Ryanair £15K bond?
 

Can FR to go on the record and clarify the £15K cost/loan/bond or what
:confused:

Speak up FR

Chaps,

Forgive my ignorance on this, but surely this is just another way of bonding you in return for a type rating. Except BA, they all to my knowledge do that.

PS

at a cost to the applicants
in my book = money up front, not a bond.

Yes,

But it amounts to the same thing. get a job say with KLM, leave after 6 months and you repay to them the remaining bond. The only difference that I can see is that they are not willing to loan the money for the bond. If that's you're point, fair enough, but I still say it amounts to the same thing.

PS

Ok, my mistake, what I should have said was KLM UK or BUZZ, and there definately is there.

PS

Info from FR
It is not a bond you are paying for the B737 type and at the hand over of cash you will not be given a job offer until the course is completed and passed.

Yes,

that raises an interesting point. Got a job with who ever bonds, but get thrown off the course for whatever reason, my guess is you don't repay any of the bond. Likewise, I understand that if you are made redundant, or lose your medical but are still bonded, the same applies.

However, with Ryanair, you've shelled out already, with no refunds.

Does seem less attractive, but from a comercial point of view, I understand where they are comming from.

Just another thing to weigh up when the job offer comes in, mind you I bet for most, it's not a case of making a choice out of more than one offer, if you get my drift.

PS

Getting the pilots to pay for their own trg will be a double-edged sword. Firstly, many pilots will not be able to find £15K cash and so any loan taken out will mean that the real cost of the rating will be significantly more. However, when an airline 'Bonds' a pilot in the traditional sense it also acts to stabilise the work force over the term of the bond due to the cost of leaving. This will not apply to Ryannair now and they will have to insure that the 'pull' factor of any other operator does not cause them to lose pilots in the future.

Hey, getting a 737 type-rating would seem like a good thing these days. Even if you did have to pony-up the money (I am sure difficult for most), it would be a good investment in your airline career. If you passed and got the 737 Type, joined Ryanair (flying great 737-800 equipment) and then departed for some reason you could:

1. Probably get on Easy or GO much easier
2. Fly for one of many European 737 operators
3. Fly as a 737 contract-pilot worldwide
4. Leave the airlines and maybe fly a BBJ worldwide


It would be an expensive, but in the end helpful, investment in yourself. If you pay this huge amount and pass the course, you will likely fly brand-new 737-800 aircraft around Europe for a strong, surviving airline. Sometimes you have to think about the long-term and bite the bullet for the right reasons... Good luck!

Does the 15K include base training? VAT?