Nope... indentured servitude doesn’t apply to people paid - indentured servitude is people being forced to work for no pay - pretty sure you were paid.


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You don't list that you made $380k on your taxes this year when you take out a mortgage.

You do when you get a "signing bonus" aka a loan by the documents these regionals provide.

So the companies needs to decide - is it a loan (not income) or income (not a loan).

The bonuses are not indentured servitude. No court would agree with that assessment. You are allowed to work to pay off debt so long as the debt is paid off at a rate greater than minimum wage, as so long as you are still free to leave at any time. The company can still come after you for any remaining balance. Since you are earning the money to pay off the "Debt" to the company that you incurred taking the bonus, it is taxed at normal income tax rates.

C'mon guys, you were happy taking the bonus under the terms they gave you, but now you just want a way out of paying back the money that you freely accepted under the condition that you would have to pay back a prorated portion if you leave before two years...

I left PSA before my two year contract was up, they sent me a bill for the bonus, and I repaid it. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.

Ah, but it would have STILL been the right thing to do whether you paid it or not. That would not have changed regardless.

The reason YOU repaid it, is that you are a person of honor, unlike those that are advocating not paying their debts.

I would hope all have integrity enough to repay but it seems not. What those who are advocating not paying likely don’t realize is how small of a community aviation can be. Something so meaningless to these ppl may come back to bite them later.
Perfect example: I interviewed for a fixed wing slot for the Army Reserves. During my interview one of the W3s asked if I knew one of his friends given my background. I had actually deployed with the person this guy was referring to and dude called our mutual friend on the spot to get his opinion of me. Totally unexpected, totally caught me off guard. Good thing I work hard and Try to be as professional as possible with those I fly with.
Be mindful of what you do in this career field....you never know when someone or some action from your past will come around again.

That's a cute story, but the underlying reality is how unethical the 'bone us' structure is. It's a training contract in disguise, intended to shackle poor pilots starting their career to an uncompetitive employer. If they really wanted to pay you that money they would give you a raise. That's not the case is it.

If it’s so unethical why go to AW in the first place? Did you not get a CJO from another place? Damn near have a pulse and can get hired; it’s not that hard. Point is if you took the job and quit, pay the $$ back. Pretty simple concept for anyone that has an ouch of integrity IMO.

Looking at this whole thread, I noticed two significant things. 1. Rarely do you see pilots so aligned on their opinion (pro paying it back). 2. Rarely do you see pilots so aligned with a position that is also shared by management.

These two findings tell a lot on what the right thing to do is.

And here's the real kicker that many above have already talked about. Even if it was legal to just keep the bonus (It isn't), it would still be unethical and extremely unprofessional. If we want to be treated like professionals by management, we need to act like professionals and keep up our end of the deal.

Children of the magenta line.

Everyone else:

New hires:
"Why hasn't mainline called me yet?"

When I worked in management for AA, part of my offer included a very generous relocation package, and a nominal signing bonus. The bonus required a 1-year commitment, and the relocation a 2-year commitment. I signed the offer, and acknowledged that if I left before year 1 or 2 I would owe back a prorated portion of the bonus / relocation. This is extremely common across all professions, yet I only hear pilots scheming for ways to get out of repayment.

That’s unfair, or at least your experience is too limited. There are dishonorable people in most professions.

Well I am not at an airline yet, will be in November after I retire from the military.....I agree, this is a common practice and pilots do seem to be the ones scheming to keep the bonus.... but, what I read on these forums, basically every one of them, all I hear is how much the airline lies and breaks the contract and so forth. Maybe if management didn’t treat pilots like cattle, the pilots wouldn’t leave so quickly or would be more willing to pay back the bonus. Just a thought. I’m not saying it’s right to not pay it back, but it isn’t right to not abide by business rules and CBAs either - sometimes, what’s good for the goose....


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It's pretty comical that so many pilots say "Abide by the contract!" about the very bonus that violates almost every CBA in the regionals. What about that contract? Or are we just choosing contracts to enforce now?

what portion of the Air Whiskey contract are you alleging this violates?

*Settles in with some popcorn*

The CBAs I'm familiar with do not allow the company to pay bonuses outside the compensation agreed on in the contract.
Not sure if AW has a carveout for that.

They have a LOA which brought about the bonuses with no expiration date.

Well that was stupid. Sounds like AWAC pilots were sold down the river. Good job union.

Wow that's crazytown. What did they get in return?

Almost as crazy as a union signing a side letter that allows the company to force time onto FOs who are nearing 1000 SIC, amiright?

Ummm, what? how does that work? They just add stuff to your schedule? I'm in the high 800s and havent seen any of that yet.

Links / proof please. Are you talking about forced upgrades?

That was crazy. Good thing it expired.

It never expires for those who were affected by it. If pilots understood the word unity we might actually get somewhere, yet I’m afraid the apathy of group after group selling out another group for their own benefit because some other group once sold out their group for self benefit will never cease in this industry.

That is total BS


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No, it’s MQ facts calling out an MQ pilot trolling ZW pilots about something “crazy” their MEC agreed to.

Again I say, this profession might actually be able to move forward if anyone in it understood what the word unity stood for.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

Envoy pilots got some nice improvements because they agreed to that temporary program.
Just FYI: it was part of a bigger deal. People still benefit from the other parts we gained from it.

No it wasn't. It came with some very nice perks for the pilot group. Which do not expire.

Just curious how those bonus repayments are going for all who left <2 years at this point? Ouch.

It's hardly indentured servitude. You are being paid money in advance for a time commitment to the company. If you don't fulfill your end, you pay the money back its really that simple. You obviously dont understand what indentured servitude really was.

“Oh good, this thread is back”

- absolutely no one, ever

Does Air Wisconsin have "training contract"? I heard a rumor you have to pay them back for ATP/CTP if you leave before 1 year of employment. How about the new hire bonuses (5k after completing IOE)?

Thank you

If you leave before one year you have to pay $3,500 for the ATP/CTP course. Bonuses do not need to be repaid

CTP clawback is 100% accurate, IOE bonus sounds about right too.

Good to know about the bonus though.