Perhaps there will be a slow down in recruitment? Is there a problem with the VS A350? A 340 pilots have been told they will remain on type for longer than envisaged and the retirement of the type further delayed. Delayed A350 delivery? Although BA now seem to be getting their A350 in service a month sooner.

Cessna Pete, Im afraid to report 340 pilots haven’t been told that.

all the best. C

Having dinner with one who’s Manager told him just that!

thats rubbish

At a guess your talking about
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/0...medium=ios_app

wouldn’t say it’s much of a delay, there is already a fix

No, I’d been told it was a VS cabin configuration problem, possibly requiring rear ballast to be carried on early deliveries.

Long shot, but anyone recruited by VS as a 737 pilot and retrained on the 787?

2100 hours on type.

Thanks.

Good question - thanks. Interested person here is 23 years old, flying 737s for nearly 4 years in LoCo and as said before, 2100 hours to date although it sounds as though current hours are going to be an issue. Now keen to expand experience on Boeing to long haul and 787.

Think he’s alluding to the fact that the minimum requirements on the advertisement is 2500. There are people that get in with the minimum requirement and plenty that have a lot more. They/we get enough applicants that you’d have to be very lucky to get in with less than the advertised minimums

I thought that might be the case. Thanks.

Fingers crossed for the future that VS might start looking again at 737 experience.

From quite a reliable source, in mid 2020, 50-75% of recruitment will need Q400 hours!!!!!

no worries. I hope so too. In all honesty if you find the opportunity to grab a 787 rating with another airline, that would probably be your best way to get into V/S.

If you join now on the Boeing, what would be the time to command roughly?

There’s a lot of retirements at the moment. Time to command is quicker than it has been historically: currently 8-10 years

Hear hear. Wish I’d gone three years ago..

CP what’s with the constant Virgin bashing? Ballast used when ferrying the plane as we use with the 330/340. Non event!

Been in for 1.5 years (ex BA) , I’m on the 2nd year FO payscale £80298 , which gives me roughly £4300 take home pay with full pension contribution, my allowances are around £400 left after spending (that’s not holding back that much either)
work wise I’m on the 787 so do 3 max 4 trips per month . Mainly west coast with the odd JNB . Far East is quite a senior trip but I don’t mind not going

Pipe dream

Yes. Based on VS getting ALL the slots they want after LHR expansion

Is the UK issue ATPL/medical a barrier? Currently Irish issue but could be converted.

Hi all,

sorry for the long list of questions in advance. I’m in a good LH job at the moment but facing a long wait for command (I have no interest in a SH command as LH suits my life far better) and have always been interested in VS.

1) roughly what’s the current time frame to command? Is it fleet dependent or can you move fleets iaw seniority for promotion ?
2) what’s the down route atmosphere like, are people generally up for doing stuff? I’m current LH and do enjoy heading out and doing things
3) what’s the flight deck atmosphere like, is there a pretty flat gradient?
4) how many days off do you get after a trip?
5) how does bidding for trips work and is it as seniority driven as BA?
6) Are most of the trips bullets or do you get a few days?

just trying to weigh up my options,DMs welcome

thanks

Nope, you just convert it to UK before you start.

with reduced terms from what I hear. B scale contract.

Can I add to Corporaljones' questions please...

7.) Is it possible to change fleets e.g. Airbus to Boeing?
8.) Are Virgin's financials about as good as they've ever been (Delta backing, expansion etc)
9.) Any ideas about part time working options?
10.) Is much time spent travelling within U.K. e.g. Up to Edi for a charter flight etc.
11.) Already asked before but important to know, do you get a nice couple of days downroute (esp. West Coast and Caribbean)

Thanks everyone. Another one looking at leaving BA as current atmosphere stinks.

1) Around 9 years currently. Some fleet transfers but generally command on type. No particular advantage in terms of command in switching fleets.
2) Reasonable social depending on destination. It’s rare that you’re Billy No-Mates.
3) Generally open atmosphere. As most join with quite a bit of experience, it’s assumed you know your job and you’re respected for that.
4) minimum 2 days off after a short trip (3 day block of work), 3 after something longer.
5) Can request up to 2 trips per month. Pilots are in one of three groups which rotate month by month so even if you’re the most junior, every third month your group will be top bid group so therefore effectively in the top third of seniority,
6) If the block time is on average more than 10 hours outbound then you get minimum 2 local nights downroute.


7) No real process for fleet change until new aircraft types come in: you’ll be matched on joining depending on your experience and where the need is.
8) Feeling is that VS is probably in the best financial position it’s been in for some time, but you never know the whole truth!
9) Part time is currently being rejigged so no comment
10) Depends on fleet but there is a bit of that. Mitigated by some of those trips requested by people who live nearby
11) See 6