I don't think ppjn is a website providing 'official' info - anyone can edit the information on any of the airlines pages.

I heard last week that although there wont be anymore interviews offered, all those interviews and sims booked will be honoured - so you can still be added to the hold pool. There cant be a stop on recruitment for ever - even if it is all a bit slow-going over the winter there's got to be a time (and probably before next summer) that BA will need pilots again and take from the pool!

Elixir

I hope you are right.

Before this "freeze" was announced I assumed I wouldn't get taken out of the pool during the winter. I thought, hopefully still correctly, that the spring may bring more hope. Things have changed now, though, and that is why I hope you are correct!

Finally someone talks some sense!

I've been reading some of the posts on here over the last few weeks and i've noticed people making wild assumptions about BA.
Some people seem to think that BA make their desicions up as they go along...

I would think BA know what they're doing at least 2yrs from now let alone 6mnts. Do some people honestly believe the management woke up, looked at the way things are today and said "oh s**t things arn't looking good, we messed up T5, fuel is up and spending is down! Lets just slash recruitment and merge with other carriers today. That should fix it..." I don't think so! They have planned for the worst and hoped for the best. They have a plan A,B,C.. for all eventualities and use which suits them for the companies safest interests.

This is all calculated planning, this is why they are successful and very rarely end up in real trouble.

Some people on here need to stop making wild guesses and have some logical thought before they post utter c**p. People assume the worst before its hard fact. When BA turn round and publically say "This is what we're doing"....then you can say what you want.

Just a little rant from me, i'm sorry if i've offended anyone but someone has to talk some reason. :hmm:

p.s - I do not work for BA.

I have to take the reciprical view to EGKK.

The plan is reactive and all announcements are to support increases in passenger fares, squeezing the employees for greater productivity and generally paint a gloomy picture. Then when things turn out good after all everyone is a winner, except passengers and employees of course.

I think British Gas are trying a similar weeze. Both corporations have made huge profits and will do so in future.

Recruitment might be curtailed momentarily while they concoct the next recruitment plan but they need so many recruits next year it will soon be back to normal. Recruits are needed for 777 and 320 fleets.

IMHO.

FlyingTom

Recruits will not be needed for the 777 operation, you will find that these longhual vacancies will be filled internally.

Flying Tom, BA have formerly announced (read the quarterly results pdf on BAShares.com) that the new 777's are for replacement, not expansion, significant route cuts and that all recruitment will be catered for by the 'spare' crews created by the cutbacks.
Of course in todays volatile environment that plan could be in the bin by next week, so I wouldn't get too concerned!

I have been assured that 'at the moment' current sim checks, interviews etc that are planned are going ahead. hopefully I will pass my sim and get into the hold pool, and I'm quite prepared to wait around swimming for a while. I've got a secure, good job, that I enjoy at the moment, and am happy to wait a few more months / years for an opportunity like BA.

Sooner the better as far as I'm concerned! While BA continues to suck experienced people up it makes more room for us newbies lower down the food chain!

Brian

Yes there is.

My interview day comes up in 9 days time. I have recently had several BA mates phone me up to say bad luck, all recruitment has been stopped. So I called the recruitment hotline and all recruitment EXCEPT pilot recruitment has ben stopped.

[smug] See my previous "don't panic" message [/smug] :ok:

Pilot Recruitment
 

I have just spoken to one of BA's recruiters as I am going down to Heathrow in a week or so for the 'day 1' events. She confirmed that if you are already in the process ie have been accepted for interview, and if you pass all the stages, (a fairly big if!!) then there is a job waiting.:D

Regards

Hey. Maybe when one of you guys has been to "Day 1," you could let us know what they said about the situation. When I was there (a few months ago) they explained everything about the hold-pool and waiting times etc. It was, of course, different then. They are bound to mention something and then we'll have it from the horse's mouth.

Would be great if you could!

Cheers.

(ps Shiny - you are at your negative antics again!! :) I just get excited about some positive news and you pop up with a downer again!)

When I was there in July, the recruiters said they don't really have an idea how many Pilots they are recruiting, they just keep recruiting untill told otherwise. They also commented that these are hard times and if your going to be in any Hold pool, it's best to be in the BA pool. We all may as well stay positive untill we actually get a call saying its all off. As others have said, as long as your employed somewhere at the moment and sitting in the pool, its not a bad position to be in.

Good luck to everyone!

Guys, if you have an interview scheduled then this will be going ahead. BA are going to honour all scheduled interviews. If you are successful you will go into the hold pool, as to how long you will be in the hold pool is the unknown quantity at the moment.

I too got a bit of excitement/hope from binsleepen's post but ShinyTen (quite accurately) bought me back down to earth. Not so much as job waiting as waiting for a job!!
I also would be very interested to hear from the guys doing day 1 soon to see what the recruiters are saying during selection. If someone would be so kind as to post any info we would all be very grateful.

In the meantime my armbands need more air in them....splash splash....

Anyone heard anything from 11th Day 1 Selection yet?

Spoke to one of our captains who now works in recruitment and used to be a manager about this over a coffee. He said that recruitment is going ahead as normal but the pilot pool is going to be built up. So don't fear chaps, you'll still get a job, though you may be sitting around in a pool for a bit longer wondering what's going on.

The news is not good at the moment.

I was there yesterday and we were told the following:

a. There is definitely a recruitment freeze.

b. Pilots ARE included.

c. Pilot recruitment already underway will continue, but as mentioned above this will be for the hold pool.

d. There will almost certainly be no DEP on to long haul for the foreseeable future.

e. There may be a need for short haul next year but this is subject to an exemption to the freeze being granted by management and by no means certain.

Also, to clarify, the time in the hold pool starts at Day 1 assessment. At present sim bookings are not available until Nov / Dec this year. So anyone successful then, will only have 8 months or so before having to reapply :uhoh:

If you are planning to go along, be aware of this and be realistic. On the one hand you have to 'be in it to win it'. On the other hand it's a lot of effort to go to for almost certainly no job!

Nevertheless, good luck to all :ok:.

KT

Thanks KT. I hope it all works out for you this time round and your perseverance is rewarded.

Your last sim session report still makes me laugh.

Good luck to you.

Thanks, I suspect my last sim provided more than a little amusement to the assessor too ;-).

TTFN

KT