Even though my original thread was really to ask who is responsible for keeping to my contract legally, is it the agency or the airline?, is yet to be answered, I have been doing some homework with regard to the conditions being offered by the low cost airlines.
Let me just say a friend of mine has a contract with an agency to fly for Ryanair, and not being type rated he had to pay for his own rating. This amounted to euro 30,000, with a month and a half expenses to add on top. He started in July, finished at the end of August, and up to date has only done his touch and go to get his rating. He has been told that he is probably likely to start his line training in January/February, and even then he won't be paid a penny until the safety pilot is released, then just half pay until his line training is complete, which could take 3 months. So counting all this you're almost looking at a year with no wages. To add insult to injury, Ryanair actually get kick backs from the training school of euro 3,000 per pilot.
FOR A LOW BUDGET AIRLINE? HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?
Needless to say he is struggling financially at the moment, so this is one contract I am staying well clear of!
So I'll leave you to make up your own mind as to whether it's a fair deal or not.
