Best route into RyanAir SSTR?

[ramshorn]

I've finally had enough of hoping that I will get a job on the merit of having my fATPL and a good training track record. I have now seen friends who finished their training at the same time as me and some who finished months after me all get jobs with lo co operators. The common bond between them is that they all obviously have their licences but they've all paid their ways into their jobs with SSTR.
I am not keen on trying to be an instructor and since finishing training this time last year I have built some hours doing a bit of aerial photography and some co pilot work on Chieftain which has been good experience. I did look down the route of trying to get a Citation TR and contacted all UK operators to see if there was potential of getting work on completion of this but found nothing positive enough to warrant me going down that road.
Anyway, I'd like your views please on the best way of getting in with Ryan Air on a SSTR. I know how some people would defiantly advise me against this but I have had my eye on whats going on in the industry for a while and I am up to date on the pro's and con's. I also live In Bristol and would like to stay here or at least have the potential of being based here sometime in next few years and RYR are starting up here soon.
I would appreciate some words of advice from anyone who has gone down this road or is in the same boat as me and seriously considering it?
By the way I am just about to turn 34, next week and I guess this will have an effect on my application. I heard a rumour that you need to be under 30 to apply unless you have a contact on the inside??
Any help really appreciated.

[YYZ]

Just apply via CAE or SAS website via the link on Ryanairs website, then wait for the call.

As for the age, no problems, a few over 40 going through so you should have no problem, I was 32 when i joined...

YYZ

[skyflyer737]

I applied via CAE and SAS and heard nothing for over 6 months. Then I emailed my CV directly to SAS and Bob's your uncle, an interview came my way within a week.

I also saw loads of friends from my school get jobs immediately and I couldn't even get an interview, with a good flying record and first time IR pass etc. I know how you feel and begrudgingly paid out for my own type rating with Ryanair.

However, it's worked out okay and despite hard work, long days and not the greatest conditions in the world (but bearable) I'm getting good experience on a B737 - so good luck and contact CAE and SAS directly if you don't get any joy by simply registering on their websites.

By the way, I was 32 when I joined and there were others in their mid to late 30s going through the type rating as cadets so don't worry about your age.

[foxygringo]

Ryanair TR Amsterdam 15 October 2007

i am looking for people on the Ryanair TR, Amsterdam, starting 1st Oct EMA then 15th Oct in Amsterdam.

The hotel 'deals' are a joke and I want to go in with someone and rent a 2 bedroom flat, have found a great place in centre. A decent place is about 1500euros split between 2, situated in the old centre. better than 100 euros a night in a hotel or a hostel.

Regards

Mike Green

[Willing to sell soul]

Hey Ramshorn,

As per the above, apply via the CAE and SAS websites. I applied to CAE in January and was asked to email my CV 2 weeks after that, after a further 2 weeks I got the interview middle of March.

Prepare yourself well as it will show through in your interview. All the info you need is within the main Ryanair interview thread. Be yourself and be honest. They are looking for regular dudes who have a good attitude. Oh and I would definately recommend some sim practice beforehand. I did a fews hours on a 737NG sim with Virtual Aviation, and although it's pricey, I wouldn't have got through without it. Despite what some might say, plenty of people don't make it! The other 2 guys on my assessment day both failed to get in and it appeared to be simply down to lack of preparation. What a crying shame after what they had already been through to get their frozen ATPL's!

Don't worry about age....I am just about to turn 33 and there were older guys on the TR course at CAE.

A word of warning though...you need to be honest with yourself about the money side of things....it's not only the type rating itself, but accomodation, food, travel and when you're line training they can and probably will put you in various European bases, again at your own expense. I would estimate between GBP25,000/GBP30,000 all in. You will earn about GBP750.00 a month during line training which lasts about 2 months. Thereafter, about GBP3,500 a month.

One last thing....I'm just about to start my second week of line training...and I can definately say it's been worth all the effort!

Best of luck whatever you decide.

WTSS

[YYZ]

All what WTSS says is correct... except what you earn after line training, for 6 months after line training you are on half sector pay, therefore about 2K a month after tax, then after the six months you can expect about 3-3.5k per month...

Unless WTSS knows something i really should know? which would be nice

[dxbpilot]

Hi guys, I will be finishing my ME/IR just before Christmas, want to go the ryanair route. Looking at doing the ryanair MCC with CAE/SAS.

Has anyone had any experience with this course ?

skyflyer737 - Who did you contact at SAS ? As I would like to book the course for Jan. There doesn't seem to be anyone to contact directly on the website.



Thanks for the positive input.

[davey147]

Are RyanAir pilots really on £3.5k (after tax) after the initial TR training?

Thats £42,000 a year, probably £55 - 60k before tax.

If this is true why are there so many negative posts on here about this airline, there isnt another airline in the UK that pays new pilots this much. Even if you do have to shell out £25k for the TR, you will still earn more than new pilots in Easy, jet2, BA etc ...

Am I missing something here?

[ramshorn]

Ryanair

This all sounds alot more positive about Ryanair, and its from people who have been there and are doing it!! What a refreshing change and thanks for the advice.

[potkettleblack]

Davey heres a question for you. What do you think that other airlines give/pay their pilots that FR don't? Once you have that nailed only then can you make a fair comparison.

[Superpilot]

A lot of what people who have "done it" say about pay scales is outdated. One aspect of this whole charade which makes any sensible comparison possible. Be warned, a lot of you are making ridiculous assertions about earning potential based on loosely defined examples and a lack of understanding. I’m not a Ryanair pilot but am confident that I have scrutinised their terms and conditions far harder than most people applying for positions with them.

Be advised that Ryan Air’s pay scale/scheme for SSTR pilots (cadets) is very complicated and probably deliberately so. The vast majority of people just do not understand it at all as evident on here. It is not something that you can comprehend very easily.

All Ryanair SSTR pilots now start life as Brookfield contractors earning around €50 per scheduled flying hour (psfh). Ignoring all the other rubbish complicated pay scales you are on before completing line training (which amount to practically nothing). You can only realistically start measuring your earnings from the point where you are paid that €50 psfh. Think of that as your starting date.

You are only allowed to fly 900 hours a year anyway so €50 x 900 = €45,000 / £30,000 all before tax. The €50 goes up to €70 at some point during the 3rd quarter of your flying year so you can add a bit more. Still, I really don't understand how that works out to be £3,500 (even before tax!).

[davey147]

Davey heres a question for you. What do you think that other airlines give/pay their pilots that FR don't? Once you have that nailed only then can you make a fair comparison.

Don't get at me, I don't have anything against Ryanair, they always get me to my destination on time. I was simply asking about the Pay for new pilots and if it is £3.5k after tax, that is a lot of cash, im not trying to make any comparison, I was just giving examples of other airlines that dont pay that much to new pilots. (according to ppjn)

Every airline I have contacted so far, say that they will bond you for the TR. Ryanair say that you have to pay for it, thats the only difference I can find so far. But if they get £3.5k a month, then i'm going to make every attempt to go to Ryanair, it sounds brilliant.

[potkettleblack]

Not getting at you at all Davy. Unfortunately FR thrives on the naivety of young wanabees. They love publishing "headline" numbers which don't bear any resemblance to what you will actually get in your hand. Hence why you need to do the research and find out for yourself all of the deductions that will take place. Your gross might indeed be 3.5k after a while but your take home and your long term job security will be very different. Do a search and enter with your eyes wide open and don't take third hand info that typically gets thrown around the flying schools.

[boogie-nicey]

Very true indeed, they may well deduct all manner of 'items' from your pay. Look also not at where you are today but tomorrow when (if you're lucky enough) you may secure a job with another carrier but trouble is they need you very soon. In such circumstances will Ryanair well you go so easily and if you bail ship they will most certainly come after you otherwise your colleagues may start to get ideas and think management is getting soft.

Ryanair reminds me of the rows of enslaved oarsmen in Roman boats all pulling together in humid, smelly and difficult conditions whilst the fat drummer at the front facing them beats his drum

But hey-ho for those who have joined FR, best of luck and hope it really isn't that bad and you get what you want in the long term.

[bluenose81huskys]

Ramsorn, Your Never to old I just read this and strongly believe it

Click on link below:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...96#post3483096

[The Otter's Pocket]

How long is the contract with Ryanair?

If I pay for my own type rating and really don't like the company, how long would I have to stay with the company.

The reason I ask is a friend of mine did a TR which he paid for. When he was posted to the far side of Europe away from his wife and child, he found he disliked the location (after being assaulted) and wanted a UK base.
This was refused. The airline threatened him with attempting to break the contract. (By asking for a UK base).

Does anybody have any idea of RA policy for terminating the contract?

[edymonster]

I got a phone call from CAE the other day saying they were forwarding my CV to Ryanair, I then got an email confirming this and saying Ryanair would call me and maybe ask a few questions on the phone, obviously saying it could take 3 months for them to call me. Does this sound familiar with anyone?
If so what would Ryanair ask on the phone interview type stuff???

[Avadoo]

Ladies and Gents,

From very recent experience, I can give you some figures for those considering the SSTR.

Total personal cost from week one to Brookfield contract, say six months, approx £30,000. This only covers a relatively meagre lifestyle and does not include any of your existing personal overheads - mortgage, bills etc.
Within the initial six month 'training period' you may be paid somewhere between £600-£1800, just depending on how swiftly the training goes up to your base check. The basic training salary commences on successful completion of base check (take home £600 PCM) and remains ongoing for the duration of your line trianing. Once you are line trainer released the 50% sector pay comes into effect along with the above basic, approx £12 per hour. You could be on this training pay scale for up to six months from the date of base check completion. However, most people are offered the Brookfield contract within 4 -6 weeks of completing their line training.
The Brookfield cadet rate was revised recently from 45 to 60 euro per schedule block hour but an automatic deduction of 4.5 Euros per hour is made to cover your ongoing recurrent sim checks. Hence 55.5 Euros per hour is the current rate. This increases after 500hrs on type to 80 per hour (75.5 paid)
With regard to hours, in the the first month 96, as the summer winds down this has settled to between 80-90 hours per month. Lots of new routes for the winter season just announced so hopefully this should remain quite stable.
So realistic pay is say 85 X 55.5 ---Euro 4700.00 or £ 3250.00 gross--- sort your own tax affairs. Also remember that on Brookfield you are only contracted for 11 months or £35750 P/A. It should be slighly more than this considering the 500 hr increase.
Personally I have treated this in the same way you would a small business. You invest considerable time money and effort and if its a competitive industry, you take a big gamble. So be realistic, dont expect big money to come rolling in immediately !!!

[havelange]

what do you do now?
why do you want to fly with Ryan Air?
Have you been involved in air accident?
how often do you fly per year?
and finally why do you want to fly for Ryan Air?

Good luck