I'm not in favour of a pilot paying for his airline type rating but have no gripes with bonding, a sensible device to protect the employer. However, I've been unemployed for 8 months with a JAA fATPL and 5000 hours (including 2400 ME Jet time) and looking for a step onto the civilian ladder. As I live off my savings for me personally it could make financial sense to pay for my TR as once employed I'm not living off savings (-£2K/month) and I'm being paid (+£3K/month). These are not easy times and so compromises may have to be made to get a job. Nobody said life was fair!