Instructor Training Bonds?

[LifeAt90Kts]

Judging by the plethora of job ads currently, the industry is hurting for instructors. Having to shell out ~$9,000 after flight school just isn't an option for some people that might otherwise gladly go the instructor route.

Are there FTU's that offer a training bond type agreement for instructor ratings? As in, they provide your training, and provided you perform well, they pro-rate the cost of the training over 12 or 24 months?

It costs about $12,000 CAD to send a King Air FO to Flight Safety for an initial, so making instructors would be a relative bargain!

If this option doesn't already exist, do you think with the current movement that it might become one in the near future?

[Tylerjohnston]

This is a large struggle in the US, lots of FTUs do this. I know of a buddy that did it at Flight Safety in Vero Beach!

[marakii]

Judging by the plethora of job ads currently, the industry is hurting for instructors. Having to shell out ~$9,000 after flight school just isn't an option for some people that might otherwise gladly go the instructor route.

Are there FTU's that offer a training bond type agreement for instructor ratings? As in, they provide your training, and provided you perform well, they pro-rate the cost of the training over 12 or 24 months?

It costs about $12,000 CAD to send a King Air FO to Flight Safety for an initial, so making instructors would be a relative bargain!

If this option doesn't already exist, do you think with the current movement that it might become one in the near future?

The industry is hurting for Class 3 and higher instructors, I don't think there are many class 4's that are getting hired.

[mmm..bacon]

Don't hire class4s, and there will be no 3,2,1 eventually either.

[marakii]

Don't hire class4s, and there will be no 3,2,1 eventually either.

I'm a class 4 and they keep saying "oh you need supervision, sorry we don't need you . You're scum."

Is there any hope ?

[Black_Tusk]

Seriously? You WANT a bond?

[lownslow]

Seriously? You WANT a bond?

A bond works both ways. Yes, it means the employee owes something to the employer but it also provides some security to them as well in addition to cutting one time out-of-pocket expenses in the case of a promissory note where no cash is exchanged.

It's the exact terms of the agreement that one has to be wary of.

[LifeAt90Kts]

I know bonds are a contentious issue, and I see the merit in both arguments. In the case of a bond the prevents out of pocket expense for an instructor rating, it could be a win win for the right individual. Fresh out of flight school and up to the teeth in student loans, and you have some job security for a couple of years.

If you don't like it, find the cash and pay for your rating up front. No one could force you into it.

[Aviatard]

Judging by the plethora of job ads currently, the industry is hurting for instructors. Having to shell out ~$9,000 after flight school just isn't an option for some people that might otherwise gladly go the instructor route.

For us at least I don't see this happening. We are actually turning people away because we're too busy to take on new instructor candidates right now. Of course we're located in the center of the universe, so it may be different in other parts of the country.