Bugspeed has started a hold pool email list if anyone's interested.

holdpool
 

Soclose,
I'm ahead of you in the pool (just). 737, getting a bit worried too!!

I think the question now for holdpoolers is what courses are coming up
and not when you joined the pool? Its impossible for us to guess what the
intentions of BA are with the recruitment unless they provide us information
on who is in the pool with what entry date, type rating held and courses planned
for each fleet. All guesses are useless with out that information.

Good luck to all in the pool. Lets hope HR atleast think of the stress we are
going through and update us individually about our circumstances.

Didn't want to re-visit this but I'm sorry I have to correct some utter incorrect nonsense!

Wirbelsturm;
"Neither bunch have been much cop, as the previous lot failed to squirrel away funds and reduce debt through one of the biggest booms of the 20th century I don't think they are entirely 'blameless' as much as the current lot are entirely 'to blame', the approval of all the mass transport schemes came as a final flush when they realised they had about as much chance of winning the election as the devil riding to work on a snow mobile."

What rubbish! It was the last lot that reduced and paid off all of the accumulated debt left over from WWII and injected much needed money into public services and social mobility.
Unfortunately, the public have been duped into thinking this is a debt crisis. This is not a debt crisis this was/is a banking crisis (due to irresponsible sub-prime mortgage lending across the atlantic) which has now become a growth crisis! Want evidence - just look at Europe. Its a fact that national debt is no more higher than it ever was before in British history.

The growth, or lack of is linked into aviation policies of this Government. Starving the nation of much needed growth in capacity at LHR (tax and abolition of the third runway) will do no good for business or growth. Someone once said air traffic is like water, it flows anywhere it can go - so unfortunately the south-east and the rest of Britain is loosing out majorly. Analysts estimate a loss of £10bn potential over the next 4 years!
Why is it that in Britain we always lag way behind of future trend when it comes to aviation!

I think this is one of the first times in history in Britain, where an airline is ready and desperate to expand but is being limited by the State!

Sorry guys, my rant is over now but it is very upsetting that ineptness of other people messes with our lives - especially since we all put so much effort into the process of these interview rounds.

Wish everyone the best of luck. As someone said 'chin up' and only thing you can to is keep swimming - things will work out (even if it does take decades) [eek]

holdpool
 

2whites2reds,

You are ahead of me time wise but im Airbus rated so wondering if there is anyone ahead of me on that? Getting slightly worried!

This is seriously crap news!!!! I could well be spending more time than I should with some whinging whining fo:{:{:{:{

Dihaz,

You and I view it from a somewhat differing perspective. I don't want to hijack this thread for political ranting so I won't bother. Labour has NEVER had a good economic record. Just remeber it was Harold Wilson in 1976 who was forced to go cap in hand to the IMF to borrow 3.9 Billion (quite alot in those days). The public sector has had billions pumped into it with little/no productivity increase and a NHS that has more managers than nurses almost. Gordon Browns disposal of ALL banking regulations, squandering of private pension reserves and the UK gold reserves led to the mess that the UK is in at the moment. The banking crisis has not hit Australia anywhere near as hard as the UK through statutory regulation although the global economic situation has hit most countries equally.

The airlines are suffering under the ability of ALL Governments in this country to jump on a (preferrably Green) bandwagon and subvert it into a tax generation excercise.

If you really must then PM me as I won't respond to any more political discussion on the thread.

The 'rumour' from within is that the airlines are playing hard ball and using the potential job losses, coupled with the exhorbitant costs, to bring the abject unfairness of the APD into the public domain.

As with anything BA, wait and see.

Hi guys!

Just to give you all a bit of hope!

I have just received the the good news!! :D. A320 in March. Was also offered the 767 in May, but it wasn't guaranteed.

2800 TT, A320, B737 & B757/767 rated!

Hold pool since early July.

Best of luck!

Well done BAP, and another one leaves TUI? ;)

For those in the pool, even on the same type, the order you are fished out isn't necessarily the order you went in.

I failed my first attempt at selection back in Nov 11. For those that are swimming and complaining on the outlook, if you want to trade places with me, be my guest :ok:

bylgw,

Thanks for the info, if its not always based on the order you went in, then what else becomes a factor if rated on the same type?! Is it an experience thing or do they dig a little deeper into your selection scores etc etc?!! I have 4k+ on the airbus but not expecting a call anytime soon.........although technically only about 3 months behind BAP!

Congrats BAP! :-)

Hhmmm, what if also airbus rated, with a good deal of time and in the pool since June? Have they forgotten about me or are they just marking me down for getting naked during the capacity test (helps me think). Maybe my party invite was lost in the mail??!

Wirbelsturm,

I have exactly the answers to all of the issues you raise which are all explicable and are not as you portray them. I am so itching right now to answer the things you raise but this is not the right place, but if you want we can start another thread on it.

Anyhow again good luck to all...

Not really,

If two people see a red car they both see a different shade of red.

If you make it through the process then perhaps we would have a few long flights with which to while away the time. Personally I have had to endure a few different Governments and a couple of recessions and I'm a little stuck on my preferences.

:E

Seeing as there are 73 rated pilots with more TT than yours truly who have been languishing in the pool for many months, I'm curious as to why I was asked to attend an interview in October and offered a sim check - date to be confirmed - if there is apparently no need for my services in the near future.

With so few 73s left at BA, plenty in the pool, and slashed recruitment needs, am I sounding ungrateful and impatient when I wish for an explanation from BA as to what they are playing at?

Fortunately I have a job and any delay simply adds hours to my logbook and experience under my belt, but boy it's frustrating being in this process! :)

MikeHotel512

The SH fleets are getting quite stretched as it is at the moment as lots of pilots have transferred either to the 777, 744, 380 or 787. The training pipeline MUST take these people across and we are seeing the first crews destined for the 787 coming through the 777 fleet at the moment.

All of this internal movement is based upon filling the void at the bottom. Without that the company will find it very difficult to contain the monthly flying hour requirement per pilot (CAP) at a managable level.

So, whilst the recruitment announcement from the company was unwelcome, I can only surmise that it will affect future entrants who are not yet even at the interview stage.

Obviously IMHO but I would think that the swimmers have spaces available to them as and when the training capacity comes up.

All my opinion though. :}

Some hopefully good news for everyone in the hold pool: 1 of the 3 B747 aircraft that will no longer be coming back into service next summer, was never in the manpower plan for 2012 when originally calculated; overall the plan hasn't changed significantly at the moment either.

That's not to say that things won't change from now though...fingers crossed for everyone.

Yes but Wirbelsturm, ultimately the car is either red or not red. I don't discuss such issues in the interests of CRM ;-D

Time will tell lunchbox.
For want of not wanting to be put in the 'BlackandBrown' category, I will drop it. But only time will tell folks. (I hate that guy) :-p

Don't wanna get into politics (except to say that I'm with Wirblesturm on this one - we are picking up the pieces of the last lot - although unfortunately we haven't got a good enough government to a) find all the pieces and b) put them back together).

HOWEVER I beleive the BA anouncement is a bit of a smokescreen - the numbers have changed from 800 to 400 but I can't see that effecting anyone who is currently in the pipeline, maybe it will just mean a slow down in the future requirements a year or so down the line.

It finally looks like the Euro crisis is gettnig some attention. (I can't see them resolvnig it but at least they've finally reallised what the fundamental issue is) so maybe the markets will give them some slack to solve their problems.which will be very good news for the airline industry as so much of our custom is based on perceptions and confidence about the futre rather than raw economic reality.

I beleive the announcements from BA, Virgin, ezy and from IATA today are some very public lobbying to get the UK government to realise what damage they are doing by restricting air travel in the UK, as oposed to any fundamental overnight shift. As such I can't see suddenly crashing recruitment to a halt. And remember the 55 year old non-retirees are now 61 so in 4 years the significant retirment numbers will start again and will probably start ramping up from now as medical issues, part time, pension issues etc start making their effects felt.

I was in the 2008 hold pool, so I know what its like to sit on the sidelines and hope for things to happen, but I don't think that some of the knee-jerk panic is really warranted.

:ugh:

Oh please God ensure the HR people filter properly!!!! :{

;)

Anyhoo, what has discussing the dismal state of UK politics have to do with CRM? As the FO you are a 'resource' to be utilised/trained and developed. When I want your 'opinion' I'll ask for it! :E;)