Any more recruitment then?

''My research tells me only 2 will arrive with the rest being sub-leased out, due first class seat not being available!''

VS have never had a first class. J (In VS speak - Upper Class) has always been their premier product.

..just got the email for the a/c. Has anybody an idea what can be expected @ the test and interview?

Has anybody heard if there is going to be a numerical/verbal reasoning test?

Cheers

Hi guys, anyone hear anything about the interview? Is it any different to the old interview? I hear that there is likely to be some recruitment next year so be good to get some info in advance (if indeed i actually get an interview...).. Good luck to those attending at the moment....

I think it's an HR led, touchy feely, lovefest. Without the love.

VAA used to be cool.

Not anymore I suspect.

Are Virgin a long term choice?
 

With no connections to other big operators I have withdrawn my hat from the Virgin pool. I am not confident that they will be in existance in 10 years. I hope I am wrong and wish you all well in your interviews.

Likewise
 

I joined in 2006 and left in 2009 under voluntary redundancy. I was asked if I'd like to reapply for my old job (mistakenly, I thought I'd just be told "hi, how are you? how was that management Command you held down whilst you've been away from our stumbling business? Let's not make this chat too quick, HR may be suspicious, have another biscuit etc, OK that's long enough, welcome back")

So, I thought that perhaps I may go back, but then it became obvious that I'd have to undergo a load of psycho babble and touchy feely stuff.

Not for me thanks, I was meant to attend for assessment a day or two ago. I wrote on a day before saying thanks, but no thanks.

Remember, I'd already done the job for them and had an A340 rating, oh I also have an A330 rating too - but I'd better be put through the mill just in case.

I've no idea if they'll be about in 10 years time, but I'm not prepared to be treated like a total novice forever.

There is absolutely NO chance of a quick Command in Virgin Atlantic. If you're happy with that and like the idea of lonely bullet trips and constant jet lag, then I hope you get my place.

Good luck to everyone - but be aware what you're signing up for.

Hey Stan - Ever thought that they might not want you back !!!!

FTR- All Ex VS Pilots who took redundancy and new hires will be required to Pass a SIM check + On line Tech & Psychometric test, before being invited for interview. (An Airbus Rating is a must).

Good luck with your management role at WIZZ.

I think I'm with Stan on this one.

Playing Devils Advocate here.:E

Is taking redundancy fairly recently and then wanting back, any different to
an unpaid sabbatical for 3 years or a career break for 4 years (baby producing for eg).
I'd be extremely ticked off to have to go through all the irrelevant crap that some HR nomark deems relevant from their " manual on how things should be done so VS dont get sued".:yuk:

Years working for said Co. previously, thousands of hours and a type rating only requires a quick glance at Bloggs training record and a bit of dial-a-mate before a PFO or welcome back letter hits the mat!

I've always wondered why interviews are held for experienced pilots. We're such a small community in the UK that I would have thought that 3 phone calls would get you all the reliable info you'd want:ok:

Holer Moler:

I don't really think that VAA would go to the bother of inviting people to an extended assessment just to reject them for no reason. If they didn't have any interest, I would have been told no thanks before that waste of time and money.

So, with that in mind it seems irrelevant whether they did or didn't want me back doesn't it? I didn't think it was worth the effort - or the lack of opportunities - or the risk of failing a set of tests that I don't have time to prepare properly for. And make no mistake you should be prepared!!

People can look down their noses at Wizz all you they like. Bottom line: its been good for me; Captain, management role, project work......on it goes. And who says it's my career? It could be for a year or two, then who knows? They, like anyone, could be bust, or world beaters!!

Future at Virgin? RHS for ages.

At least I can pick and choose whether I give up my Command. I can always be an FO again. Any time. But, it's not so easy to go the other way.

Good luck in the future. It just wasn't for me. That's why I left in 2009, I shouldn't have even considered going back. I hated the job, but not the people.

As I say, good luck for the years ahead.

Stan. Have you become a management pilot? Also a Captain? Well done!

Vsflight
 

Only by chance. Honestly.

I really do honestly think that for the right person, the job at VAA is hard to beat.

I never felt that I was that person. So, I never really felt happy. I couldn't cope with the anxiety of being 1000's of miles away in Japan for instance.

What's important is that VAA keeps going, keeps offering good terms & conditions and keeps being, on the whole (but not for everyone) an employer of choice. Without such companies our industry is f?cked.

My post isn't aimed at saying VAA is bad. Quite the opposite, just for me it didn't work.

My life was complicated by a couple of unfortunate occurrences whilst there. I don't think I could go back and not forget that unfortunately. But, that's more about me than them..........

Good luck all!!

Anyone who has been on their selection day yet care to give a brief low down about the day.

It would seem not, Brian Fontana...Maybe they're all out celebrating!!?

.....or waiting for a contract to sign.........:hmm:

No news until after all interviews are complete at the end of this week.

watching the letterbox intently at the moment

Out of interest.. Can anyone give a breakdown of extra's to Salary? I see that the basic is £48+ but i expect there are a few, substantial, allowances to add to that?.... What would a new F/O expect to take home on an ave month and are there annual increments, etc...? This info isn't really published anywhere...or is it? Thanks in advance, fella's.

Frank I belive ppjn is up to date on pay for VS but this is what I understand from speaking to people.
£48K basic
£18.5 per flying hour contracted to 750 hrs per year so just under £14000 per year if you fly all your hours.
$600-$1000 USD down route allowances on the average month mostly spent.
Year one expect anywhere between £3200 and £4000 per month take home. Increments are £2000 on your basic salary every year. I maybe wrong but I think there are 14 or 16 FO increments. The union are currently trying for a payrise of 15%, on what I don't know and in reality will they get it?

Excellent, thanks for that...Doesn't sound bad at all! Cheers..

Just wondered if anybody has heard anything from Virgin yet? Any idea when candidates will be contacted with the outcome of the assessment?

Thanks

I hear that interviews have been postponed and due to start again around 15th Dec.... Sometime near Xmas looks likely!??
Good luck..How was the interview anyways??

stansdead

Nail on the head there. I have been interested in VS for quite some time but admittedly less so during the past year or two.

There is a point that one can reach when it becomes very difficult to join the likes of BA, VS etc etc. I have been in the LHS for over four years now and with a TRI course penciled in along with the chance of a mixture of long and short haul flying in the LHS in the next couple of years, I have realised I would have more to loose should I move on despite still being on the 'good' side of 30.

I have been on a few VS trips as a 'hanger on' with a friend of mine who is a skipper. I always got the impression that the time down route is what you made it but that is the same if you are airline/corporate or short/long haul. The happier guys were the ones that always seemed to keep busy when downroute and got involved in various activities i.e. cycling or sailing etc etc. Many who have been in VS for 10 years plus may come across as being slightly disillusioned and will probably say that the company is not the same as it used to be, however this could probably be said for most companies both in and out of aviation. VS is not the best out there but it is far from being the worst and if you can make the lifestyle work for you then that is the main thing to consider.

Good luck to those who apply!

Got a job offer this morning via email. Anyone else heard yet? Off down the pub to celebrate!!

Yes the offers have gone out - good news for me so I am off down the pub to celebrate to! :D:ok:

Nice to get a good news e-mail......

interview
 

Hi Guys,

can anyone who recently attended the assessment day shed any light, whats going on there?
Psychometric test, group exercise,...

how do these tests look in practise?

I heard the sim assessment is done on a B737 300 FFS, is that correct?
whats the profile like?

any infos will be greatly appreciated.

I have an interview date in Jan.

in case anyone is interested: I have 4800TT, A330, A320 rated.


cheers

Does anybody know if they will re-open application process anytime soon or is that it for now?
thanx a lot
g.d.s.

hello everybody,
I'm very interested on this thread too, I am type rated with a few thousands hours of experience on A330, anybody (mabe from inside the company) knows if they still need pilots or if they will in the next months??
Thank you guys!

Nobody have a clue then?
Thanx!

Anyone had a start date yet, other then pilots coming back from redundancy?

according to todays news looks like you may up working for Delta!

Virgin Atlantic Receives A String Of Approaches Over Possible Tie-Up Or Merger | Business | Sky News

Boeing 744 Recruitment
 

Virgin are now accepting applications for FO's on the 744.

Must have 744 TR with 1000 hours on type and 3000 hours in total.

It states that people will be interviewed for a holding pool only.

Closing date 29 DEC 2010.

Virgin
 

Agree Topslide !

Dreams. Nightmares. Same thing.

That's funny, my dream kept me awake too......

I expect they hope to poach from GSS or other 744 operators who pay peanuts. There are quite a few around since 744 BCFs are now the freighter of choice. VS have always taken experienced crews only onto the 744 as they don't base train on it. ZFT only. Seems like they're upping the requirements.

Interestingly, GSS have just advertised in Flight. Perhaps they're anticipating an exodus!

maybe we are getting some more 400's!!!!!!!!!

it is Virgin so you never know!!:}