BA boring air???

Worth noting any aspiring Virgin pilot applicants.
At present many problems with VS crewing. Ongoing non resolved Industrial Action by some Virgin pilots, are causing day to day crew shortages, and continual rostering disruption. BALPA members supporting a viable operation at the moment preventing further losses to the Brand, or Delta losing interest.
On the Airbus fleet last minute roster changes, days off disruption, some even contacted en route to work or on arrival, makes for a consequential less than stress free flight deck atmosphere.
Multiple consecutive two pilot Atlantic nightstops, exacerbated by lack of dual qualified crew on A330/340, leading to fatigue and high short-term sickness, hence crew shortage.
Apparently there is very little support from Flight Crew Management,who are largely uncontactable.

Thanks for your info. Do you have any example of crew schedules? On the bus and 787? All 24hrs stops? Or also 48? And how long you will get off? Thanks In advance !

Do you work at Virgin cessnapete?

No I don't think he does. But it's always nice writing your own reports.

StopStart

No I don’t, but I know a person who does!

I work for Virgin on the Airbus. I am dual 330/340. It is certainly busy at the moment but my roster is stable. I do not believe that it is any where near as bad as described a few posts up

Its a bitter post, sorry but he obviously doesn't work for VAA. Move along

The industrial action of which he speaks is to "fly your roster", nothing more. If that's causing a problem then the establishers need their a**es kicking.

Not bitter at all! Just passing info to possible VS joiners of ongoing problems being experienced by pilots in the "other Union" who are working normally. They are disproportionately being affected by pilots "Just flying the Roster"

What's the difference between 'working normally', and 'flying the roster' ?

Refusing to take any changes to your published roster, due weather disruption, aircraft substitution, sickness etc.etc., which happens in day to day ops in most airlines.
A polite phrase for Working to Rule in dispute parlance.

Just to be clear, from someone who works for the company, what you hear from a mate and what is actually happening can differ.

Is the work to rule causing problems? No. When there are open time flights are people volunteering to cover? Yes (and getting paid handsomely - including some from the PPU) Are we short of pilots? Yes. Are we actively recruiting? Yes. Is VAA a good company to work for? Yes. What's does the future hold - Who knows? Are there people queuing around the corner to join? Yes.

The biggest question you want to ask is - who in there right mind would ever want to run an airline?

Cessnapete. That explains it.
I, like superstall, do work for Virgin. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that pretty much everything you’ve written about our company is :mad:

Agreed 100% with the above

For those of us that got the 'please be patient email', anyone heard/ know anything about a likely timeline, I know things can change on a daily basis . . .

50 Monarch Pilots being taken by VS, with courses starting immanently. Does that fulfil there recruitment numbers for Flight Deck?

Did anyone get a reply from Virgin after you apply ? Or they don't bother to give a reply and have too many qualified applicants, specially with the collapse of Monarch ?

I applied before the Monarch situation, I received an automated reply acknowledging receipt of it.

Supposedly they are looking at expanding the MAN base and maybe making it permanent!
One thing I'm nervous about is how secure is Virgin ? Especially for the MON guys .

My understanding of the situation at Virgin is this, anyone operating out of LHR will have noticed 3 787s parked with engine covers on. This is apparently because RR have made engines with turbine blades that melt, as a result 4 or 5 of Virgins 787s are going under "deep" maintenance for a few months. To cover the work load they bought 4 330s from Air Berlin hence the sudden need for 50 Airbus pilots with immediate start dates. The question in my mind is what happens when the 787s come back in to service? Will Virgin expand by 4 aircraft because if they don't they will be vastly over crewed!

I hope RR are picking up the tab for this

Same as you mate wait and see:ok:

I doubt they would need to do a roadshow for CX, would be surprised if they didn’t have coverage for all 330 and 777 rated slots already in the applications from those looking to exit HK!

Have there been any interviews yet? And also has the moral on the line been affected by the Monarch fast trackers? Or still good moral? Cheers

They'll be bottom of the seniority list

Pay rising again by the looks of it. A friend just notified me that a 2018 4% pay increase is out for a BALPA ballot next week with an offer of a RPI plus increase for 2019. It also looks like the Virgin BALPA constitution is changing for the better and the Union is getting back on track with the replacement of the old guard with new reps coming forward. Good to see the Union making progress in VAA. A new Company Council, fresh ideas and strong Union leadership. 2018 looks like being a promising year in VAA.

So why do you think the addition of former Monarch pilots would effect morale??

Thanks skymonkey1 great post!

Akrapovic I was asking because of the negativity on the other thread from people in the hold pool or who applied before the monarch interviews was all. I realise they are at the bottom of the seniority list but I guess they will be above the people who applied a while back. Just wondering if anyone outside of Monarch has had interviews/start dates or the standard be patient email.

Surely that would affect morale amongst those trying to get in, rather than those already in?

Probably, but at least they have jobs and aren't at risk of a knock on the door.

Out of interest, does anyone know how many ex Monarch pilots VS took on in the end?

Fifty, I believe.

WOW! Good for them. Nice to see that it wasn't just 'lip service'.

As an ex-monarch I am incredibly grateful for All at Virgin for taking us on board !

I don’t think Virgin have done anything amazing, they had a sudden need for 50 Airbus rated guys with imideate start dates, if that need had not arisen they would not have given anyone a job, why exactly are we blowing smoke up their arse?

I disagree , people wait a very very long time to get a job with Virgin , even guys from Your outfit (BA) try and get across . For virgin to bypass guys with applications in already who are already Airbus rated is a very very strong thing to do . As I said , thankyou Virgin and I hope the guys in the pool understand that we are incredibly grateful

They bypassed the hold pool because you guys had no notice periods to work. I would imagine there are quite a few people in the hold pool that don’t share in your delight, anyway its good news for the lucky few.

It is by the way moving to read Snapper posts, back in the Monarch era and now, in endless adoration of his employers, till the bitter end.
I remember as it was yesterday when he was arguing, one week before its collapse, that Monarch not only was not in a crisis, but was actually going to expand a lot soon...
If I was an employer, I would definitely want him in my company :}

All the negative posts, i'm sure you'd pick a fight if it was just you and your shadow in the room...take it for what it is.

I will pick a fight when I see something that is unfair and unjust and this my friend stinks. But obviously the people who have benefited or lost nothing will disagree.