B and B, that's what's called marketing. They are not worrying about being British, they are celebrating it. I seem to remember you from Posting numerous miserable, negative, pointless posts on this forum when doing my research for BA. Now you pop up under the Monarch thread being surprise surprise, negative, opinionated, and on a lot of points wrong in your I'll informed opinions. What is your problem, do you enjoy being hated by people you don't even know, is your life that crap. Get a life, grow up and wind your neck in. You could always start a topic called Black and Brown, we could all then go to it when we have had a couple of beers and tell you repeatedly what a sad you are.

To all those guys and girls that are looking at or already may have fallen out of the pool my thoughts are with you. If there is one thing I have learnt over the years is that one year early in your career seems like a lifetime but as you continue it's nothing. For those of you that want the job that much you will re-apply when the time comes and in a couple of years you will be with BA. Some will decide to go else where and good on you, times and situations change and so do our career choices and hey, in the end, if you are feeling a little bit down, just look in the mirror and think thank I'm not Black and Brown......

Sinking in the pool
 

prelude01

I think 'because they can' and because they have done before answers your query perfectly. To keep things consistent with past campaigns, dropping the DEP hold pool after 18 months of swimming was always going to be the most likely of scenarios. Ironic to think that they may open recruitment from March/April 2013, especially considering some 'swimmers' will no longer be eligible; but there you go. It has all been done before and at least shows consistency. I reckon a fantastic place to be at the moment, as Juan Tough states, is awaiting the stage 2 sim assessment. These guys will be at the forefront of any further hiring (along with the remaining poolers - if any are left?), plus day 2 is a lot less of a mind fvck than day 1. A simple case of situational awareness, teamwork and effective decision making really.

There is no point in being bitter about the bmi guys or indeed the FPP cadets. The former has TUPE on their side and the latter has both cost effectiveness and public relations on theirs. The only other way into BA is to 'hoop jump' as you say and to play by the rules of DEP entry. You may question their motives until the cows come home, but that's about as far as you'll get. C'est la vie I suppose.

BA has a contractural obligation to the schools providing FPP thus they will be going ahead.

BMI slot in at the bottom of the MSL (potentially) and only add enough to continue to fly the aircraft the purchase bought with them. Thus the flying ratio per pilot remains unchanged.

The recruitment is being driven by the winter 2012/summer 2013 flying programme. At the moment there are not enough LH hulls to be able to convert the slots bought from BMI ito LH slots. As they become available (watch this space for a large twin order) then we will see LH expansion with the associated crewing uplift.

There are aircraft arriving. 777-300s beofore year end (not many) and A380s and 787s before July 2013. May possibly be replacement hulls?

BA have stated that they will only accept wing modded A380's thus muddying the waters as to when they arrive.

Pilots have already been converted to the 787 and are running on the 777 awaiting a differences course. They are already in the Summer 2013 plan and accounted for in personnel planning.

There options for the final 2 777-300's are also in the plan. They next step is either the 777X or the XWB350, neither of which are ready.

Well 13 months in the pool and I haven't received any emails in the last week but I can fathom from these posts it's not good for those like myself. Must be my luck as this is the 2nd time this type of event has occurred.

Looks like the 777 type rating was the way to go after all!!

Sorry to hear about those whose time in the pool will inevitably expire. It really is a brutal system, it's all pure luck. Some get their foot in the door and others, arguably more deserving, do not.

I believe people would be wise to take other opportunities. I believe a few in the pool are heading elsewhere or are in the process of doing so. Their prerogative however nobody could criticise their decision. As the email sent out this week suggested, things are very different than from this time last year.

There'll be a few diehard swimmers though.....

Unless HR's policy has changed since 2007/8, I think those waiting for Day 2 will be potentially equally disappointed as those in the hold pool; a pass at Day 1 is only 'valid' for 12 months (so I was told).

EDIT: This is old information, it sounds like the policy has changed. If so, good news!

Some 747-8 rumours doing the rounds due to the global paucity of 777-300s (damn you EK et al!) and delays to the 380.

Why let the truth get in the way etc etc.....

Hopefully not for nought. There are swimmers who expire August '13, meaning a start date as late as December '13 is possible. That seems like a decent chance.

What about those guys/girls that are still waiting for day 1 since last august....any hope to be called or they will expire too?

Apparently no decision has been made yet on the validity period of a day 1 pass.

If an expiry date is put on stage 1, you would hope that prior to expiration they would just put you through the final hoop jumping exercise. Better to wait it out in the hold pool and sweat for 18 months than be told that you won't have a chance to prove yourself in the sim.

Hold Pool
 

Hi All,

If any current swimmers (full, not in between days), are not on the current "outside of prune" email list and wish to be, feel free to drop me a PM.

With the greatest of respect, why are you all queuing up for a 15 year wait for command..?

Is it the weather..?

The free flowing M25..?

Please don't turn an otherwise informative thread into a slanging match about who works for the better airline... Save it for the cruise.

Perhaps some people value living at home amongst friends and family more than a shorter period to command?

If you prefer the desert, all well and good, but it really oughtn't to be a mystery why someone would prefer BA over the sandpit.

Ouchee Craggy, you sound like your enjoying a glass or two of the good stuff:}

I don't think Artie was trying to say BA was any better than EK etc etc, I suspect hes just saying its horses for courses.
FWIW, I turned down the offer of the minibus at LHR after a good number of years in the charter game. Now after nearly 3 years at EK, I'd still have made the same decision, as I feel its better to be out of the UK, away from all the rubbish going on.
Anyway..back to the subject...

I just tried logging onto my application and it said "Finished" ? Has there been any updates in the last month or so. Is it official that the hold pool is cancelled ? I had passed day one, waiting for day 2 (03/12)