I doubt the company will give a hoot how many sign up for it because if they have too many it will not cost them anything. It's in their interest to have too many really. A continual supply of cheap labour, no cost to the company and profit for the FTO. Everyone's a winner.......except for the trainee.

For what it's worth, that link is no longer valid, and I can find no reference on the L3 website to a live BA scheme of any description...

If it is a L3 link or lack thereof that is causing doubts then there's another one here that goes to the BA "jobs" site rather than L3 or whatever they are these days.... :

https://jobs.ba.com/jobs/vacancy/bri...8/description/

Given discussion elsewhere there is an assumption it is definitely happening, but TBF I've just taken the plunge and checked and there's no mention of it on the appropriate section of Yammer.....then again it is Yammer....:ooh:

Why would BA need to lease aircraft? I doubt it could get hold of all the Monarch slots but it could get hold of a dozen longhaul 777 hulls very quickly if required to fill the ones it wanted. :oh:

Spoke with NS yesterday and it is definitely happening. Apparently AC is desperately keen to enable "disadvantaged" kids to have a chance, so my understanding is that here will be a form of means-tested bonded sponsorship.

Thanks eckhard..and it just so happens this has just been officially announced on the company Yammer thingy by LS with the link I posted an hour or so ago attached..so that should resolve any lingering doubts about whether this was official or a spoof or not....( it was either check that darned site again or wash the car....).

I see they are still labelling a "Cadet" program, it's a shame about the funding, hope some form of sponsorship can be found....

I would definitely rather wash the car!

Latest update this morning. Sounds like we'll have a better idea in a week or two, fingers crossed.

I'm given to understand that BA will extend applicants in the pool for another year.

Is that true? Can any hold poolers confirm it?

ETOPS - yes, but whether this is in addition to the extra 6 months they gave us previously is still a mystery.

While I'm here - I haven't seen the bid results, I really have no idea how things are going to end up for those of you in the pool, I am not trying to send a coded signal, but given the emphasis on the "new" L3 scheme I think we can see BA's long term strategy...

So...personally I'd like to apologise for the way you have been kept floating in the pool.. I don't think the individuals doing the comms with you at BA were at fault, I think they have become victims of the constant flux in planning (both airframe and financial) as much as you have.. but I don't think it should have been managed the way it has been, and I know many of my colleagues are of similar sentiment...

And above all I hope at least some of you get some good news in the near future..

I have been extended until November 2018. Or do you mean beyond this?

Thanks for the kind words wiggy I for one certantly appreciate it. At least they have kept us in the pool which is the least they can do considering the amount of effort they demand we put in for the interviews. I'll be hoping for some better news before the end of the year.

As wiggy says, BA’s strategy is becoming clearer. The preference for cadets seems to be driven by the notion that they are “cheaper”.

However, and I must stress that it’s only my personal opinion, I think there will be opportunities for DEPs in 2018. The reason is that the last of the FPP graduates will be joining the ranks fairly soon, but the new cadetship will not start yielding line-ready pilots until (possibly) summer / autumn of 2019 at the earliest. And I really doubt L3’s whitetail candidates will be able to exclusively satisfy BA’s demand for pilots next year without the training department going into overdrive.

Dracarys,

When you say you’re hopeful for DEP next year do you mean for those in the pool or new applications?

I very much doubt BA will advertise for DEP applications anytime soon with so many people in the hold pool at the moment. That is, not unless they suddenly become worried they may exhaust the hold pool supply which seems unlikely.

Any DEP recruitment in 2018 will almost certainly be from the hold pool I would have thought.

I am of the same opinion

Bid results out yet?

They were published earlier today but I must admit that as yet I haven't looked at them in any great detail.

Where have they been published wiggy? I cannot see them on yammer. Are you sure you are not looking at last year's results? There seems to have been a little confusion on yammer with that recently.