BA Direct Entry Pilot.
To explain my negativity, despite dropping out of the pool quite late in 2018;
I think BA will get some new aircraft next year. They might not take all the 787s they have scheduled for delivery early next year, but will take some - maybe 5 out of the 7 they've got scheduled between now and summer '18. Any SH (A320/321neo) aircraft will be more or less pro rata replacements for retiring aircraft, or sent to Spain, or elsewhere.
So there will be a need for new pilots in the spring, but I think the bulk of it will be met by the FPP cadets, the general overcrewing that BA seems to have at the moment, and lastly by people in the hold pool who are above me - but even then not many, maybe a dozen. If I had an expiry date between Dec - Mar, I think that'll be about the sweet spot and I fancy your chances. Before or after (I'm after) you'll be too far up or down the "seniority" to escape and drown in the pool.
Of course, all this rumour and speculation could be killed by an update from BA...
I think BA will get some new aircraft next year. They might not take all the 787s they have scheduled for delivery early next year, but will take some - maybe 5 out of the 7 they've got scheduled between now and summer '18. Any SH (A320/321neo) aircraft will be more or less pro rata replacements for retiring aircraft, or sent to Spain, or elsewhere.
So there will be a need for new pilots in the spring, but I think the bulk of it will be met by the FPP cadets, the general overcrewing that BA seems to have at the moment, and lastly by people in the hold pool who are above me - but even then not many, maybe a dozen. If I had an expiry date between Dec - Mar, I think that'll be about the sweet spot and I fancy your chances. Before or after (I'm after) you'll be too far up or down the "seniority" to escape and drown in the pool.
Of course, all this rumour and speculation could be killed by an update from BA...
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Jan 18
If they make offers for next year then that would start in Sept/Early Oct to allow 3/4 months notice. Will be interesting to see ......
I put a tremendous amount of effort into the "process" and must admit that a 4th time with no guarantee, having dropped out of the pool once would probably be taking the pi**
If they make offers for next year then that would start in Sept/Early Oct to allow 3/4 months notice. Will be interesting to see ......
I put a tremendous amount of effort into the "process" and must admit that a 4th time with no guarantee, having dropped out of the pool once would probably be taking the pi**
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Timesreader84,
I wouldn't be quite so negative if I were you. I expect BA to take all the 787s it ordered because at the moment we have many slots at LHR that we gained with the BMI takeover that are not being efficiently used. The slots are being used on shorthaul domestic and european routes like Leeds that don't bring in nearly the sort of revenue that a longhaul route does. Also 1 SH aircraft could use up to 4 pairs of slots a day where a LH aircraft would only use 1, and its slots that are at a premium at LHR. After the BMI takeover BA was very short of LH aircraft.
On the holdpool front I wouldn't count on costs being a reason not to expire. I was in the hold pool in 2010 when cost were just as much an issue and I drowned only to finally get a course in 2012 on my 3rd attempt. It happened many times before me and has happened since.
All the best and stay positive.
I wouldn't be quite so negative if I were you. I expect BA to take all the 787s it ordered because at the moment we have many slots at LHR that we gained with the BMI takeover that are not being efficiently used. The slots are being used on shorthaul domestic and european routes like Leeds that don't bring in nearly the sort of revenue that a longhaul route does. Also 1 SH aircraft could use up to 4 pairs of slots a day where a LH aircraft would only use 1, and its slots that are at a premium at LHR. After the BMI takeover BA was very short of LH aircraft.
On the holdpool front I wouldn't count on costs being a reason not to expire. I was in the hold pool in 2010 when cost were just as much an issue and I drowned only to finally get a course in 2012 on my 3rd attempt. It happened many times before me and has happened since.
All the best and stay positive.
Binsleepin,
I don't have a crystal ball, a hotline to Alex Cruz or Willie Walsh. I know a few guys on various fleets in BA, and that's about it. So anything I write is just guesstimating based on what's out in the public domain, and what little I can glean from here, and mates on the inside. Unfortunately, my guesstimates seem to be pointing towards 2018 being another slow year for recruitment, and given that I'm a long way down the list for recruitment, I don't think it's going to happen for me this time. I don't dispute what you are saying about LH vs SH slots, I just don't see sufficient aircraft orders / crewing levels to justify recruiting 40-200 (the generally accepted pool size) DEPs between September and July '18.
And if I have to go through it again, I'm not convinced of getting over the line second time around.
Congrats on finally getting in, even if it was some time ago!
I don't have a crystal ball, a hotline to Alex Cruz or Willie Walsh. I know a few guys on various fleets in BA, and that's about it. So anything I write is just guesstimating based on what's out in the public domain, and what little I can glean from here, and mates on the inside. Unfortunately, my guesstimates seem to be pointing towards 2018 being another slow year for recruitment, and given that I'm a long way down the list for recruitment, I don't think it's going to happen for me this time. I don't dispute what you are saying about LH vs SH slots, I just don't see sufficient aircraft orders / crewing levels to justify recruiting 40-200 (the generally accepted pool size) DEPs between September and July '18.
And if I have to go through it again, I'm not convinced of getting over the line second time around.
Congrats on finally getting in, even if it was some time ago!
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Ummm yeah I saw the share price earlier and had to google what had happened. As ever though with this industry we swing from one up to another down etc etc. I don't like admitting it but it seems the guys at the top may know what they are doing. The only sting in there was "our unit cost is still to high". Probably true but I doubt it's aimed in the direction of flight ops.
On a side note and more to the topic I flew with a new FPP recently so there is still some draw off the pool. A few friends of mine who went LH and were part time on SH have also decided that they will be keeping their part time on LH.
Ah yes one other thing was that the noises about pension sustainability from the company would seem to indicate that there could be some large changes for NAPS and APS on the horizon. I am no pension expert but the number of guys who have said "I am only hear for the pension, or the day that looks like it will close I will go part time and start drawing it" could change things with respect recruitment going forward.
Maybe it's overly positive but I certainly sympathise with those who have worked so hard to get into the pool.
On a side note and more to the topic I flew with a new FPP recently so there is still some draw off the pool. A few friends of mine who went LH and were part time on SH have also decided that they will be keeping their part time on LH.
Ah yes one other thing was that the noises about pension sustainability from the company would seem to indicate that there could be some large changes for NAPS and APS on the horizon. I am no pension expert but the number of guys who have said "I am only hear for the pension, or the day that looks like it will close I will go part time and start drawing it" could change things with respect recruitment going forward.
Maybe it's overly positive but I certainly sympathise with those who have worked so hard to get into the pool.
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A nice video here about the recruitment process for BA and a lot of the operations background. Not pilot oriented but interesting nonetheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY4ISW8uB1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY4ISW8uB1Y
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Yep, zero change from the last update.
Confirmed some of the stuff on here - part time has been offered, FPP courses slip to later this year, no dep recruitment expected this year.
And a request to not post rumours on social media sites.
Confirmed some of the stuff on here - part time has been offered, FPP courses slip to later this year, no dep recruitment expected this year.
And a request to not post rumours on social media sites.
Doesn't say either way. "The FPP graduates will now be joining us later in the year" is the phrase they used, in my email at least.
My reading of the tone is that BA are hedging their bets as to whether they'll need us next year. But I have been pulled up for my negativity on here before!
My reading of the tone is that BA are hedging their bets as to whether they'll need us next year. But I have been pulled up for my negativity on here before!
Last edited by thetimesreader84; 24th May 2017 at 10:12.