British Airways Hiring Pilots

[bafanguy]

British Airways is hiring pilots; that's good. You've likely seen the ad too. But the excerpt from the ad below makes me wonder about their hiring environment. Some of you probably understand it. I can only guess.

They're requiring A320 time and the type rating ( Preferences are one thing. "Minimum requirements:" are another) for new hire FOs to what I'd consider a "legacy" carrier, a place one goes intending to run out a career and retire. It's not a steppingstone job like an expat or LCC position might be, right ?

So, why are they requiring time in type for new hires ?

[I understand why an airline might want people with time in type. That's not the issue.]

Are they trying to draw people back home from the expat world because they can ?

Are they hiring so few they can find that few floating around the UK with A320 time but unemployed or perhaps poach from local competitors ?

I can only assume there's not exactly a pilot "shortage" in the UK if BA is requiring time in type for new hires. That's like Delta requiring an MD80 rating and time in type (I know about SWA...they're an exception here).

From the ad:

"Minimum requirements:

A current type rating on the Airbus A320 series, with a minimum of 200 hrs experience on type - please note that preference will be given to those candidates actively operating A320 series aircraft at the point of application"


http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/08/...aviationjobs/rss+(AviationJobsMe+Flight+Crew)

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Simple....., because they can..! The target is pilots working for LCC's and other small operators within the EU, they won't find pilots working abroad that would want to come back to work for BA, there is little movement there and they are really only hiring because of attrition due to retirement. Brits are not constantly thinking about "going back" as American pilots are (well, some anyways...., there are a lot of us working abroad that because of age or satisfaction with the current gig are not interested in the current upswing) taxation is a big issue for them as well, somebody who is 50 for example, makes no sense to go to BA, neither professionally nor economically.

 

[bafanguy]

Thanks.

 

[typhoonpilot]

British Airways has historically had their own cadet program, but from time to time will hire 'Direct Entry" First Officers. I'm guessing this advertisement is for the "Direct Entry" First Officers position.

I think a lot of young British kids would be interested in this as a career position, much like many on the States are interested in the legacies. They will attract a lot of guys from places like Emirates who have seen that the expat pilot life overseas is not what they want to do for the next 30 years ( Emirates has hired a lot of kids out of the UK still only in their late 20s in the past few years ).


TP

 

[bafanguy]

British Airways has historically had their own cadet program, but from time to time will hire 'Direct Entry" First Officers. I'm guessing this advertisement is for the "Direct Entry" First Officers position.

I think a lot of young British kids would be interested in this as a career position, much like many on the States are interested in the legacies. They will attract a lot of guys from places like Emirates who have seen that the expat pilot life overseas is not what they want to do for the next 30 years ( Emirates has hired a lot of kids out of the UK still only in their late 20s in the past few years ).


TP

TP,

So, is the BA cadet program still running but temporarily unable to supply enough people to cover attrition ? And wouldn't attrition be known beforehand, especially mandatory retirements ?

It's hard to imagine a national carrier like BA wouldn't be able to fill every cadet slot they had available.

 

[typhoonpilot]

TP,

So, is the BA cadet program still running but temporarily unable to supply enough people to cover attrition ? And wouldn't attrition be known beforehand, especially mandatory retirements ?

It's hard to imagine a national carrier like BA wouldn't be able to fill every cadet slot they had available.

Not sure, but my educated speculation is that even if it is still running it's expensive while DEC F.O.s are much cheaper to employ. They probably want a balance.

One thing to keep in mind is that BA went from age 55 mandatory retirement to age 65. That ten year stagnation period has not yet ended. I think it still has a few more years to go, unlike the 5 year stagnation period in the U.S.. Once it does then BA will start losing more and more guys every year.


TP

 

[bafanguy]

Not sure, but my educated speculation is that even if it is still running it's expensive while DEC F.O.s are much cheaper to employ. They probably want a balance.

I suppose so. Latest ad targets military guys specifically:

http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/08/...path-uk-service-pilot-british-airways-uk.html

Not sure why they'd have to make a dedicated appeal to the mil guys.

Things are different elsewhere, I guess.

 

[bafanguy]

They're doing it again. This time 744:

http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/09/b747-400-first-officers-british-airways-uk.html

 

[Flyer1015]

So what?

 

[Flyer1015]

Delta could require an A320 type rating and time on type and there still wouldn't be any shortage of applicants applying from Allegiant/Spirit/Frontier/JetBlue/Virgin.

 

[bafanguy]

So what?

So, nuthin'. Just watching how the advanced civilizations do it.

And yes, DL could require type ratings in airplanes they fly...and time in type...and get all they wanted. Don't give 'em any ideas.

According to people who've personally heard him address the subject, Anderson is supremely confident he'll get all the pilots he needs to offset age-outs and growth (if any).

 

[flyboyike]

S
According to people who've personally heard him address the subject, Anderson is supremely confident he'll get all the pilots he needs to offset age-outs and growth (if any).

I've been saying the same thing for years. Good to know I'm not the only one.

 

[bafanguy]

I've been saying the same thing for years

Yes, no problem with supply.

Talked to a guy who recently had a pilot on the JS...who was bailing on another legacy to take a DL class date.

There was a time when DL wouldn't do that...but that was "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....".

 

[Flyer1015]

Yes, no problem with supply.

Talked to a guy who recently had a pilot on the JS...who was bailing on another legacy to take a DL class date.

There was a time when DL wouldn't do that...but that was "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....".

I know one newhire at Delta (as in hired this year) who just left for AA.

 

[bafanguy]

I know one newhire at Delta (as in hired this year) who just left for AA.

Yep, seems to be some of that happening these days. Having options is what it's all about...more power to 'em. With the retirement picture being somewhat similar at the three legacies in the coming years(mass exodus), advancement among carriers MAY be a wash. Getting to live in a base may be the deciding factor. I'd love to hear the story from each of these "jumpers".

Oh, and back to British Airways, they're now offering to actually transition people to the 320 if you have 330/340 time. Now, there's some radical thinking. That sorta thing'll never catch on :

http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/10/...20-ccq-first-officers-british-airways-uk.html

 

[bafanguy]

Are BA's customary recruiting efforts not paying off ? I see they've generated some recruiting propaganda guaranteed to appeal to pilot applicants:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hts-lucrative-destinations.html#ixzz3ITarrrvI

If the captain has to control his crew on a layover, does that mean he has to get out of the pool to do it ?

 

[bafanguy]

Latest wrinkle on British Airways pilot hiring:

British Airways Will Start Funding Training For 60 New Pilots Each Year

The flag carrier is investing millions in training the next generation of aviation professionals.

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