I worked for an air ambulance company. We were paid to be Available. On the other hand, many regional contracts are Pay for Departure. Each flight is one unit.

My point was, we are Piece Workers. We are paid when we complete a unit. The more units (or flights), the greater the pay.

If you want to be paid for down time, management will surely agree to it.... as long as the total is less. I cannot think of any worker, including the truckers, who get paid while they sleep.

I am all for maximizing my income which is why I supported a minimum credit per day. It forces management to be more efficient. You only want me to fly one hour, okay, pay me for four.

And when a long sit is still in the best interest of the company, fine, give me a hotel room for anything over, say, four hours. The reality is there WILL be lines which require sits. I just want to make them expensive enough that management will minimize them.

Also, the down side of trip rigs, is since they are paying while we sleep, the goal for management in making lines is to limit rest periods to 9:01. Not so bad for a two day, but horrible for every night of a four day.

You say you would be happy to be paid by the pound. Okay, so when the plane is empty are you willing to fly for free? .