Karma is right- if you want to protect the interests of stock holders, then sign a training contract. If you want to protect your own interests and those of your family, then don't.

I speak from experience. I've worked for 5 different "regional" airlines over the years. One had a training contract. The one with the training contract was the most unstable place to work and I left with about 6 months left on a 2 year contract. I never intended to not complete the contract when I signed, but after 2 displacements and a furlough I changed my mind. It's a difficult situation. You're damned if you stay and damned when you leave. It sucks when the bill for what you still owe on the contract shows up at your house (Yes, most of those contracts still try to charge you even if the company furloughs, or even fires, you). You people need to think about this before you sign the dotted line. You better explain it to your wives too!

The days of 250 hour pilots are over. What is a company really providing you as far as training goes nowadays? New hires should pretty much have 1500 hour ATPs now. Many guys already have type ratings and many hours in the aircraft they're being hired into. New pilots have got to stop looking at this like they're 18 year old buck privates signing on for a stint in the army. The dues (college and ATP) are already paid. The airline should be paying you enough to make you want to stay.