Originally Posted by
vagabond
I don't know if this has been asked and answered before, but I am curious whether airlines help newbies with student loans? For example, any programs out there that do things like lower the interest rate of loans for the first 2 years you work there, or allow you to defer all payments for as long as you only make $20,000 a year, or something like that?
No help right now, however that might soon change...
Based on a recent discussion that I had with several influential people in the aviation arena (university and airline), it sounds like many regional airlines are having difficult times recruiting new pilots (this is evidenced by signing bonuses at several regionals).
I've even heard of one airline conditionally hiring pilots before they even graduate from school, which up until recently is unheard of. Many of these pilots have been hired and assigned class dates, predicated on the completion of their degree and obtaining additional flight hours.
On top of that it sounds like a few airlines are researching ways that they could better recruit new hires. One method that was mentioned is the possibility of interviewing juniors, and then paying for their advanced ratings (CFI/CFII). The airline would pay for their training in exchange for a set amount of time instructing (at the school) and then a set amount of time as a first officer.
Still only a concept idea, but with more and more companies cancelling flights due to crew shortages, and others losing pilots to different companies, I'd expect to see several innovative recruiting techniques, and eventually contractual improvements to pay and QOL.