Joining Ryanair
 

Dear all,
I have been offered a position to join FR. And would appreciate some information about ground school (operator conversion course) and line training?
FO with over 3000 hours, how many legs to be expected? Any tips for the course?
All the best,

An FO with over 3000 hours joining Ryanair? You must've been desperate.

Expect the minimum amount of sectors to get you onto the line, followed by 100 hours every 28 days for the rest of your career. You'll get four days off per week, but make sure you have a second phone, otherwise you'll be woken up at 5am every day by them begging for you to work your day off (for no extra money).

Oh, and if you don't answer your phone, you'll be taken off the roster and face disciplinary action.

Good luck! ;)

When I read this post , there's an Ad for Emirates under it . Ironically, its Another gash outfit rostering a fatiguing 100 hour per 28 days.

Seems hobsons choice for the young & uninitiated. Or Davey Jones locker.

With those hours your probably better of at the red/silver lot. Less work,more money......and crew water!

Plenty of of guys (everyone!)jumping over from the blue/yellow at the moment......

On the plus side, you'll be the most experienced FO in the company. Everyone else is forced into a command they aren't ready for at about 2700 hours. Enjoy having somebody with fewer hours than you preaching the 'Ryanair way' that they've had drilled into them during their three year long career.

I'm sure you'll also enjoy being told you cannot have the air conditioning on whilst it's 36 degrees outside, as your 25 year old captain wants to save 20kg of fuel and move a spot higher on the fuel league table.

Good question

you have to laugh, no one is listening or learning

I applied maybe 2-3 yrs ago .
None rated DEC. EASA 5000++ hrs command , inc Boeing widebody. No reply or acknowledgement. About a year later, got an email :" Are you still interested , or else we will remove your details?"

What Jokers. Think it was
McGinley.

What crap is that midnight_cruiser?

Great hehe. I am aware am not joining a utopian company... just wanna go and fly and come back home. Any one who's actually in the company?

Do they offer you the base you want with a Ryanair contract ? If yes, why not...

If it's a McGinley contract, stay away !

A lot of people are leaving for Channex or Nor shuttle... So try and then leave :}

It does amuse me that on this forum, anybody who says something that somebody doesn't agree with automatically becomes a 'troll'. Nothing I've said is untrue or didn't/doesn't happen.

If your 'base captain' (usually a borderline autistic company man, who took the job with the dream of a desk in Swords with his name on it) calls you on your day off, probably to discuss why you didn't do an RVSM check on a flight three months ago, you're expected to answer the phone - as the ops manual states that you 'report to your base captain'.

It happened.

Best advice on this thread is those who've suggested joining Jet2 instead. I'm not one of them, but those who did are all fairly satisfied with their choice. Ryanair is an airline run by bullies, who have no respect for our profession. They are the pioneers behind the tumbling T&Cs across the industry. The only way this is ever going to change is if seats in the pointy end cannot be filled.

Most of what is said is true..just ask someone who has been booted out of LTN recently using the "matrix" system.....then wonder why they are sending two blokes over from STN every week because they are now under crewed over there.

Walk into security....Jet2 crew laughing, Joking all looking pristine in the company provided uniform looking forward to a nice 2 sector day as a "team" and free tea/coffee and water when getting on the aircraft... Followed by a bloke in builders boots, yellowing shirt and no tie, flight bag full to the brim with an old Sprite bottle to fill up from the tap in the crew room, his screw top mug and a ZipLoc bag full of tea bags, not talking to his colleagues enroute to the crew room to do another 12 hour 4 sector day with a bunch of people that probably don't speak the same language....and wondering why he is doing this for less money then the jet2 pilot....

Recommend you to read this post

http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearment/593947-ryanair-experienced-pilot.html

The only reasonable reply in this thread so far! :ok:

When you do get your command, you'll be sent to Marrakech, Timisoara, Brindisi or another one of Ryanair's fabulous bases. But don't worry, it's "only" for two years, before you "might" be offered a base back at home (you mentioned you want to be at home every night, and I assume 'home' is in the UK).

Two years doing four Italian domestic flights per day, five days a week whilst your wife and kids forget what you look like, your stress levels go through the roof and you become fatigued from the long commutes across the Ryanair network. But don't worry about that, just call fatigued - not only will you get out of a day's duty, you'll also get out of two further days when they send you to Dublin to explain why you're the first person in the company to call fatigued this year (also happened).

What Mach81 said is, unfortunately, very accurate. Your colleagues in Ryanair will actively look the opposite way as you pass them in Stansted. Your cabin crew will be experts in Boxer Chips and Product of the Week, but if you ask them what they'd do in the event of a depressurisation, the answer may shock you. But that's not their fault, if they don't meet their unrealistic sales targets, they also get sent to Dublin to explain themselves.

I accompanied two colleagues on three separate disciplinary meetings at HQ, and each time there was around 20-30 employees waiting their turn. There's a reason why around 1000 pilots and over 1500 cabin crew (as of April 17) leave the airline every year.

Believe very little of what you read on this thread. Most of them are trolls at best. To answer your questions
1) If you are rated and attending an OCC course then most of these, ground course and simulator, seem to be completed in EMA.
2) Line training could be at any base where available LTC's are. The training is the best I have seen (and for the trolls out there I have been flying for 35 years and worked for several reputable airlines and have over 25,000 hours) For an OCC F/O you can expect about 40 sectors line training but this will depend on individual experience and ability, could be less or it could be more.
3) Following your line check and assuming a successful outcome you will usually be sent to your designated base
4) Expect to fly between 750 to 900 hours per year
5) To prepare study hard and know your stuff just like with every othere airline.
And after nearly 14 years here I have never personally heard of anyone being disciplined for simply not answering their phone on a day off.
Hope this helps

Well I have heard of it. But I'm not going to call you a troll because of it.

As I said, around 1000 leave per year. There has to be a reason for that. I commend you for your management propaganda, but we are not 'trolls', most of us are pilots that have been through the Ryanair sausage factory, and then joined a proper airline.

The most accurate post on this thread. What an awful place to work. Those who don't realise it probably haven't worked for any other airline before.

what would really help your argument is if you would talk from your own experience, and not repeat something you have heard. Have you actually worked for Ryanair, if so, for how long? Have you actually been disciplined for something, if so - for what?

There are some very opinionated folk out there, I met a Portuguese guy recently who was accusing Ryanair for firing young FO's just as they reach 200 hours on type - claimed it was their business to sell people TRs and what have you, because he and his mates all got dumped.. I didn't have to dig long or far to find out he was fired because he was rubbish and there were no mates in a similar situation..

I did 15 years in........so know a thing or two about it. This whole myth about "the best training" used to be true until about two years ago when they got desperate, good trainers got burnt out and gave up, good TREs didn't fly, so gave up. Both to be replaced with anyone that would volunteer, including a few famous faces who shouldn't have even been captains in the first place. The same now goes for the quality of the new intake cadets, in my day 50 odd sectors and you were done, now I hear some do over a 100 sectors just to be released to the line (which really means the LTC can't be arsed anymore and signs them off, as they will get a call from EMT if they don't). The quality is extremely poor,mainly being the language barrier, its embarrassing when you hear some of them on the radio! There is so many other jobs out there for anyone with a bit of experience, and it's proving to be problematic for them!

And as far as points 3 and 4 are concerned, your management pep talk doesn't wash with anyone that actually worked there -

3) Following your line check and assuming a successful outcome you will usually be sent to your designated base
4) Expect to fly between 750 to 900 hours per year

Designated base = wherever they want! (Not home)

And 750 hrs a year? More like 899.9, especially now as they are extremely short! It's ok though, they only got 3 ad hoc days leave allocated this year.......

23 replies and only one relevant to the original question..

It seems that Ryanair will be running roadshows in Brazil in August...

Correct. They'll come to Rio and Sao Paulo looking for DEC only (no Direct Entry FO).

Sao Paulo on the 15th and Rio on the 16th.

Only GOL and Aerolineas Argentinas operate the 737NG in South America.

Requirements:
B737NG type rating
3500 TT
2000h on multi-crew with more than 30t
800h PIC
Last flight as a captain within the last 36 months
Able to live and work in the EU

For those flying the 737-3/4/500, a 737NG type rating will be required before joining.

It's not actually relevant that I reveal these details, but for what it's worth, I did three years at Ryanair, before moving to a real airline.

What Mach81 says about the training is also correct. During my last week in the company, I flew with two ex-trainers in DUB, who simply gave up because the standard of trainee had declined so far, and they were being pressured to sign off cadets that weren't ready. TREs are leaving left, right and centre. I was even surprised to hear the TRE from one of my old bases had left for a Chinese outfit, as he was always very pro-company on the day.

This. Having left and joined a company that respects its individuals, it is actually embarrassing to think that some people believe Ryanair is a career airline. The airline is the driving force behind the lowering of T&Cs across the industry, and anybody who goes there with the intention of doing anything other than getting enough hours to get out is a disgrace to the profession.

Internet forums are a funny old thing. People state their honest and true recollection of their own experience, and people who don't agree with it reply with pointless, personal attacks about people they don't actually know.

Believe what you want, appears (note the use of that word) that you're just another mug towing the company line, thinking it's going to get you somewhere. Management laugh at people like you, evidently so spineless you're willing to make do with a poor salary, no union protection, forego your own comfort levels to save their fuel, a terrible pension (if at all). They respect you so little that they don't even give you water. Your fellow professional colleagues are so proud of you :ok:

Vokes55 There are ways and ways of making your point. I don't work for them myself, but I can imagine feeling pretty miffed at your comments....is no way to talk about people who might have to make complex decisions regarding work/ family/ basing etc.

No wonder you got an emotional response.

Well said.. This is an information gathering forum.

At last count there is over 4500 pilots in Ryanair.

Lets be clear it has its moments and its not perfect but where is these days.

We are either all completely deluded or there are some half decent things at Ryanair.

Things that float my boat are;

1. No nightstops

2. 5 days on 4 days off infinitum

3. No through the night flights (thank the Lord)

4. Not a contractor but with a few increments and in training last P60 was @£135k

5. Worked only 1 day off last year. Only because it suited and I did a deal with them. No bollocking for me for only doing 1 day off in 12 months. (dont do them as a Rule my days off are too precious)

Was in the Final Salary Pension but the :mad: closed it down. Other than the fact I believe I am underpaid, overworked and like a good moan like every commercial pilot I know thats my main gripe.

I would be absolutely stunned if 1000 pilots genuinely leave Ryanair a year. I suspect that can be neatly filed under :mad:

Well the Ryanair pilot recruitment department must be diabolical and a ridiculous mess, ...... and their road shows to the middle east and brazil a complete waste of time....... because I know lads with PIC time on the NG and 747s and 777s waiting months for a reply .....


:mad: just don't add up!

ICAO licence? It is possible?

Yes it is, if EASA permits to the IAA. The most restricted thing is the EU passport and that most of the pilots are not going to come Europe for the salary offered. If they have to go out and travel 13000Kms to start a new life, they are going to go ME or China for the gold, not Europe.

Interesting. You need to convert to a full Easa licence? I mean the 13 subjects?

Well, I joined as a DEC. Wish I had never entertained the idea in the first place. I agree with earlier posts, the training is not good at all. The trainers that I have experienced do not know the Boeing manuals, but are experts in Ryanair SOPs etc. In fact, Ryanair training guides apparently take precedence over the QRH. Most DECs that I joined with have either left, leaving or applying for other jobs..... all within 12 months of starting.... the proof is in the pudding as they say.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but apparently Ryanair could retain lots of pilots if they offered a proper local contract like easyjet.

Agree with vokes555
 

vokes555 is spot on describing Ryanair as one of or maybe the main reason T&C in Europe is now the about the worst worldwide taking in cost of living. It is a flightschool for most until can move on, that's it! For me it is a moral issue, and to this day I have never been a pax with them even though it has cost me alot more commuting with another Airline.

The biggest problem in discussing the decline in T's & C's, and the most likely reason, is that RYR's shareholders don't give a toss. Look at what the shares have done over 10 years. They are all licking their lips with glee and don't give a fig. If RYR can continue to expand, as they must to remain so profitable, and they can crew the a/c on any given day, the shareholders will not support a reduction in profit to improve T's & C's. Turnover of flight crew is of no concern of theirs. If that model works, then they so be it. It will only be when profits are hit by stagnant a/c that someone may start using questions.
Market forces etc. RYR a flying school? perhaps. Do they like it? perhaps. Is it sustainable? perhaps. As long as the queue of cadets is there, and the pax, then they will soldier on.

Which is why experienced pilots should have more self-respect than joining a driving force for falling T&Cs. Cadets, fine, everyone starts somewhere - not one person on my type rating course had the intention of staying long term, and (at last count) 8/12 have indeed moved on.

However, an endless supply of cadets is useless if there's no trainers there to get them through the course. As I've said, anybody with experience joining this outfit will instantly lose the respect of their fellow professionals - and as was stated correctly by somebody above, most DEP realise how bad it is and leave within a year anyway.

As for the rest, well sometimes the truth hurts. Anybody towing the company line IS a mug and IS laughed at by management. They don't even think you deserve water, how pathetic does that make you feel?

They accept DEC with ICAO licence from certain countries and do a validation with the IAA, but usually they have between 18-24 months to convert to a full EASA licence (do the 14 ATPL theory exams + sim check).