Reading the thread I would think that the non Ryanair bases are the most popular... :D

Panda, the costs of training and qualification in the EU are going to be a constant, whether you subsequently fly there or go to the far east, so that has no bearing on the matter. Further more, you bring up P2F. While I find the idea abhorrent and have disdain for those who do it (airlines and pilots alike), those pilots who feel they need to go that route are not going to be eligible for the far east jobs either, so again, your argument is flawed, especially by the fact that it's not RYR but EZY who do it. Finally, there are many, many people who are flying from a base near their family home on stable roster with plenty of family time. The money they earn is only a little less than the Chinese contracts and a lot more than most other contract jobs without the issues of crazy medicals, living away from family for extended periods, working in racist companies and living in a crap hole. So yes, a lot of the guys will work for an employer they hate because it is better for their family.

Some of the newest people in EU companies have problems with basings, but they are at least on the right continent and able to position for free. Your "run away to the far east" agenda is a preposterous idea to all but the most disaffected. Your arguments are entirely illogical and your lack of knowledge astounding for someone so opinionated.

I would rather work in a supermarket than move to China. What is the point of having a family if you become a stranger?. Thread drift sorry.

Any Ryanair guys can shed some light on my above question re bases can you pm me, sick of hearing of anti Ryanair crap, I just wanted some information!! Thanks guys

If you don't want to hear "anti Ryanair cr@p" I would suggest asking the Q on REPA/RPG. . . but , I guess there is a slight danger you might find anti Ryanair cr@p there too.

But, you sound like a happy little camper, so, I am sure the caring personnel Dept will be only too happy to take the time to personally answer your query in detail, and in due course make every effort so that you may be allocated your base of choice in a timely manner, thereby ensuring your lifestyle & welfare meet the high standards enjoyed by so many of your colleagues. :hmm:

Thanks captplaystation, I am indeed a happy little camper, was just eager to get some info.

The grapevines say there is no shortage of captains, but oddly enough mcginley is hiring DEC for immidiate start


Direct Entry Captain with McGinley Aviation | 1401391779






as always my own humble opinion ofcourse

I have heard that the popular bases are in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy, the others less so except to locals, so a Canaries base is comparatively easy to get. However, how you play it is up to you. Cynics may suggest you let mgmt know you don't want to go there in order to best secure it - they do seem like to cause as much upset of basing as they can.

Space pig, I think tho only believers of the propaganda are those pushing it! They're now as short of FOs as Capts, both now routinely doing 100/28. There will be no hours left for the winter schedule. I have heard a rumour that they don't have enough TREs to run the command and cadet courses. I'd be interested to know it that's true.

Thanks so much for the advice Aluminium shuffler, really appreciate your advice and input.

Aluminium shuffler... I apologise for having an opinion, I'll try not to let it happen again..:(

You're entitled to an opinion. You're just not entitle to insult everyone who disagrees with your illinformed opinion.

AS- Please may I disagree with you on one aspect? I'm not ill-informed, I have operated:

Longhaul, shorthaul, passengers, Cargo.
Worked for operators in Europe (LCC and Legacy), U.S., Middle east and finally Asia.

I have flown cold weather ops in Europe, LVP ops in Europe.
High altitude ops to Quito in Equador with heavy jet Aircraft.
worked in meters and feet in Russia in temperatures below -40

I am a Captain currently operating for a major Chinese Airline.

You may not like my views or indeed the way I express them, but I'm not ill-informed.

Speed alive:

The popular bases are certainly Ireland and the UK (home bases for a large amount of pilots) aswell as the German/Dutch/Belgian bases (again home bases for alot of people). Also the sunnier places such as Malaga and Faro are popular. Think the canaries bases are somewhere in the middle due to their remoteness.

The less popular bases would be the eastern european and morroccan aswell as the far flung Italian and Greek and maybe some of the Spanish bases also.

However, unless perhaps you're coming as a DEC on the condition of getting a certain base, the whole thing generally tends to be a lottery - and unfortunately I would have to say that the general policy seems to be to NOT give pilots their preferred bases. Some get lucky but it generally takes an unreasonable amount of time to get a requested home base and you can expect to see new joiners get sent to your requested base long after you applied. This is in fact one of if not the biggest reason(s) that people get pissed off and leave.

Of course you could be one of the very few lucky ones who happen to get their base of choice quickly, but it's unlikely.

Fantastic information, thanks McNulty.

Have around 300 pilots left RYR lately?
 

Does anyone have a credible (ie not "cos they're all *%#%*") theory for why they wouldn't give you a choice of base where it is commercially/operationally viable?

For all of their (many) faults - and here I speak only as a former consumer and interested CPL studying pilot - in any business a degree of employee satisfaction is desirable. I can't believe they are actively trying to piss their staff off? So what is the business sense in this?

I know nothing about Ryanair's management, but I would guess at the following:

1) Control
2) Ryanair open, expand and close bases all the time and therefore have to move pilots around accordingly. It doesn't suit them to have everyone happy and settled at their home base and not looking to move. If they put you somewhere you don't want, you won't be too upset when they move you again.

Whether it's worth losing as many pilots as they seem to just to accomplish the above is debatable so maybe there are other reasons, but I can't think of any.

I would say that it's pretty much as above. To keep things fluid, keep people ready to move for when the next base shuts or the next 2 close etc.

There's always the more #$~$# theory which can't be discredited of a divide and conquer element.

I had a friend who told the following story. An Irish guy based in Spain and a Spanish guy based in Ireland. They requested a straight swap. Free of charge. No hassle. Refused. they both left. Go figure.
Is it still the same attitude? No idea. Ask an insider.

Rat 5, I saw the same sort of thing first hand repeatedly and know several people still in that situation. It appears deliberate. The question is, is a way of dangling a carrot for a couple of years ("do everything we say and make no waves and we'll base you where you want"), or is it plain malice. Jury's out on that one... What seems to be the norm, though, is to base cadets for their first two years anywhere, then give them the base they wanted. Then, on promotion, send them out again to their least preferred base, even though their preferred, current base is short of Captains, and bring them back another two years down the line, even though that invariably means bringing in other people to the base in question that want to be somewhere else too. And swaps are flatly refused. Hence my suspicion it's being used as a carrot (and stick).

It seems to me that denial of base transfers is a tactic which results in being seen to "give something" to the pilots when things are becoming tough for the company. In other words, keep something in reserve, at zero cost to the company, but enormous personal cost to "employees".
From Wikipedia:
"Stockholm syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness."