British Airways Direct Entry Pilot
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Ireland
It might be a good idea here to just give potential joiners a quick rundown of our rostering system, JSS.
Each month the company lists all the trips for a full month. P777 its normally around 1500 or so trips to be shared among the 600ish copilots on the fleet. We then have a few days to put together our bids. This is currently happening now, for March rosters.
You can make up to 15 "bid groups".
In each bid group you have 7 buckets to fill with the trips, using a sequence of commands. Ultimately you can differentiate between the trips however you like... Mondays, report after 11.45am, Caribbean, BA283 on Wednesday, long layovers in Mauritius, anything you like right down to a certain flight number on a certain date.
The 7 buckets range from what JSS will try to give you lots of if it can, down to what it will try to avoid giving you, if it can. You can leave any trips you really dont want outside by not putting them in any bucket at all, and JSS won't even look at those trips for you.
But if it doesn't have enough work to build you a roster, that Bid Group will fail and it'll move onto the next Bid Group.
After it has made a roster for everyone, if it has too many leftover trips, JSS will open up rosters from the bottom up to squeeze more trips onto your month. It'll still try to give you what you've asked for but really all bets are off. This is called Global Constraints and has recently gone all the way to the top of the list causing much frustration.
On a practical level, i find as junior P777 i can't get any particular day off im after, but if i give it 20 destinations i like, it might give me one or two from that list. The rest will be from the lower buckets.
For March, I've tried to get a certain Wed/Thu off for childcare. Then I've tried to get the following weekend off. Then ive tried to avoid JKF EWR ORD. Then I've listed 23 places I like in the top 3 buckets (of approx 45 destinations on the fleet). I'll update here the result if anyone's interested.
Apologies if this post is seen as a bit off piste. But bidding and rostering is such a big part of life at BA I think it probably warrants a discussion...
Each month the company lists all the trips for a full month. P777 its normally around 1500 or so trips to be shared among the 600ish copilots on the fleet. We then have a few days to put together our bids. This is currently happening now, for March rosters.
You can make up to 15 "bid groups".
In each bid group you have 7 buckets to fill with the trips, using a sequence of commands. Ultimately you can differentiate between the trips however you like... Mondays, report after 11.45am, Caribbean, BA283 on Wednesday, long layovers in Mauritius, anything you like right down to a certain flight number on a certain date.
The 7 buckets range from what JSS will try to give you lots of if it can, down to what it will try to avoid giving you, if it can. You can leave any trips you really dont want outside by not putting them in any bucket at all, and JSS won't even look at those trips for you.
But if it doesn't have enough work to build you a roster, that Bid Group will fail and it'll move onto the next Bid Group.
After it has made a roster for everyone, if it has too many leftover trips, JSS will open up rosters from the bottom up to squeeze more trips onto your month. It'll still try to give you what you've asked for but really all bets are off. This is called Global Constraints and has recently gone all the way to the top of the list causing much frustration.
On a practical level, i find as junior P777 i can't get any particular day off im after, but if i give it 20 destinations i like, it might give me one or two from that list. The rest will be from the lower buckets.
For March, I've tried to get a certain Wed/Thu off for childcare. Then I've tried to get the following weekend off. Then ive tried to avoid JKF EWR ORD. Then I've listed 23 places I like in the top 3 buckets (of approx 45 destinations on the fleet). I'll update here the result if anyone's interested.
Apologies if this post is seen as a bit off piste. But bidding and rostering is such a big part of life at BA I think it probably warrants a discussion...
1. There is a CAP each month of certain hours you need to fly, is it Duty or Flight duty and how much is it? Does it change month to month? What happens when you dont hit the CAP or exceed it? Annual leave months how does it work?
2. As a commuter what are the limitations other than obviously EASA/UK CAA regulations on back to back trips which may give extended time at home? ie. 3 day trip, min rest, 3 day trip, 4-6 days off (is that accurate?)
3. Random question that will probably be answered by a phone call from someone at BA in the next month, which hotel to stay at for the training? Best bus to get there? I know there are loads but not all link to training centre.
4. Lots of new pilots are joining now, what does that look like for trips? Is there more capacity for more routes or slots in LHR or is it purely to resource the routes right now that arent covered?
Thanks for anyone with information. DM me if not comfortable with sharing info.
Joined: Sep 2022
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 328
Likes: 183
From: Perpetually circling OCK for some reason
Quite a few seem to, so yes. The consensus from those I know is that if you are not fussy with your bid and prioritise trips above all else then it can be quite workable - but do not expect many weekends off at home and of course reserve will be a pain.
Joined: Feb 2013
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 154
Likes: 7
From: London
Worth mentioning there is a neat function in JSS which allows you to “freeze” out the CRM challenged among us. Sadly it’s only available to FO’s…but relevant to all those reading these pages!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
This is great information thanks. As someone who is joining the 777 in the next couple of months and will be commuting I have a few questions.
1. There is a CAP each month of certain hours you need to fly, is it Duty or Flight duty and how much is it? Does it change month to month? What happens when you dont hit the CAP or exceed it? Annual leave months how does it work?
2. As a commuter what are the limitations other than obviously EASA/UK CAA regulations on back to back trips which may give extended time at home? ie. 3 day trip, min rest, 3 day trip, 4-6 days off (is that accurate?)
3. Random question that will probably be answered by a phone call from someone at BA in the next month, which hotel to stay at for the training? Best bus to get there? I know there are loads but not all link to training centre.
4. Lots of new pilots are joining now, what does that look like for trips? Is there more capacity for more routes or slots in LHR or is it purely to resource the routes right now that arent covered?
Thanks for anyone with information. DM me if not comfortable with sharing info.
1. There is a CAP each month of certain hours you need to fly, is it Duty or Flight duty and how much is it? Does it change month to month? What happens when you dont hit the CAP or exceed it? Annual leave months how does it work?
2. As a commuter what are the limitations other than obviously EASA/UK CAA regulations on back to back trips which may give extended time at home? ie. 3 day trip, min rest, 3 day trip, 4-6 days off (is that accurate?)
3. Random question that will probably be answered by a phone call from someone at BA in the next month, which hotel to stay at for the training? Best bus to get there? I know there are loads but not all link to training centre.
4. Lots of new pilots are joining now, what does that look like for trips? Is there more capacity for more routes or slots in LHR or is it purely to resource the routes right now that arent covered?
Thanks for anyone with information. DM me if not comfortable with sharing info.
If you exceed Cap you'll get some hours in "bank". These can be used later to swap or drop a trip, cash out, or to have a lighter month. If you don't make cap they'll take some hours out of your bank, but don't worry when bidding you can protect your bank so that doesn't happen.
Annual leave (as well as reserve, part time days) you'll get credit of Cap÷days in the month per day thus its pro rata.
2. Not an expert as not a commuter. But there are trips you can back to back. Small time change trips so Africa, Middle East. Also there's a way you can back to back an east coast trip but that's more involved. If you bid to waive industrial rest (2 days off minimum after a trip) it will help you bunch work into a clump giving a longer stretch at home.
3. Anywhere accessible Hatton Cross. It's maybe 20mins walk from Hatton cross station. Free carpark at training though so if you're bringing a car it's easier and you could stay outside the hustle and bustle of the city.
4. Again, I'm no expert but they look at the planned flying and decide how many pilots they need to fly it. Routes are always moving between fleets so it's a pretty fluid plan. If they're hiring a lot onto the b777 then maybe many 777 FOs have their commands this year? Or they want the 777 to do more flying? Or maybe we've been under-resourced ever since covid anyway? Haha probably all three. No doubt you'll be busy enough when you join the fleet. Welcome!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: AUS
very possible. Quite a few from GLA MAN & EDI doing it. I’ve met more commuters than “locals” and like the above post mentions, don’t be too specific on bids and it works well. Commuters prefer 4/5 day tours with late starts to minimise the need of a premier inn the night before:after.
if you don’t care where you go, but you just want to maximise your days off after trips. It’s very commutable.
reserve is a total pain, there’s a few options but it’s up to you for what works best.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 13
From: Somewhere
Which sadly also isn’t a guarantee and doesn’t help you out on reserve!
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: earth
very possible. Quite a few from GLA MAN & EDI doing it. I’ve met more commuters than “locals” and like the above post mentions, don’t be too specific on bids and it works well. Commuters prefer 4/5 day tours with late starts to minimise the need of a premier inn the night before:after.
if you don’t care where you go, but you just want to maximise your days off after trips. It’s very commutable.
reserve is a total pain, there’s a few options but it’s up to you for what works best.
if you don’t care where you go, but you just want to maximise your days off after trips. It’s very commutable.
reserve is a total pain, there’s a few options but it’s up to you for what works best.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 14
From: UK
To add to the commuters who f you are coming from a city we night stop in you can bid for that or get on to the swaps.
GLA,EDI,MAN certainly have multiple crews night stopping.
Like others have said JSS is an art form in its self. Busy trips away to get maximum credit will be your target to get more days off between.
Can also go for part time if you’re not desperate for cash. 75% contract gets you 1 week off a month and it’s 18ish% drop in take home once you factor tax in.
GLA,EDI,MAN certainly have multiple crews night stopping.
Like others have said JSS is an art form in its self. Busy trips away to get maximum credit will be your target to get more days off between.
Can also go for part time if you’re not desperate for cash. 75% contract gets you 1 week off a month and it’s 18ish% drop in take home once you factor tax in.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 13
From: Somewhere
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: London
Has anyone else been offered a LH sim assessment slot on the 747 as of Feb ‘24? I couldn’t make the time, but I was told it would be A380…
Who are people using for sim prep? Kind of tricky if it is indeed on the A380.
Who are people using for sim prep? Kind of tricky if it is indeed on the A380.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 147
From: FL390
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 13
From: Somewhere
Which was my entire point. If you’ve never flown an Airbus the 320 will serve you perfectly well enough to give you a heads up enough to display your non technical skills. No need whatsoever to bust a gut or your wallet trying to search for what must be an extremely limited availability of 380 sims.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 648
Likes: 74
From: uk
Quite the opposite, how you interact and think in an unfamiliar and challenging environment is most interesting and relevant. Maybe some pass under the radar at this stage purely down to the sim preparation freeing up their capacity and then their not so good non techs surface during training and on the line.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,978
Likes: 329
From: Hong Kong
