I have been waiting to jump in on this issue for a while so here it goes.
With the industry not being a pilots market over the past 24 months, airlines seem pretty much able to do whatever they wish in regards to employment. As an experienced pilot moving to the UK, some of what I am reading in regards to this is a little frightnening. Asking for someone to pay for a type rating is not right. Asking to bond someone to a type rating is. I think there is a big difference. Here in Canada it is against the law to charge for a type rating and bonding arrangements are quite common. In fact where they stop this nonsense is not allowing airlines to type train pilots unless they are going to be employed. With my former employer I was bound by an agreement which I signed upon employment to protect the company due to my being trained on 4 different aircraft. This makes sense as we all know that a type rating or a PPC is fully transferable to another company. After a specific period of time my obligation was erased. No money changed hands and no reduction in pay was incurred due to my lack of experience at the time.
Where I think people miss the boat on this issue is if you give your word to a compnay and sign a contract, you are making a promise. In keeping this promise you are obliged to serve out your term. If you break this you will not only be in breach of contract with the employer but in my mind possibly looked down upon by other operators. As big as the industry seems to you new folks, it really is a small world and people that P@#! other people off are not easily forgotten.
In my case I do not meet Easy or Ryan's terms as I can tell. Easy wants 500-1500 and I have more, and Ryan wants 1000 JAR 25 which I have none. Where I fit into this I do not know.
In my mind these jobs should be filled with experience and not money as the issue. Here in North America you do not fly a 737 etc. with 200 hours because there are people with more experience to do the job. They move up and you grab the job below. From an operational standpoint this makes sense to me, as a Boeing for someone with 200 hours is not the "Right" fit. I may ruffle a few feathers with that one but no matter how sharp you are, how quick you learn, no matter where you trained, it is a MASSIVE learning curve and simply takes time to overcome.
When the industry starts to roll again and from my guess it will in the next 12 months, airlines that are making certain requests at this time may be forced to move the goal posts again. This includes charging for a type. It would also be nice to see BALPA get involved in this and maybe try and protect young pilots from being taken advantage of. No need for alarm here, just a few thoughts.
I in no way am trying to take anything away from anyone or any orginization. Common sense must prevail here and hopefully the industry could one day come to a standard on this issue. The old saying you do what you have to do is always in effect, but there are limits, and it is my belief that some of these limits are really being stretched.
Good luck to all and lets not all forget to enjoy the easiest gig going!!!