You're most welcome. I'll just add, by way of illustration, some numbers from the current bidding cycle.

LHR-JFK with a 24 hour slip, 14:45 total block time, earns 14:45 credit
(short trip, so credit = sum of the block time).

LHR-Kuwait with a 48 hour slip, 12:55 total block time , earns 16:09 credit
(short flights, long'ish slip, so credit is a function of time away from base).

CAP for the month (the target, give or take) is 88 hours.

Good luck!

how long does it take to understand all this?:confused:

I've been there 10 years and there are still dark and murky areas of the bidding rules that catch you out!

Could someone give me their thoughts on the quality of life for a new joiner intending to commute (UK based) on a LH roster? I've read most of the thread (some great info incidentally) and note there's plenty of info on SH patterns and commuting but wondered how this compared to LH. I understand why you would stay junior in the bidding system for a long time on LH with fleet crossovers of guys more senior to you, but would a junior guy sucking up blindlines on LH have a better life? The context being less single nights in Jury's Inn and less commuting (by air) up and down the country per month. Any thoughts gratefully received, any examples of a typical month on LH would be great too.

Juan :ok:


After twenty years you can still stuff it up and get wiped :ugh: :uhoh:

SinBin

I don't think any other then a select few ever understand it "all" and I'm certainly not one of them. FWIW Bidline Rules in paper form are the size of a small novel. Fortunately there's some fancy bidding software available that'll take care of some of the basics, and most of us are vaguely expert on those bits of the rules that effect us most, given where we sit in the bidding pecking order.

New starts will almost inevitably be rostered ( aka Blindlines) anyway, so theres' plenty of time to see the system at work before bidding in anger.

This may or may not be news but the latest recruitment plans are for 140 pilots this year and 140+ pilots into the next financial year. There are plans for ongoing recruitment for the next 5 years. This is the current plan and will be subject to change and amendment in accordance with the prevailing economic conditions. It does show that BA have a commitment to expansion and that means more opportunities at all levels of the market for pilots, both experienced and newbies.

That's good news,

I might get another chance then after my last mess of an attempt!

Back to the grind..

One more question, appologies if this has been covered, when you have a wedding to attend, for example, and being junior how do you bid for the day off?

via:
Leave
DFW
Bidding (Blind line / Trip Line)
Reserve FDO
Swap with other P2
Swap with emaestro.

Guys I can understand these sort of questions when thinking of a company move. I had the same questions running through my mind prior to joining also. The bidding sytem at LHR is complex but the basics are easily grasped. For all, concentrate on A) getting in first B)Once in concentrate on getting through TR and then released online. There is plenty of time to sort out the other stuff. BA look after you for the first 3 months or something post line training so there is no need to get hung up on trivial stuff.

Sim Results
 

Has anyone who had a sim assessment last week (week commencing 4th April) heard back with results either way yet? Did mine on the 6th, but still waiting.

shortcut, don't sweat it yet. My result took 9 days to come through and my sim partner 12, due to a weekend....

17 days (including a nerve wracking phone call to see if they'd forgotten about me), then another 15 days for a start date.

WoW that must be the current record...

out of curiosity, do you guys have any idea of the pass rate of the sim opposed to day1 pass rate? i met many second timers that did not pass day1 at first attempt, have no idea about Sim part.

I read many positives, not many negatives...

Thanks guys,

On day 9 of waiting, I did indeed get the good news!

Having read other people's replies and done some maths, it does seem like a lot of results come out on Fridays!

Anyone else get their place in the pool? Is there a priority order in the hold-pool, ie date of Sim, sim score, or does getting a course date simply depend on which type you're rated on, etc.

Cheers,
Shortcut

So applications have been open for several weeks now unlike last time when they shut within a week. The military path has been reopened and there is talk of 150 pilots required every year for the next few years. 747 applicants are being fast tracked through the system because they are so short on the fleet. Surely it is a matter of time before non-rated recruitment starts again? Any updates from recent Q&A sessions?

Due to very strong competition for this vacancy, we regret to advise you that after careful consideration, our decision is not to take your application further on this occasion.

2500h TT
2300h A320 FO
Frozen ATPL
Rating A320


150 pilots a year? I do hope so. Better luck next year.

why do you have a frozen atpl after 2500 hours?

BA's high growth plan is 300 pilots per year (10% of the workforce). Medium 200, low 100 (mostly retirement replacements).

I thought it was 299 people.

2000 hours on A320, currently 700 on type not asked for. Do you think they may change application parameters regarding A320 in last 12 months. Just sitting outside of requirements as they stand and bloody annoying.