TC Pilots are of particular attraction if they are A330/350 rated

Thanks to wiggy, flying11red, phantom4 and FCR...all really interesting insights :ok:

Also keep in mind that they surely want as much flexibility RE: fleet planning as they can get. Given most people have a 3 month notice period, it seems logical that they’d offer people start dates with 3 months and 1 day to go, with 1 day to respond to the offer.

All that to say: for start dates in Feb they don’t need to make the offer until the end of November at the latest.

H

How come people in the hold pool are starting courses before those already in the pool??
As you say, are BA not process driven, therefore we should all be in order. ?
swimming since March.

I think (or at least hope) it is based on time in the pool with “all other things being equal” ie if a candidate is eligible for the 350 they may get that LH course ahead of others, or perhaps already rated on the 320 and get a shorter course. Grateful to anyone on the inside for thoughts on this. Swimming since about then also and clearly not in those categories!

A few TCX pilots have been prioritised, screened, offers made, accepted and have start dates. Mix of 320/350 offers. Not a lot and not a threat to remaining hold poolers. Don’t know exact numbers but this is from a trainer.

For 2020 the numbers vary greatly. Brexit, possible economic downturn, TCX demise, perhaps another airline going bankrupt in LGW, who knows? It all has a massive impact on recruitment. Even the IA going on will influence the bean counters. And that’s the biggest point, we need pilots, desperately. But not a single one has been approved yet by the budget. The airline is run by finances, they approve the budget and then flight OPS will try their best to make it work. Frustrating for all. We on the line feel the beating of the whip and could use the extra ladies and gents!

Before anybody asks, numbers ranging from 0 recruitment (highly unlikely) to 400 (highly unlikely) for next year. So somewhere in the middle? I joined BA 2 years ago on SH, gave up a regional jet command. Is it perfect? No, far from it. But after surviving three struggling airlines, this is a breath of fresh air!

is it hard work? Yes. Am I happy I did it? Yes. Long term vision is key. I couldn’t see myself commuting to a 6-3 pattern regional job on an old jet. 4-5 sectors a day for the rest of my career. Get in, do your thing, have fun on the line (interesting destinations and lovely people to fly with 99 out of a 100).

Just my two cents

Fully agree with this. Yes, hard work but a unified work force able to fight for (arguably) te best T and C in the industry. My only regret is not making the move 4 years previous.

Best T&C’s in the industry? That’ll be a hell of a fight to achieve this- as a new joiner you don’t even have as good a T&C as your slightly longer serving colleagues.

Additionally, if TCX holdpoolers have been prioritised that’s a bit of a joke. It’d definitely jeopardise everyone in the holdpool they’ve leapfrogged, it’s simply has to have done. At the very least it’s put them up the seniority list which in itself is a joke. I wonder if BA called everyone in the hold pool to ask if they’re still in work, or just assumed it’s only TCX crew that aren’t working since applying. I doubt it.

mate, if things like this wind you up to that extent I’d suggest BA may not be for you. You’ll need a much stronger give a “F@@k ‘ometer “ to survive at this outfit.

I suspected this a few years ago which is why I’m not there mate.

I personally thought it was to be applauded that they’ve finally showed some heart (and of course the fact they have an Airbus rating, but I’d like to think the first) and fast tracked those in desperate need for work. You know, Christmas and mortgages. In these slightly dark times, I welcome this kind of news.

Those of you swimming have my sympathy. I spent 6 months swimming as I was not Airbus rated at this time of year a few years back. My sim partner who was got in very quickly and is now around 120 places senior to me, which equates to a good year or two difference achieving a long haul command. As frustrating as it is, no point getting fussed about it as it is simply out of your control.

The information flow doesn’t get any better within the company, as those waiting for annual bid results and course dates will testify. The 2020 plan changes pretty much daily for reasons well outside recruitment’s control, but I think GS Alpha is right in that there will be jobs for all in the pool soon enough.

Yes, all of them. I have an EASA one of course. I have still slots available for the direct entry on the mainline.

I would like to know if they like profiles like mine, foreign pilot with not so much experience

Thank to everyone that will answer.
BA it’s my dream

Haven’t heard that for a long time.

Don’t work in their recruitment I see ;)

Every year they run a number of antiquated and tetchy computer programs to determine how many pilots each fleet and seat needs, and process expected retirements, and internal bids for fleet and seat moves. Every time they think they have a solution, somebody changes the flying plan for next year. This requires a complete re-run, re-plan &c. Once the plan is complete, it needs approval. Finance may elect to trim the plan again, requiring another cycle or two of the above.

Only once this merry go round has ended do they have a plan for what is required, and the pilots get annual bid results. They also know how many new recruits they need, and in what fleets. They may have enough of an inkling before this is all over to make some offers for Jan/Feb but the vast majority of offers are likely to be held back until this process is complete. Last year it was late November...

not helped by the constant over promising and under delivering nature of the head of manpower planning. Seems to be a tad out of his depth.

Thanks for the Info!
So I guess Pilots finding out results of their Bidding approvals is an indication that there will be some movement in the Pool? I presume they must give at least 3 months notice (or whichever one is required)... Nov end info would make it... March end start? Or am I wrong to say that? Any insight as to how many Pilots they need? (Similar to last year?)

You missed the final and most important ingredient - the finger in the air to see which the wind is blowing.....I last got budgeted crew numbers in 1992. You Nigel's are an expensive commodity so any tweaks that can be done will be done - probably not in 1992 - but these days - unlucky

Nope and I haven’t heard of anyone else getting one either. All seems very quiet still

Bizarrely it’s reassuring to know that other swimmers aren’t hearing anything either.

Nothing here, likewise for a colleague at my current place on a similar timeline. We’re both required to give 3 months notice which I guess is industry standard. It’d be nice to at least get a generic “we haven’t forgotten about you” a bit more often!!

Fair enough, perhaps that’s a bit too optimistic!

Given that the manpower planning team have been pretty much under emcon internally for weeks, no great surprise I’m afraid.

I’ve heard from a pretty good source BA are planning to take 300-450 next year (the high number is what P&P need to make the plan work, the low number is what finance will pay for). 2/3rds of them will be Shorthaul, the balance (about 80-100 depending on which number you use) will be longhaul. Also potentially a resumption of FPP too.

Good luck, swimmers. It’s not all bad when you get here, despite what some might have you believe.