The concept of having people pay "application fees" isnt a new Irish joke but an old American one. Looking through a copy of FAPA 1992 Magazine the following fees applied:
Alaska =$25
America West = $15
Southwest = $10
US Air = $25
Remember that this was just after the Gulf War when there was a glut of pilots, I dont know if these fees were still in force last summer when the situation was reversed.
Mutt.