Originally Posted by
planesandthings
Sure there is an interview for EZY, you could pass it with flying colours with fantastic quality of training and whatever other requirements they state, but the requirement is the money, end of, EasyJet specify the amount for the TR and they will expect it or you're out the door.
After spending £100k on a ATPL, how easy is it to pull £30-40k out of the bag, some of it totally upfront?
It is surprising how many people fail to understand that if you don't have money in this industry you face near impossible challenges to get jobs with certain employers. I am afraid that is now the case and is never likely to change....
The interview stage isn't about your "ability to pay" for a type rating. If that is a stipulation, it will be assumed that you have already taken that into account prior to making your application. The reason that so many airlines now require successful applicants to pay for their type ratings is down to history.
Thirty odd years ago, an airline offering conditional employment to a new recruit who required training on type, did so on the presumption that the recruit would honour that investment and stay with the company long enough to provide a reasonable return on that investment. Unfortunately, in times of plentiful opportunity, a few seized their new found ratings and left the provider in the lurch as they saw better opportunities for themselves.
Twenty odd years ago, airlines responded to this concern by "bonding" recruits needing type ratings for an amortisation period (often 2-3 years). If the recruit decided to break the contract, the employer could seek recovery from the pilot for the unsatisfied element of that contract. The problem with this was that a number of pilots simply took the viewpoint "Good luck with that!" And left the employer with the time and costs of seeking recovery.
Over the last 10 years, more and more airlines have moved on and taken the viewpoint that the risk should move from themselves to the applicant. The applicant isn't actually qualified to satisfy the vacancy (without a type rating) so they are going to provide it at the applicants cost. If the applicant then decides to move on to pasteurs new the airline isn't left holding the financial can for that training.
It has taken Thirty years or so, but that is the simple reason why this situation has evolved. I have witnessed it happening first hand. Long time followers of these forums will bear witness to the cries of indignation twenty years ago when "bonding" started to become more widespread. Nowadays if companies require you to assume the cost risk of your type training, then that is a part of the overall ab-initio training programme and people would be well advised to have understood that at a very early stage.
Perhaps this brief potted history lesson will help with that "understanding" ?