British Airways Direct Entry Pilot

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
87.5% contract is 7 weeks on 1 weeks off
75% contract is 3 weeks on 1 week off
50% contract is 2 weeks on 2 weeks off
The weeks all run Thurs-Weds.
There are also 72% and 56(?)% aspirational part time contracts which are essentially based on calendar months and are 2 months on 1 month off or 1 month on 1 month off respectively, but you have to do a trip for recency in your month off. They haven't approved any of these for a few years however!
75% contract is 3 weeks on 1 week off
50% contract is 2 weeks on 2 weeks off
The weeks all run Thurs-Weds.
There are also 72% and 56(?)% aspirational part time contracts which are essentially based on calendar months and are 2 months on 1 month off or 1 month on 1 month off respectively, but you have to do a trip for recency in your month off. They haven't approved any of these for a few years however!

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
KIN is fairly junior.
POS is also fairly junior
ANU with a shuttle not super senior
NAS with a shuttle also not super senior
UVF fairly popular
3day trips without shuttle fairly senior (UVF, NAS)
PUJ one of the most senior trips on the fleet

Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 528
Likes: 62
From: everywhere
Thank you for the insight White Van. Just trying to get an idea of what it can/cannot look like as a newbie. Reading these forums it all seems fairly bleak with high fatigue and not so attractive destinations (not that that's going to cause me to scrap the application)

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
I've always been a very optimistic person so take my advice with that in mind. But I've found even as junior there's a great variety on the 777. You'll do Middle east (probably RUH instead of DXB), Caribbean (KIN instead of PUJ), N.America (JFK instead of BNA) and Africa (ABV instead of CPT).

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: London
Thanks for the reply on contracts! Do you need to be in the company a certain amount of time to apply for one?
what sort of destinations would a new 787 FO be sent to? Would you get much of the Asia trips or are they more senior?
what sort of destinations would a new 787 FO be sent to? Would you get much of the Asia trips or are they more senior?

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 100
From: Botswana
Big variety in popularity depending on the destination. You'll be able to get a Caribbean every now and then as a junior... but you can't be too picky regarding where or when.
KIN is fairly junior.
POS is also fairly junior
ANU with a shuttle not super senior
NAS with a shuttle also not super senior
UVF fairly popular
3day trips without shuttle fairly senior (UVF, NAS)
PUJ one of the most senior trips on the fleet
KIN is fairly junior.
POS is also fairly junior
ANU with a shuttle not super senior
NAS with a shuttle also not super senior
UVF fairly popular
3day trips without shuttle fairly senior (UVF, NAS)
PUJ one of the most senior trips on the fleet
Never seen a single P1 or P2 on it that wasn’t in the top 20% (probably top 15%) of their respective seniority lists, especially for the five day trips. I would hazard a guess that the Mon-Fri five day PUJ is amongst the most senior trips in the whole of BA. I know it’s not Caribbean but MRU is reasonably achievable for a low seniority FO. It’s worth factoring in that LGW trips aren’t necessarily the most sought after for those commuting from the north so that sometimes skews it.
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
Other way in is Right to Request which is assessed on a case by case basis.

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: London
You can bid aspirational part time once per year. But I don't think this is given out much in busy times like present. However I believe after 2 or 3 years bidding unsuccessfully for aspirational part time they must give you 87.5% contract.
Other way in is Right to Request which is assessed on a case by case basis.
Other way in is Right to Request which is assessed on a case by case basis.

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: UK
Aspirational PT, unlikely. Haven’t seen them awarded in quite some time. They are effectively 2 months on/1 month off or 1 month on/1 month off.
Right to request part time (75% and 50%) there is always a chance, especially as we seem a bit overcrewed on the 787 at the moment.
Right to request part time (75% and 50%) there is always a chance, especially as we seem a bit overcrewed on the 787 at the moment.

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 100
From: Botswana
RTR they kind of have to accept nowadays. Maybe not on the first attempt but they’re on shaky ground continuing to refuse as it’s all enshrined in employment law, hence the name Right to Request. Dont need to demonstrate a “valid reason” legally anymore, whereas in the past you needed to demonstrate a reason ie childcare, sick relatives etc. We’re seeing more and more of it nowadays, especially in the LHS of the 787 anecdotally and it’s the major contributor to the reason that LH commands are pushing down towards 2000 on the MSL. That and the workload at the bottom, which also contributes to the part time requests!
Last edited by RexBanner; 4th September 2024 at 19:02.
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hello,
Can anybody please provide feedback on the Navigation altitude related questions of the BA Crew Capacity Eagle test?
An example question for instance? What type of math is involved?
Thank you in advance.
Can anybody please provide feedback on the Navigation altitude related questions of the BA Crew Capacity Eagle test?
An example question for instance? What type of math is involved?
Thank you in advance.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 336
Likes: 15
From: Dubai
They will consider your application IF you have an EASA license but you will have to convert it to a UK license BEFORE you start. This is something that you will have to take up with the UK CAA and the requirements are on CAA website. The term "convert" is a somewhat liberal term, as you have to write all 13 ATPL subjects, get an initial medical and do a skills test on a UK CAA approved simulator.
They are also not sponsoring residency for EASA holders - what they will do is sponsor a Skilled Work Visa(and associated residency) for jobs that have a salary of > aprox 72k GBP. That is currently only DEC positions at Euroflyer & CityFlyer. I am lead to believe that next years' salary increment at BA will allow F/O's to meet this requrement.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 5
From: UK



