Contract for job security
 

We have all seen pilots be made to sign training contracts, or loan agreements with operators.

But has anyone had that be in reverse, where say if the company shuts down the flight department, they owe you wages for a certain amount of time or lump sum.

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No but that would be a great idea when Interviewing with those companies that have unfavorable contracts. I’m not sure how it would work out though if the company went bankrupt.

I agree my mindset came from being out of response to shady companies finding it the only way they can hold onto folks...

However, in the long run what company shouldn’t want to hold on to good help, I’m sure they don’t want to be constantly hiring folks over and over just as most pilots don’t want to keep looking for work. Seems like a good way to attract good help by saying hey we want to give you a good job, and we promise that by standing behind you.

They're rare, but they're out there. I have an acquaintance who has one. He's in his mid 50's, and if the airplane goes away tomorrow he's paid a lump sum of what he would have earned until his 65th birthday. It's going to take deals like this to keep a lot of us who are looking at moving to the airlines for stability from making the jump.

I knew a guy that had exactly this type of clause/contract. He was quitting his current gig to take a job flying/managing a Citation for a guy that had just recently bought the airplane (his first). Knowing that first time jet owners often sell their new toy once they see the bills start coming in, he told the owner that he wanted some extra security going in (particularly since he would be quitting his current job). The contract said something to the effect of ensuring him a rather sizable severance (6 months pay plus some extra $$ to retrain in another plane or something to that effect) if the airplane was sold within 3 years. The owner agreed - as it turned out he flew for him for 6-7 years and all was well.

I have a neighbor (vacation home) who founded and owns a controlling interest in a fortune 500 company. He has a few jets and once asked what it would take to entice me away from the airlines (he knows me well, our kids grew up together). My semi-facetious response was that I'd need a contract guaranteeing legacy airline QOL, and a trust fund guaranteed to pay out projected legacy airline compensation to age 67. And home basing.

He understood where I was coming from, and I probably could have negotiated a pretty good package. But ultimately I prefer the anonymity of airlines, even if I could have sold him on a deal comparable to my airline gig.

Point being, businessmen should understand the logic behind such a contract.

Great replies! It’s my personal viewpoint as well when considering a 91 job vs 121. It’s got me thinking about broaching the subject if a job offer is made!