Dimiair

See post #49

thx for that Luchbox and Dan...
.... wonder how comes experienced applicants -some even type rated -are lured by such a low pay really... ex MK maybe :confused:
I reckon most are props driver for whom the move would actually be an improvement. Other than that, can't understand...

At a most basic level its supply and demand. Looking deeper I would say its a combination of TP people thinking they are getting a great deal and naivety as a whole.

I wonder how many of the pay to fly brigade will jump from somewhere like Ryanair thinking I don't mind going to work for sh*t money cos its a big jet and a stepping stone onto something bigger and better. Their plan will be to stay for 2-3 years and then get into Big Airways now that they have heavy jet experience.

Problem is that in taking what is a pitiful amount of money to fly a 744 it brings down the T&C's at Big Airways and the grass is no longer greener.

Would anyone from within mind telling how they like it regarding:

Roster pattern
Do they use 3 men crews
Number of sectors / landings per trip
How fun is the flying... ie do they get to do much hand flying ...

Many thanks :ok:

I know BA and BALPA have agreement on third party flying cargo for them. One thing I don't quite understand is why BA FO's get priority at command in GSS, GSS being a separate entity, which has nothing to do with BA's seniority list in the first place.
If this is the case, and considering money offered, then you're better off going to some low cost.
Or did I get it all wrong?

They don't get priority they get 50% of the command vacancies. It's the price BA management pay for the freedom to operate large freighter aircraft outside the BA mainline seniority list.

Gents, I am not within GSS, merely a humble applicant but having done LH for many years maybe I can answer a few of your questions,

Money: No it isn't much, you can earn a lot more flying for BA or VS but you will work a hell of a lot harder. Cargo ops often entail lots of waiting around and positioning so total hours flown will be less. Also rosters as per the website FAQ's show 2 or 3 trips per month lasting up to 7/8 days. With BA or VS you will do up to 6 trips per month with minimum days off in between. Take it from one who knows, that is not a lot of fun if you are commuting. Not much fun even if you live near the airport for that matter.

So in short, you will earn that extra 500/1000 quid per month and remember the taxman takes a huge chunk at every available opportunity.

Many of the GSS FO's are older guys who may be on a pension from another company with lower retirement age or those who have paid off their mortgages, kids left home and want a nice number to get them away from the missus a couple of times a month. Money is very important when you are younger and have a growing family and large commitments. Once those factors go away, it is less important than lifestyle. One of the few benefits of getting older. Apart from saga holidays of course and the chance to embarrass your children.

Show me any company where widebody commands are ultra quick. Maybe VS in the mid 1990's but not any more.

BALPA negotiated this little gem as BA use GSS for their cargo ops. There is no secret about it so if it is a show stopper for you, don't join. Worth noting that any cargo work not for BA and any extra aircraft as a result does not fall under this rule.

So go to China or Korea then. They have very strict age limits for FO's (50 in China and 45 in Korea, I know because I tried.) Not the nicest places to live for a European but if it floats your boat then go for it. Be well worth reading the relevant section of Prune to find out what it really is like. Age and other discrimination may be outlawed in Europe but it most certainly isn't in Asia or the Middle East.

First off BA are not looking for heavy jet experience. The shortfall is in 737/A320 and is likely to remain so. Again in the heady days of the last 10 years before the banks did their thing, it would be an advantage. All the signs are that BA can fill their LH requirement from within for the forseeable future.
I may of course be wrong but you may as well save yourselves 9 grand if this is your master plan. If you can afford to write off all that money then buzz off after 2 years then good for you. However the recruiters will be more than aware of this and may ask probing and difficult questions. I know this because I have been in recruitment and used to do just that.

The requirements give preference to those with jet airliner experience. No reason why you couldn't transition from a Q400 to a 744 but you would need a lot of training. GSS are quite small and probably don't have the capacity.

Long haul FO's spend a lot of time as heavy crew. That means no flying, you just operate the radio in the cruise. On the plus side you will become expert at crosswords. Expect 3 landings per month. Maybe.

As for hand flying, if you want to hand fly at the end of a 12 hour overnight sector in horrible weather into busy airspace then you probably also like self flagellation. You will also be increasing the workload of the equally knackered captain who may not thank you for it. The most hand flying you will do is in the simulator every six months and maybe occasionally on a nice day into somewhere quiet. If you want lots of flying and sectors, do short haul. This is also why most LH operators insist on a level of experience for you to fall back on when the autopilot trips out or the ILS throws a wobbly in poor vis and you are having major problems keeping your eyes open.

Fun? well yes but it's a job. A very routine one at that. Once you get over the fact that it is a large jet, then it's no different than sitting in a 737 except you get to do it for much longer periods. The flight deck isn't that much bigger either. If you want comfort and lots of space for your dinner tray, fly an Airbus.

Hope I've answered a few questions for you LH aspirants. If it is for you and you apply, go in with your eyes open. And all the very best of luck to those applying.

Zeddb

Very nicely summed up.... and I'm in GSS!

S44, check your PM's

Z

As zeddb said so well, if the BA command aspect is a dealbreaker then don't join. The last time I checked GSS was flying exclusively for BA World Cargo. The deal for BA is they can effectively outsource their own cargo flying if they give their own crew a shot at 50% of the command positions. If you get rid of the BA command option then you also get rid of the GSS command option as the flying has to go back in-house at BA, or more realistically BA World Cargo withdraw from the dedicated freighter operation and go back to buying space on other operators aircraft. You may find the long time to command distasteful but it's a necessity of the operations existence.

So what happens to GSS if BA Cargo decide not to use them any more . . . . ? Surely that's a big 'if' . . . .

One solution: join BA first and then bid for a GSS command. They are recruiting.

But I can assure you it isn't that quick either. :)

zeddb
 

Many thanks, zeddb!
Very cristal & precise.
:ok:

News
 

Hi all
Anyone heard anything yet?

Nothing yet.

Hello, I have an interview with GSS in a couple of weeks. I would be grateful for any information anyone may have about the interview process and also about terms and conditions. If there are any GSS pilots reading this I wonder if you could provide any information about typical rosters etc?

midnite

Can I ask your experience and type please?

Thanks

CC

midnite
 

PM for you

No idea what they might ask non type rated guys but as a general principle, do a bit of research on the company (plenty of info on the website), find out a bit about the nice new shiny thing that will arrive in due course (just go to the Boeing site) and make sure you know your current type, because they probably will.

Friendly and informative but fairly searching was my experience. (I'm type rated).

Any other questions you can ask them on the day, all will be made clear so no point regurgitating it here.

Good luck and hope to meet some of you in due course.:ok:

zeddb

Congrats and thanks for your very informative contribution :ok:

bleeds