Guys, somebody recently did this move? Could you share some informations. Or PM me pls.
- how was the process
- how long does it take ... from sending application to do SIM to join RYR
- how is training for non type rated .... time, cost, bond
- what chance to get base you looking for /non UK
- monthly net salery (average all incl. +-500eur)

Thank you

PS: I know it is Middle East forum .... I am EK driver and focus in to infos from EK drivers .-), thank you for understanding



Thanks

EK driver? Volvo or BMW?

Not being funny but herein lies some of the problem. Hardly surprising that senior management look down their noses at us when we describe ourselves as ‘drivers’.

We are PILOTS and we FLY airliners! Describing it as anything less does us all a huge disservice and quite frankly insults our profession.

You seem suited to RYR chmila; good luck working for arch muppet MOL!

Haven’t we as EK Pilots insulted our profession enough with our appalling T&Cs and severe abuse we take on a daily basis?
We have nothing to be proud of or anything to hold our heads high about.

+1
couldn't agree more

But harsh white knight no ? It’s just an expression and what he calls him or her self is up to them . The status of your profession and the compensation that goes with it is dictated by supply and demand . Not by fancy words or titles . Also , since we work for an employer who gives us not rights , no unions , changes our contract at will ... probably not right to get on your high horse about Ryan Air .
Do you really think management is rubbing it’s hands when one of us refers to us ourselves as a driver and that is adding to the long hours we fly ...

Sorry about these drift . Would love to hear experience of anyone who did indeed do that transition . You never know !

Well we will just agree to disagree.

Separate to dominate, no wonder it’s so easy for the management to step on us... such an awesome question wasted on this “driver” bs, to tell you the truth reading the replies above it’s actually offensive to drivers calling pilots that. If only calling me captain would solve my problems life would be soooooo much easier.
Looking forward for some real answers on the topic.

The ridiculous replies to simple and relevant questions about a career move is exactly why I wanna get out of this place.

I’d rather hang out with any driver than some of the high and mighty pilots around here.

EK is the Ryan Air of Long Haul except Ryan Air now has unions and is gaining respect.

Good reply Chmila.

So I will try to answer as best I can.

I have been at RYR for a year after many years at EK.

From submission of application to the interview was about was about two weeks.

From sim assesment and interview to a job offer was about 5 days.

I got the base i asked for, and would not have left had I not gotten the base I sought. I had other job offers.

You will be offered a RYR contract or a Storm contract. In the former you are a full time employee whereas in the latter a contractor. Basically in the latter you will set up a company, offer services to RYR and get paid per hour. You then claim back expenses that you offset against tax. You will make about 1500 per month more on a storm contract with no employee rights, sick lve etc.

Once you join training takes about 3 months. The training is designed for cadets. It can be very frustrating at times as the trainers are fairly inexperienced. They will get you through a type rating and the company SOPs but there is very little background knowledge to pass on. That said in fairness they are eager to help and in my experience went out of their way to get answers. Basically it’s a regurgitation if manuals. SOPs are very rigid to the point of being pedantic. (More that EK). The training caters for the lowest common denominator.

You will foot the bill for accomodation during training which I was not too pleased about. Cater about 5000STG in all unless you plan to stay in some creaky humid place.

The company culture from the Flt ops management and training management is a breath of fresh air compared to Ek. There is empathy, there is fairness, and contrary to popular belief they are very reasonable. They are also patient, and I have not seen any vindictive streaks. There is a good and healthy safety culture. How it was before I do not know. I do know that when I make mistakes I am definitely more open about it and quite frankly keen to share, something I wasn’t always able to do at EK for reasons that are obvious. There are a lot less Monday morning quarterbacks.

You can expect one month off per year. There is no visibility in how this is allocated. You have a fixed 5 On, 4 Off roster which I find very good. Suffice to say that my days off have averaged 14 per month. You also have 10 days of adhoc leave which you bid for. I have joined them to my days off and have 2 additional periods of 13 off in a row apart from my month off.

You will I’ll work hard. The earlies are tough and often 4 sectors but the 4 days off after are good for recovery. There are no deep nights. Late landings are midnight. Sleep quality has improved tremendously.

You can expect about 6500-7500 after tax on a RYR contract and about 7500-9500 on a storm contract. Assigned Base does alter these figures albeit slightly.

All in all for me the move was positive.

The positives are definitely the roster pattern and time off. The safety culture. The country where i live. Leave is far better than what EK gave me even though I was reasonably senior.

The downsides are the equipment, the costs incurred by the employee such as sim accommodation, uniforms etc, and the salary as well but to a lesser extent.

Hope that helps and best of luck. It’s not for everyone but it’s worked for us.

I am not going to get into a debate about the merits of the above mentioned event.

I will start by saying that the cabin crew are not treated as well and work for a pittance. It’s not a job I would do.

I would also also say that this job is not for all especially after working for a full service airline. But the comment was about safety culture.

I will therefore say the following;
1) it is Captains discretion and from the above it seems to have been poorly managed by the Captain.
2)whilst not doubting the report this is one side of the coin
3) my experience has been entirely different in the company
4) I also understand that management have a role to play. I doubt the 15min discretion would have had any impact, and if it did then they were not fit to fly in the for their assigned duty and should have called sick
5) whilst I have no information about the above, like many other rumors on this network and elsewhere when stories of firings take place I take these with a pinch of salt.

I stand by by what I wrote that the Safety culture and approach Flt Ops Mgmt I have witnessed are an immensely vast improvement to what I saw in EK in well over a decade there.

Again best if luck.

Hi Airdancer,

Like I said I am new here.

I have heard about all the things that you have said.

I have to to admit I was and am apprehensive, but I have not been affected, nor have the people at my base or the people I Know at other bases by out of base assignments or changes.

There have been the odd out of base for the FO but the DH is being done on a duty day ie one of the 5 days on. Whether this is a change from the past I do not know.

with regards to mgmt, I can’t counter your point of view. I just have never had any decision questioned by them. I have only seen how they have managed other issues with colleagues at my base, and it’s a lot better than at EK.

You are correct in your comparison of the modus operandi of the company in that they are both into massive cost cutting.

I will stay as long as it works for me. But for the time being, yes, it’s a hell of a lot more refreshing than at EK. If it’s temporary or not I can’t tell.

So your OMA says he has to “ask” and not “take into consideration”?

Your OMA also states that he cannot decide? The reason I ask is that our FDPs are quite closely alligned and I find it interesting that FD would take the decision away from the Capt.

Can you clarify.

It's a brave Commander who overrides a cabin crew member who has stated that they are unfit for discretion, and thereby, unfit to fly.

The OMA quite clearly, and separately, places an obligation on each and every crew member not to fly if they believe they are, or may become, unfit to fly during the rostered duty.

Far better to see how many crew (if any) can be stood down, while still being able to operate with the remaining crew.

Imagine a botched pax evac after landing, caused by a cabin crew who had been told by the Commander that they were fit to operate into discretion after they had gone on the record stating that they were not.

Commander's discretion is all well and good but you are potentially opening up a whole world of legal pain if you override a crew member who says they are not fit to operate.

It is invariably a balancing act between assessing the fitness of crew who may be stating they are unfit for less than genuine reasons and fighting commercial pressure from an employer whose first priority is to get the job done and avoid hotac costs and roster disruption - with no consideration whatsoever for fatigue or safety.

Not easy.

Stand them down .

Bud - I’m not suggesting what is right or wrong, merely trying to establish based on your first post whether you have to “ask” as you mentioned. You do not.

if a captain, for whatever reason, (every skipper/situation different)decides to go into discretion and a crew member is not fit to fly - it’s pretty simple - they can dial 2 there and then or take a seat or call SOS - whatever.

Not judging either way - but I’ll be FC¥€£ed if I’m taking a vote - but hey that’s just me.

Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you

I agree with most of your post but may I ask how long have you been at FR to make a comment like that?

There are plenty of examples of base closures and dramatic downsizing. And don’t forget Ryanair will conveniently ‘fall out’ with a base/government/agency just to suit downsizing they were always planning to do anyway. Glasgow base closes this autumn “due to Brexit” when actually they’re just short of crew.

Can you confirm that the Glasgow crews are all being helped to move to another convenient base of their choice (and/or other examples?) Because in my experience they would try to move you as far away/inconvenient as possible (deliberately just to be evil,) screw you with a new contract in the process and tell you to f*** off if you don’t like it. I personally know families that had their lives ruined by such actions. One example was an Irish guy who had to move his entire family from Shannon to Alicante because the base was going from 4 aircraft to 1. After a few months FR fell out with ALC airport because of airbridge/boarding issues. Base was cut from 11 to 2 and poor guy was left commuting from Charleroi to Alicante On effectively a 7/2 roster.