How many hours do you typically fly in a month or year? I’ve heard different things, but mainly that its pretty low? Lot’s of time on the road but almost no real flying. Is that your experience too?
I average about 30 hours a month of actual flying. Because we don't have bases/hubs/stations like a scheduled carrier, we have to get to and from wherever the airplane / client is. So most trips start or end (or both) with a commercial. Then a layover. Then you move the client, and then maybe continue on to move the airplane to the next client's location. Then layover, or commercial somewhere else, or maybe wait there for the plane to come back, or go home, or whatever.
How about pay? Is there enough opportunity to make overtime and some extra cash? The hourly rates are really low if it’s just guarantee. $33k first year at guarantee….ouch
Don't plan on breaking guarantee - ever. I don't think I have yet. That being said, you get $250 for any of your days off that you end up working on. That's very random, though. We don't have a drop/add trip system, so getting a paid day off is usually cause they asked you to stay out a day extra before going home due to Mx or other delays.
Any idea why the FOs all left? Was it pay related?
They left for better opportunities including SWA, JB, Spirit, Frontier, etc.