Virgin Recruiting
 

Has anyone been called forward recently from the VS holding pool? If so what type was offered.

TBE.

TBE you might find this thread of interest. People are being pulled out of the pool, but I don't know how many or how frequently. Almost all, I believe, will go to the A343/6 for the moment.

Scroggs

Nice one...... Thanks !

TBE.

:p :p

Anyone know if Virgin are looking for Ops Controllers???

Don't know about ops controllers, sorry!

The bond is 15k whatever, as far as I am aware. Basically, they want three years' return of service whether you do a CCQ or a full course. However, if you're planning to leave within those three years, why come to Virgin in the first place? :confused:

Two Airbus courses and one 400 (April) course already allocated. I am led to believe that approx 30 currently in the pool and that recruitment may restart at the end of February. Company waiting for course dates from Airbus before allocating folk to them.

If lucky enough to get hired and miraculously given the choice (probably not likely) of Airbus or 747-400, which should I choose and why? Is one fleet better than the other in terms of variety, schedules, ergonomics, overnights, etc.?

I'd imagine they are quite similar but if you had to choose it would be__________


Just fun to think about...

The 400 goes to the beaches and fleshpots (Caribbean, Orlando, LA, Vegas etc.) while the Airbus does the Far East and Africa. Both fleets do some East Coast work. Many destinations are swapped seasonally between the 340 and the 744 to 'optimise' capacity. As a generalisation, you'll fly shorter trips more often on the 744, and have longer stopovers and fewer trips (and very few landings!) on the 'Bus.

There are more aircraft in the 340 fleet than the 744 fleet, with yet more arriving, so most slots will be on the Airbus. You may be given the choice - I was when I joined.

I believe the current plan is take on 74 new-hires, 50 on the 'Bus and 24 on the -400.:ok:

Latest info - the bond is now 20k not 15k. You will not be given a choice of which fleet you go to as things stand right now.

Scroggs

Hi Chaps

Only been in the pool 2 months but was wondering if virgin have a history of waiting for route's to be confirmed and then a mad panic to get guys through course and on to line or do they plan ahead and get guys checked out ready.

Curious now because of the minor hic up with the EU on the Aussie route and I don't know what routes they plan to use slots they picked up last week off Jersey European.

Reading though the posts here no one seems actually have a course yet, even though its looks like expansion will happen eventually, the information given regarding 50 airbus pilots and 24 400 pilots, where is the source for that please as it sounds promising if true.

As i'm only only a 2 monther in the pool there are plenty of guys to jump in first and good luck to them


cheers

fc

14 guys have been taken on so far this year, and their courses start between now and April as far as I am aware. Courses are spread through the year and tend to be for groups of 4 or 6 pilots, so it will take a while to get the numbers trained that the company needs.

The Australia route is apparently now pencilled in for the start of the Winter timetable, round about October. By then, there should be enough new hires on line to cover the initial needs. Beyond that, the company has many possibilities but has not yet announced further plans. The JE slots acquired recently will go into the pool of available slots; I imagine there will be a fairly big revision of routes and timings at the same time as the Australia route starts, when it will become clearer what the plan for those particular slots is.

As a thought: what would be the long-term economic future of a company that trained pilots for tasking it didn't have?!

thanks for the informative reply scroggs

roll on winter timetable

Virgin's New Routes to India
 

Read in the Indian newspapers that Virgin is increasing its bi -weekly flights to Delhi to a daily one. Also it is starting direct services to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore from London. The new Indian civil aviation policy is likely to be passed soon - allowing even private operators unlimited international access. Both ways i.e. Indian domestic operators to go international and vice versa.

Anyone who has any news on this part of its expansion plans?

The Delhi schedule is currently three times weekly (A343), and is hoped to go to five a week by the end of the year. There have been no announcements from Virgin about other services to India - and it's extremely unlikely we would attempt to open three new Indian destinations at the same time!

Virgin most certainly hopes to operate to Mumbai in time - and in its own right, not riding the back of Air India slots as is the case with Delhi, with all that implies in revenue sharing, lack of booking control etc. Hyderabad and Bangalore have been mentioned in passing, but let's not try and win the Olympic Marathon before we can walk, eh? :hmm:

i hear most of easyjet are applying to VS at the moment!

Bilaterals with AI
 

Hi Scroggs

Sorry to hijack the topic. Indirectly however- it would affect Virgin recruiting.

The Indian PM recently cancelled the requirements for bilaterals between SE Asian airlines and AI and opened up Indian airspace (ten destinations) for them- much to the chagrin of AI which earns a huge chunk from these bilaterals.

Rumour is that this (removing the necessity of bilaterals) is soon going to be applicable to Middle East and African Airlines too.

Being a frequent traveller I know how difficult it is to travel to India. It's been held in this stranglehold grip of bureaucracy for a long time. Hope that some more seats are available soon!

Jagbag

Things might now be looking up for those of us treading water. Janine said that the plan was to not let the pool get bigger than 40, however I heard this evening that a guy has just been called for interview at the end of this month. Presumably the phone calls might be going out soon. :D

I can't give you course - or interview - dates, but things are moving!

I'm still hoping to receive the call from Virgin but note they are cutting their CPT service. Will this slow the recruitment rate? Anyone from VS care to comment?


TBE.

reason for dropping cpt till oct/04 is to release a/c for more profitable slots higher frequencies routes to usa and new contract with a cruise operator flying into s.america area.
india,ozz possibly mid east are being geared up for.
lots of new recruits.
quite a few upgrades too.
:ok:

The CPT service is not being cut, as such - it's never been operated through the southern winter before! However, the forward load projections have persuaded the company that the aircraft can more profitably be used elsewhere. I would think that a winter CPT will remain on the back-burner perhaps until an agreement for more frequent schedules can be obtained; twice weekly makes it difficult to compete with BA and SAA.

This service adjustment will have no effect on the proposed recruiting plans.

hi chaps

back to the original post by the big easy but has anyone been called forward from the pool yet, I appreciate thing are on the move as scroggs points out and I understand more interviews are taking place but are they actually putting people on courses yet?

cheers

fc

Yes, people have been called from the pool. As I said on an earlier post in this thread, 14 have been offered employment and their courses are running from now till April. There will be more - hopefully many more - but we are still awaiting the EU approval of the Australia route, and we won't ramp up pilot training without that approval.

Two more Bostons, 3 more Washingtons, and an extra Newark a week..... things are beginning to move!:ok:

On the notice board in Airbus Training showed a Virgin course starting next week......

Enjoy :D

Allegedly a total of six 400 courses and twelve 340 courses to be filled. At 4 - 6 folk a course things should start to ramp up soon.

That's all I have heard - no other info at this time.

Good luck if you're a wanabee.:ok:

Eventually got a letter today saying....................................
Thank you very much for your update and continued interest.



I was hoping that it was an interview offer.

Fingers crossed eh!

Any info on average takehome pay for First Officers?.

I understand there was a good pay deal agreed last year?

The current pay is covered quite accurately on PPJN, although I'm not sure it includes the very latest figures. Pay (including hourly flight pay) was increased by 3.4% in January this year, and a new FO will now be on about GBP45k (including flight pay) plus allowances. The flight pay will increase again in July, but the total increase depends, at least in part, on the company's profitability.

Let's put it this way: pay is not a hot topic at the moment. It is now better than most UK airlines, though perhaps not as good as BA - but then we don't do 900 hours per year!

How come that Virgin which is 49% owned by Singapore Airlines and who have yet to receive a positive return on their £625 Million Investment are able to give a 4.5% Salary Increase yet SIA who are still more profitable have decreased Salaries by 16.5% and a further 10% by cancelling the Provident Fund?????

. I bet the SQ Management are seething at this increase being given. In fact I guess that RB is persona non grata within SQ circles due to the success of Virgin Blue which totally screwed SQ's chance of setting up in the land of OZ. Good on him:ok:

PS I see it is 3.4% only

Probably because Virgin operates in a far more competitive employment market than SQ does, and its employees are protected by stronger employment legislation.

As for SQ's investment, they bought at the top of the market, with their eyes open. Any airline investment at that time would have produced a loss now (think how bad it would have been had SQ invested in a US airline!), but Virgin - profitable last year, unlike many, and likely to be profitable in 03/04 despite a shortened financial year - is more likely to produce a return for SQ than almost any other airline investment would have done.

The SQ guys on the Virgin board seem quite happy, by all accounts!

The SQ guys on the Virgin board seem quite happy, by all accounts!

I have heard the same.:ooh:

Thanks for the info Scroggs - I was wondering how the monthly takehome pay compares to an Easyjet SFO.

We takehome between £2700 to £3000.
Yet another Easyman looking to fly the nest!

Are there many female pilots in Virgin? Wondering what my chances might be: ~4000 hours, current on EMB-145, RHS, hoping for LHS but command here is dead man's shoes at the moment.

I think the EMB-145 might be a touch on the light side. I`m sure they used to say a minimum of BAe146 but i can`t find a reference to this any more so the requirements may have changed. Even so, stranger things have happened of course so don`t let it stop you from applying.
Looking at the seniority list there are certainly enough female pilots to keep you company!

Thanks for the info. AFA - much appreciated.

millerscourt , it must seem rather unfair considering all the 'bull*%&"' you guys are being subjected to out there in the 'hell' that is singapore.
the total package won for flightcrew by our union body is worth a total increase of 17% to 20% on basic pay depending on seniority and then the extra performance payments on top of this can bring hourly pay rate for captains to £30 per hour(in theory).
all of this is pensionable too.the companies pension contriution is 15% of total.
we are contracted for 750hrs.
most are very pleased overall though there are still a few wrinkles to iron out.

Couple of Questions:

1. How do the company notify you of an interview date? Letter/Phone/Email etc.

2. If you are invited to an interview, how do they let you know if you got the job? and how long does this process take post interview.

a little off subject, but, any word on where virgin usa will base? san francisco hopefully?

thanks,

adam.