New Hire: Pilot Contracts

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This is from an aviation lawyer. I’ve seen it happen, even at the airlines. Don’t let it happen to you!

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*** Danger***  This long email is necessary and coming to you because of the number of pilots reaching out to me and colleagues of mine regarding litigation over terms of employment/training contracts they have signed.  (I’m an attorney and a professional pilot).  There is one outfit in particular that is a repeat offender, but this is good advice nonetheless.

All of us get excited about new job opportunities and employers that are going to pay for recurrent or even initial types.  However, you MUST read the contract put in front of you. A couple things to note:

1) When offered a job, ask them to send you all required contacts for review. Be up front, you don’t want to move your family and be presented with a new or different contract on the first day. 

2) If you are offered a job, you move, get ready for first day/training and at the last minute, a new contract is thrust before you for immediate signature… Master Caution lights should be going off.

3) Read the contract carefully, even if you understand the individual words.  Do you understand the possible outcomes and how that contract language could apply to you?  You may want to have an attorney review it with you. Ask them, “what happens if” questions!  The answers might shock you. 

Then ask them to look for pending litigation with that employers name as a party in the surrounding jurisdictions or places they do business. If there are several lawsuits pending against pilots, you should definitely pass on that job! 

For example:  Contract says… If you cease employment for any reason, or even if it’s “for cause,” you will repay all training costs. They will NOT be prorated.  You will owe attorneys fees if employer is required to pursue you for the training costs.  

Any language like this encourages the employer to fire pilots toward the end of their training comitment, have the pilot repay all of the training cost, which they apply to the next pilot who falls into the trap. The employer never actually incurs the expense of training. It’s an unscrupulous business model, but there is an outfit out there doing this NOW!  

Please be careful, and thoughtful. Good luck and good night.

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