Kos? where is that? ;)

Any 75/76 guys been offered a course and on which fleet? Just wondering why they asked for that type of experience, shorter conversion perhaps.

MAX

Not starting till January, dammit. Guess another working Xmas for me then. At least in 05 we will have some more Junior types to do the dross. :D

Harry

Harry

If you're at LGW, I don't suppose you get so much choice about working at Xmas anyway:=

Bidline Rules OK (and seniority!)

BA Opportunities
 

A friend of mine is in the pool and was phoned by recruitment the other day. They asked him if he would prefer a long or short haul job. Mind you they weren't offering either at the time, just asking.

Has anyone else had a call like this?

As a slight aside...
I have the dubious pleasure of being THE most junior F/O on the B777 fleet at birdseed. Even from where I'm sat, the lifestyle is fabulous. Believe me there is a whole lot more variety than Newark and Riyadh. That said, there is some great mountain biking near the Newark hotel and we don't nightstop in Riyadh anymore.
In addition, the company treat me extremely well and BALPA are there to make sure you're not messed around.

My advice: Try and hold out for a DEP Long Haul seat but make sure you don't give up your chance to get into the company. The shorthaul lifestyle is pretty good too and you'll at least have long haul to look forward to.

Good Luck to all you swimmers,

LFW

Believe a few have had that call, and it seems they pay attention to it if they can (I know one guy who wanted short and one long, both got their requests - but I can't say how often that happens!).

PS How long does the 777 type rating and then subsequent line training last?

B777 Training
 

The Groundschool is about 2 weeks. Sims take about about 3 weeks. There are 11 of them and the schedule is something like 4 on 2 off. Line training will obviously be tailored to the individual level of experience but I think it's a minimum of 10 sectors (5 trips) and then a 2 sector line check.

On top of this, any new entrants will have to to a 2 week induction which includes SEP and CRM. In the unlikely event of no previous jet experience, there will also be a 2 week JOC (Jet Orientation Course) which I believe resembles an MCC course.

That's about all I know.

LFW

Thanks for that LFW! :D

10 Sectors doesnt seem like very much at all does it !

I know Virgin new joiners, going with no atlantic experience got 20 sectors, although in some cases reduced from this....

LFW - someone I know in a similar position on the 744 fleet said exactly the same thing about trips & variety!

I joined in 98 on the 777, with no long haul time, and did two 4 sector gulf trips, an Atlantic trip and then a route check. That was fairly normal at the time.

cheers

zzz

LFW - forgot to say, I think almost everyone (i.e. all who are suitable for longhaul) got that question.

So off the bottom then LFW!

BTSM

expedite_climb

good news about Feb start date, could you tell me when you were called and how long you had been in the hold pool ?

Just want to know because I have similar experience to yourself and am in the pool too.

Thanks

Expedite,

Great job on the 777. You must be quite excited. Were you offered other aircraft types (e.g., 400) or did they just assign you to the 777 given your experience? Do you know the approx percentage of pilots going to 777 vs. shorthaul in your class?

Do you think you will miss the 757 and all-nighters to Tenerife?

Cheers

Nah he'll be doing all-nighters back from the east coast USA or the Gulf instead.:D

Yeah, but he'll have more room to take a nap on the 777. Plus, he could get some of those first-class leftovers...

First class leftovers? You evidently don't work for BA! The cabin crew will have had those before disappearing for their three hour break!

Carnage - please don't ruin this thread for those people wanting to know about start dates etc.

Riker, - this is the offer, do you accept ? Thats it.

B777 Courses
 

Congratulations to you all, I'm sure you'll soon get a taste for 1st class food... And there's plenty to go 'round!

I know of at least one chap who was offered a Feb start date and has turned it down. Basically the pension at GB Airways is better and time to command obviously a completely different story.

Knowing what its like at BA, I think I'd still go for the B777 job but obviously it didn't sway him enough.

Has anyone else turned an offer down, or know anyone who has?

LFW

I know of at least 2 people who have both declined shorthaul jobs at LGW. The question is has anybody declined a long haul job because they wanted short haul?

AB / Lost for Words...

I hate to dampen down enthusiasm, or question people's decisions.

If you are going to join BA, there is only one thing that matters - the earliest Date of Joining. It will make a lot of difference to everything thereafter - fleets, monthly rosters, time to Command etc.

Given time to Cmd as now absolute min of 10ys for SH - maybe 15, and 15+ for LH, anybody coming to BA has to be doing it for the long term. As such, it is extremely shortsighted to turn down BA for the "wrong fleet / base" lightly pencilled in as your provisonal starting point.

To the guy who turned down BA for poor Pension and time to Cmd - seems he researched everything, and made a well informed decision for his desires / circs. To the guys who turned down SH LGW - and presumably would have accepted LH LHR, I am less impressed.

To those who have accepted LH LHR, I trust you do understand that at any time from now, until DoJ + 5 years, you can be posted, at BA's whim, to any fleet / base they wish (and BA have exercised this quite extensively and recently). And of course that includes during your first weeks in the company when they say - no, go sit in the 737 cockpit mockup, not the 777 - hope you like LGW...

NoD