A number on here seem to be critcising self sponsored type ratings and pay for line training schemes. But while I don't necessarily approve of these schemes, I would say when you start to look at the figures from a financial point of view these are not any worse than been stuck in a low salary turbo prop job with a three year training bond.
Consider when I took the plunge to full time instructing I probably took a 30,000 pound a year pay cut, infact for several months when I was a full time instructor I often had to rely on credit cards to cover monthly outgoings. So with hindsight would I have been any worse off spending 30,000 at Storm or Eaglejet, there was no guarentee that instructing would lead to a job or that paying for time on type does, but 300-500 hours on a 737 or 320 would certainly have been more useful on the CV than a couple hundred more hours of SEP time.
Prophead: "the more we help Ryanair fund cheap flights" think about the number of flying jobs Ryanair has created, I have had many of my colleagues go to Ryanair and after six months the pay deal there is quite reasonable, you will build hours very quickly on a very common type, so for a 250 hour fATPL pilot it is actually a very good opportunity. The hours built at Ryanair will soon put you in a position to pursue well paid ex-pat contract work.
Bearing in mind at Ryanair with in 3 to 4 years you could be looking at a command so you will soon recoup the cost of your training.
One of the only industies where we have to pay for all your training, if you reverted back to the days of sponsorship then flying would be for the ex-military and a few selected for cadetships, be grateful there is the opportunity to self fund your training. Remember no-one forced you to do this.
Last edited by portsharbourflyer; 13th November 2008 at 22:38.