"Free hours"
I would like to read some thoughts and opinions on the following hypothetical situation:
You have just recently become a CPL(H) holder and are working towards getting the hours required for an FI(R) or are just keeping current whilst you wait to do your IR. The company you did much of your training with needs a helicopter - that you're rated on - ferrying some and have no-one available to take it. They ask you to take it for them - "free hours" is your payment.
What do you do?
Jump at the chance to get the much needed/useful hours for free and think this could possibly be the beginnings of eventual paid work, even though working for free goes against your principles, and be pleased for the semi-break being such a low-timer?
Or...
Ask how much they are going to pay you - after all you got a CPL(H) to be paid to fly - perhaps appearing ungrateful for "free hours", and maybe shooting yourself in the foot regarding more free hours or even future paid work by being difficult?
What do you say to them? Anyone been in such a position?
I look forward to reading any replies. And just to reiterate - the above is hypothetical, not a situation I or anyone I know is in - just something I could see happening and was extremely ambivalent about.