonder if BA called everyone in the hold pool to ask if they’re still in work, or just assumed it’s only TCX crew that aren’t working since applying. I doubt it.
