I watched the programme last night with Him Indoors. I applied the "if half" rule. Let me explain. Many years ago I read the book "Mommie Dearest". I had concluded after getting a third the way through that is half of this was true the woman was an absolute monster. I subsequently met a lady who was personally acquainted with Christina Crawford (the author) and she said that if anything it had pulled punches. It was her cathartic experience and some of it even she could not bear to relive.

Similarly, that reaction hit me when I read the book "In God's Name" 50% appaling if 100% true a scandal.

To me, what came out last night fitted totally into this frame. I do not doubt a word of what they said - and some issues were worse than others.

If there was the slightest doubt about the state of that slide a decision had to have been made. It should not be a No Go item but it would compromise the load. It was completely disregarded. Similarly, the life jacket issue is mandatory - it has to be done. It's not optional.

The training was derisory. I strongly suspect that the reason that they make them pay and practically take the "open book" examination for them is that they must have a huge turnover in staff - and no wonder if they are treated like that. I could not believe that they were not given practical training to do. This is fundimental. If the programme was to be believed, they had never worked a door, popped a shute, ordered a mock evacuation. Felt how heavy an overwing exit was, and as for evacuation in smoke conditions - well that's quite laughable. Even as I write this is barely believable. They have been allowed to get away with it with the Irish authorities or, even worse they have said that these things are being done and they have not.
The hours that the crew work were beyond belief. This is tough flying. Lots of take offs and landings and pressurisation in between. What they did not say is how many flights they do per day - but I bet they get 6 out of them minimum.


Still that is my conjecture only. It is quite obvious to me that the danger with Ryanair is the corporate culture of giving nothing and taking everything as the crew member said. That passenger who said "You have no business being a Captain here" said everything. As at today in British Airways if they sacked a Captain for releasing a bar to provide drinks to passengers the airline would walk in minutes. You are simply reducing the role to that of Senior Pilot. They actually demoted (or sacked I forget which) a pilot who had refused to fly as he was too tired. Again this is the antithisis of everything that I had known in my working life. I can just imagine the pressure the poor devils are put under.

In short, Ryanair have got away without accident or mishap as they have an ultramodern fleet. I have no idea what their maintenance work is like - and that would be a good follow-up porgramme for Dispatches to consider. All in all it is reminiscent of the sort of dreadful charter carriers who brought about the changes that decent carriers operate to today. Crew fatigue is an issue not something to treat with contmept - because that is exactly the attitude to their passengers. You've paid nothing so expect nothing. Well - Hello! - I do expect the rules to be kept. I hope that the CAA are down at STN this morning to address some of these issues. The programme told me that a disaster is not an if it is a when at Ryanair. Their attittude is if you don't like it - there are plenty of others where you came. I have never understood how they made so many millions and long wondered if their accounting was from the School of Enron. As an Irish company they do not have to be audited the same way or to the same conditions that similar companies have to do here - so we cannot tell.

Mr O'Leary is a very clever man. He is also cavalier. That he treats the EU authorities thus is one thing. That he treats the safety and well being of his employees and his customers in the same manner is a disgrace. I am sure none of the faults mentionned had been logged as the people would probably have been fired.

You may feel it is worth it, my llife is worth more than a 1p fare + taxes.