Here here Dusseldwarf, well said, you captured my feelings perfectly. I gave up going to Pprune after just two months because it got so bad, that’s the last thing we want for the this forum….wise up Jean, we value your input, but oly when you have something decent to say, which has been very rare of late.

Don’t get too upset….European will live on, but at only 25% of the size it once was. It was announced on the local news this morning that the airline will be working much more closely with Bath Travel, but it will remain in the air, just massively restructured.

Ryanair pay pilots an appalling basic salary, around £14,000 for a First Officer, however their sector pay is very good indeed which means that First Officers get paid around £36,000 in their first year. However, pilots are expected to pay for their own type rating (£18,000), their own uniform and staff travel if they are not in uniform.

There is also some grumbling at Ryanair at the moment as they have frozen pay rises for this year.

Jobs are extremely hard to come by as you say, it does look like the industry is finally starting to pick up now however. The majority of decent low hours pilots that are available from schools such as OAT, BAE and CCAT are expected to get jobs within the next eight to ten months, obviously this does not mean everyone is going to get employment, it takes a lot more than just having the license to get a job but things are picking up.

I’ve been in contact with around 50 airlines over the past month and I’ve had very positive replies from most, so fingers crossed things will be ok. I know around 16 OAT candiates who have got jobs in the last month so it’s certainly starting to pick up. We’ve also just had two airlines, one extremely big one commiting to take on all suitible APP (Airline Preparation Program) students from January next year, so things are looking quite good at the moment.

LOL, fair enough mate, but it’s not a couple of years, it’s about 10 more months 😀

Great looking aircraft, I used to like the EMB 170, but I think it looks a bit stumpy, the EMB 190 looks great.

Bahnhaus, for someone who has never been an active member on these forums I recommend shutting up, this is a friendly community and idiots like you have no place here.

I’d most certainly be up for going to Cologne for the day from Gatwick. I will have just finished my JAR ATPL Phase 1 ground exams that week so I think it would be a very fitting way to celebrate!