Pay For Training (PFT) was very common here in the states until the hiring boom started in 1999. It ususally didn’t mean paying for a type rating but only for your First Officer training. Still the deal cost the average pilot $7,000-10,000 US. The only airline in the US I know of that requires the pilot to have a type rating prior to being hired is Southwest Airlines. They operate only a fleet of 737’s so that one type will last your career there. There are some deals for a 737 type but they’ll still run you roughly $10,000+ US.

Now that the industry is in the dump PFT is starting to make an appearance once again. So far it’s only found in the lower rank jobs (entry level corporate or charter positions). It’s a hugh area of discontent among pilots and has caused quite a few heated discussions. I luckily found myself getting hired right after the PFT stopped.

I can’t think of any other profession that has a $100,000 education requirement that will still find employers requiring to you cough up another $20,000 for the honor of working for them. As you said wysiwyg, there are too many pilots trying for too few positions. It only takes one who is willing to spend the money that screws it up for everyone else.

Sounds like there was some sort of other issue that would cause there to be a brake/tire fire in a modern airplane. Most anti-skid logic would prevent any sort of locked wheel.

That must have been one heck of a high heel if it punched a hole through the slide material. Security is worried about tweezers when women are passing through with something that sharp? wow. :rolleyes: