Well - something is truly rotten in every European state, but we can only blame ourselves for the current state of affairs in aviation. The only way to stop the “madness” of paying for one's own rating is for the unions to bring the hammer down on this during the yearly negotiations with their respective companies. As long as the airline managers are allowed to divide and conquer, and keep hiring self-sponsored pilots, things will never improve.
Since our predecessors in this industry have made every effort to ensure that the seniority list trumps everything, you just have to go all-in and secure a job with one of the medium-sized-jet-operators as quickly as possible. Wasting time with a smaller operator (‘van job, as someone suggested here) will give you nothing, except a lost opportunity and a place further down on The List once you switch jobs. Working for a well-known ‘van-operator in Norway, with lousy pay, appalling working conditions, gaining little else but bad habits and two wasted years, is not that much better than starting on the B737 right away, with decent pay and respectable working conditions. It might even prove to be economically better in the long run!
Take Norway as an example; the only viable alternatives to SAS are DY and WF (possibly also Lufttransport). If you don't want to commute to Northern Norway, cannot pass the aptitude tests (and refuse to take a hint) or just have a personal goal of flying the big jets - why bother with WF (or any other operator for that matter)? Buy the rating, land that job, fly the required hours, and be on your way a.s.a.p. And no, not everyone can move or commute abroad if they want to salvage their marriage and act the part of a family man.
As long as this shortcut exists, and you can afford it, it is both an economically and professionally sound decision to seize upon this advantage.
Hanging around, acting all noble and waiting for a golden ticket to the Promised Land is not very prudent. You need to get ahead, and moral principles are second to mortgage payments and putting food on the table. Paying for a type rating is just an investment. It will set you back around 160-180k, but is it really any better to work at the local gas station, fly a measly 50-100 hours per year in the local flying club, being paid peanuts and barely make ends meet? Today's pilots already pay through the nose for their education, and I really cannot see the difference between paying for a CPL and paying for a type rating. This business is one of the most egotistical out there and you cannot count on anyone but yourself.
“I took the time to investigate the market, make a decent CV and most important; made some contacts”.
Who didn’t? And I would say that if you are required to kiss arse and befriend every sleazebag chief pilot, then it’s not your skills and qualifications that will land you that job anyway! This industry has always been rotten through and through - funding your type rating is just the latest fad. I remember the stories of people flying for free with (illegal) taxi/charter-ops in Sweden/Norway, driving their bosses cab at night, and working at the local gas station/grocery store in-between. I'm sure everyone who ever worked for any ole small-time operator in Norway or Sweden were very proud of their T&Cs, and got their job through thorough aptitude testing and fair play all the way...
I'm not saying I approve of the way things have turned out, but it really isn't up to each individual pilot to bring this trend to a halt.
“I am most satisfied to read the comments about banning the fly-for-free brigade. I strongly encourage anybody in any relevant position to support it.”
Exactly! The pilot unions are the only ones capable of really making a difference and turn things around. So stop bashing individuals, and start talking to you union representatives instead.