I just ploughed through the last 10 pages of this 'argument', which is no mean feat with my appalling internet connection. Some of it was interesting and enlightening; the usual 'only dumb guys pay for type ratings' debate less so.
I remember someone suggesting that the Ryanair rostering system is designed to man all flights at the lowest possible cost to the company. Is that right? Who told you that? Everyone in my base, BC included, reckons the current system is costing FR a small fortune because so many people are arriving from out of base while based pilots sit idly on standby.
As for my personal experience of working for FR, it's a mixed bag of good and bad. Overall, I'm happy to be employed doing the job I should have started in my twenties, rather than my thirties. But let nobody think that you earn a good living at FR. Pay and conditions are terrible. I don't mind buying my lunch or my uniform, that's petty cash. What annoys me is lack of pension etc.
As for hours, I appreciate there's a good variation between FOs in terms of hours, but my situation is 'okay'. I use the word carefully. I should just about scrape 700 logged hours for a 12 month calendar year. I have already had a winter month 'off BRK' and I've got more time off to contend with before the winter is over. I expect the spring and summer to bring some good news, but last year none of the 'bumper' months brought in over 75 hours, so I shall temper my optimism. with a good dose of reality. In my experience, even a good 'rostered' month tends to degenerate into 2 standbys a week once each new week is finalised.
I decided to join FR despite my misgivings over the management style because of the tales of 900 hours, advice from many pilots at other Airlines and my exhaustion of other options. The 25% shortfall of pay isn't the end of the world in a recession - I'd rather be employed - but it does severely dent my desire to build a career at a company in which the management treat the staff with utter contempt.
Low(er) pay, non-existent benefits, idiotic and inconsiderate rostering and basing decision gives me more stress than the joy of the day to day job can ever hope to counter. The sad thing is that the issues that upset me about FR could be remedied at no expense to the company, but it chooses to operate an unhappy ship out of sheer spite. Meanwhile the company sits on more money than it can hope to spend. Tragic.
Just my humble opinion.
MH152
Edited to apologise for the rant.
Last edited by Mikehotel152; 3rd January 2011 at 10:10.