BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[VxVy]

777 first officer bidding

In terms of bidding , I have a few questions for any Long haul (preferably 777) pilots;

What is the least popular destinations and what are the most popular ones for first officers?

Even with a blind line, are you allowed to trade with other FO's?

Even though there is no guarantee of success, can you specify a particular start time or end time for a particular day? (In theory could you request for example; Saturday nights from 6pm onwards, or request to work every Sunday)

Do you also get to bid for your annual recurrent sim training slots?


Thanks guys!

[P0tt3r]

Originally Posted by Chief Brody

Nil Further / Twiglet

It's time to vacate this thread with your Easy FTL back and forth...

Yes, and Rex.

Back on topic.

Is the Fixed Flight Pay 1 or 2 months in arrears?
Is the £3.39 "away from base pay" 1 or 2 months in arrears?
Are either/both payable for ground school/sim?

It's 2 weeks leave in winter, and 2 in summer. Are they 7 day blocks?
Same question re the "duty free" weeks, and do you have to be contactable in the "duty free" weeks?

Thanks.

[wiggy]

VxVy

As far as the 777 is since I'm not an FO I can't tell you their preferred destinations other than the obvious ones such as SIN and EZE ..

Anyhow to answer to some of your other questions...

Even with a blind line, are you allowed to trade with other FO's?

AFAIK Yes but I'm not an expert on that - I believe there might be problems with credit transfer if you're trying to trade with a Tripline holder.

Even though there is no guarantee of success, can you specify a particular start time or end time for a particular day? (In theory could you request for example; Saturday nights from 6pm onwards, or request to work every Sunday)

You can certainly submit blindline preferences but at the moment at least Pre-Ops (scheduling) build the Blindlines from the selection of whatever trips are left unallocated after all the Triplines have been put together, so their/your choice is limited. Best you might expect is a result from a broad preference such as "long trips preferred", or "LHR trips preferred". I certainly think you'd be very lucky if Pre-Ops actively considered a preference for start/end times....but you can always ask....

Do you also get to bid for your annual recurrent sim training slots?

Annual? I wish! It's six monthly - Yes, you can submit a preference for certain days, and training admin might try to comply with your wishes, but again no guarantees - you often get something out of the slots that are left after they've rostered those on courses....

[RexBanner]

Excuse me P0tt3r I actually tried to relate my comments on the introduction of EASA FTLs to the impact on the industry and British Airways (in the context of a previous comment from someone implying that it was a bad decision to join BA as a result of the implementation of EASA FTLs as if the rest of the industry were somehow immune!).

The comments regarding how EASA was being dealt with specifically and exclusively involving easyJet were nothing to do with me. But as you rightly say, it's time to move back to the recruitment theme..

[Carnage Matey!]

Is the Fixed Flight Pay 1 or 2 months in arrears?
Is the £3.39 "away from base pay" 1 or 2 months in arrears?

Fixed flight pay is paid every month so I don't think it's in arrears. TAFB pay is one month in arrears.

Are either/both payable for ground school/sim?

No.

It's 2 weeks leave in winter, and 2 in summer. Are they 7 day blocks?

Its one 7 day and one 6 day block, both start on a Saturday.

Same question re the "duty free" weeks, and do you have to be contactable in the "duty free" weeks?

7 day blocks and you are not contactable. You can work in a DFW if you wish but not in Leave.

[P0tt3r]

Thanks Carnage.

Does leave attract "wrap days"? And do the duty free weeks?

[Tay Cough]

Its one 7 day and one 6 day block, both start on a Saturday.

Nearly.

Two seven-day leave blocks starting on a Saturday, with associated wrap days.

[no sponsor]

Holidays: can only be taken in blocks of 7 days. Always start on a Saturday. You get wrap days (days supposedly free of duty) either before or after the 7 days. Before, then you get 3 wrap days prior to the Saturday OR 4 days after i.e. you only get one set of wrap days on a 7 day block. If you manage to get 14 days off, then you'll get 3 wrap days at the beginning and 4 off at the end, unless you bid otherwise.

[P0tt3r]

Originally Posted by no sponsor

Holidays: can only be taken in blocks of 7 days. Always start on a Saturday. You get wrap days (days supposedly free of duty) either before or after the 7 days. Before, then you get 3 wrap days prior to the Saturday OR 4 days after i.e. you only get one set of wrap days on a 7 day block. If you manage to get 14 days off, then you'll get 3 wrap days at the beginning and 4 off at the end, unless you bid otherwise.

Ok. So each leave block is 10-11 days including wrap days (at one end), and may or may not cover 2 weekends.

Very useful thanks.

[Permafrost_ATPL]

Since it does not appear that ground school duties attract any duty payments, can someone confirm whether the type rating sim duties do?

Just trying to do some financial planning for the next couple of months

[GS-Alpha]

The hourly payment you are referring to is called TAFB and stands for 'time away from base'. If you are a Heathrow based pilot, and you are doing your ground school and simulator training at Heathrow, then you are not leaving base.

[bucket_and_spade]

The flying pay allowance is paid from day one with the company. It was in my first pay packet earlier last year.

[Permafrost_ATPL]

Thanks bucket_and_spade

[P0tt3r]

Originally Posted by bucket_and_spade

The flying pay allowance is paid from day one with the company. It was in my first pay packet earlier last year.

Excellent. That makes sense to me.

[GS-Alpha]

Permafrost, sorry if I misled you there. You asked about duty based pay and despite its name, the 'flying pay allowance' is not a duty based payment. You'll receive it every month regardless of whether you fly, have a conversion course, are off sick or on leave.

[glipglop]

So I've just had my uniform fitting, and the shirts feel absolutely massive. Any idea if they are allowed to be altered? If so, any recommendations?

Apologies if too far off topic.

[wiggy]

Congratulations, getting any size or shape of shirt out of uniform stores is a major victory.

Don't worry about altering shirts for size and fit, nobody is going to check. The main uniform crimes to steer clear off are firstly not wearing a hat and secondly don't sling your backpack over your shoulder as you walk through T5...

And with that, the dot you see is me off running for cover

[glipglop]

Haha, perfect, cheers Wiggy! Appreciate the help.

[bleed leak]

Wrap days

Do you bid for if you want wrap days before or after the 7 days leave or is it lucky dip? Also any wrap days on the DFW or is that just 7 days starting Saturday?

Cheers
BL

[Permafrost_ATPL]

No worries GS-Alpha, all clear now. My current outfit uses duty payments regardless of type of duty, hence my question.

Been wearing ill-fitting shirt for ten years now, I was hoping that was about to end wiggy! Oh well