Ryanair - Basing what did you get?

[trancada]

Does anyone of you have a list of all Ryanair bases?

[Aluminium shuffler]

It's a long list - over 70 now, if I'm not mistaken.

[Callsign Kilo]

A friend has just completed the DEC course and he got his first choice of base right away.

Nothing new here. All been done before. Initially DEC (rated and non rated) was advertised as 'Exciting opportunities in southern bases (Italy/Greece), Poland and Morocco. This was met with much internal sniggering, however the only people not laughing were those based miles away looking to get home and prospective CUs who all knew the story. Predictably news filtered through of DECs achieving basings at the prime hubs.

There has been evidence of people achieving desirable transfers, however the vast majority in FR are tarnished and see this as nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to an en mass ejection of crew. However the same old behaviours exist. See Aluminium Shuffler's accurate description. There even could be a slight rise in confidence amongst crew managers as they have watched an implosion at Norwegian; a company that lured hundreds of FR crew with promises of better times. Ultimately it's been a soured mess with non materialising commands, poor chance of direct employment and random unpaid leave. I have two former colleagues that regret they ever left FR. Says a lot and it's something that managers are all too happy to share with the potentially restless. A number of FR to NAS escapees have now returned and are sitting their respective OCCs. An effective PR stunt in 'We told you so' rather than a blanket policy of take them all back. That'll never happen.

[Aluminium shuffler]

I heard from the DFO that the number returning was very small, 12 if I recall correctly. My opinion is that they wanted to refuse them all to continue the "resign and it's forever" threat, but have just enough back to encourage all the defectors to NAS to apply to come back because they could then boast about how lucky we are to be at RYR and how bad it is everywhere else - if they left the usual flat rejection of all returnees, less would apply and so they couldn't play that propaganda card. Just a cynical guess on my part.

The DFO also stated that the over 400 pilots (450ish, IIRC - same speech several months ago) was well within budget and below expectation. The interesting thing was the very quick and deliberate insertion of "Ryanair": "only 400(+) RYANAIR pilots resigned in the last year". So, how many from Brookfield and Storm, given that most captains are RYR and almost all FOs contractors, with a much higher resignation rate? How many gone from the line, regardless of their technical employer?

That's why new applicants are having a better chance of a decent base, I suspect.

[SID PLATE]

trancada

Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portugal
Posts: 95
Does anyone of you have a list of all Ryanair bases?

Bom Dia,
Use your initiative.
Route map on Ryanair.com
Bases highlighted in red.

[EdnaClouds]

After 5 permanent bases, ending up with base of choice after 4 years, command ready I quit.
I'd had enough of the base lottery as a FO, although I agree for FOs it's become a bit better but didn't want that whirlwind journey all over again as a new Capt.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Such a shame that having recognized being a little nice to your punters can reap rewards that FR don't apply the same to their staff.

[RAT 5]

Punters are seen as a source of income/profit. Staff are seen as a cost/dilution of profit. QED.

[Aluminium shuffler]

SID Plate, initiative is discouraged at RYR. Strongly.

[Skyjob]

Punters are seen as a source of income/profit. Staff are seen as a cost/dilution of profit.

Ryanair is a training airline, pilots in training are also a source of income, the more leave, the more require training generating income again.

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

Just interested... what might the benefit to the company to dick people around as a matter of policy?

If you are prepared to take FR t and c's you deserve to be dicked.

[McBruce]

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

2nd preference when I joined, 1st preference came two years later. This was 8 years ago. I no longer fly with them.

[JulietSierra6]

For a bit of balance...first choice base after 6 months. New FO

[cp35]

DEC NTR

What happened to the DEC NTR guys they planning to take on?

[lisander1]

Hello guys!
Is there anyone who could answer a couple of questions about ryr bases?
Specifically, I'm wondering whether the company has pilots carrying out technical flights after major maintenance and if this is the case, in what bases do these flights normally take place?

Best of all!

[BluSdUp]

Why do you want to know?

[lisander1]

Because if I ever am given the opportunity, I would love to be part of those crews and understand that sector of aviation better. But in order to get in those cockpits, you likely have to know where (if) it happens in order to choose the right base.

[737 Jockey]

At the end of the day, they have about 90 bases to crew, which must be a logistical nightmare! They do this to save money on putting crew into hotels, like normal airlines. To cover all these bases requires a high degree of flexibility and that is where contract Pilots have played a major part, being flung to all corners of the network, a different base every week sometimes, having to book hotels, hire cars, find places to buy food etc. If you get a permanent contract you would generally remain at your home base because they don’t want the hassle and expense of putting you into hotels and god forbid, roster you legal positioning time! The basing policy (or lack of) has always been opaque, random and a complete mystery to most Pilots. Absolutely ridiculous for a huge and profitable company. IMHO they’re just shooting themselves in the foot, but that seems to be the O’Leary way. Good luck if you’re joining, you’ll need it!

[lisander1]

I see your point and what you suggest with it. On the assessment day though I'll be asked where I'd like to be based. I'm not saying that they will send me where I tell them, I'm saying that I'd like to know what I asked above in order to give an answer to that question that makes sense (to myself and to them).
You seem to know stuff about the company: do you know about their maintenance bases too?

[Full_blast]

If you join as a direct entry then you'll stand way better chances to have the preferred base than people that joined the company even years before you, especially if you are a FO.
Plenty of angry pilots all around the network that have been flying X years for Ryanair and never had the chance to be based where they wanted.
They just implemented a "live chat" for the basing, which is completely useless, as they won't tell you anything, they can't discolose what position you are in the "list" (does that even exist?) nor give an estimate for the base transfer. However at the same time of you asking info about your dream-base there is probably a DEC/DEFO (or even more than one) that is signing a contract (he/she even got to choose what contract!) for your requested base.

Biggest maintenance bases are STN DUB BGY PIK and MAD. Probably new maintenance bases coming in the near future.
Learjets are based at STN BGY and MAD.