I dont see how a self funded Type Rating is a good idea. It plays into the hands of the likes of Ryanair, while they make a fortune out of their core business of flying people around, they charge desperate wannabe's for a type rating. WHY??
There is no justification for this other than the fact that employers seem to have figured out that pilots in general are fairly dis-united group of employees and wannabes in particular are completely unrepresented. Neither BALPA nor the IPA represent the views of wannabes. Is not bad enough to be bonded?
Paying for your own type rating is only going to screw it up for others that follow later. I certainly cannot justify to myself (and certainly not to the wife) spending an extra 18k on a type rating. If enough people do this how long will it be before it is another "requirement". We have been hoodwinked into paying for MCC courses ourselves. I keep wondering whats next?