Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, operating over 590 Boeing 737 aircraft to 250+ destinations from ~95 bases. The airline recruits hundreds of pilots annually through its cadet program and direct entry routes. This guide covers the full application process: entry routes, minimum requirements, the Cut-e online assessment, simulator check, interviews, and how to prepare.
Ryanair at a Glance
Fleet
600+
B737-800, 737 MAX 8-200
Passengers
180M+
Europe's largest airline
Bases
90+
Across 40+ countries
Questions
194
In our Prep Pack
Entry Routes to Ryanair
Ryanair offers several pathways depending on your experience level. The cadet route is for pilots without a type rating; direct entry is for current or recent jet operators.
Cadet Programs
Ab-initio (Future Flyer): Zero experience to FO — full training pathway via partner ATOs (Bartolini, L3Harris, CAE).
Gateway 1: Modular CPL holders — need ATPL theory + MCC.
Gateway 2: Frozen ATPL, no type rating — most common entry.
Gateway 3: Type-rated low-hour pilots — fastest to line.
Direct Entry
First Officer: 1,200 total hours, 1,000 on multi-crew jet >30,000kg MTOW.
Captain: 3,500 total hours, 800 PIC on multi-crew jet >30,000kg MTOW.
No training cost for direct entry — standard employment contract.
Minimum Requirements
Cadet Requirements (Gateway 2/3)
Licence: Valid EASA CPL with frozen ATPL (all 14 theory exams passed). UK CAA licences accepted in limited numbers.
Medical: Valid EU Part-MED Class 1 medical certificate.
English: ICAO Level 4 minimum (written proficiency required).
UPRT: Advanced UPRT certificate per FCL.745.A.
MCC: MCC certificate per AMC1 FCL.735.A.
Hours: Modular: 100 hours PIC. Integrated: 70 hours PIC.
Experienced First Officer Requirements
Total time: Minimum 1,200 hours.
Type time: Minimum 1,000 hours on multi-crew, multi-engine jet >30,000kg MTOW.
Recency: Must have operated on qualifying aircraft within 36 months.
Exclusions: Flight Instructor hours NOT counted. Turboprop hours NOT counted toward jet requirement.
Captain Requirements
Total time: Minimum 3,500 hours.
PIC time: Minimum 800 hours PIC on multi-crew, multi-engine jet >30,000kg MTOW.
Exclusions: PIC hours on turboprop aircraft NOT counted.
Key difference from Wizz Air: Ryanair does NOT use factorization. All hours must be actual flight time on qualifying aircraft types. 1,000 hours on a Cessna 172 won't count toward the jet requirement. See our Wizz Air factorization guide for comparison.
Application Process Overview
Step 1 — Online Application: Create profile on careers.ryanair.com, upload CV and documents.
Step 2 — Screening: Recruitment team reviews against minimum requirements.
Step 3 — Online Assessment: Cut-e (AON) psychometric tests (~€55 fee). 3 days to complete.
Step 4 — Assessment Day: B737 simulator, technical interview, HR interview. Dublin or European sim centre.
Step 5 — Result: Notification within 7 working days.
Step 6 — Type Rating: If successful, assigned to next available B737 course.
Online Assessment (Cut-e / AON)
After initial screening, you receive an invitation to complete online psychometric tests. You have 3 days to pay the ~€55 fee, then 3 days to complete the assessment. Total duration: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, completed in one sitting.
| Test | What It Measures | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Spatial Orientation | 3D visualization, attitude recognition | Navigate through tube, avoid obstacles |
| Complex Control | Multitasking, divided attention | Align runway + solve math + identify letters |
| Numerical Reasoning | Mathematical ability under pressure | Quick calculations, true/false answers |
| Reaction Test | Speed and accuracy of response | Identify matching shapes quickly |
| Working Memory | Short-term memory capacity | Count objects, remember sequences |
Assessment Day
If you pass the online tests, you'll be invited to an assessment day in Dublin or another European sim centre. The day runs roughly 08:00–15:00.
08:00 — Arrival, registration, document verification.
08:30 — Briefing, introduction to Ryanair operations.
09:00 — Paired with sim partner, receive charts (typically Liverpool EGNM or similar).
09:30–12:00 — Simulator sessions (rotating PF/PM with partner).
12:00–13:00 — Lunch break.
13:00–15:00 — Technical and HR interviews.
15:00 — Debrief and departure.
Simulator Assessment
The simulator uses a B737-800 full flight simulator. You are NOT expected to know the type — the assessor briefs you on the panel. The session lasts 45 minutes total (as both PF and PM). The assessor acts as ATC, cabin crew, and reads checklists.
What They're Looking For
CRM skills: Communication, workload sharing, supporting your partner. This is the primary assessment criterion.
Briefings: Structured, complete, appropriate timing.
Callouts: Standard phraseology, correct timing.
Basic handling: Reasonable accuracy — not perfection. ±100ft altitude deviations are fine.
Trainability: How you respond to feedback and learn during the session.
Candidate tip: "They aren't looking for a B737 master. They're looking for CRM: the ability to share tasks, ask for help, accept help. Don't forget briefings, checklists, callouts, or your smile." — Successful candidate, PPRuNe
Interview Components
Technical Interview (30 minutes)
Covers ATPL theory subjects relevant to your current/previous aircraft. Focus areas: Principles of Flight, Meteorology, Operational Procedures, Air Law, Human Performance, and General Navigation. Questions are practical, not textbook — expect scenarios like "You're at FL350 and encounter severe icing. What do you do?"
HR / Competency Interview (30 minutes)
Behavioral questions using STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare specific examples for each competency.
Commonly reported questions:
Tell me about yourself / Why Ryanair?
Describe a time you made a mistake and what you learned.
Give an example of working under pressure.
How do you handle conflict in a team?
Describe a situation where you showed leadership.
What would you do if a captain made an unsafe decision?
Ryanair Pilot Assessment Preparation — Sample Questions
Preparing for the Ryanair pilot assessment? Below are three questions from our Ryanair question bank with the coaching frameworks that candidates use to prepare. The first shows the complete answer — all paragraphs, tips, and airline-specific context. Each of the 330 questions in the full pack averages 600 words of structured coaching per answer.
What would you do if you see your captain not following SOPs?
The Graduated Response — Assert, Advocate, Challenge — My approach follows a graduated escalation. First, I assert — I point out the deviation factually: 'Captain, the SOP calls for Flap 40 on this landing, I see we're configured for Flap 30.' No judgement, just a factual observation. Most SOP deviations are unintentional, and a clear assertion resolves 90% of cases. If the Captain acknowledges and corrects, the system worked. If they dismiss it, I move to advocacy: 'Captain, I'm concerned because the landing distance calculation was based on Flap 40 — with Flap 30 we may not have sufficient margin on this runway length.' I am now explaining why it matters. If the Captain still refuses, I challenge: 'Captain, I'm not comfortable continuing with this configuration. I believe we need to go around and reconfigure.' At Ryanair, where the Captain and First Officer may have never flown together before (95+ bases, 40 countries), this graduated approach is essential — you cannot rely on established rapport.
SOP deviations rarely come from malice. Causes include: fatigue (Ryanair crews fly up to 900 hours annually), complacency (experienced Captains may develop shortcuts after thousands of sectors), distraction (communication overload, personal stress), or genuine disagreement with the SOP (rare but possible). Understanding the 'why' helps you calibrate your response. A fatigued Captain who misses a checklist item needs a gentle 'Did we complete the approach checklist?' — not an aggressive confrontation. A Captain who deliberately skips a required procedure needs a firmer response.
When to Take Control — In extreme cases — the Captain is incapacitated, clearly impaired, or taking the aircraft into an unsafe situation and refusing to listen — the First Officer must take control. 'I have control' followed by a go-around or level-off, then a PAN PAN or MAYDAY as appropriate. This is exceptionally rare but you must be prepared to do it. You would prioritise the safety of 197 passengers over avoiding an awkward cockpit confrontation.
The Classic Follow-Up Scenario — PPRuNe candidates report this question is asked at virtually every Ryanair assessment, sometimes phrased as: 'What if your Captain says at cruise altitude, if not visual at DA, I'll land anyway because I'm tired?' The correct answer: 'I would acknowledge the Captain's fatigue, suggest we review the approach conditions closer to the time, and if at DA we are not visual, I would call go-around per SOP. I would not compromise the stabilised approach criteria regardless of the Captain's preference.' Ryanair's CRM training explicitly teaches this graduated response model — First Officers are expected and encouraged to speak up.
Tip: Memorise the escalation: Assert → Advocate → Challenge → Take Control. Give a specific example scenario, not just theory. Mention the PPRuNe-reported question about 'Captain wants to land below DA' — it shows you have done your research. Never say 'I would just follow the Captain' — that is the wrong answer at any airline.
4 coaching paragraphs + tips · this level of detail for every question
After takeoff, you get a single hydraulic system low pressure indication. The aircraft is flyable. Do you return immediately or continue to destination (30 minutes away)?
Assess the Indication Before Reacting — I would not immediately assume the worst, but I would not ignore it either. A single hydraulic system low pressure indication could be a genuine system failure, a transient fluctuation, or a faulty sensor. My first action: note which system is affected (the B737 has two independent hydraulic systems — A and B, both operating at 3,000 PSI), note the time and flight phase, and check for secondary indications. Is the quantity decreasing? Are there any associated system losses (flight controls, gear, brakes, spoilers)? If the indication is transient — appears briefly and then returns to normal — I would continue to monitor closely while briefing the Captain on what I observed. If the indication persists or is accompanied by secondary failures, I would follow the QRH procedure for hydraulic system low pressure, declare the appropriate urgency level to ATC, and plan for landing at the nearest suitable airport. On the B737 at Ryanair, a System A failure affects more flight controls than System B, so the specific system matters for my decision-making.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
Describe the oxygen system on the B737 — crew and passenger
Crew Oxygen System — the flight crew has a dedicated gaseous oxygen system stored in a high-pressure cylinder (typically 1,800 PSI when fully charged) located in the forward electronics bay area. Each pilot has a quick-donning smoke goggle/mask combination accessible within 5 seconds from the stowed position (this 5-second requirement is an EASA mandate). The masks provide 100% oxygen and switch to positive-pressure delivery above a defined cabin altitude to prevent ambient air leaking past the mask seal at high altitude.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
330 Ryanair questions with full coaching frameworks
Technical Interview (196) · HR Interview (82) · Simulator Assessment (31) · Written Test (12)
330
questions
~600
words per answer
30
airlines total
Lifetime access · Alternatives charge €130+ for 90-day subscriptions
How to Prepare
For Online Tests
Practice Cut-e style tests (available from various prep providers). Work on multitasking — the complex control test is the hardest. Ensure stable internet and quiet environment. Cannot pause — complete in one sitting.
For Simulator
Review MCC procedures and standard callouts. Practice briefings (departure, approach, emergency). Consider a simulator prep session — Dublin has several providers. Focus on CRM, not aircraft knowledge.
For Interviews
Refresh ATPL knowledge, especially POF, Met, and Ops. Prepare 5–6 STAR examples covering key competencies. Research Ryanair: fleet size, destinations, values, recent news. Prepare questions to ask.
Salary and Contract
| Position | Base Salary (EU) | Total Estimate | Type Rating Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Officer (Cadet) | €16,800–€26,000 | €35,000–€45,000 | ~€29,500 (bonded 5 yrs) |
| First Officer | €26,000–€36,000 | €53,000–€85,000 | N/A (direct entry) |
| Captain | €60,000–€84,000 | €143,000–€165,000 | N/A |
Variable pay includes sector pay (~€23/hr FO, ~€40/hr Captain) on top of base salary. Roster pattern is 5 days on / 4 days off at most bases (some seasonal bases operate 5/3). All operations are "out and back" same-day — no overnight layovers. For the full salary breakdown, see our Ryanair Pilot Salary Guide 2026.
Key Takeaways
Hours: Ryanair uses actual hours — no factorization.
First filter: Cut-e online tests — prepare thoroughly.
Simulator: Assesses CRM and trainability, not B737 knowledge.
Type rating: ~€29,500 for cadets, bonded over 5 years (20% reduction/year).
Results: Communicated within 7 working days of assessment.
Command: Upgrade possible in 3.5–5 years.
Official application: careers.ryanair.com/pilots
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