I know a Chieftain type operator who pays well (all full time salary and about $60k for 4 days/wk) and he is rewarded by an awesome and loyal team.
...the problem comes from the competition using casual pilots who have an "off farm" income so they don't need to earn flying income 5 days/week.
I have heard of Bongo pilots being paid $135/day on Horn, as contractors (ie: deduct your tax and super from that!)
I have heard stories of Chieftain drivers in Brisbane earning $35k.
How do the good operators survive in hard times? How do they maintain high operating standards and high levels of training when the competition continue the race to bottom on every front?
...Mate it IS worth saving, and some of the new rules will clean out the bottom feeders. But we have to ensure the proverbial baby isn't thrown out with the regulatory bathwater.
CHeers