Rumours around that some people have been given interview dates...... Can anybody confirm this?

Still waiting for my PFO. Anybody got one?

Anybody got any news on the latest round of assessments?

Got my PFO letter today - apparently 7500+ hrs and A320 command is not enough to get an interview...

Oh well, their loss... :}

C Star

It won't be a lack of hours, on the contrary. Recruitment is largely an HR process to filter the literally thousands of applicants, so things like covering letter, CV etc count initially. Once that hoop is jumped through the process is much more Pilot management driven. In other words relaxed and a bit more old school.

Looks like I need to improve my cover-leter writing skills then... :8

Good luck to everyone still in the game.... :ok:

PFO for me too. Not surprising as I barely scraped through the minimum requirements.

Best of luck to those who got an interview though! :ok:

Just to bring this back to the top and in hope that somebody may have the answers to a couple of questions that one should have asked at the interview with regards Airbus positions.

Anybody still waiting to have an interview?
Anybody still waiting for a yes/no email?
Any idea of the number they want in the holdpool?
Does the holdpool have an expiry date as per BA?

Thanks in advance

Cant answer those questions but since the demise of the SYD sector there is a slowing in recruitment.

Pilots with part time applications have been told they will all be granted. Not sure of the position regarding those already in the hold pool. Or indeed those waiting for any kind of response.

As I understand there will still be recruitment, just delayed by several months.

Good luck!

Thanks Ellis

Your first and last paragraph certainly tie in with what I was told at the interview.
Good news about the part-time requests.

As far as I remember, last interviews were last week. So I was hoping for an answer this week... So far nothing!

Just a quick thank you to everyone who posted help and answers on here, a real credit to our occupation.

As of today my 'treading water' in the pool has begun, hopefully I'll get chance to buy you all a drink sometime!

Thanks again and good luck to all

Yeah good, 787's coming soon, new starter courses still going ahead and the pool is due to move soonish.

Are the 787s bringing new routes and expansion to VS? They're smaller than current aircraft so I assume this is will be the case.

Lots of Virgin skippers on secondment at Norwegian on the 787 are heading back to Virgin at the end of the summer.

I'm hearing recruitment is imminent.

And how is life, time to command, terms and conditions etc at virgin these days?

Life good as always, some moan but hey its an airline. I can't think of better places where you don't pay for the TR, pension isn't too bad, colleagues and crew are excellent and you fly 750hrs/year. Not many on secondment, I would doubt recruitment barring one or two for retirees/leavers as there is no growth plan yet as LHR doesnt have any slots and the company is reorganising under the new CEO and Delta

Does anybody know when you are able to apply at all please? Interested at looking at it, thanks 3103

When applications are open it will be on the main website under careers section.

You can register for job alerts on the website.

Virgin Atlantic Careers

Best of luck! :ok:

Thanks, already done that, just didn't know if anybody had any inside info, thanks anyway, regards 3103

Considering they ran a recruitment drive towards the end of last year, and have guys sitting in the holding pool. I wouldn't hold your breath about anything happening anytime soon.

First 787-9 service announced... Will hiring pick up soon?
 

Announcing first 787-9 will serve BOS starting in October with subsequent near-term 787-9s serving IAD, EWR and JFK. See this article:

Virgin Atlantic to fly B787-9 Dreamliner to Boston - Business Traveller

I know that several VS pilots will be returning from their training at Norwegian Long Haul on the 787, but I hope this leads to some in the pool being called up.

I presume most newhires will be heading to the A330. Are all early 787-9 pilots being pulled from the A340/330 or will some be sourced from the 400 as well?

An Entry Into Service team of pilots is being established from both fleets. Training has been conducted on the 777 at BA and KLM along with 787 training at Norwegian. These pilots will be ready to go as soon as the first 787-9 arrives.
With the 340 and 747 (LHR) retirement plans training and conversions onto the confirmed 21 787-900's will continue for the foreseeable future.

Just standing by for the 747 fleet replacement announcement! Here's hoping for the 777x :ok:

Thank you Blighty for your response. Is 21 the confirmed number of 787-9 orders (not options)? I thought the firm order number was in the teens.


Cheers

16 plus the 5 options exersized! :ok:

First 787-9 flight for Virgin is next month on the 26th October from LHR to Boston (BOS).

Aircraft are gradually retiring from the fleet over the next four to five years so these aircraft are effectively replacements rather than additions.

First Flight now Heathrow-Atlanta

First scheduled flight and service is Boston, the Atlanta flight is a PR flight. Atlanta is Delta base, they own 49% of VAA so keen to showcase new toy. Major expansion is restricted due to slot availability at LHR, although Manchester to Atlanta service next year could herald a slight change in strategy to combat this.
Here's hoping

Update?
 

Any update on likely recruitment? This year or next?

Not sure if this was already discussed:

Virgin Atlantic Close to Decision on Boosting Dreamliner Order - Bloomberg

How is the morale in VAA at the moment?

How hot are they on your weight being in proportion to your height?

Just asking;)

Morale is better but . . .

For new joiners time to command is very long (I'd guess 15+ years, others may disagree).
Those expecting five night mini-holidays in CPT etc should think again. More like 5 East coast "bullets" a month for the unlucky ones.
We appear to be becoming "de-virginised" and more "Virgin Atlanta", not clear what the job really holds in store. Certainly not sure it will be the long haul lifestyle many of us want. But at least it looks like we'll have jobs regardless of the cr@p WW is spouting.

Enough about that, let's talk about the new uniform. ;)

Just my personal opinion.

Thanks Case One.
Anybody else? It seems to be a gamble with the changes going on at the moment but I'm hoping to win a slightly more sustainable lifestyle for the remainder of my career.
How many FO currently in Virgin would chuck out an A320 S/H command for their current lot?

All disclaimers about personal circumstances etc. implied.

MPLs
 

Heard a rumour about MPL cadets. Low experience on widebody long haul ETOPS...??
Or would they start with a (partner/different) airline gaining experience before joining VS.
Is this the start of a downward spiral in T&C's ?

Well CX have done it. Albeit CPL/IR and operating as a heavy above FL200 to start with. I hear it involves regular inspections on Bunk bed boxes being made by the RSM with a high standard required in this discipline before being allowed to handle the paperwork. ;)

And the sandwich tray must be laid out with reference to true north. Must be really fun leaving a European loco with thousands of jet hours to go and "fly" the bigjets down in Cathay....

It eventually comes down to the lifestyle you want I think. Which brings us back to my question above, if anybody working for VS here has any input :O

A friend of mine applied to Virgin with about 3000hrs heavy jet, 2000 medium jet. He promptly received the "go fornicate yourself with a blunt object" letter. I guess they do have very good applicants despite the shoddy pay.

Just out of interest what are you basing your 'shoddy pay' comment on RTO??

I believe it's approx 92K for First officers and 141k for Captains at around the 15yr scale. Add around 10k allowances to each if you're looking for a BA comparison and count that sort of thing. Medical,LOL, PHI, staff travel, pension etc etc are a given of course.
I agree the pay could be better but how many airlines in the UK pay more for 750hrs per year these days?

Case Ones post is spot on, the days of paid 'holidays' are over. Changes from the pilots perspective are far from ideal. The airline now appears to be run like an actual business rather than an extension of someone's ego. At the end of the day though, I'm alright with that.