BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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You've got to love the horror attached to a Moscow "there and back in a day" - particularly on the 777 - when easyJet crews have been doing this for a long time on a much slower A319. As has been said before you have to take the doom and gloom from people firmly inside the BA bubble with a pinch of salt.
Wiggy, try Sharm and back in a day. Yes you read that correctly ;-)
Wiggy, try Sharm and back in a day. Yes you read that correctly ;-)
Oh dear, no whinging or horror from me ......I've "commuted" down the back with Easy often enough to have compared rosters and have heard a lot about the Sharm....
My comment was made because anyone reading a BA Long Haul roster for the first time might be perplexed to see the DME and might think it's a mistake/typo/or a carry in following a nightstop from the previous month (it's on first of the month) hence the comment.
There's no need to apologise, just hope that clears it up.
My comment was made because anyone reading a BA Long Haul roster for the first time might be perplexed to see the DME and might think it's a mistake/typo/or a carry in following a nightstop from the previous month (it's on first of the month) hence the comment.
There's no need to apologise, just hope that clears it up.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Wiggy I meant no offence and no worries I appreciate that the point was simply made to clarify the tripline in question. However, there are plenty of your (my) colleagues who I know for a fact would have a good whinge at that particular "trip".
I appreciate all your postings as it is helping plenty of people to plan for their (in my case distant) future.
Cheers
I appreciate all your postings as it is helping plenty of people to plan for their (in my case distant) future.
Cheers
The other thing to note is that we get 2 weeks leave in summer and winter and a weeks Duty Free each season (to make up for Bank holidays). You can opt to work in the DFW. Most people can get therefore a week off every other month. What you used to be able to do easily, but can sometimes be achieved, is to make the week off bigger by bidding appropriately.
We can still sector swap on trips to make your's shorter or longer and this is a computer transaction that will happen if legal.
I used to think that a full line was about 15/16/17 days of work and about 12 nights away on the 777. And at the moment we have about 52 destinations.
We can still sector swap on trips to make your's shorter or longer and this is a computer transaction that will happen if legal.
I used to think that a full line was about 15/16/17 days of work and about 12 nights away on the 777. And at the moment we have about 52 destinations.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Rex
BA shorthaul have been doing DME (and before that SVO) day trips since well before Easyjet was a glint in Stelios' mind.
It is a recent BA change from a short haul route to long haul that has seen the Club World product deployed on the ex BMed/BMI A321's and B777 and B744 aircraft on the route.
Hell, I remember doing an SVO return back in 1990 for BA on a B737-200 @ M0.72 with no area navigation system (*) and having to track NDB's all the way through Russia. The return sector with strong headwinds is in my logbook at 5 hrs 14.
Just saying!
(*) we had area nav using auto dme/dme tuning but there weren't any/enough at any time to give any reliable accuracy
BA shorthaul have been doing DME (and before that SVO) day trips since well before Easyjet was a glint in Stelios' mind.
It is a recent BA change from a short haul route to long haul that has seen the Club World product deployed on the ex BMed/BMI A321's and B777 and B744 aircraft on the route.
Hell, I remember doing an SVO return back in 1990 for BA on a B737-200 @ M0.72 with no area navigation system (*) and having to track NDB's all the way through Russia. The return sector with strong headwinds is in my logbook at 5 hrs 14.
Just saying!
(*) we had area nav using auto dme/dme tuning but there weren't any/enough at any time to give any reliable accuracy
Rex
Now I certainly can't argue with that 
. 
ATB
there are plenty of your (my) colleagues who I know for a fact would have a good whinge at that particular "trip".
. ATB
Join Date: Oct 2007
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All this talk of how EASA has affected long haul. SH has REALLY been impacted.
Prior to 0600, 3 sector days used to be limited to 9hrs 30. 4 I believe was 9hrs?
It is now 12hrs. This means early, early reports can now finish around 5pm. When the BALPA council of LH reps advised us that Short Haul will be changing it's scheduling agreement to harmonise with EASA limits in 2014. There was uproar.
We are now starting to see trips constructed with these 'augmentations' that prior to this deal, would have been illegal under the old CAA scheme.
In other words, we now have trips constructed that 2 years ago, would have required up to 2 1/2 hours of discretion to fly them.
This summer, with the addition of nearly 30 charter there-and-backs, it is highly likely that most trips will be constructed to EASA limits in order to fly the program.
We still do not have a visible Fatigue Management Reporting System.
Welcome to SH. Devised by BA. Sculpted by BALPA.
Prior to 0600, 3 sector days used to be limited to 9hrs 30. 4 I believe was 9hrs?
It is now 12hrs. This means early, early reports can now finish around 5pm. When the BALPA council of LH reps advised us that Short Haul will be changing it's scheduling agreement to harmonise with EASA limits in 2014. There was uproar.
We are now starting to see trips constructed with these 'augmentations' that prior to this deal, would have been illegal under the old CAA scheme.
In other words, we now have trips constructed that 2 years ago, would have required up to 2 1/2 hours of discretion to fly them.
This summer, with the addition of nearly 30 charter there-and-backs, it is highly likely that most trips will be constructed to EASA limits in order to fly the program.
We still do not have a visible Fatigue Management Reporting System.
Welcome to SH. Devised by BA. Sculpted by BALPA.
Join Date: Dec 2015
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Hi all,
Any insiders aware of how the rated A320 recruitment is going? Hopefully the A320 pool of potentials has dried up over the past 18 months or so and the sub 2000hrs non-Airbus brigade swimmers can be unleashed on the training department! Also, (no-one having a crystal ball appreciated) any idea what the 2017 DEP requirement may look like, should pass the 2000hr mark Jan/Feb next year...many thanks.
Any insiders aware of how the rated A320 recruitment is going? Hopefully the A320 pool of potentials has dried up over the past 18 months or so and the sub 2000hrs non-Airbus brigade swimmers can be unleashed on the training department! Also, (no-one having a crystal ball appreciated) any idea what the 2017 DEP requirement may look like, should pass the 2000hr mark Jan/Feb next year...many thanks.
Those of us working for the low cost competition have been doing 4 sector early duties with reports before 0600 and a duty time limit of 12 hours. Many of these days are well in excess of 8 hours block flying and in the summer one could be doing 5 of these in a row. I agree they are very much hard graft, especially in a noisy and uncomfortable flight deck like the 737.
I appreciate this is a fairly unpleasant shock to the system but if BASH is to keep up with the competition it will be harder and harder to do so without trying to work the aircraft (and necessarily the crew) harder.
I appreciate this is a fairly unpleasant shock to the system but if BASH is to keep up with the competition it will be harder and harder to do so without trying to work the aircraft (and necessarily the crew) harder.
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Those of us working for the low cost competition have been doing 4 sector early duties with reports before 0600 and a duty time limit of 12 hours.
Heard from someone the other day that EASA are thinking of renaming the themselves and deleting the word "safety" from the the name, be much more appropriate.
There was not "uproar", there was the same indifference and lack of action that has allowed BA to walk all over BALPA and the CC to walk all over the short haul membership. How many CC reps were sent packing after the decision?, none as far as I know.
When the BALPA council of LH reps advised us that Short Haul will be changing it's scheduling agreement to harmonise with EASA limits in 2014. There was uproar.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I would say try assessment day.com for verbal reasoning, however I received an email from BA recruitment this morning to tell me they've just changed the verbal reasoning test to a different style. So months of practice is out of the window and time to research the new style in time for Day 1. As for the computer based competency tests I didn't get any online.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Verbal Reasoning Test change
Hello Guys!
Just received word from BA that the Verbal Reasoning Test for Day 1 has been "updated"
. I was sent an example which now seems to cover any of the following....
1. Following Instructions
2. Numerical Estimations
3. Mechanical Comprehension
4. Fault Finding
5. Spatial Checking
6. Diagrammatic Thinking/Reasoning
The email basically said, please note that we have updated the verbal reasoning test. Therefore please use the refreshed practice leaflet attached, VTS1.
This verbal reasoning test measures the ability to follow written instructions. The topics covered are designed to be relevant to a technical environment and draw on the kind of materials often associated with equipment manuals or operating instructions.
Good luck!!!
Just received word from BA that the Verbal Reasoning Test for Day 1 has been "updated"
. I was sent an example which now seems to cover any of the following....1. Following Instructions
2. Numerical Estimations
3. Mechanical Comprehension
4. Fault Finding
5. Spatial Checking
6. Diagrammatic Thinking/Reasoning
The email basically said, please note that we have updated the verbal reasoning test. Therefore please use the refreshed practice leaflet attached, VTS1.
This verbal reasoning test measures the ability to follow written instructions. The topics covered are designed to be relevant to a technical environment and draw on the kind of materials often associated with equipment manuals or operating instructions.
Good luck!!!
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clmax,
I understand that only the 'ability to follow written instructions' (i.e. Test 1) of the VTS1 leaflet will feature.
Perhaps being able to follow instructions from that cryptic email is the first part of the assessment...! :-/
Its a million times better than the previous verbal reasoning test IMHO
I understand that only the 'ability to follow written instructions' (i.e. Test 1) of the VTS1 leaflet will feature.
Perhaps being able to follow instructions from that cryptic email is the first part of the assessment...! :-/
Its a million times better than the previous verbal reasoning test IMHO
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I attended day one last week and was asked after the two normal tests if we'd mind staying on and taking the new VR test as a trial. So most of us said yes and took the new style test aswell. To be honest it was much easier than the old test. A welcome change! The style was just as in test one as per the email.
clmax,
I understand that only the 'ability to follow written instructions' (i.e. Test 1) of the VTS1 leaflet will feature.
Perhaps being able to follow instructions from that cryptic email is the first part of the assessment...! :-/
Its a million times better than the previous verbal reasoning test IMHO
I understand that only the 'ability to follow written instructions' (i.e. Test 1) of the VTS1 leaflet will feature.
Perhaps being able to follow instructions from that cryptic email is the first part of the assessment...! :-/
Its a million times better than the previous verbal reasoning test IMHO
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Right engine
12hrfdp reporting before 0600
Problem is the rest of Europe has been doing this (safely?) for many many years.
I can't see however much discretion being used though.
Lastly don't forget airlines can derogate round ease limits much like they could cap371.
If BA pilots want to work/swap so they can do back to backs so they can get nice runs of days off all they need to do is come up with a safety case. You can bet no one will mention the F word....
12hrfdp reporting before 0600
Problem is the rest of Europe has been doing this (safely?) for many many years.
I can't see however much discretion being used though.
Lastly don't forget airlines can derogate round ease limits much like they could cap371.
If BA pilots want to work/swap so they can do back to backs so they can get nice runs of days off all they need to do is come up with a safety case. You can bet no one will mention the F word....
Join Date: Oct 2007
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I know of many resignations from BALPA because of this. I estimate over a 100. Which is around 25% of the SH P1 community. But yes, all reps remain.