Boogie-Nicey, I echo 20Drivers comments.
It has been very hard to get any alternatives to my ideas (which I am openly asking for) from those who wish to see SSTRs remain as a part of the industry with the exception of "you dont know what you are doing" and "it cant be done" with no solid justifying reasons. I still think however that it is possible for those that... " sacrifice most, train hardest whilst be openly responsible for their own actions " ... to get into aviation without having to buy a SSTR. It would mean that aviation would be open to those who had the ability, perserverance and personality to get through as opposed to those that have the money or those that are prepared to spend ludicrous amounts of money (not theirs) to obtain employment.
Aviation as I see it is definately moving to the opposite side, where the door is closing to those who cant afford it, regardless of their aspirations, ability or hardwork. Bonding seems to be the obvious middle ground after you get selected based on your ability. We are at the point where we can hold onto the balance of risk between company and pilot,maybe swing it back in our favour but it shouldnt be totally lumped on the pilot and if the company bears some of the risk of training, then that gives pilots more of a leverage when it comes to securing Ts and Cs. Im not saying I want to be paid £100k as a lo-co f/o but we have the choice to let it go one way or the other, I personally dont want to see the burden put squarely on the pilots and I definately dont want to get screwed by management. SSTRs are a tool that helps management, not pilots. If a pilot has the skills, personality and desire, they will get a rating without a SSTR regardless if they have the money to pay for one or not, they can then negotiate based on ability and dedication to the company. If a company knows its pilots have lots of money or are in debt due to their SSTR and are desperate for the job, they can flex more muscle than they otherwise could when it comes to negotiations of Ts and Cs.
You sum up my case beautifully with the following quote:
We have to ask ourselves what else are we prepared to do in order to justify better T&Cs, do we speak multiple languages, have the potential to leave the cockpit with a path to management (effective and practical not old boys club)? How many pilots turn up for employment with a solid degree and perhaps a Masters in Aerospace Engineering, Astro Physics, Mathematics?
This is how we should make ourselves stand out, not the size of our wallet (or loan)! The thing I am trying to prevent is the 'old boys club' (which incidently is not as it was now the industry is so big) turning into the 'rich boys club'. We need to be in the middle, free from SSTRs.
OSOP.