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Freelance Pilots / Daily Rates

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Old 23rd Jun 2009, 10:21
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Freelance Pilots / Daily Rates

Could anyone advise me what the current daily rate is for a Freelance bizjet Captain and also a Co-Pilot?

I guess any rate given excludes meal / hotac allowances?

A rough idea would be helpful.

Many thanks
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Old 23rd Jun 2009, 10:33
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It depends what a/c we are talking about, where it is, who it's for and unfortunately how many others are after it.
Anthing from $200 to $1500 until you elaborate a little more!
KH
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Old 23rd Jun 2009, 14:02
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Kelly, don't you know nuffin? What you need is a Vulcan mind meld.

 
Old 23rd Jun 2009, 14:17
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Careful Flintstone.....you're giving away some of the best secrets now lol.
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Old 23rd Jun 2009, 20:26
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Don't bother with the search function!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LAS1997, if you just bothered to go back 1 page to 13th June under "Contract pay rates" you might get some answers to your vague question!
F'stone, them Vulcan mind melds only work if you've got a mind to meld...
Time for a G&T methinks. PL
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Old 23rd Jun 2009, 21:40
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G&T? Luxury. One of my colleagues drinks Malibu and cream soda!!

He swears he's not a left-footer either.
 
Old 24th Jun 2009, 06:10
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Yes, yes and yes.
Where do i go? How much? Will it improve my dress sense? Will it make me attractive to women? Does it come with a free basin haircut?
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 07:49
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Daily rates....LOL

The daily rate is only valid when in your bank.

As stated up to 1500US per day.

BUT

after the event, you will be asked to accept a low figure due to the recession.

been there, got the T shirt.


Last month, a client that I did a lot of work for previously, and still waiting for settlement, eventually agreed that the sum was due, but for various resons they wished to deduct 600US.

Now do I say OK, or say, pay up in full. ??? difficult call....but I compromised and said pay up NOW...less the 600.

Then nothing happened for another month....and they promised to respect me in the morning.

Four days ago, they called me and urgently needed my services...was I available.....well yes, but no. Guess what..the cheque was ready 10 mins after the call, and in my bank 10ms later.

Trip took place, but the eventual cost to them was 600us more than they would normally have paid.

new balls please....now back to the tennis.

glf
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 08:28
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Sorry fokes for being so vague. I am keen to find out rates for UK based crew. For example a Hawker 800 Captain / F/O (HS 125 in old money for those of you able to remember). I will take a look at Contract Pay rates 13th June. Thanks.
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 11:04
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Hawker in UK around £600/£350, Capt/ F/O, per day +/-
Excluding per diems, hotac etc.

Gulfstreamaviator. What do you think would happen if I tried that one with my painter/car mechanic/TV repairman or whatever?
Why are we all seen as a soft touch in this game?
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 14:55
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Kelly Hopper
Those rates you quoted: are they for pilots who pay for their own recurrent training or do they expect the employer to pay for that?
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 15:28
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KH: in ME

I can only vouch for ME, and one or two operators in EU.

In EU specic example is a Vienna based Jet Management Company,

In ME, it is 99%.
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 15:52
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H750
That is a valid point. I don't see that there is any particular ruling with this. With aircraft such as your namesake it is usual to complete an LPC which will be picked up by the employer but it really does depend how much flying you are doing for them.
However, some aircraft really do require a full re-current every year to satisfy employer/insurance and I know of no freelancer that gets that thrown in. In the case of the GV that is $29,000 plus hotac plus flights!! Ouch!!
For a freelancer in todays market that is likely to be $29,000 more than he earns in the year!
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 16:53
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Kelly hopper
Thats what I thought. The rate you showed of £600/350 for a Hawker seems awfully high to me. I would expect to pay £350/200 plus about £90 per diems tax free but I would pay for an OPC plus a LPC if necesssary and any ground subjects (CRM DG's etc). The pay would include any days off down the route.
Not employed frelancers for a long while but might so so soon, so this info good to know
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Old 24th Jun 2009, 17:33
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Hawker 750
Well the other point worthy of note is that it does depend on continuity of days, if that is the right term?
I would want something in the region of £600 p.d. for one or two days freelancing in a Hawker but if it was two weeks away then that rate is up for discussion.
Do you really think that is alot? Do you know what a plumber or builder or any tradesman will charge you these days?
If you do find yourself looking for a freelance Hawker Captain I am available!
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Old 25th Jun 2009, 06:38
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Many thanks Kelly Hopper for the information, much appreciated.
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Old 25th Jun 2009, 07:04
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Hawker750, how many days a month would you expect to guarantee for those rates?

350/200 might work if you're guaranteeing 15-20 days a month, every month, but they don't really work when you only want to get freelancers in as and when required.

If you only use me three or four days in a month then I need to work with one or two other operators as well. Then, in the summer, scheduling clashes will make it hard to earn on more than a dozen days a month and, in the winter, limited demand will make it hard to earn on more than 3 or 4. Call it 100 days a year total.

So you're talking max £35k/£20k pa. Before non-refundable expenses. Is that all you'd exepect to pay your permanently employed crew?

Kelly Hopper's rates are more realistic I think.
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Old 25th Jun 2009, 10:51
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£400 + per diems / expenses, for C550 and XLS Capt, work a bit thin for the last nine months. Anyone need a pilot ?
The Co-Pilots I fly with earn £200 + expences etc.
These rates are also paid for any non flying day whilst down route.
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Old 25th Jun 2009, 12:36
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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.
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Old 27th Jun 2009, 19:19
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Depending on one's type rating, available work for freelancers is definitely more scarce than last year. Commercial reality is that all the operators try to "squeeze" the rates, and even re-negotiate the rate after the flying has been completed (as per Gulfstream's post).
As has been pointed out, training/medicals/visas/licences aren't getting any cheaper, so even if you do cut your last year's rate by, say, 10% to reflect the current market, you are doing no-one, including yourself, any favours by working for less than the suggested daily rates.
Frankly anything less than £500 per day (or £3,000 per week)for a Hawker Captain, is an insult to a professional who is expected to maintain his licence at his own cost.
What is particularly galling is when colleagues already on full employment contracts (i.e. no personal costs) , then undercut the freelance rates for a bit of extra "pocket money", thus taking bread from the poor!
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