Jump Pilot

[Pilot715]

Wondering what the pay is like for a jump pilot in 206 and 208

[Cessna 200]

Jump Pilot pay

It should be as per the award, but sadly very few jump pilots are paid like that. You can't really blame the owner/operator as jump flying is normally seen as a way of building hours quickly and moving on.

[The name is Porter]

There is no award when it's a private operation. i.e. when it's out of a small Cessna, (not a Van) If you are with a decent operator that runs the smaller aircraft you will more than likely get paid 'per load.' No fly, no pay. It's a great first job!

[Ixixly]

Originally Posted by The name is Porter

There is no award when it's a private operation. i.e. when it's out of a small Cessna, (not a Van) If you are with a decent operator that runs the smaller aircraft you will more than likely get paid 'per load.' No fly, no pay. It's a great first job!

CAN be a great first job, CAN. Definitely don't let yourself get used for nothing and make sure you don't treat it as some burden of a hoop you just need to jump through (Pun intended). Enjoy it, challenge yourself to always be doing better and learn whatever you can along the way.

[Steepclimb]

Best flying ever but no fly no pay. Best years of my life. Barely paid for anything. Wouldn't take it back for any reason.

Flying at it's pureist and some magical moments if you love flying.

But no career, having said that I was pleased to facilitate several great pilots further their career.

You'll end up a great stick and rudder pilot.

[evilducky]

Originally Posted by The name is Porter

There is no award when it's a private operation.

A convenient interpretation taken by employers seeking not to pay the award.

Prior to a series of capital raisings and average acquisitions which subsequently decimated the share price, the biggest skydive mob in this country had a market capitalisation larger than Rex. And yet almost all of its pilots were ‘independent contractors,’ paid far less than the award, with many struggling to make ends meet.

Share price is now a third of its peak, just warms my heart.

[YPJT]

Well if jump pilots are getting paid these days that’s great. Go back 15 years or so and just about every fcukwit DZ operator was adamant they were doing you favour by giving you free hours.

[Climb150]

Evilducky,
I worked for this company you speak of. I think the award at the tine was about $690 a week gross. As a contractor I made $900 a week gross. Every week flying or not but I averaged 20 hours a week over 8 months. I think I was still better off as a contractor.

Not as bad as yoy say.

[kingRB]

As a contractor I made $900 a week gross

Contractors was a recent thing. Just another way for them to avoid paying super and insurances. I'm assuming you ended up paying all of this yourself under your own Pty Ltd while "contracting" to them.

[Aussie Bob]

Contractors was a recent thing. Just another way for them to avoid paying super and insurances. I'm assuming you ended up paying all of this yourself under your own Pty Ltd while "contracting" to them.

I contract myself to avoid paying either super or insurance, both of which are fraught with risk IMHO

[havick]

Isn’t there case law to the effect of if you earn x% of your wage through a company, then you’re deemed to be a full time employee and not a contractor?

[kingRB]

I contract myself to avoid paying either super or insurance, both of which are fraught with risk IMHO

so your obscure opinion on not paying superannuation justifies supporting employers that are actively seeking to erode pay and conditions any way they can. Ok.

Isn’t there case law to the effect of if you earn x% of your wage through a company, then you’re deemed to be a full time employee and not a contractor?

If there is it doesn't seem to stop those willing to accept these rubbish conditions.

[Bend alot]

Originally Posted by Climb150

Evilducky,
I worked for this company you speak of. I think the award at the tine was about $690 a week gross. As a contractor I made $900 a week gross. Every week flying or not but I averaged 20 hours a week over 8 months. I think I was still better off as a contractor.

Not as bad as yoy say.

Award $690 + 25% Casual Loading (or holidays and sick leave) = $862.50. + Supa @ 9.5% = $944.43.
Contractor $900 (they should deduct Supa from that) = $814.50 (ish).

Award will get you other entitlements, such as meal and OT.

So you would have been better off on the Award.

I doubt as an employee, they would have you sitting around while a contractor flew - so still your 20 hours.

[Aussie Bob]

so your obscure opinion on not paying superannuation justifies supporting employers that are actively seeking to erode pay and conditions any way they can. Ok.

Pardon me? Your reading a lot into a little that you know nothing about I am the director of a Pty Ltd company I own and my tax is done by a chartered accountant.

[evilducky]

Originally Posted by Climb150

Evilducky,
I worked for this company you speak of. I think the award at the tine was about $690 a week gross. As a contractor I made $900 a week gross. Every week flying or not but I averaged 20 hours a week over 8 months. I think I was still better off as a contractor.

Not as bad as yoy say.

The award for an IFR Caravan driver hasn't been $690 a week in a long time.

Single Engine 3360kg and above - $54,326 annually
Requirement to hold a CIR - $6,316 additional

So the full time award salary would be $60,639 annually or $1,166 per week gross. Go to casual and it's 1/800th of the annual salary plus 25% loading, $94.75 per flight hour. At 20 hours a week that makes $1,895/week, not considering minimum hours pay or other allowances.

Is $1,895/week too much to be paying a skydive pilot? Probably.

Were you better off as a contractor? No.

[Bend alot]

Originally Posted by Aussie Bob

Pardon me? Your reading a lot into a little that you know nothing about I am the director of a Pty Ltd company I own and my tax is done by a chartered accountant.

If you are "contracting" as a Pilot, you are in a grey area and possibly very dark grey (Pty Ltd is just an extra layer of obscure for people supplying labour only), if you bring more to the table in way of assets (buildings ,AOC or aircraft) you are in clear colours.

Being a director and using chartered accountants - well a good accountant! as they say - but they are not going to take the fall if the tax man calls. You signed that document the chartered accountant gave you.

That said Pty is far better than using an ABN (unless low income) and always use a chartered accountant, even if just for the extension times they get for submitting.

[kingRB]

If you are "contracting" as a Pilot, you are in a grey area and possibly very dark grey (Pty Ltd is just an extra layer of obscure for people supplying labour only)

this was in essence what the company was doing when it first started "contracting" all staff that were originally under employment by the company. They were told to make provision to become a contractor to the company or look elsewhere for work. All insurance requirements, superannuation etc was now the responsibility of
the "contractor". They did not provide assets, just labour.

Pardon me? Your reading a lot into a little that you know nothing about I am the director of a Pty Ltd company I own and my tax is done by a chartered accountant.

perhaps i've misunderstood what you said, are you saying that you contract as a pilot, providing labour only, flying their aircraft? Who is responsible for paying your super savings?

[Climb150]

To the person who questioned my award pay of $690, I flew the 206 most of the time. They actually had one. Dont always assume.

[evilducky]

Originally Posted by Climb150

To the person who questioned my award pay of $690, I flew the 206 most of the time. They actually had one. Dont always assume.

Ah my apologies, your name clearly suggested you were going to FL150. Although hey the vans rarely get above 10,000ft despite the punters paying for 14,000, so you're right, probably shouldn't have assumed.

Were you better off as a contractor? Still no.

[Climb150]

Ducky,

I disagree. I obviously had to pay tax on my earnings but unlike many I still put the appropriate amount in my super. I will give you an example at 2018 tax rates.

Award $690 per week
Super $59.60
Other taxes $65 (includes Medicare)
So take home $565.40

Contractor $900 per week
Super $78.08
Other tax $120.00 (includes Medicare)
Take home $701.92

Better off as a contractor I say. Thats an extra $6480 a year. Easily makes up for lack of paid holidays or sickies.

I believe the ATO now have strict guidelines on who qualifies as a contractor. I dont think I could do it now unless I worked for multiple drop zones during the year (very possible).