I watched the consumer programme of the German channel WDR on Ryanair. It was broadcasted in November 2012 and can be seen online
Die teuren Tricks der Billigflieger - WDR MEDIATHEK - WDR.de
Only in German language!
The programme showed two memos sent by base captain on fuel.
The programme did a much more deep and broader investigation on how Ryanair is able to offer such low prices for tickets than KRO Reporter did.
This programme had an interview with an anonymous Ryanair pilot and with Michael O'Leary himself.
Funny thing to note. The reporter went inside the HQ of Ryanair in Dublin for an interview. The HQ did not look like a HQ of a 300+ aircraft airline. The meeting room has a very sad looking, broken shades.
http://s14.postimage.org/tn9hn4c9t/shades.jpg
I guess this says something about the cost reducing culture of the airline.
The pilot also says Ryanair makes sure they do not clearly document pressure put on crew on paper. You have to read between the lines in memos to understand pressure.
Some interesting parts of the programme:
1. The Ryanair pilot tells Ryanair uses the airstair which are built into the Boeing 737-800 on a regular daily base. This is to reduce costs for steps provided by the handling agent. It also allows a very quick turnaround.
The pilot says these steps are not meant/designed to be used frequently. These airstairs are steep and some accidents happened of pax falling off. In one case someone lost a leg while using airsteps.
Airstair Vigilance | Flight Safety Foundation
Also, according the pilot, Boeing did not design the steps to be used for daily operations.
O'Leary was asked by the reporter why Ryanair is using onboard steps while these are not designed for daily use. MOL response was:
"absolute nonsense. Onboard steps are certified, tested and approved for every situation.
The programme showed (not in the interview) a response of Boeing. See the screendump. I believe Boeing does not clearly state that airstairs cannot be used as a generall way of boarding. The reporter asks two questions in the same lines.
Picture of the email response of Boeing
http://s14.postimage.org/b8ud5eald/steps.jpg
2. The pilot states Ryanair is the only airline which allows a FO to be upgraded to commander after 'just' 1500 hours of flying in an aircraft over 25 tonnes. This is not enough experience to command a 70k tonnes heavy aircraft according the pilot.
MOL was not asked for a response.
3. The programme showed the memo sent to Ryanair pilots. Part of the content was described in this thread. It shows a memo issued in May 2008 and reissued in December 2011. It seems to come from the CRL base.
The memo writes: there is a 95% compliance to plog + 300 kg or less. Currently there is an average additional carriage of plog + 270 kg at CRL.
Not all of the memo can be read. It does say as well:
"The commander may take up to 300 kg. If more fuel is taken this has to be explained on the Voyage Report.
Picture of the memo
http://s1.postimage.org/5ltl4db0v/fuel_memo.jpg
Another memo quotes US Senator Daniel Moynihan 'you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. I trust this memo will be helpful in establishing facts. Thank you for reading this memo and thank you for your continued awareness of the efficiency element of the equation 'operate safely, efficiently and punctuality'
Picture of the memo
http://s9.postimage.org/lbdx1qoe7/fuel_letter.jpg
MOL says no pressure is put on pilot for taking minimal fuel.
4 The programme tells how Ryanair puts pressure on airports to lower airport fee and tax per passenger. And how they can all of a sudden leave an airport. Part of the business model is to use small airports. Those are cheap and also Ryanair as most imported customer can demand a lot. Tax payers pay the price.