Great info, thanks guys :ok:

Looking forward to joining in the new year!

Could anyone explain how the round the world charters are crewed? Does a single crew operate the whole trip or do they get swapped out periodically?

Single crew for whole trip almost always. Very rarely FDP issues to meet the charterers schedule requires another crew. 2017/18 programme fully crewed and running now. Bids for 18/19 open early next year. At the moment about 5 years seniority on the B757 fleet gets you in the running for the single FO slot.

Thank you. And how long are the trips typically? Sounds like fun.

Depending on trip, 3 to 4 weeks. About 10 per year, Oct to Mar. All subject to change though as the 757s leave and the 737 max arrives. No idea what the plan is.

If you are joining with an eye to jumping onto a round the world trip; you are probably wasting your time.

For the FOs bidding it has now gone down to the younger generation shall we say, for at least the next 2 years i would say it will be full up with those currently already in the airline.

After that if it goes to the 73-8 or Max then it will go majorly senior again as many long termers on the fleet will be clamouring for a trip.

Assessment dates?
 

Hello there,
I just got an email inviting me to the assessment at East Midlands airport. The only available slots are next week and totally undoable. Does anybody know what happens if I don't book a date right now? Will they offer new dates later?

Same, its pretty much take it or leave it. Disappointing given they only give a weeks notice.

It certainly wouldn't be their intention but personally, if you want a job badly enough, you'd make it doable.

Job advert said the group interview/exercises will take place between 13th and 17th of November. It wasn't a week notice.

Presumable the NTR applicants will only be offered the 737/756, and 787 jobs will be filled internally? Any rough ideas about waiting time once 'in', for the 787?

Thanks

If you're NTR, you will be frozen on your initial type for 3 years. Go back some pages and you'll find your answer :ok:

Easier said than done
 

It is quite hard to comply with those dates with such a short notice because getting to East Midlands and back would require 3 days for me and one has a flying job to do. London would have been another thing. (I'm from Scandinavia and I was thinking that I could do this without commuting during winter). I guess it was not meant to be.

:mad: ................

My sincere apologies plikee, are there any more hairs you’d like to split?

I don't understand what the problem is. The job advert said the interviews will take place between certain dates, and they're taking place between those dates. If you can't do those dates, why bother applying?

TUI do assessments over a week, they pull a specific set of pilots off the line to conduct them with the HR department. They're not going to add extra dates just for you, they have over 900 applicants for less than 50 jobs.

As they advertised for 787 type rated, I wouldn't hold your breath for NTR 787.

Some chaps who got the 787 very recently haven't even been in the company 1 year. But as always, history isn't an indication of the future.

My curiosity lies with why it went to junior guys. I hazard a guess that the lifestyle isn't for everyone. Thanks

I don't know enough about the 'behind the scenes' to give an accurate answer. Perhaps something to do with there only being 3 787 bases? The junior guys are taking a UK base in the summer and Scandi base in the winter. I guess the older FOs with families don't want that and are waiting for permanent UK slots to become available. I'm just guessing.

It's not a bad way of life at all. Very senior fleet for the LHS.

I joined in the last intake. The first thing I did after applying is book 2 days annual leave during the stated assessment week JUST IN CASE I get invited.

Preparing for an interview isn't just about researching the airline's history - it's also about making sure you can attend!