SOME training contracts ARE legal. Some are not. It depends on the writing. However, I would seriously doubt that you are obligated to pay if you were furloughed. If you left voluntarily, even because you were going to be furloughed, then you might be on the hook.
However...
Training contracts in general: Many companies won't go after you at all. Some will, with some threats. And some will give your "bill" to a third party to try to get payment. Keep in mind, they can't report you to a credit bureau unless they have sued you in court and you don't pay.
Many companies, or the third party, will take a payment plan. They will also possibly take a partial payment and have that be the end. If they agree to this, be sure to get in in writing before you write out the check. There is some special legal wording that needs to be in writing before everyone signs (make sure they sign first), so check with an attorney.
It would be very easy to justify paying less than the amount they want- you might be able to prove it didn't cost them that amount, or that you did work for x many months and gave back to the company. Or, say in the case that they typed you in their aircraft, offer the street value of someone walking up and getting that same type at Flight Safety or something. The point is, it is negociable.
Best thing to do is to call an attorney and get some real legal advice. This is a small industry- you don't want to leave on bad standing, you don't want your old company calling your new one and telling them you owe $$, and you never know where those people will end up in the future- maybe at the airline you are trying to get on at.
However...
Training contracts in general: Many companies won't go after you at all. Some will, with some threats. And some will give your "bill" to a third party to try to get payment. Keep in mind, they can't report you to a credit bureau unless they have sued you in court and you don't pay.
Many companies, or the third party, will take a payment plan. They will also possibly take a partial payment and have that be the end. If they agree to this, be sure to get in in writing before you write out the check. There is some special legal wording that needs to be in writing before everyone signs (make sure they sign first), so check with an attorney.
It would be very easy to justify paying less than the amount they want- you might be able to prove it didn't cost them that amount, or that you did work for x many months and gave back to the company. Or, say in the case that they typed you in their aircraft, offer the street value of someone walking up and getting that same type at Flight Safety or something. The point is, it is negociable.
Best thing to do is to call an attorney and get some real legal advice. This is a small industry- you don't want to leave on bad standing, you don't want your old company calling your new one and telling them you owe $$, and you never know where those people will end up in the future- maybe at the airline you are trying to get on at.