Quite surprised to see BA guys heading over to V/S. just shows how sort after the company is.

I would imagine that rules out the rest of the 1000+ people that applied.

A few A320 rated guys got a job offer over the last couple of days too

I know a guy who's joining shortly as a NTR 747 FO so it is possible

Meester Proach, what's your friends back ground?

Anyone Else heard anything for non rated Boeing?

Still not heard anything at all from them. B777 rated (6500 total and 1500 on the 777).

I just got an email saying ntr people for Boeing are not needed for now due to the commercial programming.

Same. "Thank you for your patience regarding your recent application to Virgin Atlantic. Having had the opportunity to review our commercial programme for the coming months, there is currently no specific further requirement for Boeing type-rated candidates so we will be putting our interviews on hold for the time being."

Received the same email. They are a funny company. Applied initially in 2015. Never heard if my application was even successful or not, only heard a good few months after that they no longer need anyone. Then in Sept last year I receive one saying please update my details and resubmit- and then today same email as above- no one needed. I presume they'd have given a PFO if my application was of no use, but still.

I know there's guys in their hold pool that never got PFO's yet they offered jobs to newly interviewed FO's ahead of them. Doesn't sound very organized. If somebody takes the trouble to go all the way through a selection process you'd think they at least deserve an 'I'm sorry we've changed our minds' email.

It's very obvious what they do. Ideally they want type rated people, but they of course don't want to be 'short' of crew, so I guess they will put people through a type rating if they have to. With that in mind they don't stop NTR applying, but keep them on the back burner unless they are absolutely necessary. What I don't understand is, how these few NTR people mentioned above have been offered a job, without the rest of us either being told you didn't pass the application stage or having had a 'shot' at the interview for the job ourselves.

In any other walk of life, a job is advertised and everyone who applies gets a yes come to interview or no thanks. You never get a "we've got what we need now, but are holding your application on file!"

Unless you have a UK issued EASA licence, they won't look at you.

I had a UK licence, now on an Irish. It takes a month or so to convert back. If they won't look at someone who can convert to a UK licence while serving their notice period, then they should at least have the decency to issue a PFO.

Some Type Rated A330 people joining imminently. (Ex RAF Voyager?)

VJW...agreed. IMO it's farcical they won't consider non U.K. EASA type rated candidates.

It's farcical they are taking on cadets whilst experience guys are getting rejected in their thousands, what a wonderful industry!!

Personally I think cadet schemes are great, everyone needs a start somewhere. Virgin aren't exclusively hiring cadets either, lots of experienced guys being taken on. The problem is you could be a UK citizen working for a European airline and be type rated on A330, B787 or B747 and not get a look in. Meanwhile a non U.K. EU citizen flying for a U.K. Airline on 320's or 737's is fair game according to VS recruitment team. Something not right there.....

I think the cadet scheme is an insult to anyone that had aspirations to work for Virgin, there never has been and there never will be a need for it. But if your happy to miss out on a job in favour of of a guy with zero flying experience then that's up to you . Is it that hard to get a UK issued licence and why would you have a non U.K. Issued one if you are a British citizen?

They take on in the region of 10 cadets a year vs. many multiples that number of direct entry experienced candidates. Standard practice at most grown up airlines to take on cadets so don't see the issue.

My employer required me to convert from U.K. licence to their state of issue to enable company TRE's to sign off my licence at recurrent checks. Again standard practice at most airlines. I converted prior to joining. VS require you to present yourself at interview with UK licence which is pretty much impossible if you're working for a non U.K. airline.

Surely any EASA rated TRE could sign a licence that seems crazy! I am not entirely sure it is common practice, I have worked for European Airlines and never been asked to change my UK ATPL, my LPCs were also signed off by non UK TREs. Any way I agree the system seems crazy, could you get a U.K. Licence as well as your Irish one?

I am also not that convinced that VS will be recruiting "significantly" more than 10 DEPs this year but I could be wrong. To me Virgin used to be an aspirational airline somewhere you would dream of working, somewhere where all those years of flying and all those thousands of hours actually meant something an Airline that actively wanted and sort experienced pilots. It just saddens me that it's not the case anymore, you can now just start your career right at the top. It basically says to me that Virgin value experience in the same way every other airline does, an unwanted expense.

Anyway best of luck I hope you get in at some point.

VS recruited just shy of 50 DEPs on this last round. Virgin remains a very good place to work. Yes they take on a slack handful of cadets each year (and no I have no idea why) but they will still carry on recruiting predominantly experienced pilots.

People will no doubt argue but frankly I think you'd be hard pushed to find a better scheduled airline job in the U.K.

You cannot hold more than one EASA licence of a particular category, so no you cannot get a U.K. ATPL and IAA ATPL. It's an administrative nightmare to keep all TREs briefed on all the different licensing authority requirements and with an airline like Ryanair with 87 bases across Europe, if you allow 1 country to keep their SOLI then why not the others?

So if they want Type Rated and UK EASA, for Boeing people, it only really leaves BA 747/787 and Norwegian/Thomson 787 potential candidates for them to choose from?

The reason for the cadets is that is pushes the retirement dates a lot further south so everyone doesn't retire at the same time ( or so we're told).

GA F15, not necessarily, a few QR or EY 787 rated guys will hold UK EASA Licenses...

And a lot of CX crew also due to the 777/787 common rating.

I got the PFO too. B777 rated. UK EASA licence held.

The shortfall is on Airbus and 747. I hear that the last intake of Airbus streamed people were told at the last minute they were going on to the 747.
I think it is becoming blatantly obvious to the management that the company a seriously under established and doubt it'll be long before further recruitment takes place.
Commiserations short term, good luck in the long run.

Anyone get a "holding off on interviews" email? Due to the current requirement on the Boeing fleet changing.

I read into this - PFO!


haha

Not much chatter on VS lately. What is the latest on hiring? For the Airbus intake, are Easy the primary source? From the comment above it sounds like some lucky Airbus pilots will now get some time on the venerable Whale. :ok: That is good news and I imagine a surprise for them.

Any ex Monarch guys get into Virgin ? If so how does it compare ? ( obviously slight increase in job security blah blah .. )

Dunno about that - Loco's are moving in hard on VS's prime patch. Coupled with a very long time to command, I think I would choose Mon over Virgin

As somebody who is keen to join Virgin, would todays news ( virgin-atlantic-details-full-year-burden-on-airline), announcing very weak profits and a capacity cut, result in a stop to pilot recruitment or even worse result in laying off pilots?

Word inside is 50-60 guys to be recruited this year, no lay offs. Capacity cut due to 787 engine tech issues.

If 50-60 to be recruited would that be new applicants, or were there enough not taken on the last recruitment window that are still in the hold? Any idea which fleet will be recruited for?

Finally had an invite to an interview at VS. Honestly did come out of the blue!

I received an email about resuming normal DEP candidates following the unfortunate monarch situation...

Any people had the same, or recently been through the process who would kindly share the latest details, are there any computer aptitude tests? Is there a Sim ride? Any group exercises?

Have had a search online not managed to find anything recent.

Any tips appreciated.

Congrats for getting an interview!
Luckily at VA all you do is an interview! No insulting aptitude tests or group exercises!!
Very relaxed atmosphere, I had 2 pilots in mine , a few HRish questions like the usual why do you want to join , how will you fit in etc....
they are VERY hot on the virgin brand and how you will make it more effective in your role !
Also you get a scenario to look through and make notes on prior to the interview, I think mine was :
Captain is outside with the engineers sorting a tech fault , the weather is miserable (but flyable) , pax are ok , crew are all fed up and thinking of going fatigued , Cabin Manager has just told you about the crew situation.
What do you do ?
All very teamwork based questions.
Make sure you also brush up on the Delta / KLM Airfrance partner with VA , and just a few tech questions (All fairly easy )
Just be yourself and relax , interview lasts around 45-1hr

Snapper

Thanks for the friendly and informative reply! Refreshing to hear such a down-to-earth selection! Hope all goes well with your application!

requirements still 2500hours on wide body like 330/340/747 right?

no chance with 800h a320?

Any idea for which fleet interviews are taking place?

Cheers

Are these guys going to open up to external again, or is it still Mon and poolers?