There are many companies that require a training bond as a condition of employment. I'm currious to know the details of the training bonds at the different carriers. How much are they? How long do they last? Are they pro-rated? Do they keep guys from leaving?

Do foreign carriers like Jalway, ANC, Cathay, Emirates, or others have training bonds? What about domestic carriers like JetBlue, Airtran, World Airways and others? What are your training bonds like?

Thanks!!!

 

Well I'm currently working on a foreign contract (Asia), due to the high demand here there was no bond for me, we phased out most all of our 76's and the pilots they decided to keep (ex-pats) and xsition to the 777 had to put up 30K which the receive back over three years.

 

Not airline, but for my corporate gig flying the Citation, I signed an 18 month training agreement for about 22K (the cost of the initial type rating at FSI), prorated at 6 month intervals. I also signed an agreement promising 12 months of service following any tuition reimbursement (the company picks up 100% of tuition towards my masters).

 

FSI is about the most expensive outfit going. They got you at the premium. 18 Months is not bad though. Masters degree is not worth the time, even if it's free, if you're going to stay in the cockpit. I got one during my military leave while I was working in the "five-sided in-box" (i.e., Pentagon). It hasn't caused the phone to ring during my recent job search.

Did you get my PM on ACA lounge?

 

Having the masters paid for is great. I've hear some type ratings are available for under 10k. 22k seems like alot. 30k for a 777 type seems like a huge amount. Is that really what it cost or where does that price tag come from? Did you have to pay it out in cash?

What do you think of a 60k USD type rating? That's the amount of the training bond at EVA Air. That's what EVA says it costs to train and type rate the pilots at their in-house training facilities. It's for 4 years and begins to pro-rate after 2 years.

 

Sounds punitive.

 

The highest quote that I've heard of for a commercial type rating was $32400 for the full, initial type rating in the CRJ at Flight Safety in ATL. That said, I believe that FSI also charges more for a Gulfstream type rating.

 

As a refugee from a US major, I was set to interview in late '05 with China Airlines for a 747-400 job. A week or so prior to the trip to TPE, the company emailed and demanded that US $13,000 be deposited in a Singapore bank. Needless to say, I refused to pay. And so obviously didn't get to play. I'm now going to use the $13K for my first semester of law school.

Guys, it's really a very simple concept. If each of us refused to sign these agreements, they'd go away very quickly.

Cheers,

Felix

 

Md-11... $48,000

 

At Emirates it's a three year bond at $36,000 starting from the completion of your final check to line. It declines on a monthly basis.

I wouldn't pay money up front in the form of a Bank Guarantee, but I didn't have any problem with signing the bond at EK as I figured I would want to stay at least that long. Bonds are very common at foreign carriers. As long as they are reasonable and you plan on spending the required duration at that carrier then I wouldn't have a problem signing one. EVA's bond is excessive and CAL's new bank guarantee is ridiculous.

I've stayed away from Singapore because of the 5 year bond and the Bank Guarantee and I passed on Valujet when they started because they wanted $10,000 even though I was already typed in the DC-9.

I agree, but the problem is higher up than that. The major problem is guys going out and buying type ratings in Europe and the USA in order to get a job with a carrier or corporation. That problem has to be stopped before refusing to sign Bonds can even be brought up.


Typhoonpilot