More Info
 

I have also done a search on virgin rosters and can only find evidence of 1 posted by scroogs a while back. Any chance of someone of detailing a
typical F/O 's roster on the airbus??????

Thanks

bertie Boy

With the odd detail changed to protect the innocent:

May:

1-6 OFF
7-9 Delhi
10-12 OFF
13-16 Shanghai
17-21 OFF
22-26 Jo'burg
27-30 OFF
31- Narita

Blk hrs 75.20
Days off 18

August:

1-3 OFF
4-6 Washington
7-11 OFF
12-20 Hong Kong/Sydney
21-26 OFF
27-31 Jo'burg

Blk hrs 81.20 (max you can do in a month unless on overtime)
Days off 14

These are the just the two most recent rosters i have without any leave on.
Hope it helps.

well done AFA !
now everyone will want to join in!:D
...and thx for the info .

Many thanks,

Also any chance of seeing a 400 FO's roster ;)

I applied a couple of months ago, got the standard email response and acknowledgement but nothing heard since. Anyone know what's going on?

400 FO roster July

San Fran two night
4 days off
Montego Bay two night
2 days off
Barbados 1 night
5 days off
Orlando 1 night
7 days off
(79.26 hrs)

Thanks Manual reversion and AFA for the replies. Just what i was looking for.
Is there a bidding system in place for you not to do the longer trips or is it just luck of the draw?

Thanks again

Bertie boy

Virgin Rosters

The Virgin rostering system is based on an equitable division of work based on a 750-hour contract. A few pilots have limited-time variations which allow them to work more or less than the standard 750 hours, but they are in the minority.

The roster is allocated to cover the workload that exists. Other than training, all flights are allocated on a more or less random basis, but to fit within the hours limitations. Bidding for particular flights is possible, and bidding for days off is possible. Bidding against particular flights may be possible, but would be frowned upon - after all, why would you join if you don't want to do the longer flights? That said, a 'trip swap' system exists.

The system that capped hours at a certain level per roster month is being scrapped; other than the CAA (CAP371) and union/company agreed limits (minimum time between turnrounds etc.), the only hours limit applied will be your contracted hours. This is intended to give more flexibility, though the average month will still have around 70-80 credit hours.

The rosters given above are fairly typical, but can be altered significantly if training or leave is scheduled in the month. My last month (July) had 5 East Coast flights plus a two-day sim session. That's about as busy as a month can get for a line pilot. This month, I have three trips and 19 days off - a bit more comfortable!

Thanks again for the reply. From what i can see it appears most trips are 3/4 day trips. How often on average at the moment would you do a Sydney trip? T
he wife is happy from me going away for 3/4 days but with 2 little uns, a 9 day trip is not so good?.

Would any of the recently interviewed guys care to share some information?
What was your level of experience when invited? Are you all UK citizens?
I am in the same boat as EK pilot. I have 5700 hours (most of it Airbus-time) with A330 rating and European Passport with right to work in the UK.
I do not want to start a discussion whether or not VS should employ foreigners or not. Just trying to find out if it is worth to reapply (as I did for years) anymore. Or is it true, that you need to know somebody inside?

TKS

It looks so, so nice beforehand, but dont you get bored after a couple of months/years to watch your autopilot fliying well during 12 hours and going to some places you already know by heart ? Away from your home/ family ?
Are there many Virgin Pilots going back to short haul/ regional airlines ?

cheers !

Bertie It varies. I last did a Sydney trip in November, Others do one every couple of months. Sydney is not the only long trip, though it is currently the longest. Some of the Caribbean and Cape Town trips can be up to a week long. Long trips may be the exception, but they are very much part of a long-haul operation. If you are seriously concerned about the effect they'll have on your family life (which is understandable), perhaps you'd be better looking elsewhere?

What Goes Up Your questions have been dealt with earlier on this thread. You might have done us the courtesy of reading it before you asked.

Icing People do not leave Virgin except when forced to by events such as 9/11. In eight years, my seniority has risen by maybe 10 or 12 places. That accounts for deaths, retirements, permanent sickness victims and leavers.

As opposed to what? Watching my autopilot flying for 3 hrs to Alicante and back at stupid o'clock five days a week every week? Now that was tedious.

As for being away from home? Well you can't really complain about that if you've decided to join an airline like Virgin. I certainly get far more days off than when i was short haul and mixed fleet. However if you really care about just getting home, even if its only for the 12hrs inbetween night flights then it isn't for you. Long haul doesn't suit everyone.

LOL!! :} After flying to ALC 9 times in July i can attest to that!!! :ouch:

Cant wait to rack up the hrs so i can apply next year!

Hi all,
This is a great thread so thanks to all who have posted on it.
I have had an application in with Virgin for months now which i update from time to time. I have just short of 4000 hours most of which is jet time. I'm now in that uncomfortable position where i can't impact on my own destiny. Or can i?
Is there anything i can do to secure an assessment day with Virgin?
Should i conclude after all this time that all is not well with my application or does it take an age?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks

Essentially, no. As long as you keep your CV up to date (not too often!) you have to basically sit and wait. As I have said before, there are many, many more excellently qualified and motivated pilots that apply to Virgin than there are places at interview, let alone jobs. Luck plays an enormous part, unfortunately.

There seems to be an assumption among many Virgin wannabes that if you have the hours and the type, you will get an interview. Sadly, that is not necessarily the case, and many will have to remain frustrated.

Scroggs

Hi all,

Just to back up what scroggs has posted, i applied to virgin 2 years ago with the required hours, airbus experience etc... and yes, luck does play a massive part in selection for an interview date, friends of mine applied and had interviews within 6 months ! ... I updated regulary (every 4/5 months)

The last i heard, virgin have over 1200 pilots on their database with the required experience, so one just has to be patient ....... as i was, and am now on the 340 ... and i have to say, it was worth the wait !

max

Just to add that EVEN if you are lucky enough to get through the interview stage you may have to hold a fair while in the pool. I have been waiting for months now :(

Is there an average time in the Hold pool for Non & Type rated guys ?

I would not know the answer to that one except that I have been holding now for over 7 months and I am type rated. Maybe they don't like my aftershave? :D