British Airways Direct Entry Pilot

[GS-Alpha]

Halbier,

Who cares what other operators use the stripes for? Within BA, two stripes is an indicator of how much experience the FO has within BA, and all captains know that. So why would there be loaded questions? When I see two stripes, I know I’m flying with someone who has recently been through BA’s training system and will therefore really know what they are doing - quite the opposite of the negative first impression in fact.

[midnight cruiser]

Slightly missing the point (and maybe doesn't apply to BA), but where there are lower limitations for inexperienced copilots, it saves the captain the peril of unintentionally giving the sector to someone outside their limits, when otherwise they can immediately see from their two stripes that they may be limited (either by the manual, or by general experience), or not, if they they have three. Plus the rostering booboo where two inexperienced pilots are put together - the captain get really get it in the neck for that one, especially if it is picked up mid trip!

And for those with forces experience, I always found ex CX skippers more straightforward - not sufferers of fools, but they'll tell you to your face at least! And usually a blast on a layover.

[Fadecc]

Hi all,

I've applied for Direct entry on the 320. I've passed the interview but have been waiting for a sim assessment since December. Some of my colleagues who interviewed 6/7weeks after me have already had theirs and signed their contracts so just wanted to check if this is something I should be chasing or not? Thanks!

[clvf88]

Originally Posted by Fadecc

Hi all,

I've applied for Direct entry on the 320. I've passed the interview but have been waiting for a sim assessment since December. Some of my colleagues who interviewed 6/7weeks after me have already had theirs and signed their contracts so just wanted to check if this is something I should be chasing or not? Thanks!

100% yes. Just send a polite email. You would not be the first to have slipped through the cracks.

[Alrosa]

One thing you soon learn after joining is that historically BA has done some things differently from what most of the rest of the industry has been doing.

Whether those things are better or worse is possibly subjective, but you soon learn to live with it, and in fairness I think some of the things are probably quite good.

Thrust lever handling, monitored approaches, the rad alt call and a few others. As a two striper, BA gives and expects a lot of responsibility. I’m not going to say it’s better. It’s just different.

[Propellerhead]

I presume the 2 stripe rules will change shortly with the introduction of the second officer role and changes to the career structure.

[White Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Propellerhead

I presume the 2 stripe rules will change shortly with the introduction of the second officer role and changes to the career structure.

As I understand the new SO role will wear 2 stripes, same as an FO. Same payscale too.

For what it's worth I joined with 2 stripes (from 4 stripes in my previous job) on the 777 and never felt even slightly that a captain was taking special care with me because of the number of stripes I wore. This was 777 though, I haven't any experience on the A320 fleet.

I did however, have a humerous conversation in a hotel lobby with a KLM crew who refused to believe I was allowed to land the aircraft.

[enzino]

Originally Posted by Alrosa

Thrust lever handling, monitored approaches, the rad alt call and a few others. As a two striper, BA gives and expects a lot of responsibility. I’m not going to say it’s better. It’s just different.

I thought all this was a thing of the past. Are monitored approaches and thrust lever takeover by PM still routine?

[Alrosa]

Originally Posted by enzino

I thought all this was a thing of the past. Are monitored approaches and thrust lever takeover by PM still routine?

Monitored approaches and PF handling of thrust levers for take off is SOP, yes.

[swervin'mervin]

Originally Posted by enzino

I thought all this was a thing of the past. Are monitored approaches and thrust lever takeover by PM still routine?

I think what was meant was that as PF the thrust levers are yours at all times, as well as taxiing the aircraft. Monitored approaches are still the norm, but reverse by PM is no more.

[extrakid]

Hi everyone,

Joining the SH fleet from March and looking for a bit of advice regarding commuting. Plenty has been said about it as I trawl the pages but nothing much specific to what I’d like to know. As a junior, how feasible is it to commute from EDI ? Plenty flights a day it seems.

I’m aware of the cost to lifestyle but unfortunately have a mortgage here so can’t move just yet. Happy to give up weekends and hotels becoming a second home. Ofcourse financial costs associated with it as well - any estimates on that?

If anyone has done similar before would appreciate their experience with it, or any general input indeed!

Thanks

[go-around flap 15]

Originally Posted by extrakid

Hi everyone,

Joining the SH fleet from March and looking for a bit of advice regarding commuting. Plenty has been said about it as I trawl the pages but nothing much specific to what I’d like to know. As a junior, how feasible is it to commute from EDI ? Plenty flights a day it seems.

I’m aware of the cost to lifestyle but unfortunately have a mortgage here so can’t move just yet. Happy to give up weekends and hotels becoming a second home. Ofcourse financial costs associated with it as well - any estimates on that?

If anyone has done similar before would appreciate their experience with it, or any general input indeed!

Thanks

it’ll be a miserable life which will often see you getting just one and a half days at home before going away for 4/5/6 nights for work again.

Nothing is impossible but beware of burnout, I’d recommend at least staying locally for your line training and not commuting during that key period.

If you were long haul it’s absolutely doable. The danger of commuting by air is that you've always got give yourself a backup option - which usually means getting the earlier flight than you'd ideally want when travelling down to LHR.

Does your mortgage prevent you from renting out the property in Scotland and moving down South until you become senior enough for either a) long haul or b) enough roster control to get longer trips with good days off inbetween?

[Seosan]

Originally Posted by extrakid

Hi everyone,

Joining the SH fleet from March and looking for a bit of advice regarding commuting. Plenty has been said about it as I trawl the pages but nothing much specific to what I’d like to know. As a junior, how feasible is it to commute from EDI ? Plenty flights a day it seems.

I’m aware of the cost to lifestyle but unfortunately have a mortgage here so can’t move just yet. Happy to give up weekends and hotels becoming a second home. Ofcourse financial costs associated with it as well - any estimates on that?

If anyone has done similar before would appreciate their experience with it, or any general input indeed!

Thanks

Generally it’s how the above poster said. Largely the thing that will irk you the most is a single rostered day off with an early start the following day or when on call as you’ll end up sitting around London wishing you were at home. You might not get a five day tour but if you bid for long ones over the weekends you’ll probably get something that will ease the hotel bill. Don’t forget you can bid to night stop up in EDI as well, as a junior you’ll probably end up with the minimum rest 04:10 hotel pickups but if you’re determined to make it work it could mean an extra dinner at home with the fam.

[cumbrianboy]

the single days off a thing of the past with the new rostering agreement for short haul, and generally more 3+ day blocks of days off between blocks of work.

You can totally make short haul work for a commute, but be sensible, as a junior FO, what you bid for, as if you go for the ultra commutable senior trips you won't get them, and then you'll fall into the system giving you whats left, bid for rubbish, but rubbish that gives you the days off you want and you'll be fine ...

[Fadecc]

Originally Posted by clvf88

100% yes. Just send a polite email. You would not be the first to have slipped through the cracks.

Thanks very much. For anyone else in the same boat I sent a follow up email and got booked in

[bda321]

Will they be compensating you for the loss of seniority as a result of their error

[3Greens]

Originally Posted by bda321

Will they be compensating you for the loss of seniority as a result of their error

What do you think ?

[extrakid]

Thank you go-around flap 15 — that input is much appreciated. To be honest, I think I had been thinking along similar lines already; it’s just helpful to hear it reflected back from someone with experience.

My original plan was based on applying for long haul, but I was subsequently offered short haul instead. My mortgage doesn’t prevent me from renting the property out in Scotland, so relocating down south is a realistic option.

Based on your advice, I’ve started considering areas such as Aylesbury or Milton Keynes as a more sensible base, at least initially.

[extrakid]

Thank you for your input Seosan — everything you’ve said makes complete sense. It’s clear that a lot of logistics would need to align perfectly, and as you mentioned, as a junior, ending up on minimum rest with early hotel pickups could quickly make the schedule feel unmanageable — even that extra dinner at home with the family might not be enough. I’d really like to have more quality time at home.

Taking your points on board, and after discussing with my other half, we’ve decided that relocating down south makes the most sense. We’re now looking at some plausible towns to commute from.

[extrakid]

Hello cumbrianboy, Thank you. I am not sure of the new SH rostering you are referring to, I am sure I will find out more on induction but a summary would be much appreciated! haha these measured bids are something I'll need to get used to