What's the Virgin Interview like?
 

Hi guys,

I have an interview with Virgin next month. Just wondered if any Virgin pilots that have recently gone through the process could shed light on the interview itself, what the tech paper is like and what the sim detail is?

Many thanks.:ok:

There are many previous threads on this subject, mostly in 'Terms and Endearments' or 'Questions', as no Wannabes will get anywhere near Virgin until they've been in the business for a few years! Try a search in those forums.

Scroggs

Thanks scroggs, I've now found what I was looking for!

Velocity Boy,

Just curious about your background given that Virgin is very difficult to get an interview with.... Can you give us a brief background so that we know what to shoot for?


Cheers

Lav, you'll need at least 2500 hours - preferably more - and the majority of that should be on commercial jets. Equivalent military experience is fine too. Over and above that, you need to come over well on your CV and covering letter, and it helps if you know someone in the company who can recommend you.

At the moment, the majority of our (relatively few) recruits are ex-low-cost peeps, with 2-3000 hours on 737s.

Scroggs

Scroggs,

Thanks for the reply. On which aircraft type are the newhires being assigned recently?

Side question: I recall when you were flying the 747 Classic and I know that you are now flying the Airbus - how do you like it vs. the Classic in terms of aircraft flying and routes?


Cheers

scroggs - please don't answer Lavdumpers question until he/ she fully answers questions I've asked of him / her here: Lavdumper - a consumate time waster ?!

Hi scroggs,

was on the door step a couple of years back for VS but then 9/11 happened.
On the door step again and wanting to weigh up all the pro and cons.
Just wondering what the pay is like now?.
In 2001 it was about 40,000 gbp gross(?!).

Gordo In 2001 the starting pay was a smidge under 38k basic. It's now 40.5k. Under the new terms & conditions that will rise to 53k at year 5 as an FO (time to command? Who knows?). Profit-related pay may add up to 12k to that from 2005. Subsistence allowances are about 6k-8k annually.

Lav As we have new aircraft in both fleets, whatever new hires there are (and there aren't many just now) could be sent to either fleet, although the Airbus needs more than the Boeing. As for the Airbus, it's fine, thanks! Routes are good and the aircraft is a technological revelation after the Classic, particularly for a gadget-junkie like me. I do miss the stick-and-rudder stuff that was enjoyable even in a B747, but that's the way aviation is going.

Scroggs

Many Thanks Scroggs,
overall it doesn't sound too bad at all(except the time to command).
We'll see what happens!.

The new pay deal makes things a lot more rosy here especially once into the 3rd yr, however the time to command is an issue worth looking at.
Anyone joining now will have about 320 F/Os ahead of them out of about 600 flt deck, and an average age in the left seat of about 45ish. Some bright spark worked out recently that assuming no expansion or early retirements/resignations that anyone joining at age 39 would not get a command before reaching age 60!!
However it is a great place to work, with relatively stable rosters, nice destinations, new a/c and the new pay deal takes a lot of the pain out of the L/H seat situation. Good luck and see you soon :)

Very Interesting Pnooze.
Out of interest 2 years ago I was told by the powers that be that time to command was about 5 years so what has happened since?.
Im also assuming that its a straight number seniority system irrespective of experience or how soon you get into the pool.

How about a small issue called September the 11th that caused a few ripples.......

Seems like a silly question that last one to me.

Gordo

to flesh out tailscrape's comment: after September 11th 2001, Virgin announced that 40% (yes, you read it right) of its flight deck workforce would be made redundant. That comprised 25% of the pilots and all of the flight engineers. The Classic fleet (11 aircraft) was to be retired, all expansion plans cancelled, and a very large reduction in the route structure was announced. The main reason for this was that Virgin had been expanding too quickly and was already beginning to overreach itself when 9/11 occurred. There were already rumours of planned redundancies before 9/11, so the reaction after that event had to be severe.

As a result, we had an airline full of young captains, some promoted after as little as 12 months, and now-frustrated FOs who could look forward (ahem) to a significant period of zero expansion, and thus no commands. At all. We also had a very large number of our mates on the dole, and an unhealthy number of commanders demoted to FO to reflect the diminished fleet.

As it happened, the airline overestimated the effect of 9/11 on our trading (or underestimated our customers' loyalty?) and fairly quickly began to retract some of the measures taken. Thank God they did overreact, or we wouldn't be here at all now! Nearly all of those made redundant or on unpaid leave (but, unfortunately, not the FE's) were re-hired, and most of the 'temporarily displaced captains' have regained their seats. The airline is still, two years down the line, smaller than it was in summer 2001, new commands are still on hold, and our expansion plans are more modest than they were then. They are gaining momentum, though, and we're looking for more aeroplanes. Who knows what the future holds? It certainly looks better than the past!

Scroggs

Many thanks scroggs,
really appreciate the informative reply.

I'm in the hands of the people in the office now so thanks again and I may see you round.

You're welcome! Actually, I didn't address your question about how commands are allocated. Essentially, it is a seniority system. However, you must have 6000 hours to be considered for a command, which may be reduced to a minimum of 5000 hours subject to your length of employment with Virgin. There is then a period of assessment of suitability for command, prior to actual command training. So it's a mix of merit and seniority, if you like.

Scroggs

Gordo,

Scroggs is spot on as usual. To awnser yr question then yes it is a straight line seniority system with the usual checks and balances. Not that long ago some guys got ahead of the system by virtue of having the req 6000 hrs for cmd, but i would be surprised if there are many F/Os that do not have these hours now. In the near future the recruitment people will squirm in their seats when asked at interviews about the cmd time.
I have been here 5 and a bit years, and have 70 F/os ahead of me and 220 behind me, so who knows?? :(

Scroggs, do you know what will happen to the pilots who passed their interview in January this year? I had a positive answer to start a course in April, then unfortunately the course was cancelled. Now, I'm still hoping to get called back. Is there a waiting list? Anyway I keep my finger crossed

3MTA3,

For those of us who wish to apply, what was your background (hours and aircraft) when you got accepted? Also, did Virgin indicate to you the type of aircraft you might fly when trained?

3MTA3 I'm not involved in recruiting or selection, so I can't give you chapter and verse on the subject. As far as I am aware anyone who has passed selection will be contacted as and when a place is available. If plans change to the extent that such promises are unworkable, you will be told. So I would expect that you are on some kind of holding list until places are available. If I were you, I'd ring Janine and find out!

LVL CHG from 3MTA3's profile, he's currently a B747 pilot. That should give you a very rough idea of where he stands in the scheme of things! As for the type of aircraft you could fly, please read my post early on in the thread. There are only two kinds of aircaft Virgin flies: the A340 and the B747. If it bothers you that much which you fly, you're probably not our kind of pilot!

Scroggs

Thanks Scroggs. I would rather fly the 747-400 if given the choice but I hear the Airbus is ok to fly too - although I have followed a bunch on upwind and they are complete roadblocks... Very sluggish on the departure! Flying that 400 into Barbados or Las Vegas would be very nice indeed!

Thanks a lot fot your answer Scroggs ;) I looks like I will be called back if there is any need .

3MTA3,

Its a bit worrying that you were told of a course and then it was cancelled.
Was it a firm date and offer and so therefore had you put in your notice to your current employer leaving you in limbo for all these months?.
I'm assuming not but could you clarify?.

The only thing I would add is..
 

IF and that is a BIG IF, the merger / takeover / alliance with bmi happens all the time to Command could be altered radically. This of course depends on exactly how the procedure unfolds. As always the devil will be in the detail.

I would like to fly for VS but with the point above looming I will sit and wait for now!

Cheers

FPC:)

Gordo, yes it was a firm offer with a firm date, and yes I already resigned from my previous employer when I had the mail telling me that the course was cancelled. Fortunately my employer couldn't replace me, and since they were happy with my job, they took me back. :cool:

FPC

You're likely to be waiting a very long time! The 'deal' (if it ever was such) between Virgin and BMI is off, and is unlikely to be ressurrected until either or both main protagonists are off the scene. As I said in another thread in another forum, the problem seems to have been primarily that Virgin saw it as a takeover of BMI, whereas BMI wanted to regard it as a merger of equals. As Virgin's branding is its primary asset, there would never be any deal that risked diluting the brand.

Secondly, the corporate attitudes and philosophies of the two companies are miles apart, and are unlikely to be easily reconciled. Virgin's brash and extrovert style is anathema to BMI's more conservative tastes, and vice versa.

Lastly, while it's well known that BMI wants to operate longhaul, and that a tie-up with Virgin would give them a face-saving way of achieving this ambition, there is no similar ambition at Virgin to own a full-service short- and medium-haul operation, particularly when such operators are struggling in the face of the no-frills competition. BMI's recently-announced traffic increases include the contribution of BMI-baby. Without that contribution, BMI's figures look fairly weak, I understand. Don't forget that Baby is obtaining its own AOC, and would be spun off from BMI before any deal with Virgin.

So, don't put your life on hold for the 'maybes' and 'mights' of this world. Before you know it, retirement will be looking and you'll still be wondering what's best to do!

Scroggs

Scroggs
 

You are quite correct, and I am mindful of all the points you raise.
Your final one brought a smile to my face!

I wont clutter up this forum with my postings, but my position is replicated by many in bmi. Plenty of people are looking around, but there is no clear move from one company to another due to all the different T's + C's etc and the blessed seniority list!

Some would like to move but the sums don't add up.

Ta

FPC:)

Velocity Boy

How did the interview go?

Who was on the board?

Did they say when you might start?

Hope all was positive for you!!

All interviews taking place at the moment are to establish a pool of pilots who may be able to join the airline at relatively short notice should our efforts to start an Australia route be approved. The success or failure of these efforts rely on inter-governmental negotiations which are outside our control. As a result, at least for now, no start dates are likely to be offered.

Of course, by Monday all the above may be out of date! ;)

Scroggs

To clear up any misunderstandings, 3MTA3's course was cancelled because of the suspension of expansion plans caused by the SARS crisis. The aircraft he was due to fly (B742) is no longer scheduled to carry out any of the new routes then proposed. We are waiting to see if and when those expansion plans will be reinstated.

What sort of experience do you guys that are getting interview with Virgin Have?

I have been into see our recruitment lady this week to help 2 mates get into VS which is, rightly or wrongly, the way to get onto the A list.
One is 36 years old with 5000 hrs on North sea helicopters and 1500 hrs on the A320, and got told to come back once he has another 1000 hrs on the 320, and the other has about 6000 hrs including 3000 ish on the 757/767 and has been told to expect a phone call soon. He is a similiar age.
Hope that gives you some idea of what VS is looking for at the moment.

Just a quick note to all those have been helpful with my inquiries regarding VS.

I have decided to take another option that involves alot of sand,
but many thanks all the samefor all the info and happy flying to all in VS.

cheers Gordo.:D

Gordo, hope things work out well for you in the desert!

I felt I should clarify pnooze's remarks. While Virgin is very happy to receive personal recommendations about prospective pilots, it is most emphatically not the only way to get in! Many, many Virgin pilots were recruited with no help from those already on the inside. Please don't get the idea that you have to have a mate within Virgin to have a chance of a job here; it's not true.

Scroggs

Just to second what scroggs said,

did the the whole process sucsessfully and got an offer without knowing anyone in VS myself.
(cant say its quite the same in the sand pit though;)

A mate of mine who was in the `pool` has just been offered a A340 course for early next year.
Looks like those who have been paddling around for a while are finally getting taken on.
No idea how many courses are being run, though it looks like a mixture of full and CCQs.

AFA

What was your mates background...interested to see whether he/she is type qualified, thats all

I'm currently swimming in the pool too. I'd also like to know if AFA's mate is a CCQ to the A340. I've never been rated on a bus so I'm a full course but haven't heard anything yet.

Warpdrive, I think you tried to PM me twice but I couldn't find anything in my inbox.

VP...I did....problems my end...please PM me so that i can reply and try it that way.

Thanks

He`s a current A330 pilot with about 3000hrs Airbus time so i guess he`ll be on a ccq. Like i said though, it`s sounds like they`re running full courses as well.
When i last spoke to him he certainly had the impression that they would be taking people out of the pool in order of the dates they were interviewed. However it was also made clear that there would be notable exceptions. ie If they were planning a 744 course they wouldn`t take him they would wait for a A340 slot or maybe take those who require less notice if they were in a hurry.
Hope this helps.