Been with FR for about 4 years now and I can say that it is a fantastic outfit to gain experience and accumulate hours, but that's about as far as it goes. The reality of working there may suit many Pilots lifestyles, but others will be quite unsatisfied. This is a taste of Ryanair practices:-
1.Called off stdby to d/h out, then operated 2 sectors landing at around 23.30. Assured by crewing twice that hotel is booked to overnite. Get to hotel at 00.15 to find no booking. Can't get booked until Ryanair fax hotel (No answer from crewing on phone). Get to bed at 0200hrs. Up at 0600 to catch flight back to UK. Get home at 1015 with crewing ringing to say I have to drive to another UK base to fly despite not even on stdby yet.
2. Called continuously on A/L whilst on holiday by Training and Crewing.
3. Rostered for simulator on rostered days off (no pay)
4. After diversion landing at 0115hrs, given taxi voucher from Ryanair. Taxi company won't accept as bills haven't been paid. £80 paid from own pocket to take the whole crew back to base. Get into office at 0330hrs, however, officially off duty at 0145 as commuting doesn't count as duty time.
5. 28 days A/L, but they impose up to 6 days A/L on rostered days off so in reality have 22 days incusive of bank holidays.
6. Arrive at work 4 times in 2 months to find someone else rostered to fly instead. Excuse given as "You should have been called by someone, sorry." No claim for travel expences permitted, just half your day wasted.
This is just a typical example of day to day flying in FR. Took a new guy back to the UK the other day. He started sim training in June and still hasn't flown the plane, earned no money and has to take a part time bar job to pay for his accommodation. On the plus side though, the crews are fantastic, the training (when it works) is first rate and people work their a*ses off. You just get kicked in the bo**cks doing your best. Get in, get hours and get out.