Horse****.

I'm 41 - Started with BA last week. Passed assessment first time of asking in 2008 when I was 38 however that hold pool was disbanded, passed it again 1st time round this time.

If you want to find people that DO definately discriminate on age then look at mikey the pikeys outfit. I was the ONLY person at my flight training school 6 years ago that wasn't called for an FR assessment. I was also the only person over 30 - and I walked into another job based on an FTO recommendation, so it had nothing to do with my ability. However as FR break every other employment law going then a bit of age discrimination ain't going to bother them

Horse **** yourself, anyone looking for the definition of hypocrisy need look no further. What you describe is what you perceived to happen at Ryanair just like what the guardian reading cherie blair wannabe perceived at her Ba selection ( I am guessing kk is a girl with the name). The Ba selection surely must carry a largely subjective element to it - we are dealing with humans choosing humans ( despite their laminated cards).

What's more if people carry in this bitter baggage to their selection then what do they expect? Stop whinging, start smiling and accept that you cannot be all things to all people.

There is nothing wrong with Ryanair bashing but let's not spread ' horse**** ' .

I'm not 100% certain I've got this right but the current short opening for 767 rated DEPs may not involve getting onto that fleet. The previous extra recruitment failed to produce the numbers required.............

My last word on the subject as I don't want to pollute the thread. I didn't want to work for FR anyway, but what happened with the age thing wasn't percieved. It was a black and white age cut-off (litterally black and white -i.e written down). How I knew that I'll keep to myself. I fight my own battles and don't carry emotional baggage so just shrugged and moved on.
I'm a mid-life career changer and have come across many companies and organisations in my time. I know I'm only 2 weeks into my BA career but i've not come across many other companies or organisations as 'inclusive' and welcoming as BA in my time.

The Sim check - (from my experience - I've passed 2 of them!) - probably is tailored slightly to your abilities as I sensed they want to see reactions, mistakes and how you deal with them etc. So if you turn up with 10,000 command hours and you are sitting next to a 500 hour newby I'd expect you to see a different / harder check - not because of any 'discrimination' but because they want to get you to the edge of your capacity and see what happens - do you prioritise, do you fall apart, do you shout, do you get on with it etc. Flying around perfectly with one hand whistling to yourself tells the examiner nothing about your overall abilities - remember CRM / problem solving etc is primarily what they are looking for - so the more experience you have, the more they will have to push you to see how you deal with things.

Bear in mind also the the liberal media (guardianistas as you mentioned) and the greenies love to get their teeth into BA - so I very much doubt BA will ever give them a sniff of anything smelling of discrimination etc.

Discrimination is an easy card to play for those who do not get what they want!
I second the comments made by 757_Driver. The recruitment is centred around you being employed as a future Captain and not just as a First Officer, unlike many other operators. If you turn up and have X thousand hours they want to see how you cope and with a more experienced individual this may mean pushing a little harder. As 75 said they are trying to push you out of your comfort zone to see how you deal with it and if you are open and interactive with your sim partner, I.E. CRM. Another reason the Sim is on the 74, it soaks up capacity straight away and creates a more level playing field.
Since I joined BA, not long ago, they have been a fantastic company to work for and have been very welcoming to everyone on my course and on the others I have met. The management are approachable and willing to talk to you. It has certainly dispelled many myths I had heard before I joined!
To all those still trying to get in all I can say is good luck anything is achievable with a bit of graft.

ETOPS is right, not enough 744 applicants (surprise surprise) so some 320/757/767 applicants are being/have been offered 744. It's a good bet that anyone applying this time could be offered the same.

In the latest Cassandra run, all 10 DEP slots on the 767 have been filled. If you are 757/767 rated and you meet the hours requirement for the 747 it's highly likely you will be offered a place on the 747.

Anyone want to share a practise sim early ish June...message me please! Any additional sim info appreciated,
Cheers

75/76 rated people were recruited in the first wave when the applications opened late last year. Most are just starting now.

Does anybody know if after current 75/76 deadline recruitment will then look at other heavy types not yet stipulated or min hours only?

Cheers

....or you could consider it a good investment and buy it like the rest of us!

We all like to help each other out by pirating software? I think not.

Factored Hours
 

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what factors BA use to determine your hours total? Just sorting out the logbook and I'm hovering around the 2,000 hours mark.

Cheers

BA do not factor hours.
If you are weighing up whether you are likely to get a DEP 747 slot you will need an ATPL and a minimum of 2000hrs, however based on recent non rated joiners you will need a lot more than 2000hrs.

Hold Pool
 

Just got word and very pleased. In the hold pool...:D:ok:

Best of luck to those still trying...

Good work Yak, very well done

Mate of mine just got 747 in sep / oct with a 757 rating and a gnats tadger over 2000hours, so I'm not sure about the above.

I'm now 3 weeks into my course and the mantra throughout the company is "seniority is everything". You are joining a company not a fleet so just take whatever you are offered, get in the front door and you can move around later till your heart is content - the date you joined the company means everything - not the date you join a particular fleet.

757_driver......

EXACTLY.... very good advice that has been repeated here constantly over many years.

I have been in BA 16 years, a friend of mine procrastinated joining for 2 months he is effectively 2 years junior to me which makes a huge difference to his opportunities.

There is a lot happening in BA regarding fleets etc so get in ASAP, don't whine & bitch where you start it will all change before you know it.

Good luck. :)

I can only re-iterate what Toro states above.

Get in as quickly as possible if you wish to take advantage of the upcoming changes! Things can change very quickly in BA. I have friends who went from 2 ring FO's direct to the LHS within two or three years of joining as new fleets and bases were opened and they took commands at what were, at the time, unpopular bases (MAN/BHX/LGW).

With the advent of two new fleets requiring, possibly, previous experience on that 'type' (e.g. Airbus experience to the 380 and 777 experience to the 787, yet to be decided or confirmed) things could move very, very quickly!

Good luck!

I would love to join ASAP on any fleet but have been in the hold pool for nearly 3 months and it's killing me!!!

Anyone got any news on more courses?