RYR overcrewed with Fo's?
 

Hi, I've been flying for RYR for almost 2 years now, and this summer it appears that I'm getting less and less hrs, compared to last summer it's quite a substantial pay cut, being a brookfield contractor and only getting paid per block hr. Do any other RYR FO's experience similar hr reduction or is it just my badluck?

Can't say myself as I am floating but my hours floating about about 10 a month last than last year and I don't hear of many F/O's saying there flying there nuts off, I know a few in small bases that are doing very little hours

I recon you could be right, but it's Ryanair, who knows?

Ronand, you are beginning to see the folly in working for Ryanair.

Did anyone tell you that you were guaranteed a minimum number of hours when you joined?

You made your bed and now you have to lie in it, or clear off somewhere else that may offer you a worthwhile contract.

Lord Spandex - the guy came on here asking if anyone else is experiencing reduced hours. A simple question. Why do you feel the need to reply with a harsh comment about making his bed, lying in it or clearing off? Totally unnecessary.

So far this year

Apr 85
May 103
Jun 85

Same for everyone in my base!

Summer is busy, winters generally not. Depends on your base but you average around 750-850 a year as an FO. Therefore plan in advance and out some money aside for the quiet months. Unlike other airlines, Ryanair or BRK treats its pilots like bus drivers and you only get paid when you work. Not a proper contract or job if you ask me...but there you go. Regard it as Europe's biggest flight school and you'll be fine....regard it as a career...you may be disappointed. Yes, RYR is over crowded with FO's and that won't change. It costs the company nothing to bring in FO's.

Threads like this on PPRUNE are massively attractive to Trolls - they can't help themselves.

Can't disagree but equally this is the best way that the information about low hours and low pay being on offer and RYR for FOs who fork out for their rating.

Perhaps the more people that know about this the more FOs will think twice before signing on.

There is nothing harsh in using a common expression in response to somebody complaining about something they've brought on themselves. Man up wet pants.

The OP asked if it was his bad luck. It wasn't. It was his decision to "work" for Ryanair.

I'll ask again if you have a contract that states you will fly so many hours per year/month?

Apparently on the Storm "contract" the FOs are guaranteed a certain minimum number of hours a month.

Thanks Bob, so the Brookfield guys haven't?

Well guess where all the work is going to go then.

they have some hour per month guaranteed but they get paid les per hour
so it's not that the storm contracts are better then brookfields

The OP just asked a question and he's had answer from VJW and I'll give him another answer. The FOs at my base are also hovering around the 90-100 hour mark for May, June & July.

Lord Spandex - for many (myself included five years ago) Ryanair was one of only a few options and financially it has worked out far better than if I'd gone anywhere else. I knew the risks with no guaranteed hours - we all do. But we don't need to be lectured about it on here. If the OP asked "Do you think coming here was a good idea? Please discuss" we would welcome your views but why do you come on here telling people to man up or clear off? It's just unnecessarily condescending.

End of rant. In answer to the OP - yes it looks like you're a little unlucky. I had quiet summer months when I was an FO too but over the whole year is what counts. Expect somewhere between 700 and 800.

Ronand - yes slightly, about 5/10 hrs down on average compared to last year.

Lord Spandex - thanks for your input towards RYR/BRK/Storm as ever.

New storm contract for FO's: less pay, but guaranteed 30hrs pay a month regardless.

Think about it this way... it is fairly cheap for FR to over-crew their aircrafts considering 72% of pilots are "pay as you go" contractors.
FR quite well knows that 99,9% of these contractors feel absolutely no loyalty to to MOL the almighty... So yep to the best of their ability FR try to have a few extra F/O's available... this caters for the increased summer production and for when now and again a driver goes "awol" without giving notice.
The extra number of F/O's also increase the captain candidate pool, which will help FR drive down the T&C even more.... all this with the only real and modest cost being the sim sessions for these extra pilots...

It's not that FR over over crewed with FO's. FR are under crewed with skippers and have cut schedules, flights and grounded aircraft.

Look around the network and you'll see aircraft on the ground, parked up for the night at 6pm.

The busiest summer in Europe for years and MOL can't fly all of his fleet. Sad but true.

Its because they are all relocating to US here at EK and other pastures new.
Even had a ex RYR TRE the other day as an observer :E

Its a base by base situation I think. Some bases aren't flying some are.... Its my fourth summer in RYR and going by my previous summers, then this one is the worst. Still to do the full 5 days and doing roughly 50 hours per month. Its the same for all FO's in my base.

It wasn't a case of manning up or clearing off. My man up comment was aimed specifically at you for being oh so easily offended by a common saying. I'm sure the OP can defend himself though and doesn't need any help from you.

As far as clearing off goes then that is simply one of the options available to you should you not be happy with your lot, after all you have got a decent type rating and there are jobs out there with actual contracts.

If you don't like comments from non Ryanair "employees" then don't post on an open public forum because when you do I am as entitled as anybody else to have my say.

Anyway, what do you really expect from Ryanair when there are cheaper pilots willing to fly?! You don't really need to be posting that particular question here do you? The answer is obvious but as some people seem unable to grasp that then I will offer them my opinion.

Edna, you're very welcome.

You're insufferable.