Captain Kellogs
My understanding from ex-military friends in
VB was that they paid $30,000 and got $15,000 refund on their tax return for this training. They then got back around $6000 or $7000 Dollars a year retention bonus until it was stopped a few years ago. Thus, they got back more than the endorsement fee.
Don’t QF have a training wage until endorsed on a particular aircraft? This is what I am told by ex-military mates in QF (joined 2 and 3 decades ago, so maybe different now) – If correct this is same thing as paying for endorsement, as full wage is not paid until endorsed, thereby, remainder of full SO wage going towards the endorsement. Similarly, Cobhams (National Jet) did have a bond for three years and should you leave early you paid back pro-rata. This has happened to a few ex-military friends. Don’t know anyone in Jetstar or Tiger. But don’t they also pay for endorsements with tax refunds available? Come to think of it, all Pilots who paid for any flying lessons must not have been good enough for the military; otherwise they would have gone through the military. Isn’t that what some QF pilots try and tell you when an applicant fails QF selection? Well, these QF pilots must have paid for flying lessons, unless they went through the military. You must be ex-military too, Captain Kellogs?
So as far as I can ascertain, everyone pays for their endorsement within Australian major airlines in one way or another. Some get commands many years before others too. I don’t think
VB was the first to pay for endorsement as Wellhung Unit points out, others through training wages and bonds were first.
I’ve got no axe to grind as I am now in my 60’s and retired with many ex-military friends (also in their 60’s and close to retiring ) still in QF,
VB, Ansett (when operating) and Cobhams (National Jet) who have provided me with info.