I don't think I'd be welcomed back! Not that I'd want to.

How many B747 rated FOs are they recruiting this time round. 5? 10?

When will any 787 recruitment start?

Just to mix things up a little. I left Emirates to come home to the uk and was in the pool for virgin. I'd take a long wait for command anytime over continuing to work for Emirates in the desert. Things are not all there cracked up to be out there, with company and location.

Is the VA recruitment page down?

Yeah - message on the top is that they've announced Cabin Crew ops, so demand is a bit high.....

Airbus rated or Military "heavy jet" experience? Take a look here then:

https://careers.virgin-atlantic.com/...xhjnfwgajaqveu

:ok:

It's nice to see the heavy mil guys getting opportunities outside of the mob. :D

Did you not know that ex-Mil guys with no airline experience or Boeing time are more suitable candidates! :ugh::ugh::mad:

Did not know VS operated L-1011s or C-17s... :p

Virgin want the right candidate, not :mad:. The simple truth is that ex-Mil has proved very successful so the lack of airliine/type experience isn't a problem. If you can get the right candidates with appropriate type ratings then great.

It's a face fit organisation.

To be fair VS did a load of non tr recruitment last year and indeed have for the last few years. As employers go, i think they do mix up who they recruit quite a bit. Just because it isn't your turn this time round doesn't mean it won't be soon.

Fair point, well made :ok:

face fit
 

eye off the ball is spot on and you can't blame an organisation continuing with a tried and successful selection procedure. That said, I have seen one or two oddballs actually make the cut! Still, I could say the same about the BA process.

Sorry for the slight thread drift....

Does anyone have a current list of which routes/destinations that the Airbus operates, or able to point me in the right direction via the Google minefield of misinformation.

Thanks in advance

Not too scientific, but here's a website: v-flyer

Airline Route shows some information but not a complete list, eg in schedule amendments:

• VS026 JFK0830 – 1940LHR 333 D
• VS004 JFK1830 – 0650+1LHR 346 D
• VS046 JFK1930 – 0800+1LHR 744 D
• VS010 JFK2130 – 0925+1LHR 744 D
• VS003 LHR0905 – 1150JFK 346 D
• VS045 LHR1400 – 1640JFK 744 D
• VS009 LHR1615 – 1905JFK 744 D
• VS025 LHR2005 – 2300JFK 333 D

The 340 does Far East (narita, shanghai, hong kong/sydney rotation) and the west coast US (shared with the boeing - LA, Vegas, San fran). It also does various New york rotations and also cape town, Joburg, lagos. the 330 changes seasonly. Mainly Caribbean, indias and Dubai in the winter with some New yorks and more east coast US and Chicago in the summer. I think thats fairly accurate. :ok:

If you download the virgin app then you can see which flights are flown by which aircraft.

Thanks guys
But.....
2 sensible helpful answers without put downs or sarcasm on pprune????
What on earth has happened?
;-)

Thanks again

No longer accepting Airbus rated applications according to website.

Yep, was only open for 3 days...

Has anyone who managed to get an application in had a response?
Got mine in just before it closed but nothing yet - not even a pfo email.
Thanks.

Just a quick word of warning,

I had a start date for the 747. Virgin pulled the plug on me because a previous employer ( the nasty irish crowd, even though that wasn't my previous airline) took it upon themselves to call the hr people. Gave up a decent 777 job to come to Virgin. Other excellent references including the military.They wouldn't even meet me to discuss. Horrific treatment. I'm not bitter just a word of warning, I Would have loved the job.

good luck folk.

That blows Scotty! Disappointing to hear that.


Did VS insist you resign before getting the class date? How much time do the ME carriers require for notice before your last day (i.e., 1 month notice)? Is it even possible these days to hold on to your ME job until everything is finanlised at VS and then resign?


Wish you luck going forward.

Cheers Iver
 

ME crowd wanted 3 months notice, VS gives just over 3 months notice of a course start date. I made the mistake of trying to have a couple of weeks between jobs for a slight break.

Didn't matter though, they pulled the plug with a month to run. The individual that took it upon himself is a well know bad apple at a certain company providing contractors to Ryr. He has done the same to some other ex-fr pilots.

I'm still gobsmacked that Virgin actually entertained him. And even more disappointed that they refused to even sit down and hear my side of the story and review the many excellent references I've got from both Fr, the ME and the mil.

I didn't post this to put anyone off I just wanted to share my experience in case it could help others. Very happy for the guys and galls that got in. Best of luck to all in VS.

I know Virgin aren't very keen if you break a bond with another company to go and join them.

Assuming you had no outstanding bond with your previous employer and you gave them the full 3 months notice I can't see why Virgin wouldn't take you on. I don't see why taking a few extra weeks off between jobs would affect anybody. What did it have to do with FR when you were leaving the ME? Unless Virgin didn't like the reference they gave? Did you break a bond with FR to go to the ME perhaps?

:confused:

Scotty, is it not the case that you left Ryanair without providing any of the required notice?

Sorry not very well explained. And I don't want to get into the issue too much, its water under the bridge now. Resigned completely legitimately with ME carrier. All on good terms etc.

previously worked for FR. They forced us to subcontract. Effectively with ltd companies etc. Their choice not ours. Resigned to my ,"holding company" a legitimate crowd, months notice as per the contract I had with them. Company supplying us to FR go crazy because that wasn't enough notice for them. Not my fault that they forced me to work for another company, they do it to avoid tax and NI etc. So obviously not ideal. ME carrier happy, as they've dealt with this situation many times.

Comes to references with Virgin, holding company give excellent reference. individual with other company makes contact directly with Virgin to give a negative reference. There are other reports of this.

Virgin call me with about a month to run, to give me the bad news. I've tried everything to reason with them, but the door slammed shut.

water under the bridge for me now, but I thought it was worth sharing. I know VS are a good company to work for, I wouldn't have left the ME with a command opportunity not far away, if they weren't.

That's about it. If company x forces people into ropey ltd companies or "umbrella" companies they really shouldn't cry when people comply with the rules of the company that pays their tax.

Sounds like Virgin's loss! I am surprised VS did not consider the source better and at least hear both sides of the story, but HR people tend to be a bit dense/myopic in my experience. Regardless, disappointing to hear about.

Al Murdoch
 

No Al, what makes the rounds around the crew room quite often isn't the whole truth. I can tell you this for sure, there are over 50 guys from FR in my position. Obviously not with VS, but with resignation problems with FR. So I wasn't the only one to fall fowl of this problem. When you've worked for a respectable carrier in orange, I'm sure it's not that easy to understand what happens with a carrier of the calibre of fr. I'm sure we're not about to defend FR's practises?

I can assure you, my ME carrier was very thorough with references etc. But I can of course understand that this is a head ache VS just want to avoid I don't blame them. But to crack the news over the phone, and to point blank refuse a face to face meeting, seems a little harsh.

But like I said water under the bridge, really happy for those who got into an airline, I'm sure is great to work for.

There will be others in my shoe's and I don't want them to get stung. All the best.

Devasting to read! How VS could listen to anything that comes from the suggested persons mouth... Wasn't too long ago a judge questioned his integrity and truthfulness in court.

I'm very surprised that any company would listen to a single word from this mob given the way they impose employment and treat their "service providers".

Hope it works out Scotty.

Thanks mate,

My thoughts exactly. But I'll plod along, not much else that I can do.

Sorry if I've Hijacked the post folk.

What was the name/description of this individual. Sounds like she doesn't represent the company nor the type of team player we like to attract at VS.

A330 Roster
 

Is there anybody around who can post (or PM me) a typical First Officer A330 roster?

Thanks. :D

Not much help this time 777_scotty, but next time put your time down at FR as "self-employed contractor" and use your accountant as the referee.

It has naff all to do with FR, BRK or DD. :ok:

Cheers FD
 

Yea that would have been a better idea I think. However it wouldn't have helped in this case as said individual made a call to Virgin HR manager.

There is no defence against this kind bad reference. What is tragic is that Virgin didn't listen to what I had to say, and a simple google search is really suffice to sum up this Character. I mean a judge in his last case commented on him being of questionable character and he doubts that the majority of what he said was true.

I have ample excellent references etc.

But life goes on.

Cheers all.

Under UK employment law it is ILLEGAL to give a bad reference! One can refuse to give a reference, which in itself may speak volumes, but it is against the law to deliberately give a bad reference. I'm sure I know the disgusting individual you are referring to, and it does not surprise me in the least. I believe you have a strong case to take this higher... Whether you wish to of course, is another matter. In any case, you have my sympathies.

No it isn't. An employer cannot provide a reference that is false, and if it is inaccurate, unfair and misleading, the former employee may be able to claim for quantifiable damages in court, if a loss resulted. However, there is nothing "illegal" about a bad reference if (for example) the previous employer can back up the reference with warning letters, etc.

Well at least they haven't forgotten about us! Guess we won't hear anything until the New Year now.

Apparently emails went out yesterday to those who've been 'shortlisted'

The email I received certainly didn't say I was shortlisted. It was more, we haven't forgotten about you and are currently in the process of shortlisting.

:ok:
I stand corrected. Just passing on what I'd heard(!)