Well done fella, hope I have better luck next time! Still
Gutted.

EMB-145LR; Well done and good luck :ok:

Congrats EMB. Good for you and well done.

Is anyone able to answer my question above re overtime/generally high hours?

Lead, the answer is no

The overtime system at BA is complex, as not all hours are paid off, some go into the bank. Others are paid off but a lot depends on when the extra work is picked up and how. The simplistic scenario you ask about does not apply.

Thanks Juan

Are we at the latter end of the current recruitment or is there still day one assessments going on?

311 this year, similar number required next year, this from a senior manager to me last week!

Great news but I'm a little dumbfounded. How does an airline go from hiring a trickle of pilots each year to over 300 without expansion?

No need to be dumbfounded, it's the BA way.

Quite easily. "They" have wanted to run the op with minimum recruitment for a long time...think bonuses....

However:

1. There are now genuine signs of a forthcoming retirement bulge....:ok:

2. IMHO "they" were critically under manned last year, which "they" just got away with, by the skin of "their" teeth, by driving through changes to the rostering system. Having used that remedy once "they" can't do it again....

As SinBin has said, at last management are now publicly saying they need more pilots.

In the meantime it's going to be an interesting few months with an increasing number of folks already hitting the 900 hour bell early in the summer season.

Hi Superpilot,

BA are expanding, The slots aquired from BMI are slowly being turned into longhaul routes which require more pilots than short haul routes. Also next year is the start of retirements again, altough only a few expected more people are going part time.

Do BA tend to run type rating courses for new hires over the summer, or do they take a break to ensure that it's all hands on deck for late July/all of August as some other airlines are known to? If so, when do new hire courses tend to restart? Hoping to get plucked out of the pool soon!

Very much hope next years requirements are as quoted or a similar figure. After falling at the last hurdle in the 74 sim I very much would like another crack, hopefully with a better outcome. Any ideas when a new campaign will open?

I see recruitment has opened again...

Recruitment Open
 

Great news - I see that most of the positions are A320 SH from Gatwick or Heathrow...

Could anyone tell me if those are likely to be run as single-day flights, or would it be more of a 4-5 day 'tour' of short haul sectors?

Thanks

As far as I know, at the moment LGW base for 320 has no nightstops

LHR, is a mix of day trips and 2/3/4/5 day tours.

While we're talking about nightstops, how easy is it for a junior LHR FO to get mainly day trips on the A320 fleet? If living within an hour of LHR, what sort of trips would provide the best quality of life for a new joiner with a young family?

BA Pilot jobs.....
 

Just heard from a friend of mine that BA are recruiting Direct Entry Pilots again :)


Check out their careers website for details.


Getting my application ready now.....

With the levels of recruitment on at the moment, you won't stay junior for very long, and day trips are easy to come by, only had 1 blindline in my time at BA. They're not the most popular trips as they usually carry low credit (ie you have to work more days to meet CAP) the higher credit day trips are usually hoovered up by more senior bods! For instance there are a few charters this summer that carry 9hr+ credit for one day's work, a typical GVA and back carries 4hr30 credit, so you get my drift. The other thing to remember is swapping is very easy at BA, all done online mutually between pilots on the emaestro system.

Still inside the 12 month rule : ( ! How come its opened again so soon with guys still being assess from last years applications? Will it open again towards the end if the year?

To be fair to BA, it's been nearly six months since they closed the last window. If they need more bodies to fill positions before the end of the year, then why not open the window again? Many people who weren't in a position to apply back in October 2014 may well now be able to. I'm sure your chance will come again HP.

Training capacity is a huge issue this year. I believe BA have re-opened in the hope of attracting more rated applicants and thus reduce the training footprint. We need guys on line this summer, not six months, which is effectively how long it will take for a non rated applicant accepting an offer to release to line.

Chief Pilots Letter
 

We had a letter from the Chief Pilots today, obviously I can't post it here but there was a section dedicated to growth & recruitment. It confirmed 311 new pilots this year & SIMILAR NUMBERS NEXT YEAR REQUIRED. So good news for those of you wishing to apply/re-apply..... There will be plenty of opportunities for all :ok:

I hope this brings a ray of light to a few! Good luck to those that are in the process or about to apply in this Newly opened round.

BASHLH

Oh go on, you know you want to.

As well as the sunny bit you mention about recruiting there were the cuddly feely bits about never being late (regardless of the state of the ground infrastructure and how long it takes to park your car - I think the record for that is over an hour) and hints/concerns over sickness levels /fatigue (despite the state of the Short Haul flying program) :E, I think the rest was mostly along the lines of "morale", "leave" and "cancelling until"..or something similar.

Anyhow joking aside :E it is going to be an interesting summer for short haul, from what I've heard all the DEPS were needed on line yesterday so I suspect the recruiting will continue full speed ahead for quite a while.

P.S. In all seriousness you're right...don't post that letter.

Then maybe time they reviewed their selection procedure.

Instead of rejecting pilots with glowing records from other top rated UK and overseas airlines at stage one.

There were reports on another thread of a couple selected from UK LOCO who didn't cut the mustard when training started.

rossjmc. Your post about me makes no sense. Gloat ! Why would I gloat. Still at the LoCo. And no, it is not rubbish. Officially utilising a "right to return".

And if you think the computer tests indicate anything significant and are not biased to those closer to their "education days employed playing computer games" instead of those having to devote their time working and bringing up children then you are really silly.

And, as I assume (but might be wrong) you have been selected, then who is it gloating by posting on here ?

Having just gone through the process I found it to be incredibly fair and balanced. There are no secrets to it, do your homework, prepare comprehensively and you'll make it through each stage. BA were nothing but extremely fair, friendly and efficient the whole way through. I've never been through such a well balanced selection, despite working for three previous airlines.

All the information you need to pass is out there. That coupled together with well focused preparation and a good attitude will get you through.

In the last 24 hours I've had two people send me private messages asking me to send them a copy of my application so that they can see what they need to put on their applications and in their essay questions to 'tick the boxes'. Frankly I think that attitude is appalling. I put an awful lot of time and energy into my application, thinking of the qualities I have to offer BA and what they can offer me in return. If you have to ask to copy another persons application then you may as well not bother applying. It's lazy, deceitful and shows no real initiative or drive. There are no shortcuts. If you want it, work for it. Even the much debated computer tests can be prepared for.

Believe me, I know how bitter rejection can taste, I have had my fair share of knock backs. Passing the BA process is very achievable but it takes a lot of hard graft, including focusing on areas that may not initially seem too relevant to our jobs. They set the standard, it's their trainset after all.

Good luck to everyone applying.

It is fair to say EMB-145LR that everyone was particularly pleased you got in.

I suppose it is human nature for those that get in think all is wonderful and those that fail the computer tests don't.

Thats life.

Will leave it at that so SinBin can wake up.

It's a fair comment that I probably have a rosier view than many because of the outcome of my assessment. I would also say that I would never have made it through if it wasn't for a lot of the help, tips and encouragement that I received from total strangers on these forums. For that I am extremely grateful and it was wonderful to see such a good side to the community.

In turn I am more than happy to answer questions and give tips if it's of any help to anybody. However asking to basically copy an application is just poor form.

I should add that although this was my first time through the BA process, I had been through the very similar CityFlyer process on three separate occasions and I never once made it as far as the sim. That was very tough to take, especially in view of the fact that I had hundreds of hours on the type they operate and was approaching a command at my last company, but it's their prerogative.

As I said, if I can be of any legitimate help to anyone, then please feel free to PM me. I have a lot of good faith to repay many people on these boards.

EMB-145LR
 

Sounds to me that you could make a few quid selling those answers just like those people who sell a Compass test practice program.

I devoted an entire 3 week period to preparation and still failed (I think quite miserably). I'm still two-minded about about trying again in 4 months. On one hand, a career eventually flying big metal (if only to taste it) sounds appealing but on the other hand I know that this kind of testing is not meant for cynical types like me and I'm not very likely to pass. Maybe I should stay put because about 25 FOs from my firm have left for BA recently, 25-50 more over the next two years could mean a quicker time to command. Or should I be cynical about that too? :\

Does anyone know how long it takes to be called from the hold pool at the moment? I am a non-rated pilot and got in a few weeks ago, I understand there is a fast track for rated guys but wouldn't mind other peoples recent experiences!

I very much hope the stated recruitment numbers become a reality towards the end of the summer when my 12 months are up. Can anyone recommend some practice books for the verbal reasoning that (really did) help. I got through last time but I can't say I felt confident of success at day one. I used assessment day for prep and didn't really ace them to the point of appearing on countdown. So if there are any better options to try I want to be able to get through again. Totally gutted at being so close this round and having meet so many guys that had passed before and fell at day one this year I would like at least to enjoy two days at waterside again. To all that succeeded best of luck.

I remember many years ago,in the mid 90s, BA opening recruitment, onto all fleets. However the interviews were so exacting that they failed to get the numbers required. They re opened it 6 months later, and asked for 2000 hours jet as a minimum.
Moto of the story is be patient.

A hasty application now that is not successful, will result in a freeze being served. BA may remove their space cadet entrance requirements later this year for good old fashioned flying experience.

Don't be frozen out .. Like I was !

Oh, I don't know about that, I passed and I'm as cynical as you can get!!!

Now don't get me started on the touchy, feely management letter!!! :eek:

Rex

Fair comments,. What folks need to be aware of is that BA is very much "process" driven, especially at management level and once a process is decided, such as selection and recruitment, getting it changed is a bit like doing a U turn in a supertanker.

I rather suspect some in flight ops, including recruitment (and perhaps "commercial"..the lot that "own" this summer's time table ) are beginning to realise that they need more pilots on line now, or not later than cease work tonight. Whether that gives them enough leverage over the other interested parties to succeed in getting the recruiting process streamlined we will have to wait and see.

Hope it all works out for you.

Hi all,

I didn't get into BA until my third attempt. First time I failed at day 1, second time I got into the hold pool and then got timed out only for them to reopen recruitment 3 months later. It really sucked, but if you want something enough you have to put it behind you, learn from the experience, and try again and again if necessary. It took me 5 years from first applying until I got in.

It must be very difficult to design tests that give everybody a fair chance but what they have is what you have to pass. If you don't like it you don't need to apply but I would be very surprised if the determination shown, by applying multiple times until one is successful, was not taken into account.

The maths and English comprehension tests are self explanatory, you can practice for it.

The interview, as most of you will know, is competency based i.e. give me an example of when you were a hero/tool, brave/coward etc. get friends and families to think of examples of this type of question and think of answers from both everyday life and the flying job.

The group test is widely discussed and common sense should give you an idea of how best to approach it.

The computer tests have been massively reduced since I first went through but I understand a big clue is to read carefully what you have to do.

The Sim, this is the chance for you to show that you are the sort of guy/girl that someone else would be happy to sit next to for 4 sectors a day or a 10 hour flight to somewhere and then go out for a drink. You clearly have to be reasonably competent at flying the sim and show an increasing learning curve but no-one expects you to be Chuck Yeager (don't take the 747 sim supersonic).

I hope this is of some help to those who have been unsuccessful and are waiting to try again.

edited to add: I have just looked at the job ad for FO and one of the requirements is,
By reapplying after a failure you are clearly demonstrating this.

All the best

Some good sensible input above. Maybe a total 6 month application hold would be more sensible to all that fell at any stage. Would benefit all involved both candidates and BA itself. If you were good enough to be selected for assessment from your application you are interesting to them, if you pass the day one tests you tick that box, if you pass day two you display the personnel qualities they are looking for, the sim goes either way on the day, bad day, nerves etc. so to see these people again ASAP could be a better and easier way. After all you are the same person when it comes to tests, interviews and group exercises. I'm not saying guys should jump stages but at least be able to reapply when the position becomes open, how you perform again is based on your own merit.

And yes it's been 6 months for me but not 12 lol ; )

I think the system of selection is fair and well run, all be it hard work but the 12 month ban on reapplication could be changed.

Roll on September!

Simply put, it's pretty much a people based lottery.

It very much depends upon how you feel on the day, how the interviewers feel on the day and how the rest of the candidates feel on the day.

Yes there are warts in the system and yes the company is well aware of them but, the simple truth is, that is the 'warts' are the same for all candidates then that makes it, fundamentally, fair.

That is all the company wants, is a fair and equal selection process. It's human nature to have good and bad days and if you happen to 'luck out' then great but if you don't then unlucky but that sums up a 'day at work' really.

Can't ask fairer than that can you.

There's plenty of info in the old big thread about what they are looking for in the sim. Some of it written by those who did the assessments. It takes time to trawl through it, but there is some very useful snippets.