Perhaps they want to avoid having to put new guys through a type rating. Investing into your crew is becoming a bug "no-no" lately.

I know several -400 rated guys flying in dubious parts of the planet looking to get back to Europe. GSS in STN will offer up a few too. As for the 330/340 there must be quite a few Emirates/Qatar/Etihad folks looking to get out of the sandpit.

Who knows, in a few years time you'll be in BA anyway, once Delta/AF screw up their big share of Virgin (with lots of protected commands too!) :E

Of course that's what they are up to.

The point is both BA and Virgin, traditionally seen as top of the UK aviation job pyramid, used to ask for 500 hours total time (BA) or X thousand hours in a Boeing/Airbus (Virgin) for DEPs. Now we see type rated only at Virgin, and in the last round of recruitment at BA it was only those with the right type rating that actually got in.

With the "top of the pyramid" employers significantly narrowing the opportunities to get in, what does this do for a traditional career path? How will this ripple down to other less salubrious employers? Are we seeing another small but significant step in errosion of our career aspirations?

All this talk of Virgin pilots ending up in BA - surely the very last thing to expect. If/when Virgin finally goes under, I'm sure Branson will ensure the carcass is sold on to anybody-but-BA. An asset strip (slots) to Delta looks the most likely outcome.

I think the same was said about Bishop and bmi, but look how that ended up.

Just to counter the doom and gloom, BA and Virgin both recruited non-TR'd guys in last year's recruitment. BA onto the 74, 76 and Airbus and Virgin onto the 74 and Airbus. I know TR based recruitment eases the burden on the trg depts and the bottom line but BA have a strong track record of recruiting non-TR guys and with all the new metal they'll be receiving in the next few years I don't think they'll change. Some big numbers being bandied around by management re increase in the size of the pilot workforce will also help. Good luck.

I have 330 type rating but not 1000 hours on type. 3500 TT. Tempted to put in an application anyway. Thoughts?

Nothing stopping you...

But I wouldn't, the requirements are clearly stated if they don't get enough people with the min requirements (which I highly doubt) then they will lower the requirements.

If you apply I'm 100% certain your application will be rejected and you will prob be asked not to apply for 6 months, so if they do lower the requirements or ask for non - typed guys etc you might not be able to apply

Disclaimer - I'm not involved in the recruitment dept or have any knowledge of their workings :}

In relation to BA DEP recruitment from 2010 to the early stages of 2012, the MAJORITY were type streamed. Yes, a few non rated went to the 744, but most transferred their ratings. There was certainly a slower uptake of guys with 737 ratings from within the holdpool, with the highest demand placed on those flying the 757/767. A number of non rated DEPs made it through selection however most if not all drowned in the pool alongside the rated guys when requirements diminished as the bmi acquisition was finalised. There was also the question
of the 90 odd FPP cadets that would prioritise any further SH requirements. So besides the few ex-mil guys that were recruited and the non rated 744 intake, most if not all had the necessary rating to my understanding. I was in the last pool, pretty certain everyone has reached their 18 month tenure by now?

Going forward, I would expect future campaigns to hold similar requirements. Saves money and training time. Also may explain why BA have been non committal when asked if they would prioritise previous holdpoolers applications

I totally disagree, the cadets are joining on the 320, the 767 is on the way out, so who has a 380/777/787 rating these days? Future recruitment will be onto these fleets, they don't have any pilots with long haul Airbus expeirence so concievably Direct entry A380 might be an option?

Sorry to detract from the topic, however BA will ask for A330/A340 time if its for the A350 and 777 time if its for the 777/787. Same way they did when hiring for the 744 in 2011. They started taking non rated guys because they couldnt get appropriate 744 candidates.

BA have a large pool of internal bids awaiting long haul positions. My assumption is these guys will move up the list and the lower part of the list will be filled by type streamed DEPs and FPPs - just how it worked last time. I am told there may be a possibility of some LH recruitment, but it won't be vast.

I know a fecking truck load of guys with A330 and 777 experience who will happily trade their lives at Qatar and Emirates for one in BA.

Anyone know what the average take home is after tax/pension etc at Virgin for new joiner? Someone asked this 2 pages ago but can't see any replies as of yet... Cheers

So people are going to trade £6k (as an FO) a month after tax and living costs and being a couple of years from a command with industry leading job security for roughly £3700 after tax (I know it can be up to £4200 as I have mates in both BA and Virgin) before living costs and 17+ years to command in companies haemorrhaging money? It's objectively nonsense. Emotion clouds judgement. BA is a great job, my gut and my head says Virgin isn't a good move - though friends there are relatively happy (however they were stuck abroad with a loco prior to Virgin). We will see how they feel if they're made redundant/ are still an FO on £4500 a month (for Virgin) 17 years later whilst their previous colleagues are captains earning £7000 a month and have been for the last 12 years+. There are however no guarantees in life!

There is more to life than money.

Yeah like setting the tone of the day as a commander and not having the worry of redundancy looming. If you have your life in order then money helps - it's a bonus. If you're morally bankrupt or trying to keep a wife that only wants things her way happy then forget the money and forget life. If your wife won't follow you or is going to leave you for being abroad then 'mag to grid' - get rid! Nothing worse than a partner that's a hanger on, dependent, unmotivated drip that can't organise their own time and life. And this issue is a major problem for pilots all over the world - magnified because we're away a bit.

Wow. I'm sensing more than a little baggage there...

WBF.........and breathe!. No-one is ever immune to the treat of getting chopped although the risk is much higher at some outfit's , I grant you.

Ha ha, yeah you've got me there.:ok:

Anyone on the inside know of how many have applied?

Also what numbers are being looked for?

Recruitment window extended I see. Wonder if they struggled for applicants?

Was there a declared window length? Anyone have any idea when it will open for A320 rated guys etc?

A friend of mine applied and was offered an interview on the same day!

Maybe for once they are struggling :confused:

Hopefully they will ask for experienced Boeing guys :}

was the closing date always Monday 19th? Didn't take much notice the first time as not Boeing or Airbus rated......

No originally it was the 15th Aug

Looks like some of you bus guys might get a shot.

Just reopened with lower requirements for the 330/340.

3000 of which now only 500 on type.

Closes Thursday.

If they keep reducing the requirements at this pace, i could imagine that non rated should be able to apply soon.
Any inside information regarding to non rated?

Any updates as recruitment now finished?

Does anybody know how well Little Red is doing and if VS will ever take over from Shamrock? I understand the agreement was signed for 3 years...

Unlikely unless there are other forces at work. It's unsustainable in its present form

When will VS recruit for the B787s. I assume they will bring about some expansion to the airline?

They will probably transfer the slots over to the long haul operation as soon as they can.

A330 rated with 500h on type?
 

Spoke with VAA A330 pilot the other day and they said TR'd with TOT applicants are most likely to be recruited this round.

Recruitment for small number of type rated is now complete.

Recruitment opening 'in autumn' for non type rated to fill hold pool.

As far as I understood they can only be operated to specified destinations, so Virgin could never turn them in to longhaul slots?

Little Red
 

So far the company is happy with the progress LR has made. It is not designed as a stand alone money maker but to provide significant feed to long haul operations, which was lost after the bmi sale.

There is no intention to convert slots. There is speculation that it will eventually be brought in house and crewed by VAA pilots.

BIGBAD is right. The slots are nonconvertible. Also destination specific. It will lose millions this year and probably for a few years yet but Delta like it so it will stay. CAA wanted it in house within 7 months but VAA negotiated longer.

Specific to this forum I guess is that it will mean recruitment to VAA to the 320, as from the main pilot body only F/Os getting commands would switch, I guess. Most of us gave up short haul for a reason....

Also a rumour of a cadet pilot scheme starting soonish. Probably related to LR coming in house but no one knows yet.

I doubt it Busta, I reckon if it is brought in house, it'll be on a lower tier of salary akin to BA's EOG.

When VS has A320/321s prior to 9/11, the pilots were on a lower payscale. About 90% of the wide body pay IIRC.

So where would the LR pilots fit on the seniority list if it went in house? Is that the plan? Would there be one master Virgin list or two separate ones?

This is all speculation, as it is still a long way from happening, but LR is currently operated by aer lingus. So VA would have to recruit for LR, the crew for it would probably just join the regular seniority list in the normal manner. With commands coming from those already on the list who so bid for it.

A330 vs. A340 flying for newhires....
 

For newhires in the near term, which aircraft are likely for assignment - the A330 or the Whale?

Also, do newhires on the A330 fleet get cross-trained as well initially on the A340 and do that flying or do they pretty much stay on the A330 fleet/routes? At what point would an new Airbus FO start flying the A340 (I understand they will eventually be phased out)?

Cheers