BA Pilot Strike - What does Balpa want?
#46
Join Date: Sep 2013
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I'd say that $110k tax free is a very big advantage.
#47
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,587
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But equally there is a marketplace, and within that a market price. The flying of an airliner to the required standard seem in effect to now be a commodity. Your dont even get to see them much anymore behind their closed doors.
This seems proven as promotions are based in huge huge part on time served not supreme ability. You have to understand the systems and fly it properly, hold the medical etc to get the job - so the entry requirements are high. It is probably the last industry where time served and hours flown are the almost sole determinate of seniority as opposed to ability.
Does hours flown make a difference. Absolutely. But there will be a point where you enter the law of diminishing returns as those hours will have allowed you to see a wide variety of weather, systems issues etc.
I know it would be nice to think of BA pilots as special but they will hold the identical licences to their colleagues, have identical line checks, medicals etc.
But equally there is a marketplace, and within that a market price. The flying of an airliner to the required standard seem in effect to now be a commodity. Your dont even get to see them much anymore behind their closed doors.
This seems proven as promotions are based in huge huge part on time served not supreme ability. You have to understand the systems and fly it properly, hold the medical etc to get the job - so the entry requirements are high. It is probably the last industry where time served and hours flown are the almost sole determinate of seniority as opposed to ability.
Does hours flown make a difference. Absolutely. But there will be a point where you enter the law of diminishing returns as those hours will have allowed you to see a wide variety of weather, systems issues etc.
I know it would be nice to think of BA pilots as special but they will hold the identical licences to their colleagues, have identical line checks, medicals etc.
#48
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
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To re-iterate what I said on the main strike thread, and to relate it to the "newly qualified lawyers" number, you have to bear in mind that an ATPL and the command course are as much work as doing a bachelors and masters university degrees. Pilots often have other qualifications too, for example scientific, engineering or particularly aeronautical degrees, military training, and so on. They also need to meet the medical requirements (which you can fail at any time and then your career is over), have the aptitude to make command decisions in situations urgent and non-urgent. Then there's the skill and experience - not only does the airline like to have experienced pilots, and the travelling public like the idea that the pilots are not new to the job, but also insurance companies don't like insuring aircraft with newbies in charge.
So how important are such people to an airline?
So what "should someone be paid" for having the talents, long and cumulative education, and successfully-demonstrated long experience to be a captain or a senior first officer?
The NHS consultant comparison is far more apt than risible bus driver comparisons.
So how important are such people to an airline?
So what "should someone be paid" for having the talents, long and cumulative education, and successfully-demonstrated long experience to be a captain or a senior first officer?
The NHS consultant comparison is far more apt than risible bus driver comparisons.
#49
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
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Posts: 4,149
presumably invites to the command course are seniority driven? Of course some very senior FO/SOs in a number of different airlines (not always for reasons of not passing command courses of course)
#50
Join Date: Nov 2010
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#51
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Also to pick up on another earlier point - ATPL pass criteria, class 1 medical requirement etc are identical across carriers. However I am guessing there is a degree of variation in line checking.
Active line pilots please correct this if necessary...
Active line pilots please correct this if necessary...
#52
Join Date: Oct 2015
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#53
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I understand this to mean that you are not guaranteed, or even likely to pass, simply for how long you've been sitting in the right seat of an aircraft with a Chatham Dockyard tail.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
#54
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,149
I understand this to mean that you are not guaranteed, or even likely to pass, simply for how long you've been sitting in the right seat of an aircraft with a Chatham Dockyard tail.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
#55
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,587
I understand this to mean that you are not guaranteed, or even likely to pass, simply for how long you've been sitting in the right seat of an aircraft with a Chatham Dockyard tail.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
I understand it to mean when you get to take the course, you pass if you demonstrate the skills and aptitudes of a commander - however long you've been a First Officer.
#56
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,587
Direct entry Captains are covered by BA BALPA agreement, meaning not going to happen whilst suitable F/O's are waiting for a course. There are a large number of suitable F/O's at this time.
#58
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The reason that this thread is focused on the pilots' dispute with BA is because it's a thread dedicated to that topic.
#59
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Would a large influx of a new type (say, for example, a consignment of new 737whatevertheyrenowcallednotmax's) arriving into the fleet prompt a round of DE skipper hirings?
#60
Join Date: Oct 2013
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I'm surprised there isn't some kind of performance related bonus scheme, though thinking about it I'm not sure how you could put KPIs in place for that.... Fuel usage, on time performance... Guess a lot is outside of direct crew Control.
Do BA have the equivalent of a customer satisfaction score, if so maybe they could implement a corporate inncentive bonus plan based on profit and satisfaction scores.
Do BA have the equivalent of a customer satisfaction score, if so maybe they could implement a corporate inncentive bonus plan based on profit and satisfaction scores.