As far as paying, you don't have to if you only want to fill one out for a PARTICULAR airline. If you want more than one (ie. CAL and DAL), then you have to shell out the money ($60?).
Better than the $100 AMR wanted when they were hiring, or other airlines. OR airlines that where making you pay for your training if you wanted to get hired.(ACA,CALEX,ExecutiveJet,...)