Contract Flying

[135fr8r]

This is a question for all contract pilots. How did you get started, and or gain clients to work contract on a full time basis. I currently have a full time gig, but the pay isn't great, plus I have the opportunity to do something else full time in which I have always wanted to do. In doing so, I would have to quit my present job, and take a bit of a paycut. I currently have 3 type ratings, and would love to have the option of doing contract work on days off to stay current. Any input would be great.


Thanks

 

[FlierDude]

I wouldn't recommend it. I do it out of necessity, but am looking for a full-time gig. Maybe we should swap?

You'd have to charge enough to make up for: self-employment tax (15%), healthcare, retirement, recurrent training, all sorts of other expenses. If you have a contract and manage a couple aircraft it's bearable, but not the 'bed-o-roses' it may seem or sound like. The only good thing is you get to turn down marginal people and equipment.

It's a slippery slope, so be careful. Why not just find a better full-time gig?

.

 

[PlaneStupid]

With your experience level I would not recommend it if you intend to earn a decent living. IMO contract flying is for a. Retired military, b. Retired corporate pilots, c. Gulfstream pilots with G4 and G5 types. Most corporate flight departments require some sort of training within the previous twelve months. Some require aircraft specific training. So unless you are willing to fork over the ten grand for hawker or learjet recurrent training so that you can earn maybe eight grand on your available days off I would say that contract pilot work is not a good investment.

.02

 

[C-5 MEM]

I would recommend Jet Proffessionals. I talked with them while overseas. They seem to be on top of everything. I am doing my first contract flight this weekend. If you have a type in the Lear I know they were looking for pilots in Alabama.

 

[dhc8fo]

I used to contract myself as an SIC while I was building time and I was sorry that I left that deal once I got to the airline....anyway, I was working between two companies and was paid $200 a day. I was flying every day that I wanted with no overnights and mostly home by 1700-1800 each night. Can't speak for PIC contract and pay, but the SIC wasn't such a bad gig. I am sure if you look around hard enough and find the right people that you can make a nice living as a contract guy.

 

[Shamus]

I fly with a contract captian who makes over $100K a year. He flys almost 5 days a week, but the money is there. He has a Lear and Hawker type rating. He charges $350 a day, or $75 a flight hour which ever is more, and $250 a day for "standby". He usually works for 2 companies, and picks up additional ferry flights and other jobs. W fly ut of Ft. Lauderdale, so I don't know how it compares to the rest of the states. Hope this sheds some light.

 

[T-1GUY]

OK, I feel that I need to put in my two cents....

Get a full time job at Simuflite or Flight Safety.....

Build a client list out of your sim clients... "Hey, if you ever need anyone feel free to call me...."

Work your ass off at both jobs....Continue to build your clients....

When you are ready, go part time at Simuflite or Flight Safety (Guess who pays for your currency training???)

Insurance can be handled by: your wife's company or your own policy (It only take about one days flying pay to pay the premium every month)

for a kicker, you can join the reserves and fly part time for them. So lets review:

1) I control my schedule
2) I have a pension thru the military
3) I get insurance thru my wife
4) I have a list of clients who pay me 400-500 dollars a day mostly out & backs with the occasional vacation type trips (OK I like to gamble every now and then)
5) Training is paid for by someone else (Some clients have also offered to foot the bill)
6) I have diversity in both where my income comes from and what my job is like.
7) Self employment tax is something to think about, but, you also get a butt load of new tax write offs that can offset the income (Home office, furniture, flight simulator, new headset, etc....)
8) Income that is in the neighborhood of 100K+ while paying very little in taxes.
9) I go home almost every night except when "I CHOOSE" to stay out.
10) Quality of life that most people only dream of in the flying world.......

 

[psysicx]

Will companies pay people to fly out if there are not located in the same state?And don't you have to a couple thousand hours to get on with Flightsaftey or Simuflite?It sounds like a good deal if you have the time.

 

[PlaneStupid]

T-1 Guy and Shamus appear to be blowing some smoke up your tail pipe concerning the income.
- When People tell you how much they earn you can usually divide it by two and come up with an accurate figure. (350 per day for a Hawker Captain seems a bit low as well).
-T-1 guy has a good thing going, but unless you are 27 and under you can forget about the reserve gig.
-If you have a family you won't get a decent health insurance policy for under 450 per month assuming reasonable deductibles, and that will increase about 11 percent per year. (Good news is that all insurance costs can be deducted if you itemize)
-Your schedule is up to you but trips are rescheduled and cancelled frequently.

I hate to sound so negative, but been there and done that as a contract pilot and a good corporate gig beats contract flying anyday.

 

[psysicx]

You can be 30 and still go to UPT.And can you make a living ferrying aircraft?

 

[Shamus]

(350 per day for a Hawker Captain seems a bit low as well)

?

My point is that if you work your ass off you can make $100K. I saw what he makes, and when your a captian flying almost 800 hrs a year, you should be making $100K. Atleast I hope so.

 

[HMR]

My point is that if you work your ass off you can make $100K. I saw what he makes, and when your a captian flying almost 800 hrs a year, you should be making $100K. Atleast I hope so.

That's complete B.S. First of all, $350 per day in a Hawker is PATHETIC for an SIC let alone PIC. If he's working for that amount something's wrong. As for the $100K, give me a break. If he flew 5 days per week, 52 weeks out of the year (5x52x$350) that would be $91K. That's if he FLEW all those days, not the $250 per day for "standby". At his "hourly" rate of $75 he would have to fly 1333hrs. to make $100K.

This sounds like one of those captains that has "15,000hrs", brags about making the big $$$ and reminds you every half-hour that he's the best pilot you'll ever fly with... but still flies PT.135 Lears.

 

[psysicx]

T-1 how many days are you flying to make 100K?

 

[aeronautic1]

Shamus

HMR hit the nail on the head (5x52x350). No wonder Shamus quotes $350 per day for Hawker PIC. Is it any wonder why he hasn't run outta fuel yet?

 

[T-1GUY]

I am always amazed at the nay sayers that come out of the woods to say you can't do this, or that he is full of it. I have probably said too much already. I just wanted to give my two cents... Everything I wrote is true... I don't have to blow smoke to make my point. I don't want to post on this board my specifics but you can make a very good living the way I approach aviation...

 

[some_dude]

T-1Guy is not incorrect, IF you are in his situation. In other words, IF you get hired by FSI or SimuFlite, IF you live in a city where they have a facility, IF your wife works and has good insurance, IF you were in the military and are eligible for the guard or reserves... IF ALL of those things are true for you, then you are set.

Otherwise listen to some of the other people on the thread.

In my experience as a contact pilot (which I'm back to doing now, not really by choice), training and health insurance are a big deal. They make it difficult to make any money.

If you want to make it work at all, you need one or more significant clients who will commit to using you frequently, and possibly pay for some or all of your training. Then, it can work out, although I think a good 91 gig is always better.

 

[T-1GUY]

I have always been taught that you make your own situation happen. I have attained this thru hard work and planning. I am only giving you an example how it has worked for me. I agree that insurance and training are
definitely a stumbling block. I am just letting you know how you can overcome it. PLANESTUPID has seen some of the downfalls of contract flying, and they are out there. I happen to know who not to fly for in the local area. I also make it clear upfront that once I schedule my time that I will be paid whether we fly or not. As far as the 100K gig, PlaneStupid I see that you are typed in a Gulfstream. Did you know the instructors at Simuflite make about 100K a year in the Gulfstream program and only work about 4 days a week. They also earn about $1500 a day contract and all training costs are paid for by Simuflite. Other food for thought... I earned an accounting degree and If I choose can do tax returns while I sit spinning my wheels at the FBO. I also can contract out to write computer programs on my laptop. These
are not included in my $100K a year. I am just giving you ideas how you can overcome and make a good living contract flying, which I believe is what the thread was all about....

 

[O-Line]

I have always been taught that you make your own situation happen. I have attained this thru hard work and planning. I am only giving you an example how it has worked for me. I agree that insurance and training are
definitely a stumbling block. I am just letting you know how you can overcome it. PLANESTUPID has seen some of the downfalls of contract flying, and they are out there. I happen to know who not to fly for in the local area. I also make it clear upfront that once I schedule my time that I will be paid whether we fly or not. As far as the 100K gig, PlaneStupid I see that you are typed in a Gulfstream. Did you know the instructors at Simuflite make about 100K a year in the Gulfstream program and only work about 4 days a week. They also earn about $1500 a day contract and all training costs are paid for by Simuflite. Other food for thought... I earned an accounting degree and If I choose can do tax returns while I sit spinning my wheels at the FBO. I also can contract out to write computer programs on my laptop. These
are not included in my $100K a year. I am just giving you ideas how you can overcome and make a good living contract flying, which I believe is what the thread was all about....

Have you thought about the liability issue? Seems as though you have some assets, congratulations. One of the downfalls of being an ICP is that you often fly with someone you've never met, and fly an airplane you've never been in. God forbid something bad happens, but look at the GIV crash in Palwaukee. The estates of those poor guys got sued.

Are you sure your contract is legal?

Are you sure the person that signs that contract is legally allowed to?

Have you actually seen the airplane's insurance policy, are you allowed to operate the airplane? Is there enough liability coverage?

How's the airplane's MX? Most insurance policies are null and void if you're flying an unairworthy airplane.

Just some things to think about before becoming a contractor.

 

[psysicx]

If you were typed in a Gulfstream and flew 10 days a month you could make $100,000 easy.If you have the connections.I guess thats why people like bumming in the reserves.

 

[Shamus]

My last 3 days of flying were all with this one contract captian. Wed: Ft Lauderdale(KFXE) to Aruba to Boston and back to KFXE = 9.5 hr Thur: (KFXE) to St Lucia, to Miami to (KFXE) = 7.5 Fri: (KFXE) to San Juan to Orlando back to (KFXE)= 7.3 total of 24.3 hours equals almost $2000 in three days.

I don't know why everyone doesn't think it can be done, I said before that you have to work really hard to earn that much money, its possible. It just seems like no one else thinks it is possible because there not making that much money. Hell I know I'm an under paid FO.
Before all you Florida bashers join in, I was making $5K a month flying a BE-90 in FL and we do get to live in FL. (the King Air job is another story, company lost there certificate and with under 2000 total time, I was unisurable to get another King Air job, so I try and justify the pay cut by being 23 yrs. old.) Still sucks though.