Is the down payment for a TR changing soon?
 

Hi!

I was wondering if the current down payment to get a Type Rating is going to change in these months or next year. As far as I know, and correct me if I'm wrong, all airlines don't bond their new pilots anymore, except Binter and Wizzair. I've been told that hiring will keep growing in the next months, so I guess that Terms and Conditions should improve.
Also, is there any other viable career to airlines in Europe, where you don't have to pay for your TR or it is paid by the employer?

Many thanks.

Nobody pays for their ratings at NetJets Europe - though recruitment just closed yesterday so doesn’t help you much.

Multiple airlines either bond you, pay for the TR through a salary sacrifice or straight up just pay for the Type Rating on your behalf - and not just for pilots with jet time. I am less sure about on the continent as obviously post Brexit it is a closed market to me and I am very happy at my current employer, but UK wise DHL (EAT in the EU) Loganair, Eastern, RVL, West Atlantic, Aurigny, Blue Islands, Skybus, BA, BAEF, BACF all fund the TR with nothing from the employee. The idea that it’s the “go to” is not something we should accept.

Xfly is actively recruiting on CRJ/ATR/Airbus fleet, no cost for type-rating,bond and after 3 years, they return to you all the money they took from your salary as a bonus.

Unless it’s changed recently West Atlantic bonded non-B737 type rated folk.

That's good to hear! Do you guys think that airlines will be hiring in late 2023 and early 2024, and therefore, a good time to end all the licences and MCC and start sending CVs? Or job offers would be lower than today, April 2023 and hiring would slow down?

Many thanks.

... and you believed in that ?
It might be better to take a seat while waiting for the improval of T&Cs as it might take a while ...

I don't know. Some people above have stated some companies that pay for your Type Rating (I mean bond), and offer a decent pay for a new First Officer. That's much better than what it was 2-3 years ago, with all those pay cuts and down payments (although the latter is still the norm). We all know that this is not the 70s and 80s anymore, when the paychecks were astronomical and you didn't have to pay for your Type Rating, but this gives some hope to those, like me, who are 7-8 months away from finishing everything.

I think that I've never seen a field, apart from aviation, where there are so many different opinions about the same topic. Almost nobody seems to agree in Terms and Conditions, Payments, etc.

Correct, but bonding is not the same as taking a payment for the TR - either up front or salary sacrifice.