I thought most would have drowned already, but I see its for A320 rated DEPs, presumably because not enough people bid from LHR.

Considering everyone in the last hold pool will have passed the much debated 18 month, point of no return rule; there has possibly been some change of tune out necessity here? Interesting times. No ones called me though :p

Assuming its true :confused:

Would be interesting to see how they handle it, seeing as everyone officially drowned in the pool! :=

Maybe time to re-think that crazy policy

It's very doubtful there'll be any remit on the 18 month rule despite the recent happenings. Balls not in our court and I doubt it's in pilot recruitments either

Apparently some ex poolers got called last week and re interviewed this week. I know a few guys who sat at the very top of the expired hold pool and have airbus ratings. They have heard nothing......

I wonder if a bit of "who you know" has been at work here for the chosen few.....

The process is as fair as it can be; those only see differently when it doesn't go in their favour. I can state as an absolute incontrovertible fact that nepotism plays no part in the selection process, and it's the continuing excellent work of LC that ensures that. If you tick all the boxes and there is a continuing requirement then job done.

With all due respect, those in the hold pool have no real idea where they sit and as such aren't in the best position to claim otherwise. It is true that those who received the call sat part of the selection process again.

Rest assured that those with minibus TRs will have been treated fairly and equally. That is one aspect of the process you can, with certainty, hang your hat on. Keep the faith.

Oh it's true alright Spam.

Sudden rethink/relook/recalculation of the business plan has led to the need for a dozen A320 P2s at LGW with a start date very very early next year.

AFAIK those that needed to be contacted have already had the call, commiserations to those that didn't.

Ok fair enough!

As someone who drowned in the pool obviously I am disappointed I didn't get the call :{
But I'm not typed on the Bus

I never understood why that wasn't the standard policy anyway :confused:

Surely it's much better to keep the people in the pool and then if its more than 12/18 months you could call them back in again for part of process as happened here!

I do know that the people who run the pilot selection do a great job and I am in no way suggesting foul play. But I'm guessing that if DEP opens up again the rest of us drownees are going to do the whole selection procedure again. So you can't really blame us for feeling a little hard done by :{

Not true, the company identified a need for experienced DEP's on the fleet to counter balance the inexperience of the FPP new entrants.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/rolling.gif

Thats a good one!! However, not true. As Wirbelsturm said, down to Gatwick to balance out the experience.

Wirbelsturm

Exactly how would that work?

The FPP guys will only fly with captains.
New DEPs will also only fly with captains

Thus the influx of DEPs will have no effect on the experience level of the cockpit of a FPPs aircraft.

It takes a long time to be a BA captain, so by the time the FPP becomes a captain, experience is most definitely not a problem.

I think it is more likely that BA is just going to be short of guys early next year on the Airbus so needed some more guys online ASAP.

I heard that more hulls are being purchased at short notice for LGW and they need extra crews asap.

Also BA will need to recruit about 1000 pilots upto 2020. 500 to replace retirements and 500 for expansion. This is expected to split 50/50, DEP/ Cadet.

Tourist,

BA have always recruited DEP and cadet in the past to enable an even experience 'spread' to prevent the LHS constantly flying with very inexperienced co-pilots too often. It's a high workload for the first few months before the guys get their bearings and some route knowledge.

It's worked well in the past.

What binsleepin alludes to is also probably correct as the lead in time for the FPP guys and girls is long and with various moves afoot at LGW to put commercial pressure on BA they might need to ramp the operation up a bit.

WBF.

LHR crews can go to LGW. There are a few limitations such as a pay point cap which limits the will of the uber senior to bid for SH at LGW. Still good down there though and a DEP I imagine would be pretty happy...

You can't mix LHR / LGW Airbus pilots as they work to different agreements.

As alluded to above, anybody can bid to move to LGW from LHR. However the superior bidding system at LHR is a big draw and also T&Cs are not as good at LGW (Pay cap, reduced Flight Pay Allowance Etc).

So LGW tends to be for those who live locally and enjoy the small base community, guys chasing ever diminishing (currently) command opportunities and new recruits (FPPs).

Now thought to be 20 years to any Heathrow command, or 32 years to any longhaul command.

That's what Jam tomorrow looks like. :uhoh:

Data I have recently seen says that 250 age related retirements expected through end 2020, as everyone seems to be going to 65 now.

Average age of all BA Captains is 50.2 years

Average age of the Captains in the top 1000 seniority places is 51.9 (so, on average 13.1 years before they retire)!

3610 BA pilots on seniority list of which 1700 captains

Do the maths!

And 34 PP salary.

Where do I sign up? Hmm, maybe not...

The lack of experience they are concerned about at LGW is not just down to FPP cadets but also the 737 captains who are all now gradually converting as the airbus takes over SH down there. Not so much experience in total hours but experience on type, they need to avoid a crewing situation where they are left with newly rated airbus skippers flying with new cadets. Anyway, LGW is great as a hideout from LHR but the future is very uncertain.

Times are changing.