Gynn that's very nice they have a whip rounds for the
pilot's, there are two of us!!!
As to the clapping, I have never managed to figure that out, we used to get it in Morocco all the time!!!!
Now my passengers would complain if we spilt their gin and tonic on landing, but that's corporate aviation for you
Right some real info about the great Ryanair.
They fly Boeing 737-800's a new aircraft and are very safe and efficient.
To join as a pilot you pay them 50.00 euro to look at your CV, then you pay 500 euro for a assessment, if you pass this you have to pay 20-30,000 for your type rating for the aircraft. Because of this they only employ newly qualified pilots as first officers, so those of us with experience are not allowed in.
Once you pass this, you work for 6 months without pay. If you pass your final Line Check Flight, you do start to earn money.
But there are deductions for, uniform, recurrent training, id pass, car parking etc. There is no sick pay, no holiday pay and you only earn money when you work.
Your pay works like this, you are paid for the scheduled flight time of the flight. Not for turning up 1 hour before and not during the turn around.
The working hours are among the hardest in the business, they can change base on you at a moments notice.
If is not unheard of to see a Ryanair FO sleeping in his car.
You are classed as self employed and are responsible for your own taxes.
I once went to a employment seminar for Ryanair, their ethos is this 'TOUGH' I kid you not.
As for Captains, well mostly they are recruited from within, so a lot of the Captains are young with not much life experience. There are some from the outside of Ryanair. The set up is the same for them as well.
As to the cabin crew, well it is rather worse for them, they pay for everything as well, even for their initial training.
There is immense pressure on crew to sell and get things done.
But because you want to go to Paris for less than it costs you in petrol to get to Manchester Airport , they are there.
Passengers are treated like cattle, there is no customer service.
Yes they are safe, well flying nearly new aircraft helps low experienced crews because you have less problems.
I once flew as a passenger, in my company uniform, both the Capt and First Officer asked me if I could get them a job at my place.
I would not fly as a passenger with them again, or work for them ever.
To compare Ryanair with Easyjet or Jet 2 is wrong, the mentality to staff is a world apart.
So why do people work for Ryanair, well some of it is to do with newly qualified pilots are two a penny, thousands of them looking for jobs. Ryanair gives you the chance to fly Jet Aircraft and it is tempting. After that it is a place to work until you have experience for the next job.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with the crews, I know several good captains who are ex Ryanair and would go back if it was not for the internal politics.
The same with cabin crew.
But if you want a really cheap flight then by all means fly with them. I won't as I disagree with their working conditions etc
