It's quite funny to see how the pilot community can be so hypocritical sometimes. There's always a lot of moaning about people who do self sponsored type ratings and P2F takers and how they are ruining the industry for everyone else. Now the same people tell the turboproppers and others who worked their way up without taking financial shortcuts that they shouldn't moan when someone who effectively did just that passed them in the queue to potentially the best job in the business. I'm not saying that the takers of self sponsored ratings did anything wrong but it would be nice if everyone else could pick a side and at least stick to it?

For the recruitment process it self, people on here keep repeating the mantra of "their train set, their rules" to which I fully agree. However, the recruitment process is de facto their rules for letting someone join and now they are not following their own rules by letting people retake parts not only on day one but also day two and sim sessions. I agree that day one is quite arbitrary in many ways, but it also shows a bit who has been preparing and worked for it IMHO. I'm all for the fact that they have to check costs, otherwise you can't survive in todays cutthroat world but when they are breaking their own rules I think we could all be allowed to have a bit of a moan if we're victims of it, especially when there are so many people moaning about not getting their preferred fleet or their preferred trips.

Quite simply it's down to supply and demand.

With changes to Bidline, pensions, pay-points and the work load that is SH and the associated freeze the company, using it's own processes, hasn't got the intake it requires.

Hence, adapt and overcome. Change the requirements, as set by the company itself, and look at alternatives.

At the end of the day it is your date of joining that sets your future in BA for just about everything, not which fleet you join on. You will be able to move eventually and then you take up the same position as if you had gone as a DEP except, perhaps, without the years of being at the bottom.

That's how I've always seen it, see it however you will.

Hi all,


At the risk of adding fuel to the fire of the conversation above, we have been asked to spread news of the following.

BA are gearing up for a huge recruitment year next year, with a significant number of DEP vacancies on the longhaul fleets. They will shortly begin a roadshow tour of the UK, which will be starting at Gatwick on 30th November. They are happy to see people who just want to come down and hear more about longhaul specifically, or are just toying with the idea of applying to BA. See the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/briti...85832?ref=estw

The following information is included in the link:

We are actively recruiting now and for 2016 we envisage over 350 pilots joining the fraternity, with over half of these vacancies requiring direct entry onto our longhaul fleets. We're coming out to meet experienced pilots who are interested in finding out more about what we have to offer in what we hope will be a relaxed and informal setting. The presentations are aimed at experienced pilots including those who hold type ratings on any of the aircraft BA currently operates or has on order.

At this time, we are not seeking attendees who are low-hour or trainee pilots, but if you fall into one of these categories we'd be delighted to meet you at one of the other events we support including Pilot Careers Live, formerly the Flyer Professional Flight Training Exhibition.


My opinion is (and it is only that) is that if you have a 320 rating that is what you will be offered. If you have any other rating and meet the LH requirements you will probably be offered LH. If you don't meet either of the above then you will sit in the pool until a 320 slot opens that can't be filled by a TR guy or a cadet.

LH requirements are:

1. 500 hours or 100 sectors on a relevant* aeroplane type.

*The Part-FCL definition of a relevant type of aeroplane is a multi-pilot turbo-jet aeroplane certificated to the standards of CS-25 or equivalent airworthiness code or on a multi-pilot turbo-prop aeroplane having a maximum certificated take-off mass of not less than 10 tonnes or a certificated passenger seating configuration of more than 19 passengers.

2.ATPL(A) with Class 1 medical and 2000 hours including 1000 hours on Jet transport category aircraft with MTOM greater than 25 tonnes or multi-crew turboprop transport aircraft/military equivalent with MTOM greater than 50 tonnes. Turbo-prop experienced conversions must be approved by Head of flight trainig.


I hope this information is of help even if its not the answers that are hoped for. Be aware that if you turn down an A320 slot you may get another later offer of an A320 with a higher (worse) seniority.

Regards

The above is excellent news for anyone joining now on any fleet as they will progress rapidly up the seniority roster in relation to those who join in the future.

That position you are given upon joining the company will dictate your fleet, bidding position and command opportunities for your time in the company.

When you do move from SH to LH, after getting used to being able to achieve your trip lines on SH, rapid recruitment, especially onto LH as DEP will, potentially, see you straight onto trip lines on the LH fleet instead of having to go back to blind lines again. Every cloud and that...

Always, always, always remember your date of joining is king in BA.

Enjoy.

:)

Thanks Pudoc!

Fraternity so no hope for any of our female colleagues then 😒

I had an E-mail yesterday to the same effect. Leaves me a tad nervous as a service leaver without the long haul requirements (or type rating). Any other military hold pool swimmers here heard any good news?

Monquay,

There are separate requirements for ex-service personnel. What experience do you have?

Fast-Jet (unfortunately in this case!) so frozen ATPL only. it did mean I could apply and am into the hold pool, but I suspect it leaves me less than ideally placed given the current slots and costs to train (can't blame them, just a bit of a pain!).

Yep, sorry but you don't qualify for ZFT onto LH on either weight or unfrozen ATPL so it'll be SH for you. :)

1500 hours to unfreeze will take about 2-3 years max! Who knows what happens after that!

That's very true! As long as I can get in in the first place! I am hopeful as I have been looking forward to this new challenge for a while. I can stick with my nail biting until next Autumn before I panic too much, hopefully better news for the SH non-type rated folk by then.

Father Jack/OttoMatic - well said both. I guess the frustration would be lower had BA made clear offers were not guaranteed but were type and background dependent. The job advert in fact does make the preference for you rated candidates clear but the various pronouncements regarding "jobs for all" from members of the recruitment team have been counterproductive. However, Those of you who say BA are solely profit-driven should try working for a real low-cost airline. You ain't seen nothing!

Regarding the places that are available, are offers likely for the 767 still or is it mainly 777/787 with the odd 747 and 380?

It's a very well trodden path, trust me. ;)

No 767, it's a dying fleet.
777/787 yes.
747 yes
380 I would guess that there are more than enough internal applicants plus they have some.....'interesting' requirements for the 380 (must be previously airbus qualified)

Ammended:

There is a requirement for DEP's onto the 380 apparently.

Has anyone received any offer since the email was sent? Just wondering when one could possibly expect a call.

And Im guessing being rated on one of BA's LH fleet almost guarantees that, if the offer does eventually arrive, it will be for that fleet?

Having done most of my research relating to the 320, could somebody give an indication of the current bottom of the list blind lines rosters on the 787, and 777. Anything would be VERY appreciated!

Thanks

Hi guys.

Good to hear that BA is hiring so many pilots this year.

Does anyone have any information about the pilotneed for the years after 2016? Im A320 TR and in the hold pool at the moment. Would be great senioritywise if this recruitment will continue.

Brgds,

NLP

As a lowly TP driver who's been in the pool for quite a while...

I'm not bothered by rated people getting start dates ahead of me. It makes absolute sense for BA to take as many rated people as they can, as they'll be on the line far quicker.

I'm not bothered by guys with less hours than me but with a bit of jet time getting long-haul slots. Someone, somewhere has decided that the limit for those types is x amount of jet hours. That's cool. I can very much understand the frustrations of those on the A320 fleet that may be denied the opportunity to move on however.

I'm not bothered with on-going recruitment - there are a lot of seats to fill across all types.

What bothers me is the real possibility that after doing my very best to pass each stage of the assessment process, being told that 'there are jobs for all' and that 'nobody will get left behind', that I will not get to join BA after all. That really, really worries me.

Blueskyrich,

From what I can gather it is all down to training capacity on the Bus. They've had to contract out as it is as they are behind due to the sim moves to TBA.

I'm sure your time will come. I know they are looking at the hold pool to try and empty it.

The 767 is indeed a dying fleet, but it's not dead yet. Recently heard that recruitment onto the fleet will continue for the short-medium term. This allows people further up the list to depart for pastures new.

Of course this comes with the usual health warning that accompanies all rumours. But never say never.

Hi all,

I am reluctant to contradict Wirblesturm, but as 2W2R says recruitment for the 767 is continuing, at 2-4 a month for the forseeable future. Now as it is 1730 on Fri night that probably only takes us until 0830 on Mon morning :ugh:. New Trainers are being trained to help with the training and allow other trainers to move to other fleets to help with training there.

New recruits onto the 767 allow the senior FOs to move off. Beware that the fleet is due to shut in 2018 so people joining now will still be within their engagement freeze so BA could send you wherever they want. It could be longhaul but it could be to the A320.

Regards