How long & What Quals needed to upgrade at FR?
 

Can someone tell me what would be required in order to upgrade at Ryanair? I've seen the Direct Entry Captain requirements and I'm not quite there, but was curious, if one was to join as a fresh First Officer, what qualifications would be needed in order to upgrade.

I posted this on the other Ryanair thread but they seemed to have gone off on a tangent there so this question couldn't be answered.

I think I have seen 3000 hours mentioned as the general level before the switch. Also I would presume it depends on your base as I understand upgrades were restricted at one or more in the UK until recently.

Having around 3500TT and 2000 JET, (250 JET PIC) would that warrent an upgrade within a 'decent' timeframe?

I've been looking into apply though the cadet scheme, but sometimes feel that already being at a current airline (abroad) I shouldn't have to pay so much through the nose to get a type, if that's what I should have done anyway a few years ago (instead of working my fingers to the bone like I have been). The only thing that would make it potentially worthwhile would be if I knew an upgrade would be pretty quick after joining.

The only two schemes they seem to have is the cadet and the direct entry captain scheme. I don't fall into the direct entry so I must fall into the cadet scheme. Though I do feel a little more experienced than the average cadet.

Note: I do not have 737 time.

Straight from our CU guide. I also remember reading somewhere that you must have completed one full winter and performed well in your previous 2 sims.

Edited to add: and completed the FR route to command (RTC) course, basically a mini ATPL theory course on all our operations/flight manuals. Not a bad thing really but can be intense if you leave it all to the last minute.

Thank You very much. That hit the spot.

Ryanair only take cadets or DEC now. Had problems with DFOs, easier to train cadets.

And of course, more opportunity to make money.:eek:

REDNEX!!!
 

"Had problems with DFO's"....

What the **** are you on about??

The only reason FR don't want experienced FO's is that they cost more and are not a ready sourse of "revenue".

If you believe an experienced FO is harder to train than a 200 hour newbie, then you are a lunatic. Ask any trainer what they'd rather do....

I think you would find there is a good chance they would consider you. They regularly take on experienced F O's and upgrade them quite quickly. Lately the preferance has been to fill the type rating slots with cadets, but if you need a type conversion I'm sure this will make you more interesting to them.
The upgrade freeze has been removed and already a number have been upgraded since then.

Mcbruce is right on and in addition you would need to do a winter operating in the company.

I fear that despite your experence the only way to join right now is via the cadet route into the rhs if your not rated on the 737.

Be aware that there are no guarantees in ryr. I flew with an fo the other day who did what your proposing, good pilot, very experenced on other types in previous companys but 3 years later sadly has not been promoted for this and that etc. This person joined as a captain off a turbo prop.

Good luck!

so rednex you reckon that a cadet with 200 hours on nothing bigger than a seneca is easier to train than an f/o with 2500 hrs jet.........:ok:.thats why at my company cadets get allocated abour 50 sectors of line training where as those with experience about 20.

i think you might find ryr wants cadets because they will make more money on them in the type rating.:}

Fact is, command upgrade failure rates are much higher in FO`s coming from other companies than our own original hatched cadets...

but that has nothing to do with who is easier to train.if failure rates are higher involving candidates from other airlines when it comes to command upgrade surely that points to a multitude of other reasons such as not enough hours on type etc.

thats probably more of a reflection on ryr upgrade process than the actual candidates

High failure rate on experienced FO's in RYR. Probably because they expect much more from experienced guys, besides the fact that the cadets have never experienced anything but the RYR-factory!
It seems like the attitude in the training dept is-you know nothing, dont come here and think you are any better than guys without experience!

As for winter, that only goes for internal upgrades. Flew with a guy that had 16 yrs experience on jets in the caribbean, RYR took him as a DEC, he admitted to never having experienced any kind of cold weather ops.

And as everywhere else-facefactor is important!

Negative... I know a few Brazilians, and Central Americans, all experienced B737-300 to 800, hired as DECs with FR. FR would not allow them to fly PIC until they experienced on winter of operations from the right seat... at F/O's pay.

Flew with one of the brazilians winter 2006/07, he had been onboard since november 2006. He was a great pilot, but this was his first winter. Felt pretty bad that I could not be considered for upgrade since I didnt have a full winter, but hey I was good enough to fly with him during his first winter in Europe. Don't believe any of the brazilians came the year before!
By all means he managed it at well, and he should, SOP's and winter ops is very straightforward. Old mans thinking with the need for winter ops in today aviation environment, would think SOP in any airline covers whats needed, it certainly does in RYR:ok: