Lookslike chocolate is right on the money, at least with the fpp

Shame BA dont allow those who have completed training in the last few years and have a license to apply for FPP.

Their are many stuck in the middle such as self sponsored modular / integrated cadets trying to get their first multi crew airline job etc and move away from instructing, single pilot ops or similar. Then those with airline experience trying to move with the likes of CTC schemes and similar being in the way.

I think DEP will return sooner than some people on here are making out. But probably LH - 777/747, and requirements will of course be higher than the last round of DEP... Full ATPL, 2000 hours on a commercial jet, etc. FPP cadets can't fill these places. BA will still need to employ the cheaper cadets onto the babybus to improve margins on short haul.

Look at the order books for BA... there will be some expansion ahead!

Got the email from BA today saying they would rather have brand new cadets flying their planes than experienced guys...
I can understand them having a scheme to try and get the best of the best cadets in but they are filling all their 2013 requirements with cadets?! What about all the pilots with experience trying to move their careers along?
Another airline going down the cheapest employee route instead respecting the hardwork and dedication of experienced pilots.
I feel bad for those who passed the interview and now won't get a sim slot, and especially for those in the hold pool who will probably fall out the end while a brand new cadet lands the dream job over them!

@spider_man: I admire your optimism, however the recruitment team just send out the dreaded email most of us were already expecting. No DEP recruitment for the foreseeable future. All vacancies will be prioritised for the FPP (short haul).
Hopefully the plans for 2014 are brighter...

So Threethirty..... It wasn't me trying to conjure up bad news out of thin air it was fact, i'll accept the apology via PM if you so wish! :ok:

FPP cadets can't, but we have an large collection of SH pilots who can and will. Remember, longhaul recruitment only occurs when there are insufficient internal pilots to fill the posts (who are unfrozen). Lots of unfrozen shorthaul F/O's are now waiting for longhaul...

So was that the case when BA took people from the pool onto the 747 at the end of last year? I was under the assumption that that decision ruffled a few feathers.

Finally, the email arrived today. It is as what we all expected. BA have filled the immediate recruitment void with BMI pilots, the medium term will be cadets, and DEP recruitment probably won't happen before most of the current applicants have long moved on.

The recruitment team must feel a bit like the Manager of a football team whose scouting team has spent months identifying talent and holding trial games only to have the Director of Football override them and make a few free signings from a relegated club! ;)

Just adds salt to the wound when you see this on the wanabees forum.

http://www.pprune.org/interviews-job...me-2013-a.html

So the FPP scheme will start up in earnest, promising a bright and promising future for all the 20 something wonder kids, meanwhile the experienced DEP's are left to wither on the vine. I wish them all the best for the future and it really is a great opportunity for that IT wizard that wants a career change, just wish BA had considered in 2011 the effect of the BMI and FPP double whammy before wasting the time and effort of so many people, myself included.

In addition, I wouldn't mind betting this ends the DEP scheme for good. The company will always have a steady stream of willing cadet applicants and as Cough says above, the company only hires DEP's when there are no suitable candidates internally. As they have made very evident from this day onwards the cadets have priority, probably because they save money on them, so with a constant stream of naive wannabees at the bottom there will always be plenty of internal upgrades moving onwards to the 777/380 etc. British Airways is now Cathay Pacific. :ugh:

I hear what you are saying Threethirty, however BA stated before they only want to source halve of their pilots from the FPP. I don't think (hope) they will stop recruiting DEP all together. For the moment with the BMI pilots yes, but with the expansion plans for long haul and predicted pension figures, even though they have lots of internal candidates I hope they will open up again for the DEP in the years to come.

not unexpected news, history shows BA will employ cadets who are a long term prospect, (hamble, oxford perth etc), a known product from the begining. I dont blame them, the model has worked for a long time and gives stability to the airline. There will come a time whem DEPs are required again, but not in the near future.

[QUOTE]I wouldn't mind betting this ends the DEP scheme for good/QUOTE]

Don't bet any money on that whatever you do - you'll end up out of pocket! The DEP scheme will be back. The BMI transition has resulted in a (temporary) surplus of pilots - unforeseen at the time of the last recruitment drive. Flight Ops are not able to recruit while any surplus exists. I would bet large sums of money DEP and ex-Military pilots will be recruited again in 2014, SH and LH positions.

Best advice I was given was that all airlines are the same, the tailfins may be different, the corporate image may be different, some may openly dislike pilots, some may be neutral and some may even pretend u r valued!! U r not, EZY, BA, CX etc all want the cheapest long term alternative! Cycnical but BA are no different to Ezy but when on BA at least u hv more choice on lifestyle but its all a race to the bottom!! BA managers envy what EZY have got away with and r doing their best to follow suit!

All pretty accurate to date........:ugh::ugh::ugh:

Sorry, are you happy now :E

BA's forecasts will indicate when they need new pilots. They traditionally want a balance of "Cadets" and DEPs.

Cadet lead time, from interview, selection, Flying Schools, BA induction, BA training is a long time.

(Suitable) DEP lead time, from advert to on the line, can be a few months. Stretch this out unnecessarily, and you get all the aggro of a hold pool, as this thread illustrates.

I would guess a DEP scheme opening again that would see the 1st applicants "on-line" at roughly the same time as the 2013 FPP products. 2015? 2016? The DEP start can then be moved forward and back nearer the time as the numbers required become clearer, albeit maybe via the undesirable "hold pool" system.

Whilst working for the airline concerned, I know nothing about it's recruitment, but the above just seems commonsense to me. I do know (and am taking advantage of) we have too many pilots right now, and that is going to take sometime to resolve.

Choclateracer,

Maybe what upset threethirty was that when you announced them, they weren't facts, just what-some-bloke-on-the-Internet-said.

Maybe it would have been more sensitive and appropriate to let disappointing news filter out through the official channels?

Fair point i'll give you that one. However, this is a rumour network so surely rumours are discussed then backed up with facts, or not in many cases here! Either way I see your point. :O