Signing a training contract- IS IT WORTH IT?
 

(In your opinion, of course)
Okay everyone, since so many are in the thick of fighting the good fight at their respective regional workplaces every day I'd like people who have training contracts to give me, and other prospective entrants, some insight in to what you signed for ($/time length) at what operator and if you regretted it at any point? I personally despise this contract bs and hope to give some personal level reference for those walking in to the recruiting room with SJS. If everyone opposes those signing bonuses, they will simply have to vanish, but of course they are still out there. Shed some light!

Any outfit that required a training contract immediately made my "absolutely avoid this place" list. There is typically a reason they have a training contract.... and it's because you're going to want to leave ASAP.

You need to better educate yourself on training contracts and sign on bonuses.

RAH, has a training contract for the Ejet worth two years or 20K I believe that the one for the Q400 and the ERJ was dropped. This is a training contract and has nothing to do with the 5k bonus to attend class. You can go to RAH and not take the 5k but you will still owe them 2 years or 20K if you take an Ejet class.
***A RAH pilot please chime in as I don't have all the details.

Great Lakes, has a training contract for the first 15 months after you complete training worth 7.5K

Eagle, does NOT have a training contract. It has a 5k come to class bonus and if you take it is worth 2 years of service pro rated if you leave. But you can come to Eagle and not accept the 5k and not owe the company any money or anytime.

~~There is a big difference between sign on bonus and training contracts~~

Unless you're just looking for currency I wouldn't worry about a contract. 1 to 2 years will fly by. You probably need to stay on that long to built some quality time anyways.

There is always a reason for a training contract. Think about it, not everyone does it, and the ones that do don't offer them for no reason......

Compass has one and I wouldn't categorize them with the others...pretty sure because of the ATP/PIC type for everyone.

Most people do not realize that if you sign a training agreement (contract) and then on say day 92 you get fired for some reason, it may not even be a reason under your control or one that you even agree with, then you are liable for paying the whole thing back with some of these things. I would be super reluctant to sign any contract, even the pro-rated variety. At least pay a lawyer to spend an hour reading it to you and advise you what it is going to be like if the company terminates you prematurely then sues for the money. One would be inclined to say oh, no company would terminate and then sue, but you would be badly mistaken because it happens. Pilots are often bad about not understanding the contacts they sign, and pay dearly for it.

I signed a 5K/2 year contract at eagle about 2 years ago...ditched that **** hole after 9 months...nothing. They harassed me to pay my last travel expenses (20 bucks) But nothing about the contract.

Eagle did not have a 5K/2 year contract 2 years ago, these 5k has only been around for 6 months. What you did was the low time class and AMR tacked a 5K value to it for hiring you as a low time pilot. These contracts are made to deter people from jumping ship.

*** Many here have said that training contracts haven't been enforced for the most part at most airlines.

True.......