In the face of continued exploitation of newly qualified, low hours pilots by Commercial Aircraft Operators, and resulting from the issues discussed here:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=247047
I feel it is time us wannabes united and took action to resolve the farcical situation that airline recruitment of the likes of ourselves has become.
How would
you feel about forming some kind of wannabes union eg. the "Global Association of Trainee Pilots" (GATP), or perhaps get ourselves some kind of representation through BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association for the non brits out there), or other global unions, to put an end to the shameful exploitation of wannabe pilots.
The problem as it stands is that for all the pilots who quite rightly refuse to pay for type ratings and line training, there are always some who are prepared to pay into the airline's hands. By doing so, such wannabes are doing a diservice to their fellow pilots and encoraging the airlines into further exploitation. If all wannabes were to unite and as one refuse to pay for a TR, line training, etc then the airlines would have to change their tactics.
They are making millions of pounds of profit a year, enough to pay for the complete training of new pilots from scratch, yet alone type ratings.
Lets face it, the airlines NEED wannabes for the continuing sustainment and growth of their operations.
We are the future of aviation, and if we unite we can make them squeal!
Could you imagine macdonalds workers paying for a "big mac rating" out of ther own pocket, no, the idea is absurd.
So why do we have the equivalent in aviaiton?
It is only the fact that working as an airline pilot is percieved to be such a "dream job" that people are desperate enough to pay for type ratings and line training. This is coupled with the fact that many trainee pilots come from backgrounds or situations where financial concerns are not as pressing as of those training to enter other industries.
An airline which expects someone who wants to work for them to not only pay 30+k for their initial training, then an extra 20k for a TR, and
then to work for free, or even pay for their own line training is shamefully and unscropulously taking the piss out of someones hopes and dreams, and they know it.
As a result of the PPRUNE Convention on Aviation Employment 2007 I hereby propose the following articles for the Global Association of Trainee Pilots Constitution, which will contain standards and recommened practices for airline recruitment of newly qualified pilots:
1. No wannabe shall pay out of their own pocket for an aircraft type rating specifically required as a condtion of employment.
2. If a wannabe has previously speculatively paid for a type rating subsequently required as a specific condition of employment then the cost of that type rating shall be refunded by the employer.
3. All wannabes shall, when undertaking training specifically required as a condition of employment, (eg, TR and line training) shall be paid a reasonable wage of not less than 75% of that which they will receive upon completion of said training. Under absolutely no circumstances should any wannabe receive anything less than positive reinbursement for forming part of the flight crew on a revenue earning flight.
4. All wannabes, whilst completing training specifically required as a condition of employment,shall be paid reasonable expenses to cover the cost of accommodation, travel and food whilst away from home during such training.
5. An audit system shall be introduced to ensure that jobs are awarded fairly on a merit based, equal opportunities basis. A situation where for example the son of an airline's training captain, with 200hrs and straight out of flying school is awarded a job in preference over a current flying instructor with say 1000hrs shall be investigated and reported to the authorities, with appropriate action taken as deemed necessary.
6. Any wannabe who:
Attempts to buy their way into a job through the speculative purchase of a type rating,
Pays for a type rating out of their own poket as a condition of employment,
Works for free, or even pays to work on a revenue earning flight,
Shall be pubicly named and shamed by our organisation and any memeber of our organisation shall refuse to fly with such a person in any capacity.
The Proposed constitution of the GATP is posted here for the purpose of discussion and elaboration before its anticipated ratification and enforcement. Any wannabe who wishes to propose and ammendment or addition to the constitution should do so in this forum.
All those wishing to join the GATP, or to volunteer themseleves for a position onto the GATP council (the decision making and administrative body of the GATP) should send me a PM.
Come on people, united will stand, divided we will fall. And at the moment we are all falling, into a spiral of debt and exploitation.
The more of you that join our organisation, the more powerful it shall be, and the more we will be able to influence our own situations, and as we become captains and training captains in years to come, those of future wannabes, for the better.
Do you wannabes want to continue to be a spineless disorganised rabble or do you want to take control of your own destiny? the choice is yours.