DustyBottoms

If anyone knows a little about training contracts, I could use some insight.

The last time I heard about training contracts was about ten years ago. Back then it seemed like most companies didn't go after the pilots, monetarily, who quit early and were liable to pay the company back for "training costs" that were agreed on prior to employment. I heard from a friend a few years ago that World would actually pursue a pilot for training costs stated in their training contract.

There seems to be at least one company that is hiring here in the states, that has a training contract for a duration of one year, prorated monthly.

I've read about a lot of speculation, already, so I'm just checking to see if anyone has any personal experience with this sort of thing.

Thanks.

Freedom421

Training contracts are legal documents. If the company wants to enforce them they can and some will. If you get a good lawyer and have deep pockets then you can see what happens in court some win some don't. The companies that enforce them seem to update the contract after each court case to make them more enforceable. They will have two witnesses and one of them is usually a notary watching you sign it. Most of these companies are selective in who's contract get's enforced and who's does not. The big question is why do they feel they need a contract.

powrful1

I paid my Mesa contract because it would have cost me more to fight it, which I would have won on a technicality only. Other than that I hear there are others that have training contracts, again some who will go after you, and others that just use it as a scare tactic.

MatthewAMEL

Training contracts are legal documents if...

They are signed, counter-signed and witnessed. If you signed your contract and never saw it again, or were given a copy of it after it was signed by someone else, then it was never properly executed.

In addition, 'legal document' does not mean 'legally enforceable'.

Any decent attorney can get you out of a training agreement (depending on your state) by using several options. For example...in Florida if the training they company gives you is required for your job and they know you don't have it prior to hiring you, then you cannot be required to pay for it.

In several other states, you can use the prohibition against indentured servitude to defeat training agreements.

Now...legal certainly only has a passing acquaintance with moral. If you agreed to pay in exchange for training/job why are you trying to get out of it?

bryris

Funny that this training is a requirement for the position in the first place, yet some try to stick it to the pilots to hedge against their potential training losses. Regardless of a pilot's background, typed on the company equipment or not, ALL must go through the company training for the job.

I think the chances of any given instance being enforced is slim based on the hear say that I've come across. YMMV.

vagabond

Here's an old thread discussing training contracts. I think the lesson we all learned from this was simple - don't sign on to any training contract if you can possibly avoid it.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...-but-crap.html