I'm no fan of Ryanair, and I have sympathy for pilots being taken on under the condiditons described by buttline, but the harsh reality is that they get away with it because they can. If they couldn't recruit any pilots, they would have to change their conditions. The reality is that new ATPL holders will put up with anything to get at the pointy end of a jet, and if that means accepting grotty conditions in the hope that the likes of BA will show an interest later, so be it. While that continues the likes of Ryanair will take advantage.