Ryanair flights, low cost private jets that passengers looking for pilots cannot use – Corriere.it

Ryanair is looking for captains and first officers. But not for its 533 between Boeing 737, Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320. This time, he needs the pilots for his small – and little known – fleet of private aircraft. To minimize waiting times for spare parts or to get technicians to arrive as quickly as possible, the main low-cost aircraft in Europe and the second in the world uses three Learjet 45s which fly between the 91 bases every day. Sometimes, says those who know the flight plans, they are used to bring the CEO to the various press conferences set on the same day in different cities.

The requests

The job advertisements can be found on the carrier’s website and officially reveal the existence of these private aircraft designed by the Canadian Bombardier group capable of reaching speeds of 858 kilometers per hour and covering 3,170 kilometres. The commanders – it reads – will be based at London Stansted airport, the heart of Ryanair’s operations. First officers are wanted to manage the jets both at Stansted and at Bergamo-Orio al Serio airport, the second low-cost hub.

The movements

Ryanair’s private jets – often identified as FR1, FR2 and FR3 where FR is the Iata acronym for low cost – move several times a day, depending on needs. In February, according to data that the Courier picked up by Flightradar24, the Learjet 45 registered M-Abeu made 57 flights and was based at London Stansted. The other aircraft, M-Abgv, made 73 trips, again in February, and stationed mainly in Bergamo where the fourth and fifth hangars were recently opened for maintenance. M-Abja moves less, whose last take-offs date back to January and since the 20th of that month parked at Biggin Hill airport, south-east of London.

Costs

With these aircraft, Ryanair also moves flight personnel who may need to replace staff who have exceeded the permitted hours of work or are ill. A maximum of 8 people can be seated on board, in addition to the two pilots. The Learjet 45 has a list price of 2-5 million dollars, even if these used by the low cost are leased from an external company, Aviation Leasing (Iom) Ltd. How much does it cost? On the balance sheets this item does not appear separately. According to market prices, the rental varies between 4 and 5 thousand euros for each hour of flight.