I was reading some posts about Training Contracts. I was wondering if any one could explain to me what these are?

Thanks

 

In many aviation jobs, the airplane requires a type rating (for airlines a type rating may not be required for FO's, but they still get almost the same training as a type). A company has two choices when hiring pilots...
1) Find a pilot who has a type rating.
2) Hire a pilot and train him.

Option one is preferred, but in many cases is not practical, so the company will incur $10K-40K in training expenses. A training contract is an agreement by the pilot to re-imburse some or all of the cost in the event the pilot leaves voluntarily within a certain time period. They are usually 1-2 years, the contract amount is usually $10-15K, and the amount is usually pro-rated (the longer you stay, the less you pay when you leave).

Note: Airlines will retrain all new-hire pilots, even if they already have a type-rating in the aircraft, so option one does not apply to airlines.

Not all companies have training contracts. A training contract means one of several things:

1) Companies that are so bad to work for that people leavea asap (mesa)
2) Corporate operators who provide a very marketable type rating. (CE-500)
3) Very small operators who would be economically damaged by one pilot leaving early.

 

Companies with training Contract that I know of:

1. Horizon
2. Pinnacle
3. Big Sky
4. Colgan (I think)

 

Since when has Pinnacle had a training contract???? I never had to sign one.... I dont know any of my fellow 9E pilots that did????


Also add Mesa to the list of companies with training contracts.....

 

Add Great Lakes to that list...15 months, not pro-rated.

 

Cool, thanks for the info Rickair. it's some good info to keep in mind.

 

space monkey is correct. there is no such training contract here at pinnacle. you can come here, get your type, and leave the next day if you wanted. no contract.

 

Unless you are gettin typed in an airplane (SIC type doesn't count), you should NEVER sign a training contract. Any decent company won't ask you to. If you are asked to sign a training contract as a First Officer at a regional that should be a major red flag.