Freelance rates:
Yes, I think I am a bit behind the times/going rate. I pay full time Hawker Captains about £62,000 p.a. Add 11% N.I = £69K divided by 11 months (1 month leave) divided by say 15 days/month = £418/day.
The problem with employing freelancers in this business is that work always comes up at short notice and the availability of a freelancer is never guaranteed. It is pretty galing to turn down a juicy charter when one has paid for all the OPC/LPC costs of a freelancer and he is no longer available.
For this reason I have always employed full time guys. But since this dreadful downturn I had to make 1 Captain and 1 co-pilot redundant back in February.
This has caused us to be about 1/2 a Captain short for this Summer. Do I employ a freelancer or find a guy happy to take on a 3 month contract? I think the days of keeping crews heavy through out the year for the short summer burst is a luxury of the past. I am leaning towards the 3 month contract option.