British Airways Direct Entry Pilot
 

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has some information about what to expect on the first assessment day for BA or has been to one recently? From some research online I can see it usually consists of a group exercise, interview, numerical and verbal reasoning and some pilot aptitude tests, but im not sure how up to date this information is. Apologies if there is already a thread discussing this but I could not find an up to date one. Thanks

Hi,

Looking for the same info as Standby98 got upcoming interview any help would be much appreciated.

So my info may be out of date, but when I interviewed in 2018 the group exercise was 8 candidates around a table with a pack of info (each subtly different) given 30 mins to make a decision on what to do with a BA route to a fictional carribean island - change aircraft, add frequency, pull out all together etc. 5 mins before time there's a. "Urgent email just come in". Obviously it's not about the decision (although its a good idea to decide something!) its about how you work together.

Interview was with a BA pilot & HR person. 50/50 split between "give an example of a time when..." questions and CV walk through and company knowledge.

The rest of the aptitude tests etc I think have changed so I doubt I could give any useful information.

Hopefully this might get you started until someone else can give you more accurate info.

I too interviewed quite a while ago, sounded like the above example. Not sure if they still do it but there was a capacity test, computer based with headset - frequency changes, dct to's, altitudes, headings, descent level by ### using v/s and groundspeed, ecam type actions, systems management, routine monitoring, priority tasks getting busier and busier and busier (was quite fun tbh!), try and zone out from the other candidates master warnings going off! I'm sure they tell you what to expect on the invite?

Another one here looking for any current information on what to expect from the computer based aptitude tests. Thanks in advance and good luck to all.

For the "give an example of a time when...." type of question, these are called Behavioural Event Interviews.
Google is your friend.

One google search revealed...............

https://www.themartec.com/insidelook...view-questions

Same here - following!

Thanks

Has anyone heard of friends/colleagues thus far being offered anything other than the 320?

There are an awful lot of unfrozen FOs on the 320, with valid bids to long haul, so I doubt there will be many long haul offers any time soon. (obviously maybe a few due to training capacity on short haul but i wouldn't hold your breath for it).

So even if boeing rated either x000 hrs they'll still put you on the 320?

yep - posting and promotions is done initially on the internal bid which is seniority based, and only when there are no valid internal bids (ie everyone who is unfrozen and who bid for a different seat has been given a course) will they recruit on longhaul.

(in reality its a bit more nuanced than that but thats the general aim, at least. previous type matters not at BA - seniority is king).

OK cheers, it does make it less appealing for any potential joiner who's built a lot of boeing hrs, especially on a widebody

Agreements may have changed since I left but historically if all long haul vacancies could be filled by (unfrozen) internal bidders from short haul then BA would convert those pilots and fill the resulting gaps in the short haul ranks by recruiting externally, which by definition ATM means onto Airbus. So yes, somebody very Boeing rated could end up being offered the 320.

Direct Boeing/Long Haul from external sources only tended to be offered when the training system couldn't cope with a large number of internal transfers and new joiners.

All the above open to correction by those more in the know.

I heard a rumour from a 320 trainer they're expecting "about 50" DEP onto the 777 as if they "backfill all the 320 FOs who should leave this year, the CAA could ground us as the experience levels (on the 320) would be too low". I'd be surprised but you never know.

Fortunately there aren't any 320 FOs in BALPA any more so that's one less thing for them to worry about!

Less appealing in your current situation, perhaps, but with BA you have to accept (preferably before joining) that it's a seniority based airline and that everything is done that way. When you get passed over for your valid 777 to 787 bid because they decided to hire someone already current on the 787, you'll not be best pleased. etc. Seems archaic or frustrating at first, but moving from a non-seniority airline to a seniority airline, its the only fair way to do it.

I must say this isn’t news to me. I guess this is the unanswerable questions as it’s quite fluid but how long would you expect to wait on average to progress on to any widebody Airbus or Boeing? im a TRI on a Boeing, albeit I’ll fly a C172 to leave my current company. Just curious how long before I would get to try LH.

The freeze onto a new type is either 5 or 6 years now (used to be 5, may have gone up to 6, i'm not actually sure), so don't expect any move within that time. Exception is if BA need you on a different fleet, they'll waive the freeze and move you.

Anyone who attends an assessment and listens is told to expect 5-6 years...

Update from most recent interview
 

Hi All,

Are there any updates from those who had their most recent interview with BA? I have an assessment coming up and any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance:D

There is a box on sim assessment paperwork to be ticked if the candidate has requisite hours and the assessors deems him/her suitable for long haul.

Dear All,

Are there any updates from those who had their most recent interview with BA that took place on 25th? Any information about start dates.

Thank you in advance

Euroflyer sim ride now in 744.
Requirement 50 per month
777 Commands down to 2000 on Master Seniority List

Which is more like mid 1500s in reality, because they have not updated the list to take account of retirements and redundancies for many years now.

1986 on the list is most junior 777

How big is the seniority list right now? (And.... can anyone explain how the roster bidding system works in a nutshell?!)

estimated right now 3900 on the list.
however our current numbers go up to 4700 or so because as mentioned earlier, the numbers haven't been updated since pre covid (2019 iirc).

roster bidding in a nutshell:
you put together Your bid through a number of algorithmic commands. It gives you 8 "buckets" to put all the trips into, which you have to achieve within 40(?) commands. The top bucket is the trips you really want to do. The bottom bucket is the trips you really want to avoid. It helps to be a computer programmer to use the company system, but we have a 3rd party app that makes it much easier a small charge. So you can choose anything you like - destination, flight number, days off, region, report time, 2/3/4 pilot trips, right down to a single flight that your mate is going to be on.

The computer then crunches the numbers, and comes out with the best roster for pilot#1,. and so on down the list until the very bottom. Needless to say, by the time the system gets to the bottom pilots it only has unpopular trips on unpopular days - but it still does it's best.

Then, because the system inevitably hasn't covered 99.5% of the work, it unlocks all the rosters and messes then up again to squeeze more work in.... recently this process has been messing up the rosters right the way to the top of the list.

once these processes are all complete the rosters are published. Once that happens it's all but written in stone.

I honestly can't complain. I'm very junior on my fleet (LH, >95% off the top) and even I get some variety. I get most of the days off I need (unless they are weekends but we have 6 "golden days" a year to guarantee days off way in advance for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc). I never knew the old system so can't compare but it works well enough for me considering my position as a bottom feeder.

that's not really the promised nutshell... but the bidding system is a type rating all on its own!

edit to add the rosters are normally published around 7th to 10th for the following month with a sneak preview available a few days earlier.

Perfect thanks

Interview Group and Capacity on one day.
Sim slots released for day two.
Result can be next day and allow for three months notice

Result almost certainly will not be next day.

offer does not necessarily allow for three months notice; request can and have been made to reduce as much as possible

So what join dates can candidates be expected to be offered for LHR recruitment? I’d heard on the grapevine no one would be starting before the end of summer 2023 ?

Rumours of BA Cityflyer joining the BA mainline MSL to allow for a posible order of E195-E2s with over 134 seats (beyond scope agreement) and to address retention issues.

It wouldn't surprise me. It's been on BAs radar for a while, and I think there was a clause in the covid agreement to relax scope to allow CF to get Embraer or C-Series to sell them a jet (the current 195s are a special model only certified for 99 seats to comply with scope extra $$$ on the price).

With Euro Flyer on the MSL, i cant see balpa batting it away forever - expect it to be sold off for an extra 2" on the long haul pre departure sandwiches and lots of "fantastic news! Well done Balpa!" Type posts on the forum.

What does the capacity test look like, any tips?

If I remember rightly last I heard it was some ATC instructions you had to retype, maybe some number calculations, and also some systems that needed monitoring..

Any advice here or on PM appreciated.

Thanks,

Read the brief slowly,do not skip.
understand your responses required.
do not rush this part.

Ability test is same a capacity test.You have a long list of instructions to make the correct input.
Read this carefully,the invigilator will emphasise that once you finish,to sit and wait until everyone has finished.
Someone close to me was last to finish as they had read the instructions slowly and carefully.
Result,positive

People telling me they have Feb 23

Hi, does anyone have any advice for the sim assessment? What to expect? Any comments are greatly appreciated

Four hours,two candidates,A-B,B-C divert.
744

How long did it take from the Interview day till you get an answer for sim dates?

Not long at all.