The trend of paing for your own Typerating is a downward spiral and can not be defended Working for free is even worse. It's like smugling drugs just that one time because you desperately needed the money, it's still wrong and stupid.
It's just as immoral to offer to pay for a TR and work for nothing. You are hurting the industry and ultmatly yourself by doing it. The unions should step up yes, but stop hiding behind excuses, pilots need to stand up for themselves too. The industry is claiming losses right now, but make no mistake, it is still growing, and the demand for pilots will continue to be high. You migh have to travel for a job to gain the initial experience and hours, but who hasn't done that.
To all you Pilots out there who refused and still refuses to self fund TR's and pay to work I salute you, you are worthy.
Anyone who believes that adding €30.000( that's net, after taxes) and maybe working for free, to an already overly expennsive(€80-100.000) is defendable should have their math and finance tuition refunded. One of the reasons the start up LC carriers are going belly up, is they try to compete unfairly against other carriers by having their pilots pay to work and pay for Typeratings, these companies are allready so depleted of funds that they don't have the stammina of stying afloat. They hurt the Companies they compete against before they go under. Ask yourself how you would feel the day you get replaced by a selffunded pilot working for free, thus taking away your livelyhood.
Work the hard part, pay your dues, it's the way it has been for decades, still is. Some people get an early break, but thats just it, its a break, stay focused and professional, and you will get yours too.
We're professional, let's act accordingly. Make the companies act responsible too.
O
