1. Can you be employed as a 'contractor' through your own limited company, or is all 'contracting' done through Brookfield?
No. Only through Brookfield. Although it could be argued you are a contractor in name only. It is just a way for Ryanair to circumvent a whole load of Laws and Taxes. You work when they tell, take your holiday when they decide, you could work forever as a "contractor".
2. Is the 'fast-track' command option open to 'contract' First Officers, or just those employed directly by the company?
2. "Fast-Track" is a total myth. There is no structured established program. You
may get your command after a year, you
may not. There are not set steps, there are no progress points, there are no waiting lists. There is no evidence that I have seen that you will be put ahead of anyone with similar hours as you but who has more experience in Ryanair. How it all works is a mystery that you as a common or garden line pilot will not be privvy to the workings of. Command will come up eventually but from what I have seen it takes closer to two years then whatever it is FR are promising now. "Contractors" become Captains the same as Permanent F/Os, treatment in this respect is broadly the same.
3. Are recently employed pilots currently being offered bases at airports other than DUB and STN within the UK?
Again, somewhat of a mystery system. No published waiting lists. People are cutting each others throats to get to popular bases such as Scavsta and Chareleroi, and being refused. A cadet F/O joins and gets given them, even though they want STN or DUB. A base change seems to require frequent visits to a Manager in STN and wearing him down with requests/keeping your face familiar. DUB has been very popular for fresh meat off the production line but who knows what will happen if you join now? The conveyer might be pointed at a different base by then. Or it might not. Who knows?
4. With 4,000 hours, including 1,200 on the B737NG, what is the REALISTIC chance, all other things being equal, of being accepted on the 'fast-track' command course?
There is no such course. With those hours I would expect you to be offered a course after 2/3 recurrent sim sessions or close to 2 years. That has been my experience, witnessing the progress of my peers. There maybe exceptions
I loath the company as much as I like it. Frustrating as it is because with just a little effort from the company it could be a bloody good place to work.
Pros: I love the 5/3 roster and we will all eventually be pushed onto 5/4 which is
really a sweet set up having experienced it a few times. I don't want Hotel rooms, I like to be home each night and I am. I have no desire for Long Haul as it destroys my body, I like the intensity of 4 sectors. I like flying into empty airfields, no traffic jams any runway I like for takeoff. I like the varied mix of nationalities, I find it interesting. I have moved bases a few times, the freedom to live in some of the very hot and sunny Southern European bases is a huge attraction. Britain is dirty, cold and expensive. There is a better life out there. I like that as a Cadet I will/have/ might go from 250 hr wonder to Captain in 3 years.
Cons: We could be here all night but the main topics. Aggresive hostile attiude towards Pilots, seen as a complete inconvenience to the company by the top Brass. Erosion of commanders authority. Constantly erroding terms and conditons, in every respect, almost daily. New Captains, which you hope to be are now going to be paid 40K STG/54K Euro basic. They chip away at block times etc so your sector pay which is half your salary is getting lowered by 25% sometimes a month. No rights, due to no Union or Pilot association. While you are young and fit like me you might enjoy the 4 sector days but I think coupled to the very long 11.55 duty days (Cynical, the limit is 12 hrs) your body might not last until retirement. Constant turnover of people, no comradship with so many nationalites. There must be 15 different flavours of contracts, no published scales. Keep everyone guessing and split everyone up into selfish little groups.
Apart from that it's fine though........
