BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[Stocious]

(1) I read BA is one of few airlines that offers TRI (maybe also TRE?) position also to FOs. Teaching is one of my passions. If I could combine SH flying w/ TR instructing, that would only boost my motivation to join BA. Questions:
(1.1) How senior & how much flying hours does a pilot at BA have to have to be sent to TRI course and start working as a TR instructor?
(1.2) My goal for instructing isn't to become rich. OTOH, South East England is one of the most expensive parts of the world to live in. A cadet salary for the first 7 years is substantially lower than the DEP salary. So I have to ask is the work of a TRI (later TRE?) @ BA extra financially remunerated? If affirmative, how higher is the salary?

(2) Roster. I understand junior FOs at LGW don't have any influence over their roster at beginning. I'd like to know how senior would one have to be to successfully bid for following roster: From July till September work any roster. From October till June bid for time off - each week 2 specific workdays off (i.e. 2 predefined consecutive or non-consecutive regular workdays from Monday till Friday) and fly all other workdays and whole weekends, e.g.: every Monday&Thursday OFF and other 5 days of the week ON. Can a junior FO get such a roster in 2 or 3 years from joining BA? If not, after how many years?

1) You could apply for TAH within BA. Realistically speaking for FPP to Training FO could be quite a leap for the first few years, so if that's your goal, I'd aim for it as part of my '5 year plan' and consider myself fortunate if it comes sooner.

2) It's not true that junior LGW get no control at all. The reverse is probably true - a junior FO at LGW will probably get more from his bid that an junior blindline holder at LHR. It is very possible to bid for every Monday and Thursday off at LGW, and you'd probably stand a decent chance of getting most of them off as it's probably not high on everybody else's bids! You probably wouldn't get them all off however because of the need for two consecutive days in eight etc rules, which tends to block work together.

Perhaps those more experienced in BA will be able to tell us whether a training FO appointment must be based at LHR?

[Tay Cough]

Yep, Training FO is LHR only.

[bex88]

Hi you ask some great questions but I think your putting the cart before the horse here and that will only pile on the stress and pressure.

The short answer is that BA can offer you everything you want but not necessarily at the speed in which you would want. TRI has a legal requirement of 1500hrs on multi pilot aircraft. You would be hard pressed to see it within 5 years and IMHO our trainers are generally very experienced. That said FPP guys are the top 2% in theory so why not. Seniority has little to do with it. It's down to you actually applying and then going through the interviews. If your suitable then you will be given the opportunity. Trainers work very hard in their training months and yes they get more money (not much more) but they loose out in duty pay so it's about even from what I have heard.

Rostering.......probably achievable if you put effort into your bidding and trading. If it's because of something at which you excel (sports) or you are undertaking further education the company are generally quite receptive to requests. Unless it's something like "I need every Saturday and Sunday off and I can't start before 10am on Mondays"

My suggestion is go for it. Come and join us. When it's not everything you want you can have a good old bitch about it. You'll fit right in then

[3Greens]

I applied and got a training FO job on the 757 3 years after joining as a cadet. Im
no ace of the base, so it its perfectly feasible.

[Luke_Stern]

Wow, you guys are great. Thanks to everyone for providing so much info.

In the meantime my 2nd post from Dec 28th has been approved by moderators and is now visible. To reiterate, my motive for roster question is further education.

About FO TRI: I take it it's a viable option then. But at LHR. And at least 3 to 5 years after joining ... That's all I need to know.

Onto roster:
@Stocious: The "Monday&Thursday off" was one example. You've mentioned the "need for two consecutive days in eight". I don't yet know the ins and outs of the LGW bidding system, so I understand this as "necessary 2 consecutive days off in 8 days time frame" rule. W/o annoying anyone w/ university timetables & attendance, let me say the 2 consecutive workdays off would also work for me ... Hence for example: one year from October till June I would gladly bid for Mondays&Tuesdays off and other 5 days on; and next year bid Thursdays&Fridays off and other 5 days on, etc. ... (1.) Would I stand better chances winning such a bid than previous example "Monday&Thursday off" ? ... (2.) Generally speaking, how junior/senior does a LGW cadet/FO have to be to successfully bid any above described 'workdays off' rosters? - Already 1st year or 2, 3 or more years after joining BA?
@bex88: We'll always find sth. to b!tch about. But for now I'm really glad to know BA considers education as a favorable circumstance and are receptive to requests for bids/trades/swaps. One more reason I like BA.

Thanks for all the help!

P.S.: Hopefully, this post 'goes through' sooner than previous one.

[hunterboy]

I would add that BA considers further education as a benefit if they think it will be of benefit to BA when you graduate. If you wanted to do a course in basket weaving, you may find that they are less helpful.

[Stocious]

You can change what you bid for every month at LGW if you so choose. You'd stand a reasonably good chance of getting a number of consecutive weekdays off each month right from the start as it's not a popular bidding strategy, but you wouldn't get them all, and there would be no guarantee further than the roster you've just received!

[P0tt3r]

Is it possible to "port" an existing pension pot into BARP accrued at your previous employer?

[P0tt3r]

Thanks for that Ten Dollar. Makes sense to me to try and keep it all in one place, but best to know my options.

[2 Whites 2 Reds]

You can but you have to wait 2 years before you can port your other pension/s into BARP. Not sure why, just the rules of the scheme I guess.

Happy New Year All!

[P0tt3r]

Ok, I'll need to find an interim measure if that's the case. Thanks.

[Right Engine]

Originally Posted by eckhard

SH lines for Feb look exactly the same as those for Jan, apart from the addition of some ORY standover days

Ermm. Nope.

Many trips that under the old CAA FDP's are now in excess.
But ok under EASA.

Check out TRIP 2137, 2144, 2455. All at least 0:30 into discretion under the older, safer regime.

Trip 2487. 04:15 uk hotel pick up in ATH. ATH-LHR-PSA-LHR.
Park at LHR at 17:00.

These are bad days before you even start.

[RexBanner]

Well if that's true you can only imagine what easyJet are going to try to get away with then. This is not a BA issue, it's an industry-wide one. Look at Wizz Air where you'll have (at least) two of those kind of days in a row.

[eckhard]

Right Engine,

Thanks; didn't notice those trips! Only three out of many but I'm sure that there are more lurking. On the whole, I still think that the total package isn't too different.

Happy new year

[Tay Cough]

It would probably be good to take even more care than normal before deciding whether to exercise discretion in future. Especially as the onus is even more firmly on the head of the captain.

Taking your nightstop kit should become SOP from February.

[Right Engine]

Originally Posted by eckhard

Right Engine,

Thanks; didn't notice those trips! Only three out of many but I'm sure that there are more lurking. On the whole, I still think that the total package isn't too different.

Happy new year

I wish it was '3 out of many'. I got to about 20 trips and gave up looking.. This is in a low CAP month. Dread to think what trip constructions will look like when the Summer charters start!

[Twiglet1]

Right Engine
Its well known that Easa FTL is more advantageous for morning departures but not so much for afternoon. The issue of previous'safer regime,' can only be perceived at this time - the new fdp's have been around for many years in Europe under the guise of sub part Q - flown by many more airlines than left in the UK. This offers UK airlines a level playing field.

My questions to you;

What was the name of the last decent sized UK AOC to start up?

If a BA crew member can fly in from home say AMS, hang around for4 hours then go fly for 3 sectors or a 2 crew flight stateside - if your that concerned over the longer FDP in the morning are you willing to comment on the commuting question ?

[Juan Tugoh]

Someone doing a silly commute is not germane to this issue, whether it be an air commute or a drive from Inverness to LHR prior to operating a service.

[pomme pilot]

Commute from Oxford area

Hi,

Im due to start with BA soon, and have decided to move South, as I don't want to commute too far.

Do many people commute from the Oxford area? If so how do you find it? Ive been offered a long haul position.

Secondly, how do Standby duties work from LGW? I understand for LHR it is 2 hours to report to the car park. Is it the same to the LGW car park?

Thanks in advance!!

[Juan Tugoh]

Lots of crew live in the Oxford area, it is an easy drive down the M40. It is well within the 2 hours to the carpark for a Home Standby - only SH do airport standby. There are no standbys for LGW as such unless you are SH, the 777 does fly from LGW but all pilots for the 777 are LHR based and special rules apply to LGW reports, so if called from sby for LGW they can still only expect you to be at 2 hours to the LHR carpark - they may ask you to try to be at LGW asap but it is not a requirement.