Just wondered what everyone's idea/experience has been with these. Is the job so bad that they have to legally lock you in so you don't leave without paying, or is it just a way for them to prevent guys from getting free training and jumping ship? Maybe a combination of both... I've been in one before, and still work for the same company.... not the greatest place to work, but I was logging jet PIC within 5 months and had less than 2000 hours, so it was mutually beneficial.

 

I've had both experiences. At one company I had a training agreement, but it was prorated. They were a good company to work for, they supplied food for us everyday, their airplanes were well maintained, they just had a high turn over rate because people would use them as a stepping stone company to get into jets.

Another company I worked for had a training agreement for each airplane they require you to fly. It was a long training agreement too, well over a year...and they didn't prorate it at all. They also required you to sign another, even more expensive non-prorated training agreement when you upgrade to captain. They were not a good company.

They didn't maintain their airplanes properly, they tried to force you to fly in dangerous conditions, they fudged the numbers on their flight plans so it always showed you having more fuel than you actually do. (it's amazing how they always showed 3 hours and 45 minute duration on the flight plan when the airplane can only fly for 2 hours and 30 minutes with full fuel).

I think aviation is the only career where there are so many dirt bag companies who don't want to pay for job training? There are thousands of companies outside of aviation who give their employees company cars, insurance, cell phones, laptop computers, etc; all so their valued employees can do their jobs comfortably and efficiently.
When it comes to aviation, there are an abundance of companies who don't want to pay for your FAA required job training. They don't want to pay for type ratings, they want ridiculous training contracts. It absolutely amazes me how crappy so many companies are in aviation.

I think everybody should go to one job interview that you don't really want and then decline the job when it's offered and be sure to tell them why...pay, contract, benefits, schedule, etc. Maybe if enough pilots did this, then they would realize they need to change things.

 

In this job environment you shouldnt have to pay for any training. If they are a professional outfit they will have folks want to stay around on their own. When their training contracts are so extreme its kind of like locking yourself in prison. Never go with one that isn't prorated.

Everyone has to start somewhere, the commuters are hiring at alarming rates. There are no contracts there.

What kind of equipment are you looking at a training contract for?

 

I have an interview with Segrave Aviation scheduled and found out that they have a 23k training agreement, but not sure if it is prorated. I hate to get locked into something for a year when I'm about 4-5 months from reaching DAL and CAL mins. I also haven't seen much posted here about the company and hate to get locked into somewhere that puts you up in the econo lodge when RON.

 

A 23k training contract. What aircraft is that for?

 

Hawker 1000

 

Sounds about right for a full-service Flight Safety training contract.

I don't like the idea of training contracts, but I have also seen the other side. People beg for a job, get trained or even typed, then bail for a "better" job. This gets expensive for 91 and 135 ops. It puts the screws to other pilots who are then forced with training contracts. Sometimes, things happen and you have to leave, but simply using somebody in the 135 and especially in the 91 world can really burn bridges. I would always try to give somebody 11 or 12 months if they send me to school.

 

Just because a company has a training agreement doesn't automatically mean that they are a bad employer, but you definitely need to evaluate all of the variables and give careful consideration to the conditions of the contract.

FWIW, I signed a contract with my current employer and they've been the best company that I've flown for professionally in terms of treatment, pay, and QOL.

 

Can you guys elaborate on the training contract thing for me. From what I understand they pay $XX for your training and if you leave before XX months then you owe them all of that money back..is that correct? Also for a prorated contract is that the same with the exception that the longer you are there say 11 out of the 12 months required you owe them a percentage of the training cost. Am I close on any of this? Some info would be great.

The reason I ask is that I am looking into a job flying a HS-125 700 and they have a two year contract and if given a call and the chance to interview I would like to be a little more prepared.

I would have no plans of leaving the job but it would be nice to know a little bit more about it, it is a fairly large commitment for a company that you may know very little about

 

My contract was a two year, 23,350 training contract. The training was a full PIC ride and type rating at FSI Wichita. It was prorated at 12 month interval. (Full reimbursement if I quit during the first year, 1/3rd if I left the 2nd).

There were exclusions for disability, loss of medical and involuntarily terminated (fired/laidoff).