Contract Pilots v Permenent Pilots
 

Having been both a contract pilot and a permenent employee, I have experienced the advantages and disadvantages of both. Saying that I have never really considered the legal position incase of any dispute. Would this be a contractual right or employment right? I am again in the situation of making a choice between contract and permanent work and in case of future dispute would like to hear from anybody who has any experience or knowledge in this area.

Would not recommend going contract with most of the low-cost carriers(In Europe,thats the Brit and Irish ones) as they are very unscrupulous and will use contractual clauses(like not flying you..no min hours..no pay)to win any falling out you may have with them.But with reputable airlines,contract work is absolutely fine.Worked with JAL and KAL...both a real pleasure.

Rananim

A very sweeping statement!

You 'lump' European airlines into 2 groups, 'Unscrupulous Low Cost' and 'Reputable'.

You refer to the unscrupulous low cost as 'British and Irish ones'.

Back up your statements with some fact please.

Rananim I work for one the airlines you describe.

Perhaps you worked for us but were unable to sustain the very high standards we expect from our pilots... or maybe you just don't like hard work!

Even though my original thread was really to ask who is responsible for keeping to my contract legally, is it the agency or the airline?, is yet to be answered, I have been doing some homework with regard to the conditions being offered by the low cost airlines.
Let me just say a friend of mine has a contract with an agency to fly for Ryanair, and not being type rated he had to pay for his own rating. This amounted to euro 30,000, with a month and a half expenses to add on top. He started in July, finished at the end of August, and up to date has only done his touch and go to get his rating. He has been told that he is probably likely to start his line training in January/February, and even then he won't be paid a penny until the safety pilot is released, then just half pay until his line training is complete, which could take 3 months. So counting all this you're almost looking at a year with no wages. To add insult to injury, Ryanair actually get kick backs from the training school of euro 3,000 per pilot.
FOR A LOW BUDGET AIRLINE? HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?
Needless to say he is struggling financially at the moment, so this is one contract I am staying well clear of!
So I'll leave you to make up your own mind as to whether it's a fair deal or not.:{

Hi Babylon,

Tell your friend to download the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and Regulations at

www.dti.gov.uk/er/agency/regs-pl971.htm

If the conditions offered do not comply or equate with above act if working through a non UK agency, beware. Also ask agency for the schedule of the Accident Insurance policy which is supposed to cover him before signing.

Ryanair is most likely to work through non UK agencies thus the above act is not applicable. Also if you do training without a signed contract from the customer ie Ryanair there is not much you can do about it me thinks.... :rolleyes:

How does it work at Easyjet??

FlapsOne, I do hope you're not trying to suggest the Brit low cost carrier he was refering to is not unscrupulous. They can't spell "morality" or "decency", and have not even heard of "integrity" or "loyalty". They do understand "nepotism", but that's as far as it goes with the big words.