Lynx Dirty Little Secret!!
 

You should note that in a post on 3/9 under Lynx Aviation Interviews I described the interview and said “I am very pleased to enter class later this month”. That was before I found the Lynx “Dirty Little Secret”.

I interviewed, was offered the job and accepted all on March 7. Later that day I cancelled 2 interviews I was to travel to in the next 4 days for other carriers and told my contract flying folks I was leaving for Lynx. Over the weekend I ordered study materials ($100) for the Q 400 and a current pilot there sent me info to make up flash cards. 4 days later, the following TUESDAY I received an email of the offer.

The SECRET was a non-descript attachement.

Lynx spent 45 minutes on a company presentation by both HR and The Fleet Manager / Director of Standards. Neither mentioned anything about a training contract while going through a carefully scripted, very detailed presentation on the company, pay,travel, etc. In the interview with the Chief Pilot he asked questions, commented that they were making accommodations for commuters but I should still expect commuting to be a challenge. HR asked questions and asked if I understood the minimum hours per month, etc.

Neither the Chief Pilot nor the HR Rep said anything about a contract. I have been told that the first 45 or so pilots have been typed and without contracts. There has been no post or company produced information about a contract. A new post came from a pilot this week.

I called HR and politely and professionally asked about the training contract ($15,800, 1 year, no pro rate) and why it had not been presented. I was told it was their mistake not to have talked about it in the presentation or interview. I remarked that "I made a deal with you" and they said “We want happy people here with full hearts who want to build a team; we are rescinding our offer to you.” Can you imagine?

I have noted on this board when a question is asked about "ditching" a contract that most of the response is “Live up to you obligation …. You made a promise, your word is your bond”, etc. Don’t you think the same should be true of the employer? A deal was made, 4 days passed and then they changed the deal? I had already began changing my life!! I had avoided the less than flattering things that had been said about Lynx on the board but it seems they were right. Be warned, they will ask you to keep you word but they clearly wont keep theirs. And at the end of the day I expected more from their Chief Pilot & Senior Recruiter who had seemed so professional and spoke about company core values such as integrity & concern for the individual. I told other companies on that Friday that I took a job, passed on interviews I had for the following week and made them cancel travel plans. They have both declined to reschedule for 3 months. Contact work? Probably not since now they know I am out looking. To the couple of folks I met who fly the line, thanks for your information and help. I really had wanted to be at Lynx. They didn’t even ask if I was going to sign, which I was going to do as I felt there was a good fit and Denver is easy to get to.

Do not work anywhere that has a training contract. There are so many other jobs out there.

were u really not planning on spending one mesealy year there?

Thats not the point, the point is it should have been brought up in the interview. The previous two places I work had them and they where upfront about them in the interview. I spend almost eight years at the first and over a year at the second, I completed both contracts. Honest and integrity two words HR and CP's blather about but few know little about.

Duke,

I'm really sorry it went down like that, they really should have told you during the interview. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

No disrespect intended, but the post just prior to your interview post does mention it. I guess I'm just confused as to how you missed that post and went four days without seeing it.

Checko

You know, I hear people complaining about these sorts of things all of the time.

This industry is full of setbacks, problems, delays, and disappointments. How one deals with them is just as important as his/her skills as a pilot.

Does anyone else think that these sorts of things just might be tests?

Sure, you can call references and talk to people about an applicant's background, but what are 95% of them going to say?

"Yeah, he's a good guy, hard worker, etc."

So if you were an HR person looking to find out a little about about an applicant's personality BEFORE they're under employment, a little test like this would have been perfect. I've read countless stories about interviewees talking about how turned off they were by what a "jerk" the interviewer was....well yeah, he wanted to see how well you handle conflict and weed out the people that have problems dealing with a conflicting personality.

The reality of the situation is that Lynx wants people to stick around and they have a training contract. You've implied that you had planned on staying there for more than a year and this contract wouldn't have affected at all, so you essentially made a big deal out of nothing AND demonstrated that there was a possibility that you wouldn't stay for a year.

....and they don't want people like that working for them.

Now, this might not have been an intentional move on their part, BUT, they still learned a lot about their applicant and they didn't like what they saw......thus your present situation.

I also don't mind pointing out that the simple fact that you came here to whine about it is further evidence that you're not very good at dealing with setbacks.

I do thank you, however, for sharing your experience...I hope to work for Lynx once I'm financially prepared to do so and you've given me some insight into what not to do.

You have a future in airline management. Who wants to work for manipulators and people who don't tell employees the truth? I can't wait for you to show up have me interview you at an airline some day. This guy is completely right for calling and asking about a part of a deal that wasn't presented to him. Not one person can say for sure that they will be sitting at the same company for a year. Things happen in life that are unforeseen and that causes people to change their life around. In addition training contracts are illegal and don't ever hold up in a court of law. You see this is the difference between a professional pilot and a young newcomer who has a set of wings to go with his X-box and Ipod. A professional demands respect and calls bs when he treated with something different. A fresh face on the street bends over and spreads them for management. Bring your own lube.... they don't provide it.

I AGREE. It is no secret if you take the time to read. Not only that, if you look at the profile for Lynx on this website, it states it clearly. You must not have done your homework and always go to an interview with questions you need answered. The first 90(attrition factored in) or so pilots did not have a contract and were typed, it was entitlement training with the airplanes. If you want to be here, it is part of the game, if you don't want a ONE year training contract, then go elsewhere, but don't complain about it. PLENTY of regionals are hiring, go there.

I think there were two steps in your approach to this, 1) they should have told you and didn't. I think you were within your rights to call and ask, that's pretty reasonable. 2) you said " I made a deal with you" which I don't know how you said it, but to me it comes off angry. Honestly it also comes off entitled, they are offering you a job, nothing says they HAVE to give it to you. Also along that line, if you had no qualms about being there for a year then why even make a big deal out of it, I understand you were ****ed, but what did you think was going to happen? They would say "oh nevermind, since we didn't tell you we're not going to make you sign it" ... I don't see that happening. I'm of the opinion that they're providing you quite alot when they put you thru initial training, the least they can expect is you'll stay a year. As has previously been pointed out, if you don't mind being "that guy" you can always break the contract without consequence. My regional doesn't make us sign training contracts but if they did, I'd be ok with that, it only comes into play when you're using them as a stepping stone to another regional. Overall, lesson learned move on, send out resumes and chalk this one up to experience.

Blueskies, et al,

That's how I'm seeing it. There is nothing wrong with calling and telling them you had a couple of questions regarding the offer and asking them politely to explain why the training contract wasn't mentioned in the interview. If one is not satisfied with the answer, then just tell them thanks for the opportunity, but that you are no longer interested. No harm, no foul, and instead of the recruiter saying, "Gee, he was an a$$," they might actually chalk it up to loosing a great potential employee due to the contract, enough people so that and it might go away. Yeah its a bit idealistic, but it is simple labor economics, enough times and it will begin to matter.

A "professional" does not act like a bull in a china closet when things don't go their way, that's just immature. There is nothing wrong with a "professional pilot" comporting themselves as one and simply saying, "no thanks," when they are getting a deal they don't like.

Checko

The reality of the situation is that Lynx possibly mislead the applicant. If you wish to retain your employee's, how bout this concept, honesty, integrity, professionalism, a good working contract and respectful salary. Providing a vision that all employee's can respect and be motivated for. A contract does not provide that rather demonstrates a lack of confidence on their abililty to maintain a working and profitable structure within their airline.
A good decision on that young man for confronting the situation and more so for having the courage to do so.

The fact he came here to write or as you mention "whine" is his perogative and right to do so. It is no different than other posts complaining of their companies or asking if they look "cool" in their RayBans, or worse yet, if its ok to date a flight attendant. He was merely venting as well as providing and experience to alert others.

There are many airlines hiring, some more selective than others but I hope all have the respect of our skill as well as our integrity. Good luck to you and everyone else.

I don't disagree with what you are saying concerning what the employer should provide the employees. It should be that way but we unfortunately don't live in a perfect world.

I think what some of us are saying is that we don't understand how this was a "secret" to the OP when there were posts here eluding to the same fact.

You're right, he can post what he wants, but much like the Mesa and GoJets posts of late, it doesn't stop us from wondering why he didn't know what he didn't know.

That being said, best of luck to the OP, hopefully the next company will be a little more transparent to him or her.

Checko

I understand that the nature of training contracts in and of itself will make my position unpopular, but what you've failed to understand here is that this company has a culture that it is trying to preserve. They want happy people who are fun to work with.

I want to work at a company that looks out for it's employees in that manner. I want to work at a place with people who are fun to work with and professional.....not a place full of flying "gods" and arrogant jerks who think that being pretentious is considered "professional."

Grown-up, responsible and confident pilots deal with setbacks like a "quiet professional." I seem to remember that tern being coined on this very web site.

In an industry packed with know-it-all, whining, full-of-themself j@ckasses, I'd like to work for a company that cares enough about it's employees and it's company culture to weed these types out before they hit ground school.

What is described in the original post is one way that one company did just that.

I mean, seriously, if you had an applicant calling and confronting you about an oversight, what would you think? This is normally the stage of the game where you send the interviewer a "thank you" letter even if he told you that you were the worst applicant that they had seen.

Being confrontational before you've even started training is just not a smart thing to do.

Regarding it being his perogative: Of course it's his right.....where did I say that it wasn't? I simply think that it's evidence of the very sort of undesirable personality trait that Lynx HR apparently detected and didn't like.

no big deal can you still un-cancel your other interviews and go there instead?

Two lessons:

1. Never turn down interviews.
2. Ask about training contacts at the interview.

Though training contacts are BS, they regionals are thick with them. It's a fact of life. Take the job and stick around for a year at least. While thay should have told you, they didn't. My guess is that you wouldn't leave within a year anyway, I agree it sucks getting blindsided like that.

I think the OP learned some important lessons from this experience, but unfortunately had to learn them the hard way. I know it really sucks for the OP, but hopefully some of the new guys on here can learn from his experience.

First, if you are in the "dead-set against training contracts for any company and any reason" crowd (which I assume means you won't ever apply to SWA since YOU have to shell out $$$ for your type, not just sign a training contract), then you'd better do your homework to find out if the company you're interested in has a training contract. Failing that, I've never been in an interview where I wasn't asked if I had any questions. That's an opportunity to politely and professionally ask if there's a training contract.

Second, if you interview and get an offer the same day, you do not have a "deal," you have a "conditional offer" since they're still going to have to do your background check and golden flow results or whatever else they want to tack on. And as the OP found out, a conditional offer can be revoked. I can't help feeling the OP wasn't quite as professional during his call as he claims since they revoked the offer (although I have heard of someone at Flight Options new hire class a few weeks ago being fired on the spot for asking about the union on the first day, so who knows). As was mentioned, when the OP found out about the training contract and since that seems to be a deal breaker for him, he should have politely declined the offer. As he found out, going off on HR is not going to change the world, just loose the job.

Third, I don't think it was a wise move for the OP to cancel all his other upcoming interviews right after his interview/conditional offer from Lynx. Others may have a different view, but I've always liked to be in the position of having a few interviews lined up and then hopefully having some options to choose from.

Finally, professional avaition is a relatively small community -- be very careful about who you p-ss off today. Tomorrow that person could be the HR or Chief Pilot at the "dream" job you're applying for -- and they DO remember names of people they don't like. I'm not saying it's right or fair, just saying how it is.

The OP mentioned in his original post that he told the other places he accepted a job offer and canceled his interviews. When he called back, they told him he needed to try again in three months. If you were at one of those companies, what would you think of an applicant who canceled a scheduled interview saying he'd accepted a job elsewhere and then called back wanting another shot? Right or wrong, they're going to assume the person wasn't very interested in their company to begin with. Lesson learned: Do not turn down scheduled interviews.

Anything can happen on probation.

Oh i figured hed be smart enough to make up an excuse for cancelling other interviews, like family emergency etc. I didnt realize he told those companies he was actually accepting another job. Oops

Yeah -- another excellent point! If you do decide to cancel, come up with an excuse that leaves the door open to getting it back if you need to. :cool:

I am all for a culture of happy workers, and the last time I checked a training contract does not provide that. As I mentioned before, the working rules and contract along with an understood vision for a company does. A training contract does not gaurantee a "happy and fun" pilot as you described, rather one who is either regretting being stuck at an airline with false hopes or happy to be at an airline with an aspiring future, and not because of a training contract. You mention you want all these qualities, well heck who doesn't!?
A Grown-up, responsible and confident pilots deal with setbacks like a "quiet professional." ? Tell that to ALPA. A set back is being furloughed, a set back is taking a pay freeze, a set back is taking a pay cut, a set back is losing flying to another carrier...etc etc...
A canidate realizing he is required to sign a training contract is not a set back but a lesson learned. Whether he did his homework or not as in this case is irrelevant. I am certain all of us do not have all the details of our current or hopeful employers, noone is perfect. However he did realize it albeit too late. The confrontation term as one mentioned in my opinion may be too strong a term. He inquired on the issue as he should have, and made a personal decision. His fault, possibly; could have been avoided had he reviewed the company, absolutely. Training contract providing everything you mentioned it would in Brady land...not a chance in H**L.

I have to agree with most that you mentioned, except of SWA. The difference being that the intention of the type rating is for SWA, it is still an investment you keep with you to use at a future time. Hence a college degree for example. Take care everyone.

I still maintain if you're against training contracts then by that logic you should also be against having to spend YOUR money to go get a type rating. A training contract does not cost you anything as long as you stick around for the prescribed time. Most places with training contracts result in you having a type rating and additional flying experience that you keep for use at a future time. I'm taking the "no training contract ever" mentality to it's logical conclusion. If you have a problem signing a paper that only says you'll stick around for x months, then there's no way you should think it's okay to spend big bucks on a type rating in order to work someplace -- heck, even Skybus doesn't require people to have 320 types.

My point is that in reality the same people who are continually posting the one liner "never sign a training contract" are likely the same people who would LOVE to work for someplace like SWA. I think the blanket "never sign a training contract" is poor advice. If it's a good company, what's wrong with them asking you to stick around for a certain period of time after they've spent thousands of dollars training you? If it's a POS company, then why go to work there in the first place? Of course the majors don't have training contracts since the competition is so tough to get in, they have little risk that the people coming in are going to leave any time soon. However, if you're going to a place that is traditionally a stepping stone to higher things, why do some of you think the company has no right to try to recoup the money they spend on training you? Most people are going to stay at a job at least a year. If it's not someplace you'd be willing to stay for a year, then why would you want to go there to begin with?

I don't think there is anything wrong with calling and asking questions about a job offer. In some flying positions, these offers are even negotiable!

However, what I think happened here was that the OP didn't call and ask, he called and demanded, called and was unprofessional and abrasive.

If he didn't like the contract he could have backed out, thanking them for the opportunity and he could've even mentioned he didn't want to sign a contract, that's also part of the deal.

Trying to spin a rescinded job offer by a company as a personal decision, unless you are calling somehow causing the company to do so, a personal decision, is completely missing the point.

I think the take home lesson here is that no matter who the company is and the situation that you've found yourself during the hiring process, the best course of action is to remain professional throughout.

Truer words couldn't be spoken, especially in this case.

Hey - a training contract in the military costs you around wings plus 8 years now. After dealing with that - one/two year(s) and $20K for instance doesn't sound that bad :eek:

Now since I'm fairly new to all of this, would someone please tell me why the idea that a company that is going to put a fair amount of money into your training expects you to stick around for a few years?

Yes - I'm coming at this from a military point of view.
Nearly everything you do comes with a pay back time.
1) Get a promotion - stay a few extra years to earn reitrement pay at that grade.
2) Take a bonus - add 6 years to your time.
3) that new fancy PCS - add 2 more years onto your time before you can move on.

What exactly is it about a training contract in the airline world that has people up in arms?

Thanks

USMCFLYR

USMCFLYR,

The simplest way to explain it is that in most cases, the companies who ask new hires to sign training contracts are the ones that aren't as "good" to work for. By "good", I mean, pilot friendly workrules, commutable schedules, etc.

When a company locks in a pilot for a year with a training contract, it nullifies the effect that a bunch of pilots leaving because they hate working there would have, thus making it difficult for any improvements to occur.

TC's in effect are a way to skew the labor economics of pilots, making it more difficult for them to "vote with their feet" when pilots feel they aren't treated well or fairly.

Checko

I wouldn't be that iron-clad about it. There are several decent companies that have training contracts in place. There are also some POS companies. The bottom line is that no one is forcing you to go to work somewhere. You need to do your own homework and make your own decisions. Don't go someplace with a training contract and then complain about it.

Look at the realities of operating a business. I have my own LLC for my contract work and pay for my own recurrent training (which is factored into the rates I charge) and that costs around $6K each time. Guys, training is not cheap and companies are in business to make a profit. They can't do that if they're paying to train people who then walk out the door. Training contracts are not in place to "skew labor ecconomics." They exist as a way to help companies ensure they recoup the costs of training.

If it's truly a POS company, then DO NOT go to work there in the first place and the company will go broke and be gone from the picture. However, to say every company that has a training contract is terrible is ridiculous. I assume none of you are going to work for SWA either -- see my post above. There's a bunch of people on this board who are dying to get a job at NetJets -- do you realize they use to have a training contract? The majority of places with training contracts are the types of operators seen as stepping stones to higher things.

I remember the days years ago when guys were telling everyone to NEVER work for the likes of SWA or NetJets. Sometimes I just have to laugh! :D

Man, we are in the same boat. We're lived through iron-clad, years long commitments that if we tried to quit, we'd get sent to prison. Meanwhile, kids on here are complaining about signing a paper that says they'll stick around someplace for a year -- and the worst that can happen to them if they break it is the company MAY try to hold them to it! :D

I'll admit that there is a lot of the business side on here that I don't understand, but it seems that training contracts are in use for everyone except the Majors because for the longest time that was the pinnacle and once you had worked your way up there they weren't worried about you leaving before they got their dimes worth of training out of you; but if you weren't a major (or fractional as it is now) it seems that if you DID NOT have a training contract then someone would hire on to get some type of advance training, upgrade, type rating, etc.... and then turn right around and leave the company without having worked an honest day. Thus the company is doing nothing but paying for the employees training in the simulators and airplane (plus all other associated costs - hotels, food, per diem, etc....) and getting nothing in return.

So....I know what I said above is just too simple a thought and there MUST be more behind the dislike of training contracts that I see posted here.

Btw - I agree that basically having to have a 737 type rating for SWA is a form of training contract and I always wondered about it 20 years ago while I was driving those crews around as a hotel van driver! Why pay for the training yourself when every other airline would train you.
Also - looks like the top fractionals all have training contracts too.

I'm missing something here.

USMCFLYR

That's why I said most cases. Also, I was only referring to what a training contract and why regional airline pilots loathe them. There is nothing wrong with signing one if you want to work there and feel that it is a good fit for you. You would probably stay at least year anyways.

When a good company has a training contract, it is like insurance, they probably won't need it, but its there if they do.

When a "POS" company has a training contract it works in like I described it. Especially at a non-union company like Lynx, it gives management little incentive to improve working conditions because no one leaves, thus their practices don't cost them any additional training money, they have you.

The problem with a training contract, is that all too often it is almost a punitive tactic. Some employers forget that they owe something back to their employees and having a training contract nullifies the only true and moral economic solution to the employees' problem, finding a new job and leaving.

Our problem lies in the how training contract is used and why it exists, not the simple fact one exists. The way things usually work in this industry, we have to be a suspicious bunch and the existence of a training contract raises red flags.

That being said, I do feel and I think most pilot's would agree that we do owe our employer something when they spend the time and money to train you. Its just a year and I think the majority of us would just stick out the year and get out.

However, no one likes getting taken advantage of, wouldn't you agree?

Also, you are correct in saying that no one forces you to work for a company and we all have to make responsible decisions. In many ways, this incident is a great example of that.

Clear as mud?:)

Checko

Does SWA have you sign a training contract? .......Didn't think so. Type rating is your's to keep.
Im done

Update from the OP
 

I appreciate the well-thought out comments that have been made in response to my original post. Just a couple of follow-up points:

• The posting on the Lynx contract was AFTER this all happened. It was posted by someone I met in this experience who has been very courteous.

• My call to Lynx was professional, courteous and conversational. Keep in mind that when I called Lynx it was in response to my being surprised with the training contract. When I made the call I had the FULL INTENTION of going to work there and it would have been stupid to be anything but friendly. My goal was to be there for many years as I believe in the route structure and the Q400. I still wish they had just realized I was new to the industry and asking a question based on my experience to date. I wanted to be there.

• I agree if you sign a contract it is a contract. A company might use a contract as a device to keep employees and manage training cost. I also believe that with each month anyone works under a contract they deliver a return of the training cost to tht company, something Lynx does not believe in. They believe that you “owe” them the same on day 1 as day 365. What do you think?

• As for being foolish to cancel the other interviews, yes. I am an honest person and didn’t see any reason not to be excited about Lynx and believe I was going there. . I have no issues with my drug screen or background check.

A training contract is a funny thing. I have an ATP and 2 jet types, all paid for by me and picked by me. As for the 737 type that SWA requires, it’s not a contract but a required asset. Just the same as buying suits for a sales job albeit more expensive.

I learned today that only very recent pilots hired have a contract, There are 12 of them and I have never met any of them. There is no way for anyone to know about the contract unless Lynx was forthright about the issue. If it had been explained in the group presentation perhaps several questions would have come up that they did not want to face. Instead, they surreptitiously sent it individually.

This response was sent from the Lynx Chief Pilot to their pilot board today:

To Captain FXXXXXXX,

I was not involved in the pre-interview presentation, but I've since learned that the information regarding training contracts was not presented. This was not intentional. We have had training contracts in place for the last three classes and will continue to make this a requirement of employment.

There is no intention of hiding the fact that we require a commitment in consideration of the training provided. Should we have been more diligent, certainly, but it was not intended that this go undisclosed.

As far as the individual is concerned, an internal decision was made to withdraw the offer. Please accept my sincere apologies for this situation.

XXXXX

XXXXXX
Chief Pilot -
Lynx Aviation

The original post wasn’t whining. It was a warning to other on this board about the potholes and challanges many of us “newbie’s” don’t know are out there and how not to handle them. I still hope to be "on line" somewhere soon.....

Nevermind.

You are correct that I do not personally agree with training contracts, amazing you did understand that concept.
As for what you think of my responses, really dont care, been flying for 19 years and have some knowledge, but of course again, this was just my opinion to the original post.
So with that, I read that flyduke gathered the info, and whole heartly agree and him/her the best.

If you sign a contract at a carrier, they train and type you at thier expense and you can take that type and experience with you when you leave. The pay for your type thing seems to be pretty much the same animal to me, except worse because you actually have to take money out of your pocket where the training contract people just have to stay for a year. (depending on the contract) Either way, you are paying something for you training...one person is paying money and the other is paying time.

VT

Lynx has got to be one of the worst choices out there at the moment. Unless you need to live in Denver for family reasons, I would go elsewhere. Super low pay for a 70+ seat aircraft. Boring routes - how long before you become bored with your 6-7 destinations? Better regionals offering better routes and nicer airplanes are out there. Seriously, the fact that you didn't ask about a training bond is a red flag too - they are becoming more common.

Just find another regional that offers better routes, aircraft and pay and you should be OK. Lynx is not the best operator out there by a long shot.

You've obviously never flown a dash. Just because it has props doesn't make it undesirable. As far as the pay...that's another story.

I agree. There is absolutely no relation, analogously, conceptually or otherwise, between having to pay for your 737 type rating and a training contract. They're completely different and not even in the same ballpark.

Who says that you'd necessarily get a type rating? Perhaps at a fractional but new hire FO's at regional airlines, ala Lynx, are not getting a type with their training contract.

I know a guy that got on with SWA and bought his type. Within a few months, he was interviewed and hired by UPS and left. So, having to pay for a 737 type doesn't necessarily keep you around.

You guys are exactly the types I'm talking about. I just have to laugh that you think signing a training contract is the end of the world but it's perfectly acceptable in your logic to spend your own money to get a type rating. :cool:

A training contract costs you nothing as long as you fulfill its terms, plus in order to make them at least quasi-enforceable, most involve you receiving a type rating as part of the deal. So at the end of that, no only does it not cost you anything, you are being paid while you're there and when you leave, you walk away with a type rating PLUS considerable experience and flying hours in the airplane -- all of which you "take with you."

Do you guys realize that buying a type rating does nothing for you unless you're trying to get on with someplace like Southwest that requires one? Say you buy your 737 type and don't get hired by SWA -- guess what, no one else will even consider that a valid type rating since you have no time in the airplane. If you look at some of the applications out there, some places will only allow you to list type ratings if you have a certain amount of time in the airplane.

So all you're done is prove my point with your flawed logic. If you hate training contracts, then you should also be against spending big bucks on an otherwise useless type rating that will only be a benefit IF you are hired by SWA. Instead, you tell everyone to NEVER sign a training contract, but it's okay to buy a type rating that will only help your application with ONE company. Just so you don't misunderstand my position on this, if SWA is your goal, then by all means go get your 737 type -- I have no problem with people doing their homework and then making smart decisions to reach their personal goals. What I don't like is others thinking they are the self-appointed Aviation Police and telling others what they MUST or MUST NOT do without knowing anything about someone's personal situation or ultimate career goals.

I keep seeing all kinds of activity on here on Republic threads and keep running into people who think that's the best place to go right now. However, looking at their info on this site, they make you sign a TWO year training contract. So why is everyone interested in them if ALL training contracts are nothing but evil? :)

Once again, my point is for people looking at "advice" to consider the logic of these people screaming about training contracts. These are the same people who would have passed up jobs at NetJets a few years ago. Instead, the ones who went there are now captains making over $100k/year. Instead of having a "never sign a training contract," a better approach is to look at the company and determine if it's a place worth working at. If it's a decent company, you should have no problem staying there a year. If it's not a good company, then don't go there to begin with! Ultimately, it is YOUR career and YOU have to determine what is the best course of action for YOU, not what some self-appointed Aviation Cop tells you to do. Life is too short and this industry is too nuts to be miserable about everything all the time! :D