I really don’t believe what I’m reading. These postings here are shocking. I cannot believe that anyone, after having qualified as a commercial pilot is considering, or has already spent, a very large amount of his/her own cash or somebody else's money, to qualify for a nebulous job, which may or may not be there. Which other industry demands that a potential employee spends up to £80,000 or more to finally get a job?

Until Ryanair started this insidious trend, Type Rating was (and still is), the responsibility of the airline, not a potential employee. They have a lot to answer for.

Ryanair Application
 

I too find their requirements totally unfathomable.
No reference to age limits,starting salaries,or terms for the type rating i.e. a definate and confirmed job offer(?).
Must have had help from the authors of CAP 54....