Are Bonds Legal in UK?
 

Hi all.

Before you all start on at me...

If I worked for a decent company I wouldnt even need to post this topic here.

At present working on an N reg fleet of GA aircraft all over Europe for an Anglo American company.

Working all hours god sends, getting uninterrupted rest and no scheduled days off most of the time not even a duty roster!

Served 1 year of a 2 year bond and expressed concerns (safety) to the ops. room. No joy there. Chief pilot does not give a shyte!

Not the only one in the co. in this situation either - in this case do you reckon a bond would withstand in a court of law?

(PS usually I would withold any verbal or written contract, but this one takes the p@ss)

The answer I'm afraid is "probably" , but you need to get legal advice on it. Join the IPA and you get a free consultation~don't ask a non-aviation solicitor.

Cheers... IPA WEBSITE for joining or tel.no?

www.ipapilot.demon.co.uk
tel:01444 441149
fax:01444 441192

Thanks Fudpucker!

This debate has been going on for years !
Talk to BALPA or the IPA for realistic advice.

I imagine that almost all of us hate the
concept of bonds - strange how your own Chief
Pilot will no doubt defend them to the hilt
but quite expect a new recruit to break a
bond if it suits his a Company's interests.

Before you consider the legal situation, do
remember that Chief Pilots do talk to each
other from time to time and it is not a good
idea to upset too many of them !
When considering acceptance of a job with a
bond make sure that it does reduce on a monthly basis and more than anything else
make sure that the sum involved is reasonable
bearing in mind the level of training given
as you convert to an new type. There have been a number of well published incidents where companies have come up with quite
ridiculously high figures for training bonds.
In this instance the Company involved, if seeking to legally enforce payment, would have to justify every last penny. Should they fail to do so then a Court could possibly throw out a claim for repayment on
the basis that the bond constituted in effect
a penalty clause.

I wonder which companies no longer impose
training bonds for non-type rated recruits ?
There was a lovely story a few years ago of
some guys who joined BigBird (no bond - who
would ever want to leave the world's favourite...) and then promptly legged it to
a certain Far Eastern competitor with a brand
new shiny 747 rating !

So to sum up - I know you want that next job
in greener pastures - however, take a good long look at that bond before you sign it.

Good hunting Baldrick