Ryanair: Abolish Co-Pilots To Save Cash
Sep 6, 2010, 1:13 am
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,925
I suggested that a long time ago:
In order to save money, Delta has started hiring pilots who learned their professions at home, working with Microsoft Flight Simulator software.
The plan goes into effect on Christmas Eve, and when the first plane will take off with Ray Kapulski from Hoboken, a former bowling ball polisher, as the pilot. His co-pilot will be his dear wife who learned along with him.
According to the Delta announcement, "Every mother's child is gonna spy, to see if Ray 'n dear really know how to fly."
The plan goes into effect on Christmas Eve, and when the first plane will take off with Ray Kapulski from Hoboken, a former bowling ball polisher, as the pilot. His co-pilot will be his dear wife who learned along with him.
According to the Delta announcement, "Every mother's child is gonna spy, to see if Ray 'n dear really know how to fly."
Sep 6, 2010, 4:43 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
Sep 6, 2010, 5:10 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, BD Gold (RIP), TK Elite, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold, IC RA, Hertz 5*
Posts: 589
Sep 6, 2010, 6:18 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 561
They made pre-tax profits of Ł289 million last year ... reasonably good considering there was talk of some kind of global economic problem.
Last edited by marble; Sep 6, 2010 at 6:24 am
Sep 6, 2010, 6:38 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
They made pre-tax profits of Ł289 million last year ... reasonably good considering there was talk of some kind of global economic problem.
Sep 6, 2010, 6:42 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Live: HVN -- Work: The World
Programs: DL - exPlat (now Gold) ; AB - Gold ; TK - Gold; BMI - exGold; US - exChairman ; UA-ex1K; NW-exGold
Posts: 1,248
Sep 6, 2010, 7:20 am
#23
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
He is going for free press at this time. He knows that the laws will currently not allow it. But also sooner or later computers will be fully able to fly and land a plane, they pretty much can already do it now under standard situations. Then 1 pilot for emergencies would be enough.
Here is a longer article from businessweek :
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...4058006755.htm
He is in general right, the public does not expect much comfort as long as the price is better. Most of the flying public would probably even stand if you give them 30$ rebate for it.
Here is a longer article from businessweek :
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...4058006755.htm
He is in general right, the public does not expect much comfort as long as the price is better. Most of the flying public would probably even stand if you give them 30$ rebate for it.
Sep 6, 2010, 3:19 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
they may not expect much comfort but i'm sure they expect the same level of security that they would get from other regular airlines....
Sep 6, 2010, 4:07 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
I am way more worried to fly on a US commuter carrier doing service for any of the legacies then using a low cost airlines.
Sep 6, 2010, 5:07 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
In 1987 he took a job as a financial assistant to Tony Ryan, an entrepreneur who had made a fortune in aircraft leasing and who had recently started an airline, based at Dublin Airport. (Ryan died in 2007.) O’Leary agreed to work for no base salary and a significant percentage of Ryanair’s earnings, should the airline’s meager fortunes ever improve. The deal eventually made him one of Ireland’s wealthiest men. He currently holds 55 million Ryanair shares valued as of Sept. 1 at $5.05 each.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-0...fit-quest.html
I don't defend what he is doing and I avoid flying his airline. But you have to admit that the airline did quite well with its low cost policy. The general public does not care enough about all the additional perks.
Talking about perks not sure anybody saw his interview about business class and additional services offered for potential long haul flights :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIY24BErBE
They had a hard time translating it into German.
Sep 6, 2010, 10:10 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Somewhere I've Driven To
Programs: HiltonHonors, IHG Hotels, DL Skymiles
Posts: 2,070
I don't understand why his employees don't strike ? BA employees have had work stoppages on and off for months - something has to make a "dent" with this guy eventually (??).
Sep 7, 2010, 1:39 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
i don't know about you but i would not be very comfortable with the fact that there was only one pilot on the flight....he could be the best trained, flying a new plane & be the best pilot for flying in bad conditions, but what if something happened to that pilot during the flight????none of these things would matter....what would matter is if there is another pilot ready to take over in such a senario....
Sep 7, 2010, 7:17 pm
#30
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
"This is your fully automated Ryanair pilot speaking. Your safety is assured! You have nothing to worry about since our system has been exhaustively tested and found to be absolutely foolproof... foolproof...foolproof... foolproof...."