763 Jock

GAMA Aviation bond you after LPC according to my mate, who flies for them.

How !!!! is that?

That, my son, is a real piece of !!!!.

Thank you people, your posts confirmed my suspicion that my illustrious MGT's is being economical with the truth when claiming that this type of bonding is nowadays widely spread and accepted.

And now to some fan mail.


Europe. Yes, there are countries in Europe that don't comply with the second world standards.

We're state owned, have the same name as the country and the supervisory board is a bunch of pollitically selected... individuals, who were unable to guess the exact number of aeroplanes in the fleet, when asked by local economics weekly (it was eleven). I guess I'm sure.

True. However, I'm not sure it's applicable to my situation: 8 years with the company, 4000TT. Unable to move elsewhere due to passport, which makes some overzealous visa officials ask straight faced: "Sir, have you ever commited a war crime or know someone who did?"

We're renewing the fleet so training is included in the price of the new aeroplanes. I don't think that manufacturer gives price breakdown that would show how much pilots' trainning actually costs. And my company doesn't call it "bond". The term used is "contractual penalty".

My union's lawyer suggested me to sign the contract now and complain later. The union board basically said that we're on our own and it won't interfere. They felt offended when I labeled them as corrupt.

I've used the term advisedly, having Marlon Brando in mind. It wasn't an offer, it was a directive. Despite me telling the head of training that terms of contract are grossly unfair and that I won't sign it, my wife was informed by the telephone that her husband's training starts in a month. My cellphone was switched off because I was flying at the time. Also my name didn't appear on 6-months OPC roster. Currently it seems that MGT counts on giving me the trainning now and forcing me into signing the contract later.


We have abolished seniority 2 years ago. What little has been left of collective agreement is constantly being trampled by MGT and my fellow pilots have taken the stance: "We're doing fine, they haven't started beating us yet."

Yuck - management sucks, the union sucks, and you're on your own. You can't sort out management, and the union wimping out leaves you without the ability to face it collectively. Actually, manufacturers costings based on contracted training credits can be far worse than your local TRTO who have to compete with others. "How much are my training credits worth?" can easily generate an inflated answer.

The only solution seems to be to stop paying your union fees and use the money saved to pay a solicitor who knows local and EU employment law to advise, being in the EU could make a big difference. Or/and you could try contacting IFALPA individually, as they could have some European law having lobbied on behalf of other EU ALPAs, or possible legal precedents from other unfortunates in other EU countries. It's not just the amount, the time period and non-reducing "contractual penalty" are all worth running by a solicitor who knows employment law.

Good luck.

You confuse me, is it an upgrade or are you buying that screw driver?:\

Flatspin. You makes me larff.:ok:

once/if you move company (and country), how would they be able to collect, that is the real and only question...:cool:

"Currently it seems that MGT counts on giving me the trainning now and forcing me into signing the contract later."

Well, start learning and screw them later :}

By that time you will have 2 ratings on your licence and if they won't let you fly ... with 4000 TT you will get something.

I'm only too painfully aware of it. My country is not part of EU nor it will be in the foreseeable future. Getting me an EU work permit is an extra mile that no respectable EU company is willing to walk. I fancied a go at flying Avros out of ZRH, but then we're no part of EFTA either. And I was really willing to learn german.

From my guarantors. I need to have a pair of these too.

Never thought of classing Croatia as a third world country! :}

Clandestino, I guess you're being thoroughly shafted up the !!!!ter, so to speak. Whatever did happen with your employment or contract? My fleet chief went to ZGB several times to do some low-visibility training/certification i believe for the Q400 a while back and he told me he had a really nice impression of the outfit.

I am aware that Croats are just a *tad* nationalistic. Are you sure everyone gets a bond like that when they get an upgrade? Because surely that must be illegal if that is not the case.

Really curious what happened to your situation or maybe even more information about the airline.

I'm sorry, but IAW local laws and some pieces of paper I've signed, I can not either confirm or deny I was referring to Croatia.

There were some good cop - bad cop games and after a bit of friendly persuasion, I signed. Currently I have completed 2 sim sessions and there are 8 to go. Good news is it isn't 32 K€ bond, it's mere 28500. Phew!

Starting last year, yes. Five year upgrade bond was common practice in my company, but until last year it was reducing every month and starting amount was smaller, although one couldn't reallistically repay it until it was brought down to appx 30%. A year ago we've started phasing out certain franco-italian turboprop and pilots forced into changing type, but keeping their seat, would get three year bond, F/Os upgrading would get five year bond. Also bonding one's employees for training provided by the company is widespread practice in our beautiful homeland, with no set limits to amount or length of the bond.

£ 0.00 for any of my types.

TR