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You know, guys like us (comm pilots not quite ready for 121) are really betting all our chips on this "pilot shortage" coming to fruition... because if it doesn't, we totally just missed the boat. With the amount of pilots the regionals have hired within the last 6-12 months, if there ends up being nowhere for them to move up to, then there is about to be some serious stagnation in the 121 world. If that ends up being the case then forget the majors, we will be considering ourselves lucky just to get a spot at a regional.

You mention that you are single. That's helpful in this industry :-) Don't rule out overseas work either. There are contracts for 1900 captains. Other turboprop jobs are in ATR's and Q400's. Money is great and flight time is plentiful. In my opinion, you are best served by being a Captain and your route to that seat may be relatively faster at GIA. I say take the job if you can.

Take the Gulfstream job.

Better for resume. CFI hours is just filler.

Get the JOB OFFER first, then worry about it.
But my opinion is, if they DO offer you the job, take it. If it doesn't fit you, you can move on...

If he bails before the contract is up he will owe the remaining balance. $24k 2 yr contract pro rated at $1k a month.

I think that's just part of the process of rolling the dice if it's not the job where you want to be, but it's what is available. You can't escape that agreement anywhere.

It always makes me laugh when people bash one airline over another. As for going to Gulfstream look at the numbers. Is the initial pay super low? You bet. Is it worse that the others in the long run and big picture? No. Look at it this way and compare. Figuring flying the Monthly guarantee, prop pay to prop pay

AE (before the trouble) that people looked down their nose at GIA from.
1st year- 21600
2nd year- 23300
3rd year- 25900
4th year- 29300
5th year- 30240
total- 130,360

This figures 5 years as a FO because there were no upgrades in site.

GIA
1st year - 16200
2nd year- 17100
3rd year-31500 (you would realistically be a CA by now)
4th year- 33300
5th year- 34200
total $132,300

That is almost $2K more that Eagle and you have three years TPIC. I know these are round numbers and there are other factors but the bottom line is that you need to do what is right for you and look at the big picture and what is best in the long run for you not all the faceless people on an internet forum that want you to do what they did. If you feel you are ready, go for it.

They aren't the only people out there with a training contract. Hell if I owned any kind of company where I was going to hire you and spend money to train you, I would want some sort of assurance that you wouldn't be job hopping as soon as a better deal came along. Two years seems steep to me but hey if you don't like the deal, pull your cards off the table and walk away.

First of all, I am glad Gulfstream got rid of that "PAY TO PLAY..." program.

Now, If you look at it, the Gulfstream deal is not Bad at all, especially for any low time pilot. Where else can such a guy go to get twin turbine time in a 121 environment & get paid as well.

Pay is low but this place is not for experienced pilots, this place is pilots to get experience & move on....

For a Captain, the pay is on the low side. But, the way pilots who were interviewing have stayed strong & made the management drop the "Pay for training & deducting money from each pay check", the same way, slowly that change in Captains pay may also happen where the Captain gets paid what he should be as per Industry comparable for same type of aircraft.

For a newly minted CPL holder with 250-300 TT hrs written in fresh ink & a bare bone multi rating, I think that this is a golden oppertunity.

Even American Eagle has a training contract for 2 yrs for guys with less than 800 TT & 100 Multi, those who were sent for ATP RJ course & paid for by Eagle.

Having a training contract is not wrong, if one doesn't like it, don't have to apply or join at such places.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Gulfstream at all, this is my independent view.....