Basically, BA can do what they like with you during your first 5 years. Ordinarily they want to do what is cheapest, so they do not allow any moves from whatever fleet you are on during that time period. You still have the opportunity to bid for your fleet aspirations, and BA will consider them if it suits them. Normally, the only thing that suits them is a move to a short haul command where there are often insufficient more senior bidders.

An example where things might be different this year, is the 747 where they have stated the fleet may be in surplus towards the end of 2020. A new recruit on the 747 could therefore see themselves directed off the fleet to anywhere else (highly unlikely to be a command position), if there are insufficient more senior volunteers. My gut feeling is that 2020 will see sufficient volunteers, but 2021 may be a different story.

We did indeed wiggy. I was responding to this a couple of posts up, which I believe to be misleading information.

The trainers have been told (at least according to the one I was in the sim with, before PRIAM day) to “expect about 250 Airbus recruits over the year, (to include some FPP / White Tail).

Not sure if that answers your question, but it might give an indication of scale.

Last year (bid 2018 for this year’s training) if you joined on the A320 with the required hours you could get a command after the minimum one year in the company. Long haul engagement freezes were waived for about 10 or so pilots bidding for Gatwick commands. This year the most junior Heathrow 320 command in 2020 is about 3 and a half years in the company at the point of the bid results but will be unfrozen for command. The pre command freeze is 4 years so effectively lops a year off your engagement freeze if bidding for an available command.

Current BA policy seems to be that seniority doesn’t apply for commands during the engagement freeze - if you are on the 320 and meet the requirements you will get a right to left ahead of senior but non-rated bidders. This is a consequence of the fact the agreement never anticipated such junior mainline commands.

Bottom line, although relatively junior commands are available, bank on 4-5 years if you want LGW and up to double that for LHR. Don’t come here if you have your heart set on a quick upgrade as disappointment is likely to be coming your way.

I think there’ll be a fair few new 320 pilots needed at LHR, I think almost every unfrozen pilot got their bid. I’m 40% and I’ve got a course for next year, so there’ll need to be a fair few pilot to fill in. BA are opening up 320 specific recruitment this year as well I believe.

I count just over 100 successful internal moves away from A320 FO positions, either to long haul fleets or commands on type. Then there will be age and ill health retirements, resignations due to people realising BA is not for them, people wanting part time, and you yourself say they are at least 40 FO positions short at Heathrow. A minimum requirement of 200 new A320 FOs would be very easy to reach. 250 is therefore probably not a bad estimate for trainers to have been told.

Yeah but that makes 250 total positions, not 250 Airbus positions, surely? If 100 Airbus FOs move then that’s 100 to replace (or 140 if you include the 40 they are short of) or am I missing something?

Im 45% and haven’t :{

Not too much longer now though hopefully, especially as there’s more LH hulls arriving in 2021.

The upside is it moves quickly (well at the moment anyway) on the Airbus P2 List and roster satisfaction will improve faster (if it’s indeed possible to be satisfied by a JSS roster). Not anywhere near as fast moving at the bottom of the Long Haul fleets.

I presume you are still within your engagement freeze Rex? I know you were hoping for the 787, but unfortunately long haul is popular so there is no need to release people from a freeze.

GS-Alpha I know what you’re saying but that just relates to an overall volume of pilots to be replaced company wide. The post I was replying to said 250 Airbus FOs to be trained this year. If you’re talking about an individual fleet then surely the replacements will be on a one for one basis (seeing as virtually no one bids for P32L/X internally) so if 100 pilots move seat from the Airbus this year, plus we’re 40 pilots shy then that’s a total of 140 Airbus Pilots to replace whilst the overall requirement for pilots company wide remains at around 250.

Anyway all this is a moot point for prospective joiners because the fundamental crux of it is that if you’re looking to join BA on the Airbus your chances are good right now.

Yes to the engagement freeze, I started right at the beginning of 2016. A couple of months earlier I could have been in luck.