You guys are exactly the types I'm talking about. I just have to laugh that you think signing a training contract is the end of the world but it's perfectly acceptable in your logic to spend your own money to get a type rating.
A training contract costs you nothing as long as you fulfill its terms, plus in order to make them at least quasi-enforceable, most involve you receiving a type rating as part of the deal. So at the end of that, no only does it not cost you anything, you are being paid while you're there and when you leave, you walk away with a type rating PLUS considerable experience and flying hours in the airplane -- all of which you "take with you."
Do you guys realize that buying a type rating does nothing for you unless you're trying to get on with someplace like Southwest that requires one? Say you buy your 737 type and don't get hired by SWA -- guess what, no one else will even consider that a valid type rating since you have no time in the airplane. If you look at some of the applications out there, some places will only allow you to list type ratings if you have a certain amount of time in the airplane.
So all you're done is prove my point with your flawed logic. If you hate training contracts, then you should also be against spending big bucks on an otherwise useless type rating that will only be a benefit IF you are hired by SWA. Instead, you tell everyone to NEVER sign a training contract, but it's okay to buy a type rating that will only help your application with ONE company. Just so you don't misunderstand my position on this, if SWA is your goal, then by all means go get your 737 type -- I have no problem with people doing their homework and then making smart decisions to reach their personal goals. What I don't like is others thinking they are the self-appointed Aviation Police and telling others what they MUST or MUST NOT do without knowing anything about someone's personal situation or ultimate career goals.
I keep seeing all kinds of activity on here on Republic threads and keep running into people who think that's the best place to go right now. However, looking at their info on this site, they make you sign a TWO year training contract. So why is everyone interested in them if ALL training contracts are nothing but evil?
Once again, my point is for people looking at "advice" to consider the logic of these people screaming about training contracts. These are the same people who would have passed up jobs at NetJets a few years ago. Instead, the ones who went there are now captains making over $100k/year. Instead of having a "never sign a training contract," a better approach is to look at the company and determine if it's a place worth working at. If it's a decent company, you should have no problem staying there a year. If it's not a good company, then don't go there to begin with! Ultimately, it is YOUR career and YOU have to determine what is the best course of action for YOU, not what some self-appointed Aviation Cop tells you to do. Life is too short and this industry is too nuts to be miserable about everything all the time!
