or ramping up for the B747-800 !!!....................:rolleyes:

Anybody had any start dates yet? Or info on when start dates are expected to be offered?

Many thanks

I fly the 330 at the moment, any mention of further recruitment on the Busses? Thanks.

EXEZY No nothing mentioned, I believe the current round of recruitment which is now complete was looking for somewhere in the region of 40 FBW FOs in anticipation of the arrival of the first of the 330s. Thats probably it for 2011, but they have a lot of 330s coming over the next few years so Im sure a requirement for rated guys, get yourself on the careers section of their website and sign up for job alerts. A

close capt hook
 

i think the final figure from within is 48 new and welcomed chapies and chapesses.

for courses starting in jan onwards

Anyone had a contract or start date through yet...?

motffy
 

a mate of mine is starting in jan and then there will be a break until april where courses will resume, i am led to believe.

might have something to do with returning the sabbaticals, i think.

just a guess, but all will become evident shortly i am sure, more important issues at the front in VS at the mo with the WX in the UK and more recently on the eastern US sea board.

Nice one, cheers for the reply!

Could someone within VS tell me what percentage of their flight pay, sector pay gets taxed? Also what is the overtime rate if you fly more than the 750hrs a year

Thanks.

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I was reliably infromed that recent interviews held for VA of 10 booked for interview only 3 turned up

Does anyone have a start date yet or any clue as to when start dates may be offered? I understand xmas and new year holiday's delayed things. Just keen to start planning things!

Happy new year :ok:

No start date for me yet. More courses in April apparently so expecting a call any day. Happy New Year! :ok:

Brian Fantana,

If you're joining, I think you'll find that any offer to fly overtime will not go down too well with your new colleagues. Virgin is a 750 hours airline.

Anyway, to answer your question, the rate is not (and should not be) good enough to be worth exceeding 750 hours. If the company need you to do more than that, they can hire extra pilots. That will bring down your time to command. See, everyone's a winner!

Eye off the ball.

Thanks for the reply, but you have not really answered the question. What is the OT rate – in figures please.
The company has an OT rate, so do people work OT? I assume some do, some don’t - personal choice.
Surely movement and retirements at the top end of the seniority list would be more likely to reduce command time, not a surplus of newbies at the bottom end. :ok:
Anyone know what percentage of flight pay, sector pay gets taxed?

Some do, MOST don't...

To be completely honest mate and i've asked a few other guys as well most of us don't actually know what the current rate is as the idea of doing any overtime in the current climate is pretty unattractive. There isn't much goodwill amongst the pilot workforce at the moment unfortunately.

Someone will dig it out for you eventually but Eye Off The Ball's view is shared by myself and most of our colleagues.

Cheers

Anyone know what percentage of flight pay, sector pay gets taxed?

Hi Brian,all of it gets taxed.

Days off working for F/O's is about £100 pd.Yes,derisory.

15 years to command,sure you want to commit to that.

Business papers are betting that Sir Richard will relinquish the reins this year.

To whom? What's going to happen to the new joiners when that happens?

I think you'll sense an "atmosphere" if you do join,and it's not the one they'd like you to think you'll find

Thats great,thanks for info and the replies.:ok:

BF

if you really are from san diego like it says on here I wouldn' t exchange that for any london based 747/340!!

Is that a bite?

Didn't realize pilots were so disgruntled at Virgin at the moment. My mate seems happy enough on the 340 fleet. I think things will settle down once Branson finally states his intentions after the DB review.

Well your mate's obviously in the minority! I'd love to say more but like the rest of my colleagues I'm scared to do so.....
Lots of us are actively looking elsewhere and are starting to leave for pastures new.

could you elaborate as to why??
Just a change of scenery after doing your time with them?
Or has there been a change in management/routes/stops down route/ lifestyle etc etc for you to have a change of heart?

Change of management. Over time, yes.

Change of stops. You bet.

Opportunities. None.

Deterioration of terms. Yes.

Fatigue. Yes.

Fun. No.

You name it, it's happened. It was the least fun job in flying I ever had. I'm glad I left and took their redundancy.

This is, of course, my experience. Others love it. I didn't.

Marmite. The ad was invented for VAA but stolen by Marmite. You either love it or hate it.

VSflight. Take the bull by the horns go join Stans airline, least he had the balls to leave and take his life into his own hands. Mind you it might involve a pay drop?:\ Maybe VS not that bad then.

But there is more to life than a few quid and feeling you owe Branson a favour for letting you fly one of his jets.

I always smile at the comments about VS. It is all relative. In my current airline lifestyle is non-existent, morale is poor, management poor - the list goes on and on.

VS is not for everyone. However, it suits some better than others and to me it is almost heaven compared to the crap I put up with now. You are all welcome to the lo-co scene with stable rosters, home every night etc... But for me that is not my thing, I have been there and done that. I am currently with a piss poor airline and now what VS is offering is good.

For those that criticise it, fair play but realise that it is far better than a lot of 'jobs' out there!

BB :ok:

Mr Angry: Long time, no speak. Hope you're well. No pay cut from VAA FO to current Captain salary. Especially not if you add in the extra jobs I get paid for now:ok:

Busbar: good luck, I hope you have a very satisfying career at VAA. For me, it was not the job I thought, but for many it is. As I said it's Marmite. Good luck and enjoy:ok:

Its a shame Pilots can't job swap every now and then then things would be rosy as they would see the grass is not always green, or greener

Hi Guys,

Are applications still being accepted for B744 rated pilots?
I looked on their website but to no avail.

Cheers.

Dihaz,

The applications for the B744 vacancies had a closing date of the 29th December 2010 - that was as advertised on the Virgin careers website page during the period when they were looking for people.

May be worth giving them a call though? You never know. Best of luck :ok:

Busbar,

Damn, missed it! I hear without a contact though in VS its quite difficult.
Anyhow, thanks for the info.

Cheers.

VS 747 Hold Pool
 

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!
Fortunately i have an interview upcoming with VS. Just wandering if anyone has information concerning the assessment day in London. What kind of group exercises do we have to expect? Any "compass tests" to expect. Maybe some Airbus mates can shed some light, who were previously tested ,a few months ago... Thank you very much in advance, i would really appreciate some profound information.
Cheers

Congrats!
 

That's very nice news for you! May I ask your background?

Good luck to you!

Congrats Highlevel390. Did you apply during the recent campaign over the last 2 weeks?

Good luck!

Ditto, and good luck to all !


PS: Ditto on your background - I do not have an assessment.
Thanks!

Company want 4 months notice.

Boeing rated but on the B737.

I applied the second day it went live.

Anybody applied over the last 2 weeks and already been called in for assessment? I applied on the first days but heard nothing yet....A330 rated myself.
Thanx!
AB

B737, 757, 767 and 777 all by age 28 - thats pretty good going!!

Hi all!
Applied in Dec. 2010, got invited in March. Appr. 7000h total, 3000h on 744. Any help appreciated! Maths test? Tech Quiz? Thx.

Im sure spamcan would rather be just 73/75/76 rated and still in the UK.

777 rating is useless dear boy!