British Airways 747 pilots... How Young do they get??!!
 

Going through security at JFK UAL terminal 7 yesterday, I was intermixed between a BA flight crew operating a 747 flight to LHR. CA and F/O were in front, F/As were behind me. OK... the F/O didn't look old enough to shave! I asked the F/As just how young BA pilots were getting, she also mentioned she didn't think he had hit puberty. LOL.

CA looked like he was a "normal" age for 747 skipper, mid 40s. I'd put him at age 24ish.

How young are the 747 fleet's junior pilots, and how is this even possible at BA? At most airlines the 747 schedules are very senior. Here at AA our youngest 777 F/O is MAYBE 42, if that. Youngest CA is prob in his early 50s.

In any case, kudos to him!

Well, he has to have at least 2000 hours total time or he wouldn't get a look in on long haul with BA, so he's got a bit of experience.

When I joined BOAC as Second Officer I was 20 years old and found it quite amusing that I wasn't permitted entry to a "pub" in USA. However I wasn't so amused when the cabin crew enrolled me in the Junior Jet Club!

I was First Officer by the age of 23 years on the Boeing 707 - after all, why not?

Im sure the FO appreciates having his name put on the internet. :rolleyes:

I was 20 as 2nd officer in cx and 23 on classics as FO.

I was 21 when I first got into the RHS on the 73. I know one cargo company with some very young 744 skippers, early 30's etc

Whats involved in getting aircraft type change in BA? How many years in the door would you be before looking at getting on the 747.

fixed... sorry about that.

Anyhoo... Most new hires here at major airlines tend to be not younger than 25-26, with the average being around age 30. How do pilots at BA and other airlines get in so young? And not just that - but how do they get away with getting a gig on long haul widebody? Usually, it takes several years to acquire enough seniority to fly that equipment here. As a new hire, you'd be starting usually as F/O on MD80/737.

The middle eastern airlines have crews that have a combined age younger than the average US 777 captain. Thinking about some of the US Captain's I have seen that combined age might even include half the cabin crew too.

If you are good enough and mature enough, you are old enough. I long ago stopped getting more experienced and now use that to cover for the fact I am just getting older.

aa73, here in the uk, you can train right out of high school, get into BA (if lucky) @21, and thus after a few years on shorthaul end up on longhaul at about 26 no problems. Why does the age matter? They have the experience....

They need to be young with an ever lengthening command wait currently close to a decade and a half..!

They are not 'getting away' with anything.



Pilots can start on widebody equipment with BA and others due to the vagaries of their bidding system and a need for vacancies to be filled.



They will still undergo the same testing and training as someone who takes longer to advance to a widebody elsewhere.



It's just a different system.

stilton

:ok:

I don't think BA has ever had a tradition of folks joining on shorthaul and inevitably progressing to Longhaul.

Twenty plus years ago :bored: it was perfectly possible to join BA directly from flying single/twin pointy jets in the military ( ie. No big multi engined time) and go straight into the RHS of the 747. BA couldn't get enough internal applicants - in those days the senior shorthaul pilots had a predictable lifestyle, lived near LHR and got home most nights......why stuff that cozy situation up?

I'm sure the situation is slightly different today, especially financially, but even so these days the new entrants have joined BA with previous airline time and are subject to all the rigorous checks and balances, so like you I'd question "getting away with it".

BTW I reckon the youngest Captain I had the pleasure of flying on the 747-400 with was 32 or 33.

Weren't those lads that flew long haul on Lancasters and B17s only in their late teens? They seemed to do ok even though some of the routes were pretty demanding! :)

As the guys said just a different system. 2000 hours, an ATPL, a bit of luck and a position available.
Fortunate to say I got offered the BA B777 at 22 and started the course when I was 23. Been on it now for 6 years. And an awesome 6 years its been.

Wow Seabiscuit that's awesome! Good on ya, enjoy.

I was hired at AA at age 26 and was the youngest in my class, consider myself very fortunate as well. Missed the last furlough by 1 NUMBER! Now 11 years later and still barely holding a line on JFK 75/76... hopefully things start moving here at AA with all the retirements/training/fleet renewals.

Age counts for little nowadays. If you have the ability and can do the job then what is the problem? I got my jet command when I was 24 and become a trainer when I was 26. I had the honour of flying Queen Elizabeth II whilst in command on a State visit when I was 29. Times have certainly changed.

Did my first TR on the A300 and A310, flying long haul @20yrs old.

Makes me laugh to think of it now but it does happen if you're very, very lucky.

Right place, right time I guess :ok:

personally i think it is pretty sad to be in a wide body early 20s.

all those other amazing things to do life uni, travelling then fly instruct SEP, air taxi, MEP, turboprop, light jet, medium jet and then heavy jet.

You got a point there:ok: Real flying and all that!


I was in KIX a few years ago, check-out time at the hotel at 21:00 sharp - and a United skipper came up to me (he was 60, the F/O was 59) and asked me if he could swap ALL of his crew for just ONE of mine!!!!!!!!! I declined:}:}