Just like to thank everyone who took the time to get in touch and answer my questions!

Club World - I believe the call back was only for those in the latter stages - interview, group or sim rather than day 1, which in my view is the hardest part of the process.

Thank you Jwscud - makes sense now, and I agree that day one is tough

People were asked back to Day One earlier than twelve months if they were type rated. I can confirm that as I was one of them.

Interesting Rexbanner - I'm type rated too long haul, I guess you and others were boarderline as in you all did well, I don't believe I did at all great on those two computer tests which is probably the reason for not getting the invite earlier, another 3 months to prepare if I am selected again

We were all told that we were borderline pass, only having to resit one thing or the other. Apparently you were only invited back under those circumstances, if you failed everything then no chance. I think that was mainly an A320 thing though when it happened. One of the gents from recruitment happened to tell me during lunch on day two that of the people who had been invited back, not that many had managed to pass second time around. Whether that's true or not who knows?

I heard of one pilot who went through selection 6 times before eventually passing. Not sure it's it's true or not.

12 months to reapply is reasonable. Some airlines will never allow you apply a second time. Others impose a 2 year wait, etc.

Having just entered the hold pool - (Wahey!!!) can anyone who has recently been given a start date give an idea of how long that takes??

Many thanks....

Congratulations. In late Jan the hold pool update said they were making Long Haul offers for start dates 4 months hence and A320 rated for around 6 months hence.

Given that they seem to be looking at non-rated people in the system for the 320 again, I suspect waits for an Airbus start date will be shorter than indicated in January.

Thanks JW.... any idea how long people are in the hold pool before hearing anything?

How long between sim a s result Crazyed?

Harry - 4 days..

Cheers Crazy sorry did you have a Monday slot? Cheers HP.

Congrats by the way.

Have you been in for another go, Harry? Best of luck if you have, I know how much you want it.

I just applied to DEP BA Longhaul and have my Day1 next week the 23rd. Is that enough to get prepared for it. I heard the aptitude tests are pretty difficult so I want to cheat a little by downloading the practice tests from Skytest.
Anybody has experience with this?

Depends how much work you put in between now and then.

They're tricky for sure. SkyTest is very useful, many people I know have used it with varying levels of success on the day. I used it and got it so can only sing its praises. It's certainly not cheating, it's preparing, which is exactly what BA expect you to do.

Best of luck, BA is certainly not perfect but despite the moaning and groaning after recent events, it's still the best gig in town IMHO.

I'd be very interested to know if the verbal test has now gone and been replaced by something else, as was mentioned possibly above...PM me if anyone has details on this- the verbal test keeps me from getting to day 2 each time I'm sure :)

Old verbal reasoning test has been replaced by a newer test which I believe is a fairer reflection on the candidates information processing and the best way to practice is the email BA send you.

With the new flight pay, for long haul flights with three and four Pilots, how is the flying pay calculated? Is it simply total block time, or is rest time deducted?

On a similar theme, how are the flying hours logged in the same scenarios.

Thanks

Flying pay: it's the entire planned block time for everybody, regardless of role...(that is until somebody comes up with the next bright idea to ensure the company still allow us to have a pilot only bonus scheme.......cynical?..... moi?)

Flying Hours: To paraphrase the Ops manual - The nominated commander logs all the block time, everybody else only logs proportionate seat time ( FWIW that includes any relief captain) - for the purposes of the licence & company upgrades, etc..

However you do also need to have a record somewhere (perhaps a spare logbook column) of total achieved block time, regardless of role, because all hours flown, including bunk hours, count towards FTLs and scheduling limits...(that is until..... :oh:).

Now stands by for inevitable comments from some in the short haul community, and perhaps from some headed there.....please remember do not shoot the messenger....:ouch:

So Wiggy, regarding planned block time, in the case of a diversion and resulting disruption/possible extra sector - all of that is unpaid?

TBH I'm going to waffle and say I can't give a definitive answer since the rules on that are buried away in Bidline appendices and flow charts (extra payments, if any, can depend on the why, how and where....) so I'd best leave an authorative answer to someone who has diverted more recently that I have.

I would point out that the days of picking up loads of extra dosh for extra sectors, or extended sectors (overrun payments) or even being really very late ( extra Box payments) have long gone. It's a nice suprise if you do see extra payments on the payslip but I certainly wouldn't rely on it as part of your income stream, especially as in Longhaul it doesn't happen that often. I reckon I've only diverted once in the last 4-5 years.

As always, thank you for your input Wiggy.

AFAIK any diversion/disruption which increases the duty time is automatically paid at standard rate. You need to keep a close eye on your pay statement st the end of the month as these extra hours can often 'fall through the cracks'. ;)

The requirement for direct entry long haul state the above. Does this mean I can definitely apply with a CPL as I meet the requirements of an ATPL but can't do the skills test for a few months? Anyone been offered a position in this scenario?

No - I believe that that clause is to cater for those without a UK EASA ATPL but with one issued by (for example) a Gulf state or even Ireland or Mainland Europe, who would be able to have it changed between being offered a position and starting with the company.

Sorry if this isn't the answer you were looking for!

CE

I would suggest getting in touch with recruitment and explaining the situation (if you work for who I think and have just seen the memo I think) and see what they say.

Who is going to the day 1 assessment next week 23 march?

Online Application Waiting Time
 

Quick question, I submitted my online application on Saturday (12th March) for the A320 Fleet. How long can I expect to wait until I hear back from British Airways?

Thanks

I applied for DEP Longhaul. I got a answer 1 day later.

From Careers Home - British Airways

'Please note the following information if you have made a previous application to us. We cannot accept a new application within:
6 Months if you were unsuccessful at initial application screening
12 months if you were unsuccessful at any stage of testing/interview/simulator assessment. You are welcome to reapply 12 months from the date you attended initial aptitude testing

When you proceed to apply

Have you previously applied for this role or any other Pilot role within the last 6 months

Note any other role which in your case is LH DEP

Please note that only one application can be accepted within a rolling 6 month period.

Have you attended the assessment stage in the last 12 months


However as we know BA does change policy from time to time, such as inviting people before the 12 months has elapsed.

I too would like another shot but have to wait 12 months, but to put your mind at rest why not phone BA recruitment, they seem always happy to help.

Again I told the person who asked me the above, but I wasn't actually sure. It was more the fact he tried applying within 12 months and ticked 'no' to the above questions. He hadn't heard back from BA re the second application, and I explained this might be why. Just wanted to check...thanks

Having recently failed the sim assessment, don't assume the 10 minutes un-assessed practice is really as un-assessed as they tell you.

Any insiders know if they will be doing call backs for those that only fell at the final hurdle?
;)

Why do you say that? Did they specially say you failed due to that?

The 10 mins time for you to get used to the Sim is totally unassessed. You are not secretly being monitored at this point. BA is such a large and prominent employer in this industry and is so paranoid about bad press, that all recruitment follows a strict well defined framework. This ensures no allegations of discrimination of any sort.

The same also applies for internal applications which are as long winded and laborious as external applications.

Hi Guys,

I have a question with regards to the verbal test, that if anyone can answer, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I understand that the test has changed recently.

Could anyone perhaps share any info on the new test?

I understand you need to answer quickly and with accuracy but does anyone know how many questions there are in the test? - If so, any idea on the pass mark required?

I felt the sim process was very open, and the radar circuit was unassessed. However, given that the assessor was in all likelihood giving you handling feedback during and after your circuit, I believe that your ability to incorporate that feedback into your assessment sectors WAS assessed given that trainability was one of the three key areas I was told were under assessment.

For long haul new starters, After getting a blindline roster, can you still swap with someone? Especially if it's a swap of flights operating on the same day. Say one flight with a duty start at 9am, swapped with another at 9pm.

In broad brush terms you can try swapping any trip with anyone on your status who is agreeable, regardless of days and timings, but both swaps have to still be a legal fit on the receiving lines and that has become more difficult under EASA...You will generally only find out if a swap is permissible when you try to action it though the rostering system (eMaestro). That's when you find out if the computer says "no".... or not.

More info required - the outbound sectors depart LHR on the same day, but may well return into LHR on different days, even if they are trips of exactly the same length (i.e. time away from base). On a tight roster if moving the return into LHR back by 12 hours puts it into another local day there might be a conflict with EASA Minimum time off at base prior to the next trip...

In short every swap is different, you have to run your plan through eMaestro every time to see if what you're planning is allowable.

I understand there have been over 100 DEPs onto the longhaul fleets this year alone, how is this affecting the 320 pilots coming up to the end of their freeze, are any being allowed to change fleets or is it just not happening?

If that's the case is it affecting morale amongst the shorthaul pilots?

Is anyone able to give a description (perhaps even based on recent experience) of the computer aptitude tests?