The Ts and Cs for CJ captains are still ok - but for copilots it is virtually pay-to-fly - and getting worse.
The problem is principally the use (or misuse) of freelance copilots. Companies are unwilling to pay fixed salaries to copilots, preferring to abuse the wilingness of inexperienced copilots to fly for nothing, leaving captains with an increased workload.
Unlike airlines, some business aviation companies give new copilots no line training at all, and they are not capable of flying the aircraft alone in an emergency. As soon as a copilot is experienced enough to manage the aircraft, along comes another newly type-rated copilot who is prepared to fly for even less and the cycle starts again.
I would like to see regulations in place to stop the use of inexperienced freelancers - for example no free-lance flying until 200 hours on type or something similar. I can't see it ever happening though...
Last edited by Trim Stab; 20th Aug 2010 at 12:00.