Every company does things in whatever way reflects their business interests. The past months have been a proof that the boot can go on the other foot quite quickly. A competitor of RYR transitioned from being heavily overstaffed to being understaffed within weeks. Understandably, RYR want to avoid getting into the same position next year (and also, that training department would rather be making money than idling). And they do this by offering self-funded training and zero-hour contracts to a number of people which corresponds to their business demands in the most optimistic scenario. If that scenario does not come into fruition, everyone's hours and earnings will be scaled-down accordingly. It's that simple. You be the judge if you want and/or can afford to take part. If you're a commercial pilot, this implies that you're a literate adult capable of considering your circumstances and making the decision for yourself.