BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I've done marginally under 600 hours Bex! Full time P2 SH. Granted I've done a lot of reserve (half by choice and half those reserve periods were dead quiet) and three weeks of leave in peak summer. Still, low caps are fine by me.
Join Date: Jul 2016
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2019 possibly but a recent conversation I was having with a member of the P&P team suggested 2018 may only be slightly less quiet than this year
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Again Mike don't worry too much about what I've written. That's one person's opinion, there'll be others who will tell you something completely different. I suppose if you do drown there's a chance you may have to resit the whole thing but I'm sure I've heard stories of people in the past who were fished out after drowning and administered the defibrillator (successfully). It depends what mood they're in and how badly they need people I suppose.
TASS is short for a time assignable duty. It's what you're allocated when you're on a blind line and they haven't been able to reach cap with your other rostered duties. It works like a contactable in easyJet, for those who don't know what that is you will be contacted by current ops by 18:00 local at the latest the day before with your duty. If you haven't heard from them put your feet up and have a beer the next day. The only problem is that they prefer to use Time Assignable people before reserve period holders for uncovered work in advance, so it is likely you'll get used. But you're only contactable the day before, not on the day. Hope that's explained it.
TASS is short for a time assignable duty. It's what you're allocated when you're on a blind line and they haven't been able to reach cap with your other rostered duties. It works like a contactable in easyJet, for those who don't know what that is you will be contacted by current ops by 18:00 local at the latest the day before with your duty. If you haven't heard from them put your feet up and have a beer the next day. The only problem is that they prefer to use Time Assignable people before reserve period holders for uncovered work in advance, so it is likely you'll get used. But you're only contactable the day before, not on the day. Hope that's explained it.
I know your intentions are good RexBanner, but I'm not sure who the second paragraph above is aimed at. Surely those in BA already know this and those of us sinking slowly in the pool don't really need to know this until we have, 'put the gear lever to up for the first time on a BA aircraft.'
Three attempts to finally pass BA selection, it'd be seriously frustrating to sink after 18 months. Not sure I'd give it a 4th go.
Three attempts to finally pass BA selection, it'd be seriously frustrating to sink after 18 months. Not sure I'd give it a 4th go.
TASS?
Is 650 the norm for BA SH guys? How about LH?
Is 650 the norm for BA SH guys? How about LH?
Can't talk about SH but 650 sounds low for a Longhauler, I would have thought for most trip line holders it is more likely to be 750 plus on average and we certainly have more than a few bouncing off 900 hours.
While contributors have answered the "letter" of Saucepan's question as to what TASS means (and thanks very much too!), I think we were all hoping for more of a "spirited" answer - how does 640 hrs last year / 3 days TASS on this roster reflect current short haul crewing levels, and from looking at that (and a crystal ball, seaweed, runes or whatever you choose to gaze at) what can we divine about future crewing requirements?
I must admit to being baffled as to why BA would make you start your application from scratch again. You've proved yourself capable and willing to be an asset once, through what must be a costly process to administer, making people go through it again is only going to disenfranchise them, and cost BA time and money? Surely you would drain the pool before opening up any DEP again?
I must admit to being baffled as to why BA would make you start your application from scratch again. You've proved yourself capable and willing to be an asset once, through what must be a costly process to administer, making people go through it again is only going to disenfranchise them, and cost BA time and money? Surely you would drain the pool before opening up any DEP again?
Join Date: Dec 2005
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While contributors have answered the "letter" of Saucepan's question as to what TASS means (and thanks very much too!), I think we were all hoping for more of a "spirited" answer - how does 640 hrs last year / 3 days TASS on this roster reflect current short haul crewing levels, and from looking at that (and a crystal ball, seaweed, runes or whatever you choose to gaze at) what can we divine about future crewing requirements?
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Slight tangent but, for folks being given part-time now, how long have they been waiting? It is pretty much impossible to say, or is there an average or fleet-specific waiting period? What would one be looking at if going on the list as a new joiner?
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I've done around 800 hours on trip lines in the last 12 months. Just finishing a 7 day run today after which I have 2 days off.
Yep I did scratch my head a bit but seeing as SH isn't my aisle........perhaps a better indication is what's CAP looking like at the moment.
''Twas always the choice: sit on a BL with relatively little choice, wth TASS but perhaps more time at home, or try for a Tripline, knowing you'll probably have more choice possibly more predictability but also fly more hours.....
Anyhow with JSS is this all going to be moot?
''Twas always the choice: sit on a BL with relatively little choice, wth TASS but perhaps more time at home, or try for a Tripline, knowing you'll probably have more choice possibly more predictability but also fly more hours.....
Anyhow with JSS is this all going to be moot?
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100% under 600 hours on shorthaul in the last year, March to March. I've double checked in the logbook. Obviously with the caveats that I mentioned. Mix of triplines, blind lines and reserve.
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Yep I did scratch my head a bit but seeing as SH isn't my aisle........perhaps a better indication is what's CAP looking like at the moment.
''Twas always the choice: sit on a BL with relatively little choice, wth TASS but perhaps more time at home, or try for a Tripline, knowing you'll probably have more choice possibly more predictability but also fly more hours.....
Anyhow with JSS is this all going to be moot?
''Twas always the choice: sit on a BL with relatively little choice, wth TASS but perhaps more time at home, or try for a Tripline, knowing you'll probably have more choice possibly more predictability but also fly more hours.....
Anyhow with JSS is this all going to be moot?
I clocked 640 hours on 75% part time (A320) which would equate to about 850 hours full time. All trip lines. And two months off sick too!
Last edited by Doug E Style; 21st Mar 2017 at 17:41.
Cripes, 1976, one year on the T1e..............100 hours..........yeah, one ton.......thought I was working hard and collected me tea allowance for doing endless 1630 hrs check in .Oh, those were the days my friends ! Bort, we bombed around at M0.86 and LHR-NCL was 28 minutres..........er, flying time.....!
Join Date: Nov 2007
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My experience..
Exactly 2 years in the company as a full time DEP A320 LHR - already at 50% on the seniority list.
I am a commuter from the frozen north (well Aberdeen) so bid for blocks of work to reduce time on bath road or brothers spare bedroom.
In 2016 - 11 months of trip lines (last was a blind line as too difficult to make CAP due leave / sim) included in this was 2 months of reserve.
Total hours flown 707 (least 17hrs in jan (reserve) most 78 in august.
Remember CAP is not flying hours, for example an Amman standover is worth over 12 hours CAP but only 10:30 actual flight hours, trips are inevitably worth more then day trips.
Nights in hotels downroute 73 - remember I bid for trips.
Nights in my own bed at home in Aberdeen - 152.
I don't do overtime but on the rare occasions I have tried have been unable to as there is very little available.
Are we correctly crewed? I don't know but I am enjoying life and working less than when in the military or flying turboprops. Not sure if that sheds any light on the recruitment situation
Exactly 2 years in the company as a full time DEP A320 LHR - already at 50% on the seniority list.
I am a commuter from the frozen north (well Aberdeen) so bid for blocks of work to reduce time on bath road or brothers spare bedroom.
In 2016 - 11 months of trip lines (last was a blind line as too difficult to make CAP due leave / sim) included in this was 2 months of reserve.
Total hours flown 707 (least 17hrs in jan (reserve) most 78 in august.
Remember CAP is not flying hours, for example an Amman standover is worth over 12 hours CAP but only 10:30 actual flight hours, trips are inevitably worth more then day trips.
Nights in hotels downroute 73 - remember I bid for trips.
Nights in my own bed at home in Aberdeen - 152.
I don't do overtime but on the rare occasions I have tried have been unable to as there is very little available.
Are we correctly crewed? I don't know but I am enjoying life and working less than when in the military or flying turboprops. Not sure if that sheds any light on the recruitment situation
[quote=Icanseeclearly;9714357]
I can tell you the management answer to that and it will have a 900 in it......
I'd hate to say it but it does perhaps shows up the issues as to why some in the company don't like credited hours as a measure of work. Above all what you say doesn't paint a very promising picture regarding recruitment in the near future.
Total hours flown 707 ....
Are we correctly crewed?
Are we correctly crewed?
..Not sure if that sheds any light on the recruitment situation
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Taken from a management forum recently. Average 120 Pilots a year for the foreseeable. Some years will be more slack (like this year and possibly next) some will be busier. 2019/20 is the next big upcoming bulge of retirements.
It's a shame they don't give us our position in the pool and updates as and when they do pluck people out just so we know the likelihood of getting a call. I know people who've been in since April 2016 and I'm in from Sept 16. So imagine there's not too many before April and perhaps a few hundred maybe between them and myself. So not looking great really I don't think.