Being Bonded TCS

[basedpilot]

I've been given a position as a FI where the company will pay for my FI course and bond me for 3 years for almost 30,000 eur.
I was just wondering what you guys thought of this term as I have heard pilots getting type ratings paid for and having almost the same bond.

The bond basically seems to cover the FI course and an IRI.
What do you guys think about this offer? Surely an FI course cannot be more than 10,000 even at the most expensive schools.

[Falling_Penguin]

They are covering the costs of training, employing and then replacing you should you leave within 3 years. As you might well be tempted to. You didn't say whether it is a reducing bond pro-rata over the term. That might produce some more useful guidance for you.

Schools cannot afford to invest money and lose their staff in the same way as airlines. Yes it may not appear to be 'as much' overall when compared to airline opportunities, but then there is much less profit margin and revenue when you consider schools v airlines. Apples and Oranges.

If you are committed to teaching and someone is prepared to pay for it (including valuable IRI experience), three years doesn't seem too much to ask in return. The other way of saying this is: I don't think its about the costs of training you, or reparation if you leave - its about how to monetise a proposition where the FTO is essentially saying: We want you for three years. Yes or No?

Interested in how this one will run...

[iggy]

There is another thread somewhere about an english fresh graduate considering an offer as FO in an ERJ145 with BMI. He has to pay upfront 20.000 GBP for the TR, no bond mentioned. It is very true that a flight school is not an airline, but at the end of the day it is your career and nobody else but you will.take care of it. Just compare both job offers.

[basedpilot]

Thank you for replying chaps,

Well I totally agree with your point Falling_Penguin, it does really come down to the fact that simply put; do I want to instruct as an FI for 3 years or not. They are just simply covering all their costs and financially protecting themselves.
Whether or not i really want the job is something I can't get my head around really. I have found two positions on the RHS of a wide jet where i self finance the TR, but I do not have 30,000 to fork out.

My issue with instructing is that it isn't really commercially oriented flying and it's mostly just traffic circuits and VFR training. I'm not sure how much instructing is going to be beneficial in this day and age where MPL programmes are becoming more of a thing and where we have an influx of fresh fATPL students flooding the industry every year who are fresh out of school with their MCCs complete, heck why would anyone want a bloke whos been doing but nothing except single engine flying a cessna for the passed 3 years?

What would you guys do? Anyone know how to secure a loan for 20,000 EUR in this day and age?

[737 Jockey]

Thank you for replying chaps,

Well I totally agree with your point Falling_Penguin, it does really come down to the fact that simply put; do I want to instruct as an FI for 3 years or not. They are just simply covering all their costs and financially protecting themselves.
Whether or not i really want the job is something I can't get my head around really. I have found two positions on the RHS of a wide jet where i self finance the TR, but I do not have 30,000 to fork out.

My issue with instructing is that it isn't really commercially oriented flying and it's mostly just traffic circuits and VFR training. I'm not sure how much instructing is going to be beneficial in this day and age where MPL programmes are becoming more of a thing and where we have an influx of fresh fATPL students flooding the industry every year who are fresh out of school with their MCCs complete, heck why would anyone want a bloke whos been doing but nothing except single engine flying a cessna for the passed 3 years?

What would you guys do? Anyone know how to secure a loan for 20,000 EUR in this day and age?


If you’re not sure that becoming an FI is for you, you shouldn’t do it.

Firstly, you may not enjoy the job and then be stuck for 3 years with the bond.

Second, it’s unfair on the employer to have invested in you and pay you, if your heart is not in it.

Finally, it would be unfair to trainee Pilots who would be paying significant sums of money for a professional standard of training, which they may not receive if you do not have the right attitude. I’m not assuming you are unfit to instruct, but based on what you’ve said, it sounds like you’d be doing yourself and everyone else a disservice. Teaching/training in any field/subject requires skill, knowledge and dedication to do the job properly, and shouldn’t be entered into half-heartedly. That’s my humble opinion anyway, and I speak as a former FI and current TRE.

There are other options in U.K./Europe at the moment.

Best of luck with your career.

[petrichor]

Based pilot...I started my career as a young pilot securing a 3yr bond in return for my IR and type ratings and it got me onto the ladder. I ended up staying 8 years with that company (mutually beneficial terms and a good working environment lead to loyalty - on both sides) and will be forever grateful for that opportunity. That was 30 years ago!

My suggestion, if it all looks solid and ticks your boxes, go for it.

[felixthecat]

30,000 bond and 3 years for a FI rating? Seems a bit steep to me.

[Council Van]

I seem to recall reading that under EU law a bond has to reduce linearly and can not be for more than one year.
Flying instruction is not an easy job if you are going to do it well. Some times I enjoyed it, others not so much, especially with students who came unprepared for the lesson and 6 hours of trial flights in one day could be tedious especially when the customer was not really interested in what was just a Christmas gift.

Some people are naturally good at teaching, others not so which is perhaps why I found it could be hard work at times. However it did teach me a lot of valuable lessons.