Ouch! Unfortunate predicament to be in.

Farfrompuken

It's a lovely pay back isn't it for all the service you give to your country that they even try to shaft you when you leave!

The USAF actively promote the fact that they will help you achieve an ATP and placement as long as you give your return of service. It's a pity our lot don't.

Whilst I miss my former colleagues and the banter I don't miss the intense rubbish admin that we were always forced to endure!

Wirbelsturm,

I guess I'm having a crash course in civilian life! All about being in the right place at the wrong time, I suppose...

Whilst timing is everything the beauty of this job is quite simple.

Sign for the jet, walk off and the only thing you have to worry about is when you are next up for a trip.

As an ex-mil jock the 'ease of life' is breathtakingly nice! Keep trying, it really is worth it. (Mind you the flying can be a bit dull!)

Wirb

Chris Griffin said:

So whilst the BMI merger/buy out is irrelevant, and I agree with you, Chris seems to have got this information from the recruitment team. Are you saying BA will still take on those in the pool and still give sim assessments to those who are waiting etc? The info coming from within is a little contradictory.

Appreciate your thoughts.

I agree, this all seems a bit surreal. From what I am told, the last formal announcement from the recruitment team suggested that courses were penned in up until August. This seemed to be without regard to the outcome of the pilot vote on the integration with bmi crew. If anything, tones from the recruiters indicated that a 'yes' vote would be advantageous to future DEP hire. After the 'yes' vote was announced it appeared that recruitment was once again gathering momentum. I know of a number of people who are now awaiting confirmed assessment dates or who have attended these recently. Sources that I would consider reliable suggested that existing 'holdpoolers' would be offered positions 'in due course.' This would fit with Wirbelsturm's opinion, who of course is part of BA.

Now it's being suggested that it is all over? Wam Bam! All seems a bit sudden. Hopefully some clarity will emerge after the weekend. I believe a written update is due from the recruitment team imminently??

Arctic Monkey,

The simple answer is, at the moment, I don't know.

I'm working now but when I can I'll find out what I can. Until then I really can't say anything else other than I have no idea if they have closed the taps or not. Although, IMHO, it would surprise me if they have.

Cheers.

Apologies for dropping the grenade and running away, but work called. Having spoken to recruitment ref course dates the direct quote is "there are no more courses planned for the foreseeable future".

As stated previously, swimmers can wait for 18 months in the hold pool before being required to apply again.

For those working for civilian carriers i assume there's no great shakes - 3 months notice is 3 months notice.

This does, however, put the majority of us military people at a huge disadvantage. Those of us who have taken a leap of faith have been well and truly shafted. The media wide publicity campaign for the new round of recruitment focused to a large extent on providing opportunities for ex mil. Whilst I'm sure the managed path system will continue, there is no doubt there are alot of us mil guys and gals who are now unable to wait due to mil and other commitments.

Best get the CV updated. :(

Well, having spoken to BA Recruitment this morning it would appear that assessments are still ongoing and Sim assessments are still pencilled if for whenever people find out they have passed day 1. They haven't got round to telling people who attended two weeks ago, so who knows what is happening.
How it all factors into the bigger picture is anyone's guess!

So something doesn't add up when you consider this statement....

....however if you are of a cynical nature then could the above be a contingency to replace those dropping out because they have exceeded their welcome in the hold pool or for those who have decided to or have been forced to remove themselves from the pool? Or is it to stock up on those with more valuable ratings i.e. Airbus and/or B757/767? (obviously they would still have to be regarded as being suitable for BA)

BA have always been very clear and stringent about how long a candidate can reside in their hold pool. Originally 12 months, but extended to 18 months when delays are anticipated or uncertainty over requirements exist. Does adding to the hold pool really cost BA anything in the grand scheme of things? Better being prepared than being caught short - seems like a sensible decision by the planners if this is the case. Most airlines are very short sighted due to the nature of the business!

Any one have an idea on future 767 courses?

I'm not having a wise crack here, however I believe Chris Griffin served you some pretty concise information after his recent discussion with recruitment. Incase you missed it, he stated

If you didn't. obviously the verbal reasoning assessment wasn't your cup of tea! :ok:

I'm sure BA recruitment will be along with an update for their hold poolers fairly soon?? :confused:

Yeah....that's the one! :=

767 courses appear to be every 4 weeks or so at the moment. 1 course starts at the beginning of May and 1 course at the end. After that I have no idea.

All the best

Bugger
 

Email received this morning, recruitment halted! tis the time to look deeply into myself, brush it off and crack on until I hear from them again. It's hard but I understand it. The recruitment team have a lot of changes going on at the moment re. BMI so difficult to predict. A lot of guys in hold pool for some time so they need to be sorted. It makes sense for a department to halt things for now. I bet their phones never stop ringing, if I was in their position I would have done the same. Nevertheless I am gutted!

Keep your chins up everyone, in the sim when it goes wrong you need to crack on and get the job done. This is just the same.

To the few who have a sim in March, best of British to you.

My Internet connection has been unreliable but I did get an email from BA this morning informing me that, effectively, all recruitment of DEP has been called off. They are going to empty the hold pool in due course.

It is not completely clear what will happen to those in the mid-stage of the process if recruitment recommences.

Personally, I am surprised that a company the size of BA, let alone the IAG, could publicly announce massive recruitment plans and then drop them so suddenly - even if deep down we expected them to.

It seems that BA's recruitment bum and management elbow were a little dislocated when recruitment plans were penned.

MH152

Cheers for the update mesh. Anybody with an idea about those stuck in limbo between day 1 and the sim? Would hope that if and when recruitment began again they would be called up for sim assessments without reapplying. Bit of a bugger though as recruitment was seemingly going ahead at a good pace just 2 weeks ago.

So do you guys interpret the email as saying that those already in the hold pool will still be offered contracts?

I just received the email. I don't think BMI has any bearing with us, they are bringing their own aircraft, so its like nothing has changed. It might have an impact if they send the aircraft back to the leasors but thats about it.

Unfortunately we have to acknowledge the elephant in the living room, I really don't think aviation issues even come into the equation, for me I think BA are concerned about the economy and the effects of the looming Greek default plus the banging of the war drums in regards to Iran. If a conflict kicks off in the middle east its hello $200/barrel oil and any chance of a recovery up in smoke. I really hope I'm wrong but for me this is the only thing that makes sense..

I am extremely disappointed to say the least but will try and keep the faith as best as I can.

IAG profits soar

Things appear to be going well at the moment, but I agree with Threethirty. BA are being prudent.

The section regarding those already in the hold pool does seem rather ambiguous.

The last I heard from those in the know at BA was the hold pool was the correct size and all those in it plus a few extra would get start dates 'in due course'.
I would interprete the email as confirming that plan, they seem to be 'pausing' recruitment as anymore pilots in the hold pool would mean some never getting a call before falling out.

I'm still expecting an extended wait though, anyone have a rough idea about how many are actually in the pool?

Hi guys and gals

Just after some clarification from anyone in a similar situation to myself.

I applied in August, a few months later I received an email saying that I had been put forward to the interview stage of the process, however all slots remaining in 2011 were full so they would be in touch in early 2012.

Now we receive this e-mail, appearing to state that recruitment is on hold afte the March slots. Does that mean anyone who had passed to the interview stage from the initial application has to re-apply (when they open up again) or do you go into a sort of "hold pool" for interview?

Thanks

Anyone able to copy and paste the e-mail?

The email says that they know where you are in the process, so I would guess/ hope that everyone has their status frozen in time until whenever things get going again.
My worry is if we have to wait for an extended period of time, then perhaps we'll be looking at time limits imposed for people not in the holding pool.

Has anyone who completed the day 1 in the last few weeks heard anything or received the email this morning?

Damage assessment
 

Ok, I've been swimming since June. Who's with me?

Guys,

I think this is purely a training capacity problem. BA are hedging their bets, IMHO, in order to free up the Airbus training capacity for the integration of BMI, if approved.

All BMI crews will require a differences course plus an LPC/OPC. Admittedly, probably a short course, but with 300+ to get through AND the normal line checks for BA crews, it's going to be a very busy time for the trainers.

Within all that fitting the DEP courses in would be a nightmare.

Obviously just musings of mine but that is what I make of the picture.

The DEP's are still required but there is no training space for them for the short term. It all hinges on the approval for the BMI integration which we will know fairly soon.

Just keep swimming! :E

Thanks for that Wilberstrum. What about the freezing of courses for the Boeing, is that related in some way to BMI also?

Probably a total block on DEP course.

Some guys have had their internal transfers stopped (744,777) as well due to maintaining fleet levels.

Thats seems like a good analysis of the situation and seems better for us than my apocalyptic assessment earlier. If that is indeed the case, what sort of time span are we looking at in your opinion? Cheers.

No news
 

For those who have received some news, would they be good enough to cut and paste their emails? I attended part 1 two weeks ago and have heard nothing!

I agree with wilberstrum, think its more of a capacity requirement. Spoke to them this morning and they said pretty much this. Im passed stage 1 and awaiting sim, she said not to panick. They have quite a few hold poolers that they are trying to sort and we unfortunately follow on from that. We don,t loose position or haveto apply again if invited for stage 1 or 2 its just we haveto wait. I,m trying not to worry, there is nothing we can do. Just prey we get sorted before 12 or 18 months runs out. Im away at moment but seem to remember that 12 month period is now 18. Try and pass more info when back.

I m with you Kempus! Sim in June also! I m feeling a touch uncomfortable here

this morning- email about pausing the recruitment.
this evening- email offering a day 1 slot in March.
slightly confused but booked it up anyway!

The email stated that they would continue to offer slots for the sim until the end of March. They book these slots from the training department months in advance so give it your best shot and if it isn't convenient I'd make it so as it may be some time till they come back round again.

Can anyone forward me a copy of the e-mail? I'm in the system, post day 1 assessment, but have yet to hear anything.

Flying Wild

Same here mate, attended a day 1 assessment a couple of weeks ago, tomorrow (well, today the 29th) is 12 working days with no result so far.

Hi guys, finally got the result via email for the day 1 assessment (assessment was 2 weeks ago now)

That'll be a nervous wait today then.

I had my result this morning as well.