First Choice Applications go online.
 

Those of you looking to apply for positions as pilots with FCA may care to note that our Pilot Manager has notified us that applications for next year will only be accepted online from today.

Please visit the following site. First Choice Airways Pilot application

If you have a friend in the airline that may wish to recommend you then you may specify their name in the online application.

(Please do not PM me for further information or a recommendation!!)

Check out www.britishpilots.co.uk for a link to them.............

Don't tell everyone or they'll all want to join :}

Anyone know what their selection process is like? Previous searches suggest it's just an interview but the website refers to a selection day.

Nice one BoeingBoy..... the application has been filled.
Thanks :ok:

I didnt..I only told you;)

It was always a standard interview - and we've always done well with recruits from it. Non pilot managers have got hold of more and more now, so it's possible the interview has been expanded to include other tasks.......

I can juggle and build things out of Lego!
If it's silly tests I'm doomed :confused:

I got given two bits of string and a bubble gum wrapper once and was told to build the Forth Bridge!!

BR

Recent Info from a reliable source indicates that the Interview is still in the Traditional style, ie, no Silly games with Lego Sets or Psycho tests etc.
Gets my vote, application filed.

All in all, things look quite promising now.

I think the CTC chappy is working out his notice at CTC. When he gets to First Choice it may change, who knows?
Various forms of goose stepping and finding routes over shark infested pools etc but if it's normal for now then as Agent said, gets my vote too!

Hello,
Well,well nearly man I am surprised -are you thinking of moving from your new employers so soon ...?

I thought you were blowing sunshine up their a@se a month or two ago on here ?

Is the reality different then ?;)

Anyone have any news, heard from FCA yet??????????

endofeng

Are you required to attach a CV??

thanks randomair

Attatch CV?
 

Yes you are. It won't let you submit it unless you do.

ToneTheWone:ok:

Sorry that should be Attach - finger trouble!

fc
 

thats strange, maybe i mis-understood the application form. That no cv's will be accepted. The upload said that it was for another type of job application.Why send a cv, when you have filled all that form online??!! Well i should not, fill these forms in after a very long day!!
:ugh:

I didn`t attach a cv, it doesnt say anywhere you actually have to, did send mine away tho

So what are they like to work for? Any inside info much appreciated.

Anyone had a call yet????, or know what format of recruitment they are looking at, ie assessment day, the usual physco tests or the good old fashioned interview to see if you are the sort of person whom they would like to sit next to for 10hrs.......???????????

I presume they need to get the recruitment done pretty quick as most of us have a 3 month notice period to serve out! Training Oct/Nov????

Anyone?

endofeng

I don't have the min req hours but they say I could be considered. However the online app wont let you progress from the 'How many hours ya got page'

...any clues?

The recruitment all seems to be handled online. If you are lucky enough to progress to the next stage you will receive an e-mail and then be able to select dates and times yourselves on the internet.

Before anyone asks, no I haven't had an e-mail, only just submitted the application!

Good luck to all :ok:

Just submitted as well, does anyone else of you have pilot friends in FCA?? believe that helps quite a bit.

How dare you Fade to Gray, sorry Capt!
I did send you congrats note but got wrong Grey :confused:
You must like Africaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

I'd never blow things up airline's bums! Just wanna get back down south :}

Yes, this is the first year FCA have used this method. It will hopefully save a lot of admin time in the background, as well as many phone calls. Plan is that those selected for interview will have a much more 'user' friendly option of selecting their own interview date/time from the days offered. By letting the applicant have some choice over the issue, it should at least mean less stress if unable to escape a current work duty, or happen to be on holiday one week for example.

As long as your experience level is considered suitable, it should at least mean you get an interview. From that point on it's up to you! There is no guantee, as some found out this year - if you want the job, ultimately you have to go and get it - you won't be offered a position just on the basis you know somebody.

Internal communication on this indicates that FCA had received about 250 applications in the first couple of days of the process being 'live'.

30W

Anyone been contacted yet???????

so with 20ish vacancies available we are currently on about a 1 in 12 chance and counting.

Oh well good luck to all, advise if anything heard.

Anyone had an invite yet???

I heard a VERY low houred chap whom bought himself (well mummy and daddy did anyway) a 757 rating was interviewed last week!:ugh:

--------------
endofeng

Good rumour endofeng! Not true though, there have been no interviews yet.

As of lunchtime yesterday there had been 415 on-line applications. Later this week will see the start of the process to shortlist candidates for interview.

Interviews are planned through August, with first courses probably starting November.

30W

epsilonmiuraised,

I believe the FO/SFO swop occurs at 1000hrs regardless of what type rating you have. Just because you already have a 757 rating doesn't necessarily make you a more 'experienced' pilot......... or at least that must be the logic.

As with previous years I'm sure recruitment will be broadspread across all experience and age brackets, depending on the applicants of course. With in excess of 400 to choose from, I don't suspect it will be a difficult task......

The criteria agreed with the CC that must be met prior to transferring to the SFO salary scale are as follows:
*Full ATPL
AND *500hrs on jet aircraft or 1000hrs on turboprop aircraft
OR *7 years as a military pilot

Hope this helps,
CLH

Hi All,
Are all you guys/girls experienced high hours etc.... I applied the day the application came online, I fall into the 230hrs and was hoping the bit in brackets on what they wanted ( exceptional pilots with lower hours may be considered) !!! Think i probably wasted 3 hours filling it in, or are any of you low houred? It goes without saying i have heard nothing so far, and probably have 2 hopes, one of which is called Bob. Or does anyone know whether they will actually look at low houred. I'm guessing if they get enough qualified people reply the answer is no. Good luck to all though.
Dan

Nearly man,

sorry to offend - i thought living up north you would be able to afford a castle (with a moat) !

don't congratulate me yet -still trying to get the thing to go in a straight line on the ground -d'oh!

yes, Africa is great i am starting to go a bit native and considering changing my name to 'colonel kurtz'

epsilonmiuraised,

Yes I see your argument, but think it can be equally turned round 'the other way'. Although taking 'low houred' pilots, historically FCA takes only a handful each season, perhaps one course worth. There tends to be no real shortage of experienced turboprop pilots, F/O's and Capts wishing to join from 146 operators etc. These with full ATPL's and several years experience behind them. FCA could fill ALL course places with such pilots quite happily, but chooses to recruit from a wide spectrum, including a few less experienced guys.

I think each applicant has to consider their own reasons for applying. Do they want a move which they believe offers them a better career and future, or are they just after more money. With the number of applications each time I don't think FCA will have any trouble filling it's positions, do you?

Bottom line is, does the applicant really want the job or not. Full ATPL status is never too far away, and the higher pay scale achieved for those low houred, type rated guys. If not, there's plenty who will......and they might even be type rated!

30W

If you were really interested in working for FCA you'd apply and, if offered the job, work your backside off next summer, do max hours, offer to swap your STBYs for everyone's night PFOs, LCAs, DLMs etc, and get that ATPL and the 13k payrise.

It's not rocket science really!

Best of luck.

30W & CLH,

Well said, I have applied to FCA for a career, not a quick hour building job!
I have 1200hrs total, 1000turbo prop, and if lucky enough to get a job with FCA would certainley 'work my butt off' to attain my full ATPL....

Its good to hear that they will look at all levels of experience, just hope I'm one of the lucky ones!

Best of Luck:ok:

endofeng

Morning,

Few questions if I may:

Is flying the 767 based on seniority?

I would like to be based at GLA, is it a popular base and how likely would it be to get if requested?


Cheers. L.

767 is pretty much based on seniority. AFAIK you need two years/summer seasons on the 757 before you are put on the 767.
I don't know too much about GLA except that there are at least two FOs on the bid list waiting to go up there.

epsilonmiuraised,

I am one of the masses who have applied and I have 1500+ jet time for a well known co. For me, if I am one of the fortunate minority and get through I will be on your coveted SFO paytier. That paytier is a net income monthly drop for me in the region of £500+ (benefits asides). as 30W reiterated you have to look at what are the most important aspects to you as a professional pilot. Is it purely money? or is it a long term structured career path?. is it the short term? or the long term?. It is a balancing act and each person has their own reasons and motivations. if it was money or short term for me, I would stay where I am. Good luck to you epsilonmiuraised as you draw your own conclusions, and just one question to you if I may. All those years when we were outside aviation desperate to do the job, was it ever only about the money?

C'sLH,

Thanks mate.


L.

yeah you're right EP, touche.... a wise old skip once said to me, pilots all fall into one of 2 categories, those in it purely for money and those in it more for lifestyle. I guess we fall in the same camp. Of course money is an important factor, though a slightly secondary one for me. That said FCA's payscales and benefits seem very competitive against other UK charters. You may as well apply EP you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. there are going to be a lot of us who :ugh: or end up :{ but you maybe one of the :p . Good luck to everyone :ok: