If EZy were at OATS it would have been in connection with setting up some kind of scheme to take in low time graduates - they wouldn't have just been trawling for recruits. The only way they can comply with their own recruiting policy and ensure compliance with Employment Law is through their online application form.
The only people who have made people pay for type ratings is Ryanair with the cadets they took out of the Netherlands. Those boys knew exactly what they were getting into. They walked out of college on day one into a 737-800 with a prospect of a command in 4years. Guaranteed 3% pay rise a year, rosters fixed a year in advance and share options each year. They did well.
The £50 application fee was a bit much to swallow but I suspect it is a brilliantly efficient way of stopping a flood of CVs from no hopers as Ryanair see it.
People are sometimes a little too quick to condemn FRA here. They are a very good company, short time to command, new aircraft, stable rosters and flipping great wodges of cash. I know of First Officers at Stansted who are making £50,000 a year and love the company.
Some expouse the view that the company culture there is great because the bosses are bosses the workers are workers you pitch up, fly, go home. No non-hierarchical management structures, no orange cuddles.
Its a point.
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