i just had an interview with VAL for BE200 medevac f/o. unfortunately there is still an $8000 bond that does get paid back to you. you have the choice of a loan where the company pays the interest at the end or the GIC opition. fortunatly i have a couple of other pending job offers that are "bondless" and are multi.

however i'd still like to ask some questions:

now can someone confirm the following: VAL says they have an intense ground/sim training program that once completed it would accredit a pilot without 500 MPIC to go Capt. on medevac flights after a year as an f/o.

if you mess up your ppc ride and don't pass what happens then in regards to your place at VAL and your bond?

is rent expensive up in sioux lookout and timmins? i pay $700 / month in southern ont. with a similar f/o wage.

i was told a capt. makes 62k yr on the be200 medevac. is that so?

at the interview i wasn't asked a single IFR/CAP GEN question. could this have been an indication that i probably wasn't a suitable candidate?

would it be worth taking a corporate/charter job that pays the same but log half the time than medevac flying would log in a year on the same type of aircraft?

what is the better choice: multi-pic VFR piston (survey) or multi-sic IFR F/O (eventually leading to capt.)?

i know i am asking a lot of questions and i appreciate any input i can get. i'm trying to make good choices for my first multi job!

sos

I learned that if you are going to make a commitment to a company - whether a bond or a handshake - they should make a commitment to you.

That doesn't mean letting you work there as an f/o for poor pay. That means getting you in a position to advance and upgrade in a reasonable time frame. The way the industry is going now - fast - I'd be wary of an extended bond (let alone the money up front).

I don't know what Voyageurs bond is but i would guess that from day 1 of your training you owe it to them whether you pass your ride or not. Most companies probably wouldn't leave a guy on the hook if he failed - but I bet the contract says that.

If you have an opportunity to fly - unbonded - and get MPIC instead I would consider that pretty strongly. I bet it would pay better too.

Why on earth didn't you ask these questions at your interview? Personally I would want the answers right from the source; not a forum.
Call them up - if they don't answer your questions then stay away. The fact that they still bond is a pretty clear indication that they are not the best place to go - I know a few people that came from there recently and they didn't have much good to say. I do know that they are hurting for pilots big time, so you might be able to negotiate something if you have that talent.
Good Luck.

(Sound of a subject getting beaten to death) just don't pay. Negotiate or walk.

SOS.....check PMs

shower of sparks wrote:
what is the better choice: multi-pic VFR piston (survey) or multi-sic IFR F/O (eventually leading to capt.)?

Multi PIC beats everything Single PIC beats out multi SIC

yeah this topic about VAL has been beaten to death...

bonds are bad plain and simple. i agree. however we as pilots have to honor our commitments when we're hired so as not to create a senario where companies feel the need require bonds. our handshake needs to mean something.

sos

The important part is, you told them to pound sand. If someone asked me to take out a loan for a job, I'd roll up in the fetal position and piss myself laughing!

Well Doc, if you did your research before said hypothetical interview - you should have pissed your pants at home before the interview and once you picked yourself back up you wouldn't have gone in the first place. It is no secret that VAL has a bond so if people don't like it (in principle or from a financial stand point) - they shouldn't go to the interview.

As a side note, Voyageur is historically SLOW to change its ways in response to the industry. It wouldn't surprise me if that bond gets removed in the near future - but only if pilots stop going to interviews. Their excuse has always been "there are lots of pilots out there willing to do this or that".

Good luck SOS

PeteThePilot wrote:Well Doc, if you did your research before said hypothetical interview - you should have pissed your pants at home before the interview and once you picked yourself back up you wouldn't have gone in the first place. It is no secret that VAL has a bond so if people don't like it (in principle or from a financial stand point) - they shouldn't go to the interview.

As a side note, Voyageur is historically SLOW to change its ways in response to the industry. It wouldn't surprise me if that bond gets removed in the near future - but only if pilots stop going to interviews. Their excuse has always been "there are lots of pilots out there willing to do this or that".

Good luck SOS

Actually, I think going there and laugh at them is the best way to act. Maybe they will change their way a bit faster.

Has anyone tried to negotiate?

Maybe they're still such a crappy outfit its not worth the bother? A year in a Dash7/8/RJ probably won't hurt your resume...

PeteThePilot...I didn't go for an interview. (you should read the whole thread) I wouldn't waste my time! And, just so you know, when a company wants money up front, it's NOT a bond, it's BUYING a job....BIG difference. HUGE! Anybody who "buys" a job, is a twat! And any company that asks you for money up front is SCUM!

Doc wrote: And, just so you know, when a company wants money up front, it's NOT a bond, it's BUYING a job....BIG difference. HUGE! Anybody who "buys" a job, is a twat! And any company that asks you for money up front is SCUM!

You know Doc, I could argue the above post with you, but why!

What I would like to know is how you feel about a couple of Mutts at my company that only had to sign a bond; then saw fit to leave a couple of months into it and not pay. They are twat's and SCUM as far as I am concerned. The bond was a promissory note. Promise, as in promise to live up to my word and stay for a year being the key thing here. These guys broke their promise to the company. And as a result the company is looking at making future pilots pay cash up front (I hope it does not go this way). But really, can you blame the company! It lived up to everything it promised the pilots when the bond was signed, so why shouldn't they be pissed!

I know you will disagree, but there are two sides to every story.

Pie Lot I know what you mean...I know a guy...nice guy but I would NEVER trust him....over the years Ive seen him promise the world to one company after another & then screw them over...BUT thats accualy worked out very well for him & he's moved up way faster then me. Makes me wonder why I'm being so loyal. HOWEVER a lot of companys are just as bad screwing over the pilots. They don't need a bond. They can still offer a promisary note, BUT make sure that they call the aplicant's previous employer. If they screw'd their previous employer chances are they will screw you too the first chance they can. (or are they no allowed to ask those kinds of questions due to privacy issues?)

This is very much a two edged sword.

saucer_driver wrote:This is very much a two edged sword.

yep

Pie Lot I know what you mean...I know a guy...nice guy but I would NEVER trust him....over the years Ive seen him promise the world to one company after another & then screw them over

That very unfortunate because I'm sure we all know someone like that... and unfortunately it doesn't matter how great the industry is right now every company can't afford to lose guys every year or six months. I know the plan is ill conceived but besides paying us all what we think we're worth... what can they do to keep us around till the 'grass looks greener on the other side'?

Don't get me wrong... I don't agree with money changing hands up front and I work at a place where there aren't any bonds but personally when I meet a new pilot I don't trust them as far as I can throw them...