BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bizarrely it’s reassuring to know that other swimmers aren’t hearing anything either.
Nothing here, likewise for a colleague at my current place on a similar timeline. We’re both required to give 3 months notice which I guess is industry standard. It’d be nice to at least get a generic “we haven’t forgotten about you” a bit more often!!
Nothing here, likewise for a colleague at my current place on a similar timeline. We’re both required to give 3 months notice which I guess is industry standard. It’d be nice to at least get a generic “we haven’t forgotten about you” a bit more often!!
Bizarrely it’s reassuring to know that other swimmers aren’t hearing anything either.
Nothing here, likewise for a colleague at my current place on a similar timeline. We’re both required to give 3 months notice which I guess is industry standard. It’d be nice to at least get a generic “we haven’t forgotten about you” a bit more often!!
Nothing here, likewise for a colleague at my current place on a similar timeline. We’re both required to give 3 months notice which I guess is industry standard. It’d be nice to at least get a generic “we haven’t forgotten about you” a bit more often!!
Pool
I’ve heard from a pretty good source BA are planning to take 300-450 next year (the high number is what P&P need to make the plan work, the low number is what finance will pay for). 2/3rds of them will be Shorthaul, the balance (about 80-100 depending on which number you use) will be longhaul. Also potentially a resumption of FPP too.
Good luck, swimmers. It’s not all bad when you get here, despite what some might have you believe.
Good luck, swimmers. It’s not all bad when you get here, despite what some might have you believe.
Last edited by thetimesreader84; 6th Nov 2019 at 07:03.
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2017
Location: England
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes they will only go short haul. As far as I am aware, they have a longer training footprint than DEPs, but are significantly cheaper once they are trained up. They will be in a hold pool just the same, but that will not mean they are at the back of the current queue. Each pilot is recruited from the pool according to how their particular training footprint, and destination fleet requires. It is not a straight forward first into the pool, first out.
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: surrey
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes they will only go short haul. As far as I am aware, they have a longer training footprint than DEPs, but are significantly cheaper once they are trained up. They will be in a hold pool just the same, but that will not mean they are at the back of the current queue. Each pilot is recruited from the pool according to how their particular training footprint, and destination fleet requires. It is not a straight forward first into the pool, first out.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello folks.
Considering BA at the moment.
Hypothetically... If I was offered and subsequently accepted DEP long haul (not too fussed on fleet as long as it's long haul), and bid for a LGW command on day 1 of joining, how would that work out in theory? (Have plenty of Airbus hours). Am I correct in saying your type freeze wouldn't apply in that instance? And am I also correct in saying that LGW command is c.18 months at the moment? How long is the hold pool at the moment? Any other flaws in my plan? i.e worst case, what happens if you don't get through a A320 command course, do you go back to LH FO?
Many thanks in advance.
Considering BA at the moment.
Hypothetically... If I was offered and subsequently accepted DEP long haul (not too fussed on fleet as long as it's long haul), and bid for a LGW command on day 1 of joining, how would that work out in theory? (Have plenty of Airbus hours). Am I correct in saying your type freeze wouldn't apply in that instance? And am I also correct in saying that LGW command is c.18 months at the moment? How long is the hold pool at the moment? Any other flaws in my plan? i.e worst case, what happens if you don't get through a A320 command course, do you go back to LH FO?
Many thanks in advance.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, UK
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are engagement frozen for five training years when you start at BA, however this can be reduced to four years for a first command. Unless you are short haul it is very unlikely you will be released from your freeze early. I believe there was a supplementary bid last year due to a shortage of applicants for Gatwick commands and some pilots were released from long haul freezes early. However this is most certainly the exception rather than the rule, and was in part due to the increased flying, which arose from the purchase of Monarch slots. It is unlikely to happen again.
As far as failing a command after returning from long haul. BA are pretty brutal nowadays and my understanding is that you would remain in short haul in the rhs, with the possibility that you could try again when you are no longer cat c (2yrs).
Recruitment is expected to number anything upto 400 next year, however BA recruited huge numbers in 2014/15 and many of these will be unfrozen and will take the majority of the long haul positions. This has not been the case in previous years as recruitment was quieter between 2012-14. My guess is that DEP short haul is more likely going forward.
As far as failing a command after returning from long haul. BA are pretty brutal nowadays and my understanding is that you would remain in short haul in the rhs, with the possibility that you could try again when you are no longer cat c (2yrs).
Recruitment is expected to number anything upto 400 next year, however BA recruited huge numbers in 2014/15 and many of these will be unfrozen and will take the majority of the long haul positions. This has not been the case in previous years as recruitment was quieter between 2012-14. My guess is that DEP short haul is more likely going forward.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are engagement frozen for five training years when you start at BA, however this can be reduced to four years for a first command. Unless you are short haul it is very unlikely you will be released from your freeze early. I believe there was a supplementary bid last year due to a shortage of applicants for Gatwick commands and some pilots were released from long haul freezes early. However this is most certainly the exception rather than the rule, and was in part due to the increased flying, which arose from the purchase of Monarch slots. It is unlikely to happen again.
As far as failing a command after returning from long haul. BA are pretty brutal nowadays and my understanding is that you would remain in short haul in the rhs, with the possibility that you could try again when you are no longer cat c (2yrs).
Recruitment is expected to number anything upto 400 next year, however BA recruited huge numbers in 2014/15 and many of these will be unfrozen and will take the majority of the long haul positions. This has not been the case in previous years as recruitment was quieter between 2012-14. My guess is that DEP short haul is more likely going forward.
As far as failing a command after returning from long haul. BA are pretty brutal nowadays and my understanding is that you would remain in short haul in the rhs, with the possibility that you could try again when you are no longer cat c (2yrs).
Recruitment is expected to number anything upto 400 next year, however BA recruited huge numbers in 2014/15 and many of these will be unfrozen and will take the majority of the long haul positions. This has not been the case in previous years as recruitment was quieter between 2012-14. My guess is that DEP short haul is more likely going forward.
In this instance if you were to be offered SH FO is a relatively quick (crack at a) LGW command still realistic under current conditions? And being junior does the new rostering system allow the ability to live in the North or are you pretty much tied to the S.E?
Again, many thanks.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, UK
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many thanks for the quick and thorough reply. Certainly food for thought!
In this instance if you were to be offered SH FO is a relatively quick (crack at a) LGW command still realistic under current conditions? And being junior does the new rostering system allow the ability to live in the North or are you pretty much tied to the S.E?
Again, many thanks.
In this instance if you were to be offered SH FO is a relatively quick (crack at a) LGW command still realistic under current conditions? And being junior does the new rostering system allow the ability to live in the North or are you pretty much tied to the S.E?
Again, many thanks.
It is very difficult to commute from Gatwick in the summer with minimum 11 days off. It is
more achievable from Heathrow, but it would seem anyone below about 60% seniority is getting very little control of their initial rosters under JSS and rely heavily on swaps. Perhaps someone who has joined in the last 2 years could confirm better.
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Onboard
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An Engagement Freeze is ‘active’ until completion of 5 years of service. However in practice, a 5 year freeze means a bid will not be considered for 4 complete training years. (MoA refers) The training year runs from 1 Jan to 31 Dec. Also bear in mind that if your initial posting is A320 at LGW, any freeze would not prevent you moving from LGW to LHR on the A320 should you wish. It’s a type freeze, not a base freeze.
The freeze situation is a bit anomalous. If you joined on the Airbus in the last 3 years and met the command requirements, you could achieve an LGW command (most junior is c4000 on the MSL). As discussed above, this year due to the Monarch slots there were a large number of LGW commands which led to anyone who bid for one in the main bid getting one, including LH DEPs within their engagement freezes, plus a supplementary bid for Airbus rated pilots. The rule set and pay scales aren’t designed for people getting commands within 5 years of joining mainline as it’s historically not happened. Junior LGW Captains are about the lowest paid A320 skippers in the UK.
I agree with posters above it’s unlikely to happen again, and BA can do what they like with you within the ruleset under the engagement freeze. One of the reasons LGW is so junior is that you realistically have to live within 30-40 min drive of Gatwick due to the fact it’s mainly day trips and fairly random rosters.
I agree with posters above it’s unlikely to happen again, and BA can do what they like with you within the ruleset under the engagement freeze. One of the reasons LGW is so junior is that you realistically have to live within 30-40 min drive of Gatwick due to the fact it’s mainly day trips and fairly random rosters.
That's worth emphasising... - the company can and occasionally do choose to ignore freezes when it suits them for manpower purposes, but it's not the norm and anyone joining BA or planning on joining BA should assume they will serve in full any appropriate seat/type freeze.