Al M.

For completeness: BA Short Haul manager grumbles (on-line) about the competition from the LoCos, clearly hinting at how IAG/BA management feel BA pilots T&C's are completely out of kilter with the likes of that enjoyed by those who work for Easyair, Ryanjet, et al.:E and therefore clearly something must be done, or else....:mad:

Unfortunately for him several of his pilots, who are former employees of Easyair, point out that at least at their previous employer they had relatively stable rosters (especially the days off), they didn't have to spend a large portion of their (often extended) working days compensating for the inefficiencies of LHR, and that at their previous airline they (and/or their former colleagues) benefited from a profit share scheme that they felt actually rewarded them for the graft they put in.

I'm not quite sure if they regretted their decision to change employer but it's certainly given everybody food for thought ...... and the manager has not compared apples with oranges since.......;)

I love it when a Manager has to shut his cake hole...

I'm not entirely sure he has shut up. I'd expect him to be back with more demands in perhaps a few days time after meetings to decide on which new premises need to be introduced now that the old ones were outed as a load of old cobblers.

It is interesting to read the strength of feeling among the pilot community at BA to the allegations that there is a 'gap-to-market' when there are ex-Easy and RYR folks saying they were earning more and working less with a more stable roster than those at BA, while we have to wait upwards of 18 years for a command.

I get the distinct impression this isn't going to end well.

Doesn't BALPA have something to say about this? Or am I being hopelessly naïve?

But people are still queuing to join, and the costs of the RHS (and indeed LHS) are far higher BA vs EZY for operating an identical aircraft.

The costs have to come down unfortunately, and then roster etc can be managed with more staff.

True

I think the argument elsewhere is whether that sort of statement is actually true, especially for the more recent joiners.....

The suspicion is that the rosters could be managed with the current staffing levels, without stretching people and their duty/flying hours to breaking point, if management would address the inefficiencies elsewhere in the operation.......

BA has not gone down the route of zero hour contracts, flexi-crew, self employment status etc etc.

The flightcrew costs are indisputably higher.

The point is they always have been the highest, but the need for that and the other reasons behind that have now moved on.

There is undeniably going to be some criticism of BA from many who have not had the chance young enough, or not got through the selection, or for one reason or another would have loved the BA life but didn't get a crack at it. However, some very good points are being made here. As has been alluded to by Wiggy et. al. you are looking at gambling an awfully large part of your life in the hope that things don't end up looking like a LoCo with a hat.

If bidline goes, and if like many of my mates at BA you need to keep working something like 6/3 to make cap each month, then that wait for long haul or command can appear very long indeed. On the other hand, working for BA is "certainly a conversation starter down at the golf club" according to some of the posters in here. :rolleyes:

There is no set answer on this IMHO. What makes us happy is different for all. Apples and oranges.

Meanwhile, back on topic, the wait for recruitment to actually open goes on....

Sorry Plastic but the pros and cons of applying are a perfectly relevant topic to a thread entitled "BA Direct Entry Pilot" - particularly as you so keenly point out, there is no other news.

But not particularly relevant if recruitment isn't even open eh? Still while we wait it'll give you a chance to pull your knickers out your arse ;-)

(The comment "back on topic" was to indicate that the original post asked about a shortage of A320 Pilots at BA and potential recruitment and was clearly fishing for any further news. It wasn't meant to cause the personal offence it seems to have elicited).

"recruitment are working more than flat out to bring our FPPs into BA, to bring in some DEPs towards the end of this year (who will largely be going into training over the very end of 14/early 15) and to launch a significant DEP recruitment campaign for 2015. This is caused by real growth in the flying programme, and is obviously great news. The refined number is being worked on at the moment, but it’s a good number"

The latest from the horses mouth. I only post this to try and reduce the speculation.

If your at another airline have a look, the grass is greener it's just the brown patches are indifferent places

Equally so, I'd say. Either way now you know how it came across, don't you? Best of luck...

African Dude hope you are not bitter about not passing selection last time.


Speaking of hats, there is a rumour Easy are trialling some top quality hats?


If it does open up, best of luck to all.

For those interested I'd check the BA careers page, info updated.

2 days of assesment before you even get to the sim now.......jesus.

Seems like it's the same stuff, just split over two days instead of crammed into one. An improvement, no?

Spread over two days which won't be consecutive? Sounds like a pain in the backside (which I'm sure you'd take if interested in applying) and a somewhat inefficient use of resources. The previous one day for experienced pilots worked last time I went. Why change it if it's not broke?

That's before mentioning the enormous ball ache it's going to be for some of us to get back to the UK for interview in the middle of a hectic 90 hour month summer schedule and having to find three days from somewhere in which to do it!

3 separate sickies? Yeah that's not gonna be at all obvious. Plus I'm at a completely crap employer where you need a sick note just for one day of absence and you have to fill in your entire leave application for the full year ahead in January. The odds of days off falling in my favour are remote, why must this be so hard!?

Hilarious. If you want the job and think you're good enough to make the grade then make it happen.

BA sets the dates and sets the standards. The rest is up to you.