British Airways Direct Entry Pilot
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 312
Likes: 251
From: SE UK
Sounds a fun airline to join after all.
Can you also bid to avoid any of the really boring self-centred pilots on the 3 day trips? (those trips that give you so much more exposure to flying, than just going around europe in benign weather).
Can you also bid to avoid any of the really boring self-centred pilots on the 3 day trips? (those trips that give you so much more exposure to flying, than just going around europe in benign weather).
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 14
Likes: 10
From: Holding at DAYNE
Any idea how training capacity for SH is looking at the moment? Been swimming for a while and 6 years of flogging it in and out of Luton 4 times a day is starting to grate a little.
Assuming (and correct me if I'm wrong) the pool is a kind of FIFO system so if anyone has accepted a SH course recently would you mind disclosing your own wait time?
TIA
Assuming (and correct me if I'm wrong) the pool is a kind of FIFO system so if anyone has accepted a SH course recently would you mind disclosing your own wait time?
TIA
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 10
From: UK
Any idea how training capacity for SH is looking at the moment? Been swimming for a while and 6 years of flogging it in and out of Luton 4 times a day is starting to grate a little.
Assuming (and correct me if I'm wrong) the pool is a kind of FIFO system so if anyone has accepted a SH course recently would you mind disclosing your own wait time?
TIA
Assuming (and correct me if I'm wrong) the pool is a kind of FIFO system so if anyone has accepted a SH course recently would you mind disclosing your own wait time?
TIA
Edit: the above is actually BAEF.
Last edited by dynamicq; 9th August 2025 at 10:06.
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 14
Likes: 10
From: Holding at DAYNE
I am a swimmer myself (FO) with no news, but I am following their vacancies and spoke to one of the applicants from my interview. The applicant is also an FO but went via aspiration for Comand vacancy. Interview result was May and course start was set as October. I also noticed they stopped looking for DEP FOs other than for LH fleets since around June. They do post Aspiration for Comand adverts time to time. Now purely speculating on all of the above tells me they have enough people in Hold Pool. They don’t seem to want to fill it up any more for now either. Would be nice to learn some more solid rumours though as it has been a while.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 100
From: Botswana
A mixed bag, as stated above, you’ll be able to get some LGW trips absolutely but think 3 day JFK, MCO, TPA, Caribbean with a shuttle etc. You won’t be getting sight of a Mon-Fri PUJ five dayer for a decade at least nor a 6 day MRU. But overall LGW trips are a poisoned chalice for a lot of the 777 pilots as it’s a pain to get to for anybody from the north (and for a few of the other commuters).
(Oh edited to say the new 787-10 IGW orders are in some part intended to replace the LGW 777 fleet. Now we know that BA will squeeze every last drop out of the -200ERs so this isn’t going to happen imminently or even in the next 3-4 years but, outside of that, all bets are off so if you’re planning to be LH for a long period of time and LGW trips are a deal breaker worth bearing in mind. Especially as dual fleeting the 777/787 appears pie in the sky and dead in the water at this point.)
(Oh edited to say the new 787-10 IGW orders are in some part intended to replace the LGW 777 fleet. Now we know that BA will squeeze every last drop out of the -200ERs so this isn’t going to happen imminently or even in the next 3-4 years but, outside of that, all bets are off so if you’re planning to be LH for a long period of time and LGW trips are a deal breaker worth bearing in mind. Especially as dual fleeting the 777/787 appears pie in the sky and dead in the water at this point.)
Last edited by RexBanner; 12th August 2025 at 12:04.
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Taiwan
Quick question for any Airbus guys that recently applied. I was thinking of applying for BA LH, I’ve got over 3000 A320 hours, but looking at the Ad it says they are taking predominantly on the 777 fleet. Are they not taking candidates on the A350/380 fleet at all (unless TR)?
Thank you
Thank you
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 100
From: Botswana
There’ll be very few if any internal moves to the A380 next year as the flying programme is reduced to accommodate the cabin refurbs. As a DEP your chances of getting the A380 are somewhere between the square root of F all and none. Although I stand by to be surprised but that’s the current plan. Can’t speak for the 350. But it makes sense that the majority of the LH need will be on the Boeing fleets namely the 777.
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Scarborough
Quick question for any Airbus guys that recently applied. I was thinking of applying for BA LH, I’ve got over 3000 A320 hours, but looking at the Ad it says they are taking predominantly on the 777 fleet. Are they not taking candidates on the A350/380 fleet at all (unless TR)?
Thank you
Thank you
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
I think the 777 recruitment focus is for multiple reasons, but one will be because the 787 secondees will be heading back off the 777 as the grounded 787’s return to the skies. Similarly as already mentioned the 380 is undergoing its cabin refit, and there is relatively little movement off either of the long haul Airbus fleets because they are relatively junior fleets. There will be some 350 expansion coming at some point, as we take delivery of the 6 new hulls, but I can’t remember when they are due.