Listening to some pilots in the Orval bar recently it would appear that, with some minor differences, their careers went along these lines.
Initially money borrowed to reach CPL and Instructor Licence.
Find PAID instruction job to build up hours/ experience. Have to pay for own medical and start to repay debt.
With more hours/ experience find BETTER paid job with charter company. Conversions paid for by the COMPANY. Pay for own medical and pay off a bit more of the debt.
With more hours, etc. find BETTER paid job with company flying larger aeroplanes (4 engines). Conversions and medical paid for by the COMPANY. Pay off a larger part of the debt.
Hiccup! Company goes broke!
Find job with well-established airline. Conversions and medical paid for by the COMPANY; join the company pension scheme. Work up through the system F/O, Capt., Instructor, etc.
Debt paid off now and more MONEY in the bank.
Are these exceptional cases? Apparently not, there were several of them.
This is the way it could be done, so why not now? The proliferation of 'bonding', paying for conversions, paying to go flying et al. can not be blamed on the companies. After all, they're out to take a mile.
The blame, if any, lies firmly at the doorstep of those who have condoned and let it happen.
You know who that is.
