I assume you knew your age and it’s implications for earning an ATP, why did you sign this deal? They are essentially offering nothing and holding you for several years, if upgrading to captain is required to fulfill the contract. Why are you under contract NOW, you haven’t met the captain’s requirements? If the contract’s one year starts at captaincy, are you obligated now?

I’ve signed contracts, I gave a year in return for a very valuable type rating in a current production bizjet. I’d consider that reasonable, especially as I’d be getting substantial experience in the Jet. You, however, are only getting some 135 time in a piston airplane.

Stick it out and call it a lesson learned, once you get ATP. You’re not screwed, just in limbo.

 

Sounds similar to the Cape Air model. I’ve heard stories of a $30,000 contract to come on as a FO to build time, with the requirement to fly one year as a Captain. If you singed it, you owe it.

 

Why did you sign it???

 

I don't advocate running away from contracts, but legally if you don't receive a certificate/rating that you can use outside that specific employer, the contract is likely not enforceable.
A training contract that binds you for years in a piston twin is 99% not enforceable, unless it's written as a promissory note.

 

2 things. First, That’s a bad situation, but you knew how old you were and what the pay was when you signed it now live up to your commitment. Not just because you are only as good as your word, but if you do break it you’re always going to have to explain yourself in the future and personally I wouldn’t let you past me in an interview no matter what your explanation is. The only exception is if you live up to the financial part of that contract. It’s got a dollar amount to cancel it, if you pay (or someone else does) then you are living up to your word. If you just run out though, game over.

Second, I wish I could go back a couple decades and redo all the bad decisions I made. 18 may be legally an adult but looking back nearly everything I did and said prior to 25-28 or so was stupid and if it wasn’t, it was dumb luck. You shouldn’t sign any contract for training, ever. If they are making you sign a contract for training then they know the place is garbage and need that to ensure people don’t leave in droves. Especially for a piston twin. Odds are you didn’t even get a type rating out of it. Take this as a lesson for the future, this sort of thing is how places like title loans and payday advance shops operate and avoid it at all costs.

 

Some wisdom here...

For the OP, maybe you got sucked into a sleazy deal but there are *potential* career ramifications to bailing on a contract, getting involved in a financial dispute, and/or having a bad reference from a past employer.

IMO honor in business only applies if the other side also acts honorably. In cases where misrepresentations were made, I would consider the whole deal null and void, from the perspective of my honor (the law might view that differently). Millenials often don't understand the difference between "fair" and "legal". Only you know whether you knew (or should have known) what you signed up for.

But either way, might be better to suck it than leave a scorched earth trail behind you in this career. At least if you're interested in the best airlines someday.

 

Do regionals have training contracts?

I’m applying to Compass, Horizon, and SkyWest. I’m also applying to the majors. I read around the forum to take the first offer from an airline w/ a base and qol one is willing to accept and to move on from there.

What does one do if for example a major calls within a year from starting at a regional?

 

Depends on the regional and what you get. If they pay for your ATP/CTP (which it doesn’t sound like you need) then there may be a contract. If you accept a bonus, there may possibly be a payback involved if you leave before X amount of time.

 

That’s correct, I hold an FAA ATP-AMEL. Sounds good. I guess one can just hold on to the bonus/not spend it until fully committed to stay for the time required. Thanks for your help JTwift!

 

I don't think any regionals still have contracts for people with ATP's, or who meet all the requirements for the ATP checkride.

If they provide additional training, funding for training, or bonuses then you might have an obligation. But they should make that clear before you take the job (passenger airlines will, not necessarily other aviation employers).