British Airways Direct Entry Pilot

[Chris the Robot]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Have they never considered (a return to!) small UK bases now they have an all A320 short haul fleet with aircraft night stopping at BHD/GLA/EDI/ABZ/NCL every day? Would allow a small pool of pilots to work outside of LHR and without the stress of London living?

Looking at the UK income tax system I do wonder how long it will be until a lot of pilots take the approach of "where can I live most comfortably whilst earning £99.9k after pension deductions etc?" I saw an article in a major newspaper the other day where a pilot did pretty much exactly that, regional bases would of course be favourable if this is/becomes a popular way of doing things.

[wiggy]

As far as BA goes certainly when I was there you could live where you wanted (within reason, including overseas) as long as you were prepared to spend your own money to get yourself to/from the appropriate London base.

I can’t see BA setting up regional bases just to facilitate that lifestyle (and overseas bases might well expose the company to unwelcome local taxes and social charges….).

Don’t forget BA had UK regional bases back in the day (until the very early 1990s?) ….you’d have to be able to show massive cost advantages to force the company to go back to that model…

Unless something massive has changed behind the scenes if I was planning on joining BA now I would assume it’s London based or nothing for the foreseeable future.

[WhatShortage]

How's the hiring for EASA FO's? I don't have the UK license and my license is before 2017 which I believe makes me suitable for the direct conversion isn't it?

I rejected once going to the assessment after passing the initial video, it's UNBELIEVABLE that they don't pay for the tickets, disgusting.

[traytabledriver]

Originally Posted by WhatShortage

How's the hiring for EASA FO's? I don't have the UK license and my license is before 2017 which I believe makes me suitable for the direct conversion isn't it?

I rejected once going to the assessment after passing the initial video, it's UNBELIEVABLE that they don't pay for the tickets, disgusting.

I believe you can be invited to the first in-person stage without having started the conversion process, but if you don't meet the third country requirements and can't/don't want to complete a full conversion within 12 months that would be purely academic

Of the 3 UK airlines I have worked for, none of them have provided any assistance in getting myself to the assessment. Your eventual base will presumably be LHR, so you'll have to get used to getting there yourself

[bda321]

They’re one of the only airlines in the world who will provide you with a no bond attached 777/787 type rating, but oh no, they won’t cover a £200 stay. What sort of logic is that? A reality check is in order here.

I hope they keep it this way personally, it sorts the time wasters from the genuine.

[hunterboy]

I think it is just a case of that they don’t need to. If there was such a shortage, they would look at other incentives or alternatives. I see that BALPA has been talking to DHL(UK) to allow the secondment of 777 pilots from DHL to BA to cover shortages. One thing about BA is they are very slippery.

[GS-Alpha]

I believe it’s not going to be a secondment as such. It’s more of an abridged application to join BA as a normal 777 type rated DEP FO, but their seniority place within DHL will be held open should they choose to resign from BA and return to DHL within 24 months of their last DHL flight. No doubt in a couple of years time, we’ll be hearing how BA 777 FOs are resigning in their droves because the company is so terrible.

[bda321]

I’m as surprised at all this as I am at the fact BALPA didn’t see it fit to inform anyone - the latter beggars belief imho and is more shock than surprise.

Given how pretty much everyone in BA made a conscious decision to go out of their way and apply, mostly due to some desire to “serve”, it waters down that value. The assessment wasn’t a joke and most went to great efforts in writing those essays.

I see the reps are trying to play it down as simply people being free to apply as they always were. If that’s the case and there’s nothing to see here, then what is the “deal” exactly, why are specific newsletters about it going out to pilots of DHL and how has a deal been struck yet simultaneously no change?

This reminds me of the second officer announcement .. paraphrased as “it’s gonna be different so we had to inform you, but don’t worry there’s no difference”..

[steview082]

Are there any more details available on the possible pay scale restructuring? It was mentioned in the EZY vs BAEF thread but thought it was more relevant for this one.

I assume the idea is to incentivise more people to take a SH command, is this likely to pull more people from the RHS of the A320 or LH fleets?

[R T Jones]

Very few details at the moment. The idea is to make short haul command more appealing. At lower pay points, it really is underpaid and overworked, relative to other 320 commands in Europe. If you’re a long haul FO 10 years in, you’ll be giving up a fair amount of seniority and therefore roster control for what after tax is not a huge amount extra money. So I do understand why they are reluctant. Add in a possible 6 year freeze if you’re going from long haul Boeing and it’s even less appealing. Especially as time to long haul command looks likely to reduce over the next 5 years.

The above all is my personal opinion, as I said we are quite short on details, facts and figures.

[White Van Driver]

Originally Posted by steview082

Are there any more details available on the possible pay scale restructuring? It was mentioned in the EZY vs BAEF thread but thought it was more relevant for this one.

I assume the idea is to incentivise more people to take a SH command, is this likely to pull more people from the RHS of the A320 or LH fleets?

Details are very sparse but the company and BALPA are talking collaboratively to make a more structured career pathway for pilots. One big part of this is making SH command more popular.

They've been very clear that no pilot will see their remuneration reduce.

Other tenets seem to be making SH command pay competitive with other Airbus operators (it is currently well below par), making sure Capts make more than FOs, and accounting for significant previous experience.

There are other non-pay things being discussed like starting a system for taking a career break, reducing the aspirational fleet change freeze amd several other minor bits and bobs.

Also some trial improvements to SH are coming similar to the LH ones (more golden days, scheduling improvements).

It's all very complicated and there are no real details out yet, nor will there be for some time yet. They said next few months for what the structure might look like. My guess is we'd be lucky to be voting on it by middle of next year- maybe I'm a cynic.

[Speed_Trim_Fail]

Originally Posted by White Van Driver

Details are very sparse but the company and BALPA are talking collaboratively to make a more structured career pathway for pilots. One big part of this is making SH command more popular.

They've been very clear that no pilot will see their remuneration reduce.

Other tenets seem to be making SH command pay competitive with other Airbus operators (it is currently well below par), making sure Capts make more than FOs, and accounting for significant previous experience.

There are other non-pay things being discussed like starting a system for taking a career break, reducing the aspirational fleet change freeze amd several other minor bits and bobs.

Also some trial improvements to SH are coming similar to the LH ones (more golden days, scheduling improvements).

It's all very complicated and there are no real details out yet, nor will there be for some time yet. They said next few months for what the structure might look like. My guess is we'd be lucky to be voting on it by middle of next year- maybe I'm a cynic.

I will add to this that there seems to be a real
appetite amongst SH FOs to have a much more mentored command course more in line with the likes of EZY etc… which personally I’d be fully on board with and I’ve heard is being looked at.

Of course it is possible that they want to move seats purely to avoid flying with me ever again

[Max Angle]

I will add to this that there seems to be a real
appetite amongst SH FOs to have a much more mentored command course more in line with the likes of EZY etc

Good idea, the likes of British Midland and other UK companies were doing this 30 years ago but better late than never.

[R T Jones]

Having done both the easy and BA command courses, the BA was the more difficult one. Despite doing that with 4000hrs PIC on type compared to the easyjet course I did 8 years previous. Or perhaps I am just getting old and not as with it as I once was 😅

[monkey.tennis]

Originally Posted by R T Jones

Having done both the easy and BA command courses, the BA was the more difficult one. Despite doing that with 4000hrs PIC on type compared to the easyjet course I did 8 years previous. Or perhaps I am just getting old and not as with it as I once was 😅

I think the argument at easy is that the command assessment process is very stringent so by the time you get on the course it should be easy. In reality I think the training dept at easy has gotten far too soft and cuddly. The standard of new FOs is falling in my opinion, there’s almost no jeopardy so they just don’t put in the effort.

[737 Jockey]

Could someone briefly explain the BA staff travel for Pilots please? I was under the impression that one was given unlimited standby/discounted tickets but also two confirmed tickets per year, with the possibility of business upgrade when available. Is that correct? Thanks.

[GS-Alpha]

The confirmed tickets are only confirmed when there is a reasonable amount of spare capacity within the cabin, otherwise you remain waitlisted, which is similar to standby but with a higher priority onload and cabin entitlement.

[737 Jockey]

Originally Posted by GS-Alpha

The confirmed tickets are only confirmed when there is a reasonable amount of spare capacity within the cabin, otherwise you remain waitlisted, which is similar to standby but with a higher priority onload and cabin entitlement.

Right … okay, thanks… so does it actually work out then, if you’ve for example a family of four, have booked a hotel and excursion’s in NYC or another city… seems to have an element of risk attached?

[bda321]

I wouldn’t join BA for the staff travel

[SkyRocket10]

Originally Posted by 737 Jockey

Right … okay, thanks… so does it actually work out then, if you’ve for example a family of four, have booked a hotel and excursion’s in NYC or another city… seems to have an element of risk attached?

😂 First rule, never book anything that isn’t fully refundable.