dbflyer

We need to stop viewing training as something we "get" from an employer. The employer spends money because it benefits them, not because it benefits the pilot.

Just like the employer, a pilot is taking a risk every time they go for a new type ride. Have a bad day and the pilot has a failure on their record that could affect future employment. Both sides take a risk when sending someone to training. The employer takes a financial risk and the pilot takes a reputational (future financial) risk every time there is a FAA check ride involved.

Had the employer been able to attract the right pilot with a type rating already, they would have. They usually can't because they don't pay enough to make someone with a current type rating want come work for them. So, they go for the next best (least expensive) thing for them and they try to find someone with the skill set and aviation experience who is willing to go through another training program and check ride so that they can fly the companies airplane.

All the good companies recognize that when they find someone willing and able to pass a checkride, they are going to have to offer them pay and QOL that will make the pilot want to stay long enough to recoup their expense in pilot training.

The crappy companies rely on training contracts to do the same thing.

tonsterboy5

I understand the purpose of a training contract, I refuse to sign one for an SIC type. If they want to send me for a pic type I would sign but not for a SIC type

CHKPLZ

Could not agree more!!!

CHKPLZ

spot on my man!!!

CHKPLZ

Again get your facts straight before you post!! THATS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN MY PRIOR POST!!!! Who’s to say I’m already past the line of the so called 20,000+ applicants...........
Again you should not have to sign a contract in a pilot friendly hiring environment when employers are begging for pilots.

jeflies

And yet there will always be that one fella/gal who skips out early leaving the company with a loss. If we can prevent those type of people (specifically YOU) from applying because of a training contract then its a win win for both parties. It's also a sign of a person's integrity. Willingness to commit for the allotted time shows a desire to hold that position which is a big part of what the interview is for, showing us you want to be here.

Fredturbo

Sooo, playing this out, what if the company decides, for whatever reason (picking their nose in front of a customer or simply having bad breath), to terminate employment say, 2 months after finishing their training? Do they then owe the employee any sort of guarantee for the rest of the year for committing their livelihood to the company? What about the “just fired” now on their resume? You make it sound as though all the risk is on the employer. Why then don’t these sort of employers with training contracts also provide a salary guarantee to protect the employee?

CHKPLZ

If I had 11 months left on a contract no questions asked would I leave for the big 4.......dduuhhhhhhh. Just a stepping stone to a career destination!

100LL

When the economy takes a dump and airlines furlough again and yes it will happen again we just don't know when yet. Non airline companies will absorb the laid off airline guys and guess what if they know you screwed them over, they wont hire you. Not to mention word spreads and for all you know numerous places know who not to hire by word of mouth. So in the end you are just screwing yourself of job security. Just because the pilot market is good now for the airlines doesn't mean its going to last.

Fredturbo

Lol....the airlines are making billions. No layoffs for decades to come so good luck with the scare tactic.