British Midland back in the early and mid 1990s (last recession for airline sector and recover years) used to sell B737 self funded type rating courses using their Sims. There was a suggestion but no promise and no formal agreement that those who took the course might be considered for employment with the airline if there was any recruitment need at the time.
Some did in fact get into BM in this way but others did not. The easyJet scheme follows this pattern but adds some line training. Similar to the Astraeus arrangements in years gone recently by.
Its not an evil plan to exploit people particularly. Rather it is a Type Rating course + Line Training hours for those with the money and desire to take their training up past the CPL/IR Frzn ATPL MCC level. At the moment I think it entails all of 8 guys from Africa who will be heading back there at the end of it.
What you will all come to realise in the coming months and years is that every airline in Europe is going to be fighting tooth and nail for survival. Things will get nasty. People will be upset. It will not be nice. Wannabes are on the bottom rung of the ladder which means every bit of crap falls their way.
Its a feature of the industry.
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