Okay…was the response aimed at my question?not sure it makes any sense…

I have just booked in for a capacity test on 29th for DEP Long haul. Anyone know what the next step is after that if you pass? Guessing you are invited back for interview/group/sim assessment?
Thanks!

Hi all,
Hope everyone is well.
I am soon to have my capacity test upcoming ... any tips would be hugely appreciated. For anyone who has completed it recently, how does it compare to latestpilotjobs or skytest? Any tips would be much appreciated ... feel free to DM also :)

LPJ seems to be the best option for the multi task part of the test according to others here from the forum.

I'm not sure about the other tests.

Thanks for that!

Any tips on the interview questions?

Please DM!

Thanks in advance!!

Hi everyone,
It seems that we have a lot of repeat requests when we could be discussing other details such as work life balance, routes/best fleet etc. It’s the constant “what’s in the assessment”.

The answers are a few pages back, it seems that people aren’t interested enough to do some research? put in the work.

I will do a quick breakdown so we can move on if you all agree?

1. Video interview:
Two questions about your motivation. I believe that people get random questions from a question bank so it’s pointless specifying. Also, you should be able to answer these comfortably if you have the level of experience they require.

2.. Capacity test:
it is what it says it says on the tin. It measures our ability to work and think under pressure. There are a couple of similar practice tests you can use online for a fee I.e. LPJ. The one on the day has some variations but if you feel you need practice, use them.
The whole process took one hour, there’s an introduction by the assessor and some housekeeping. Followed by the exam(no practice run). My advice is to read the instructions carefully before pressing start.

3. Interview + group
Standard UK airline competency based interviews. No tech questions. Again, a pilot with over 1500+ hours should be armed with sufficient examples for the CRM based. If you have life experience it helps. You can find resources online and just stick to the star method.
Don’t ask what the questions are, process should be fair to all.

Group has different scenarios that you get on the day so somebody might tell you one, you get there and it’s something else. Important point is to not try and be the hero. Confident yet humble, communicate, invite those who aren’t contributing much into the conversation, ask questions, by all means disagree but back your argument constructively and do not dismiss someone else’s opinion. Get a time keeper, and remember that there are jobs for everyone so you aren’t competing with each other. It’s all about teamwork, communication, leadership, thought process, decision making etc. if you don’t know something, say so.
Another tip, pay attention to the cards with info and take notes of relevant info your teammates share with the table.

4. Simulator
it’s on the 320 for those euroflyer guys and rated, 380 non rated. But the flying is the least, they are looking at how those skills you demonstrated on the interview and group translate into the flight deck. HELP the other guy, don’t point score, communicate, ask questions, share your thought process and A.N.C.

if you need time during the events, ask for a hold, pass control and go through TDODAR etc. Don’t rush and make sure you create capacity.
Instructors are lovely and if you show you can communicate effectively, make safe decisions following a structure you and your fellow pilot agreed with, you should be fine. They don’t care for the landing but your decision at minimum is important, if you’re not stable or can’t see the runway, GA, goes without saying.

I hope this helps and it’s just enough to stop people consistently asking others to feed them the answers, get your preparation done taking these notes into account.

best of luck 🤞

Whats the 350 route structure like? Mostly 3x pilot trips? The 380 looks a bit sparse and very US centric.

Is there any recruitment onto the 77/78 for Airbus rated folk?

brilliant info, thankyou.
However does anyone have info regarding A320 sim, how much automation do they allow? Is manual flying allowed with ‘bird’ (flight path vector) on?

good luck everyone

The 380 is the best kept secret in the company. By far the best fleet IMHO. SIN comes back in March, HKG rumoured end of year, LAX already back on the fleet for the summer. Still not a huge variety in terms of route structure admittedly but you’ll never be going to places like Accra and Lagos all the trips are good overall (although admittedly DFW is dull and there’s not much to like about Dadeland in MIA).

Overall a great bunch of guys and girls and precious little 2 crew stuff left now, DXB & BOS is about it. Best bunks of any fleet by far, en-suite too behind the privacy door so no waiting for a pee in the galley with the First pax as happens too often on some other fleets.

If your currency is time off then - with clever and strategic use of Golden Days or Trump Trips - you can generate better gaps between work than you will see on any other fleet. Of course all bets are off come the next downturn but the company seem committed to fitting the Club Suites and the new First product. If/when that happens the fleet will have another ten years minimum. (With more A350s rumoured to be ordered allied to the ridiculously short CCQ between the two fleets if the merde does hit the fan you’re in a better position than the Jumbo guys ever were during COVID).

Having said all that I imagine there’ll be precious little DEP recruitment to the fleet if any. One frame is rotating in and out of Manila constantly this year so the fleet is probably fully established. 350 is crying out for pilots as is the 777. Anybody receiving a LH offer will almost certainly be getting one of those with a few 787 for the rest.

(Edited to add I’m genuinely not willy waving here just giving a heads up in case anyone does receive a 380 offer and thinks they’ve drawn the short straw, you most certainly haven’t.)

I'd echo most of what's written below, the only thing I'd say is the 380 will only ever go to a dozen or so destinations. If you're after a slightly greater variety of routes, the whale probably isn't going to be your jam.

Its also got a rep at the moment for being a bit fragile / going tech a lot (and if Plastic787 is on it, maybe they can confirm?). Just something to think about if you get stuck downroute & have plans.

It also has a question mark over its longer term viability, every time the price of brent crude goes up, 380 pilots start getting twitchy, but I think if the worst were to happen theyd CCQ onto the 350.

None of these things are a reason to refuse an offer in my opinion, but probably something to get your head around before joining.

How's the roster for the triple and dreamliner? Many trips in a month? I thought there was much discontent previously amongst triple 7 drivers and many were moving to J2?

Any news/rumours on where the IAG Max order will be going?

Almost certainly not BA (non-expert opinion). It’s been snowing NEOs at Heathrow for the last couple of years.

When is she due to start? I reckon the 380 is the best fleet to be on if you are junior, but she’ll stay junior a long time because people tend to stay on it until they get their long haul command.

it certainly can be (fragile) I think the issue is nothing is getting fixed properly because a) Emirates are hoovering up all the spare parts and b) we lost a fair amount of engineering experience during COVID (Cruz and Mahoney, the gift that keeps giving) so stuff isn’t getting fixed. Having said that it has improved slightly. I’ve been pretty fortunate with it, the only trip that was disrupted due tech issues in five or six months we positioned back in First on the 777 within the same trip footprint. But yes there is that potential issue however it’s getting better.

Forgot to add earlier not only is it a great bunch now on the aircraft (the ones that gave it the “tanker” reputation are now mostly gone to the A350 or elsewhere) but it’s a unique small fleet feel where you actually get to know people. If you feel anonymous within the behemoth that is BA that’s a big positive.

78/77 fleets
 

can anyone please give some info regarding rosters/network/general conditions for 777 and 787 fleets? An overview of what to expect would be nice. Thanks!

You’ve ALMOST sold me on it, maybe one day I shall venture away from short haul…. But giving up Venice night stops would be a massive wrench :}.

Junior on the 777 I'd expect 3x3day trips and 2x4day trips in a clear month with no other things on (leave, reserve, sim etc). With either 2 or 3 days off between trips. Think a roster something like 3dayJFK 2off 4dayLAX 3off 3dayBAH 2off 3dayORD 2off 4dayNAS/GCM 4off.

Might be 6 trips if really unlucky. There will be worse rosters than that example for sure, but that gives a taste of what to expect. You will work most weekends but not all of them. You'll have no control over days off or where you go for some years, but it is such a big fleet you'll get some good variety regardless.

Reserve is a 2week event with 4 days off (either Th-Su at the start or Th-Fri at the start and Tu-We at the end). The remaining 10 days are notified by 8pm for the following day. Can be given home standby (2hr callout) or any trip or stood down. In the 10 days expect 2 trips and a couple of home standbys as a busy reserve. Expect to do around 6 reserves a year as a junior in the lowest "reserve points band" - you can either bid for them (useful to guarantee days off) or wait till you get assigned them as a surprise.

Good luck to anyone applying.

thank you for the insight! Is the 78 any better given their network structure and/or being a smaller fleet?

Quick Q for those answering about life on the triple.

I’m 50% on the P32L & expecting an OK bid for LH for the next official (not rerun) annual bid with a course in 2025. On the latest bid output, I was an only a few seats away from the most junior P77 bid. Admittedly, I didn’t include the triple in my original bid (only 350/787). With the recent FAN about further moves onto the 777 required, I am a little tempted if it meant a course in a few months time.

I’d slide across at 98%, if they’re desperate they’ll recruit DEPs and possibly go further down the P32 list to fund some seniority ladder climbing. JSS on the 320 still seems to be very hit and miss, trip footprints yes, but days off no with a lot of sectors.. all gets rather tiring with the Heathrow factor.

Anyone on the 777 who could have an input would be greatly appreciated into whether it’s a worthy move or a bait play from BA.