If summer is similarly ‘hard work’, it will certainly unveil JSS in all it’s glory too! Best put that back to later in the year!

Surely not ANOTHER case of Flt Ops making promises (to network) their department can not fulfil?

I’m happy for you Smokey that you’re chuffed. I’m not at all though. I’d be slotting in around the 78% point on long haul, so I was feeling reasonably happy about that level of seniority.

As for OT and RDW, stuff that for a game of soldiers. Each to their own I guess.

Only trying to suggest a way of looking at the positives. I agree I'm in a fortunate position. Best of luck kind Sir/Ma'am.

I’m not either Ellen. I’m not even that close to a LH slot but it was nice to imagine that we’d be moving further up the Airbus P2 list and gaining the benefit of better bidding power etc in the meantime. Now stagnation looms again after probably a tiny bit of movement next month whilst a load of guys get onto long haul ahead of those waiting patiently.

As a commuter even the most junior 747 P2 is enjoying rosters that are immeasurably better in terms of lifestyle than those enjoyed in the right hand seat of the Airbus. (Yes I know I choose to commute and I’m aware of that, first world problems and all, but my argument still stands).

The argument that we all slot in ahead of these guys eventually once we move to LH is bogus too or at the very least only applicable for the younger guys. With those of us who are more advanced in years that time lost in the Airbus RHS is precious and also with seniority likely to be legally challenged (and probably successfully I might add) in years to come that only compounds the issue.

Sorry for venting but I fail to see the upside here. I’ll calm down shortly and get on with life though.

Oh that doesn’t sound too good for DEPs? Or are these new courses/new white tails being binned in favour of more DEPs?

I think it sounds very good for DEPs...

Any more detail on this Rex? I can see the logic... delaying a course of 6 FPPs releases a huge amount of training capacity that could be used to bring many more DEPs onto the line.

At a guess, each FPP trainee needs half a dozen sims (post type rating) and ~50 line training sectors? Against maybe 3 sims and 10 line training sectors for DEPs?

That course of 6 FPP guys who need 300 (minimum) line training sectors could be pushed and allow 30 DEPs in. That alone should take a bit of pressure off the SH fleet? Not to mention sim capacity...

Ah ok that would make sense....fingers crossed!

Reading across various sources I think FoxChaRomeo and others are probably right...

All the signs are that BA have very recently discovered that they need more Short Haul pilots on line PDQ....

More ITSU, it will help you get through 8o)

Not everyone has the luxury of choice!

Anybody who wants to have a long career in BA would!

BA are delighted to show the door to anyone who doesn’t, and wish them good luck elsewhere. There’s certainly no shortage of applicants behind them!

heli-wings

I’ve already said I’m perfectly willing to wait my time. What does grind my gears though is that waiting time increasing significantly because of DEPs onto the long haul fleets, all of which I met the requirements for when I joined. With the added pain of in the meantime being significantly disadvantaged in my current posting by more senior guys who should have left my fleet in accordance with their aspirations (given the normal sequence of events) being forced to remain.

That’s not exactly hard to understand. And I’m as much outraged for those who are unfrozen or had freeze waivers who are now being disadvantaged by this.

Did you have the option of LH when you joined?

That option was made unavailable to me because of my Airbus rating, Wiggy. I know for a fact there were turboprop pilots who went direct entry Long Haul after me despite never having flown a jet. Hours were not the issue, the rating was. Anyway I’m going to stop moaning about it now because there’s nothing that can be done and I’m sounding like a stuck record.

Those of us in the holdpool have been warned that if we decline the offer made, we will most likely be dropped from the holdpool due to the length of time we have been swimming.... so chances are people will accept anything to get their foot in the door...do the time/5yrs and bid for another fleet if required/desired.

Rex..

I get where you are coming from...I guess the BA POV was they would have to give the turbo-prop pilots a full TR etc, regardless of which fleet they went on. In your case they could save cash by putting you effectively your existing type...but yes I can see how it grates.

Rex,

I understand why you are peeved, I too was only given the choice of SH and joined almost exactly 3 years ago, 9 months later people from my previous company with no jet experience were streamed straight onto LH.

That said we both knew we were to be frozen SH for 5 years so I have no beef about it.

I am now at 40% seniority, one of my friends who went LH is still in the 90% bracket and my pattern of work as a commuter is far superior to his (note - pattern of work, we most definitely work harder but I get more days at home)

With the implementation of JSS and the ability to request working patterns I believe senior SH will be far better placed than junior LH to create and be awarded rosters that work for the , so much so I am seriously considering not bidding for LH this year (for the same reason will not be bidding for command) so I think it’s wait and see time.

From what I understand (from someone in the know) regarding those who had their freeze waived this year, most if not all will get the move but there may be a small number who are refrozen (by no means a given)

Don’t know anything about the FPP courses but if it means more DEPs then we will be working less...

LH will come if that’s really what you want just need to wait, there’s worse places to be - honest.

Can anyone share what the A320 (low seniority) roster at LGW is like? Is it commutable and am I right in thinking it's mostly day trips?

No reason, asking for a friend.

I don’t think it’s very smart to put pilots with no jet experience straight on to LH. Sorry, but that’s my view! Particularly the case if there’s lots of heavy sectors on the fleet. That kind of decision is driven by accountants. Not pilots!

OTOH. Yes, joining on SH puts you at, what some consider as, the bottom of the pile. But believe it or not, there are actually some advantages. As has been explained by a previous poster, accelerated progression up the status list being one of them. Particularly significant one imagines with JSS? On SH, since most destinations are frankly, much of a muchness, pretty much the only significant differentiator between the upper parts of the list, and the lower, are the days of the week you choose to work, and access to one or two significant days off in a month, such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, night School, sporting fixtures etc. You will get that sort of control FAR earlier on SH! Not to mention Xmas at home!!

Alternatively, join LH at the bottom, and spend your life going to the Middle East in the height of summer, or North America in the winter. West coast of Africa or India. If you’re really lucky, you’ll join a fleet that has decent destinations. But you’ll only get to them when nobody else wants to go. You’ll also work every Xmas and probably New Year, that you can’t protect with leave or duty free week! Oh, and best get used to more people joining your status list above you, than below you!

Those who join BA first will ALWAYS enjoy the advantage of seniority over those who join even the following day. In BA (currently!) Seniority is EVERYTHING! If I was offered SH today, or LH next week. The answer is a no brainer! SH today please!!

Life is full of stepping stones. If you moan about SH, you’re probably the kind of person that will moan about LH! Do your damndest to enjoy wherever you are TODAY. Because that’s where you live your life!

Well said 4468 - thats why I'll be turning down BA and going DEC to Easy ;)

Just received an email that mentions BA recruitment to open again for 320 rated guys.