Given that many Ryanair pilots were hired, fair to assume all/most were offered the 737? Any 757 slots? Also, is there a minimum seat lock before you can bid another fleet?

Congrats to all!

Starting in Feb :ok:

All positions are on the B737 fleet, and the jobs were advertised for 737NG rated pilots this time round. All pilots can submit a "standing bid" which expresses preferences for such as fleet, base, LHS/RHS or any combination. Vacancies in any category are then filled on the basis of that bid and seniority. Why one would wish to move from the 737 (modern growing "fleet of the future") to the 757 (old and shrinking, a bit like me!) I don't know....but then I am a biased 737 diehard.

Base transfers?
 

Matey, how easy is it to get base transfers in Thomson? What are the waiting lists like? I'm guessing lgw most wanted? What about regional, ema etc?

My company is a nightmare.

Base transfers vary in success from year to year. Right now, I reckon I could move to almost all other bases but expect a 737 type rating for the privilege.

Traditionally MAN & LGW have been the hardest to get into but that has changed more recently. I'd still hazard a guess at a year or two for LGW but MAN now joins all other bases and has strangely been under crewed for the past year.

The irony of the system is that we have recruited and sent all new blood to NCL and CWL as these bases are always under crewed but most moved out In the first bid round to places around the country including LGW.

I'm not sure I've really explained the system very well so I'll rephrase... We have a bid round on a regular basis, maybe every two months. At this time we can ask for a new base/fleet/command etc. Then in seniority order it is granted. If say I was at GLA which has a real short fall in FO's and wanted to move to LGW which might be 99% crewed I would still be successful in moving. A vacancy is a vacancy despite the situation at the base you have left.

On the flip side, if you are junior you could wait years for a vacancy at LGW as it matters not when he request was submitted. Even if you waited 5 years for a base move, if someone more senior to you requests what u want the day before the bid... He'll get it.

Hope that helps

Ah ok, so guys on the 73 can move quite easily then? Is there any minimum time you must spend in a base before you can ask to move?

I suspect the minimum time is probationary period which I think is three months but might be 6.

And yes, 73 guys (the biggest fleet now) can move around the easiest. New joiners can expect 73 for some time before 78. The average seniority on the 78 must be near 20 years

interesting thanks, presumably the seniority on the 787 will reduce as you take more deliveries, and guys get upgraded and put back on 737.

Currently the most junior pilot on the 787 is no 530ish out of 798, and has been with the Company 10 years. Vacancies on the fleet are only open to pilots at LGW and MAN, so not an option for those who would like to join the fleet but have overriding reasons for remaining at their current base. It is also a fairly major lifestyle decision as the fleet is purely longhaul, not an attractive option for many. The ultimate arbiter is seniority, so if two pilots bid for the same thing and a suitable vacancy arises, then the most senior pilot will be successful. As Doobler says, this means that you could have had a standing bid for say B737 FO at LGW for 2 years when a vacancy arises, but be unsuccessful because a more senior pilot submits the same bid only the day before. Nevertheless, the golden rule is to bid for what you want rather than trying to second guess the situation. People have missed out on Commands because they had not submitted a Left seat bid as they didn't think it likely to be satisfied any time soon. In a nutshell, a senior pilot's bid for a move to 737 FO CWL will probably succeed, whereas a junior FO bidding for a 787 Command at MAN will have a bit of a wait! He would make that his no 1 bid though and follow up with any number of different permutations. The bid form is not one single bid but allows you to put different bids in rank order.

Also be prepared for occasional bid anomalies. :hmm:

People jumping in from other bases because they have 'special' positions. I think personaLy that this is totally unacceptable and in my opinion throws out the merit of the whole seniority issue.

Pilots bid into bases on seniority when that base has a vacancy. They don't bump junior people from a type or a base that isn't allowed and has been made clear many times in the past. Our agreements protect everyone on the seniority list and long may it last.

If you feel someone has jumped seniority then let both Balpa and management know of the situation. I am unaware of the anomalies you talk of, but stand to be corrected.

Is it too soon after the last intake of pilots to predict when the doors at tui may open again?

Maybe this Sept if the last two years are anything to go by.. Although I hear they have a hold pool at the moment...

PinHead, I'm not aware of any bid anomolies. Id be interested to know what they were if you could PM me. No worries if not.

Recruitment is expected to be an annual event purely to correct natural wasteage. Not many leave though so don't expect record recruitment campaigns. I'd guess at 10/year until retirements kicks in, 2016 onwards.

Lead, correct, commands will be on the 73, starting 2015 I believe. However, some folk might gamble and wait for seniority for a 787 command. Its quite risky though at our company as plans change so often.

Everything Matey, DC and Pin say, with two exceptions.

I am not aware of any anomalies and if you are, please tell me so I can investigate. Secondly, a week is a lifetime in aviation and it can all turn on a sixpence. Keep your ear to the ground!

To those about to join us, congratulations, see you on Day 1. You'll recognise me, I'm 6'4", incredibly handsome, look like I've had the :mad: kicked out of me and am the TOM Chair of the Association That Must Not Be Named On PPrune :Ewhich is why I look like etc.:ouch:

Lots of Love:)

He's the one who doesn't so much as gets in a 737, but puts it on!!

:p

Yeah but the curves I chuck doing it are highly prized by the ladies of a certain age down the Dog and Hammer come disco night.

Or something.

:cool::cool:

I've heard on the grapevine that more interviews are happening soon..

Does anyone on the inside have any info on this?

News to me. I am under the impression that current recruitment is complete with the successful candidates joining in February. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong though!

Assessment days running on the 3rd and 4th of Feb at EMA Training Centre.
Start dates are April 22nd and 6th of May.

Positions are PPY50. Invites went out today to previous 737 NG rated applicants.