What is (was, will be) your command upgrade bond?
 

I'm currently flying medium-sized jet from RHS for third-world flag carrier and recently I've been given offer that I can't refuse: moving into LHS of 70-seater turboprop. However, despite staying with the same company, bond seems a bit excessive : 32 000 € (appx. capt's yearly net pay) over 5 years, non-decreasing.

I'm just curious how shafted I'll get compared with the rest of the world.

Thank you for your replies.

C.

cant be that good a company.

Here we go. I'll give it six pages!

Shafted - big style!

Command bond? What on earth is that? I wasn't asked to agree anything other than my initial bond for TR on first joining the company. An upgrade bond sounds like a liberty to me, especially at the salary you're describing.

If the company thinks you're fit for upgrade and/or fleet change then it's for them to bear the cost.

Where is this third world outfit?

Upgrade bonds aren't nearly as common as bonds for new joiners. Most companies realising a brand new captain won't be able to get a direct entry command in another company until he has 1-2 000 hours in the left seat.

ie after an upgrade you are stuck there for a couple of years unless you fancy going back to three stripes.

Command upgrade bond was zero.

Clandestino - that's totally outrageous! :=

Ditto. Zero - as it should be with a reputable employer.

Five years as a turbo prop command? It had better be a good job!

Thats a ridiculous figure..
sure they are not throwing in a 777 (and a 787) rating as well ?

32k euros is crazy talk.

To be fair, if the employer forks out and then the new Cpt does a bunk to another airline then its a bit unfair on the company, especially if its an early Command.
Its not unknown for a small company to upgrade someone, only for them to hoof off to "big airlines" but in the right seat of course. The "Command" bit was just another notch on the CV.
My bond was 12k diminishing over 1 year. That was a realistic reflection of the training cost (sims, trainers etc), and also was slightly less than the LHS pay rise.
32k euro does sound excessive. Hope you like the outfit!:eek:

Command upgrade bond for me was just under £5,000 over two years.

There making the mick,,, for gods sake dont sign that! I would rather stay in the RHS and look for somewhere else than take that big a pole up the chuff!

Cost me couple of beers after the last sim :D

32k sounds like they are taking the p*ss. Generally speaking, an employer is not legally allowed to bond for more than the actual cost of what they're offering you - nice theory, it depends on what country you're in and whether some other poor soul has tested this in court to set a precedent. By cost, include sim time, course time, instructor time for checks, etc., so you'd be amazed how quickly it racks up.

I'd suggest also that the 5 years and non-reducing bond in the circumstances are also a dodgy ask legally. You need to talk to a pilot union or a local employment lawyer to check, well worth the cost if there is any given the amount you're being squeezed for.

If you have a contract and seniority for uprgradings and the bond is not in the contract there should not be any.

We don't have upgrade bonds at our company. The company tried to get something like that but never had any chance as you were entitled to upgrading by seniority and did not have to sign anything to go left seat.

I don't think it's a fair proposition.

You call that an offer you can't refuse! :eek::eek::eek:
I'm not saying don't do it, but think it through carefully.

From what you said i think it's not really about upgrade bond, it's about you getting a rating on that 70 seater t-prop.

Anyway 32k it's a lot.

Are you sure it's a "flag" carrier ? I know another company (private one) asking something similar (30k for a SB20 rating over 5 years) ... nobody signed that bond however :ok:

There was one UK turboprop operator that engaged in such a practice and perhaps they still do. They were seeing new Captains get a little bit of command time and then move onto something bigger in the RHS. Sadly if you wanted the command then the last thing you would do is get in touch with the Union so that they could take a closer look!

How long before some $hitty little airline starts bonding crews for 12 months after each sim check?:ugh:

I fly for a "3rd world" flag carrier and can safely say no FO has ever been bonded for a command course in my airline (and thats onto a 320).

Bond an existing FO for t-prop command? Crazy:ugh: