$200 a day was what I was offered. Seemed pretty fair at the time with expenses, tips, etc. on top of that. If I fly the same amount of days that I do as a 121 FO on fourth year pay I'm making more money in the charter business. I hardly see that as undercutting. In addition I have no flight time in the 525. No type, no training, currency etc. Just acting as safety pilot. Maybe Im wrong, would love to make more $$.
What ever happend to the free market anyway?

Gotta love E-tough members of the forums.

Ferlo, I would say, given that you are experienced in other turbine aircraft, your rate is on the low side. Someone coming up with no experience at all, $200/day is fine. It's not that you are doing that on purpose, it probably just happened and it's all 'bonus' money. Some people automatically think you're are just trying to do whatever it takes to fly a jet, when it says you are an FO already.

Sensative subject on this forum right now, I'm not surpised at all by the responses.

well when your used to making $80 or so dollars a day, $200 sounds great, especially with a $15 meal at chillis to go with it. I agree with Ewfflyer if you know the pointy end goes forward your worth more.

I appreciate the responses. I really had no idea what the going rate was for an untyped safety pilot. Just sounded like a spectacular deal considering the flexibility of the job, the amount of "work" I'm doing and the fact that I can still fly on furlough awaiting recall.
Does anyone have a baseline rate I should quote considering my experience? (5000 TT, 2600 CRJ, CFI CFII MEI) Do prices vary according to the trips? Would a four day trip to Mexico for example be priced differently than a single leg repo from Phoenix to Tucson?

I would say your base for domestic needs to come up, but I'm not willing to speculate. International travel IMO should warrent a higher fee, but once again, not my area of expertice

Anyone had any dealings with ACASS? Good or bad?
Just laid off again for the second time in 2 years. Just before my 12 mnth recurrent. Trying to figure out how to find the 19K to pay for it.
Hoping I can get enough SIC work to pay for it and live.

I'm just getting into doing contract flying and am wondering how I should do my taxes this next year. Any insight out there? How do you guys do it?

Quarterlies every 13 weeks...just get hooked up with an accountant and set aside 30% for taxes. Keep all of your receipts and write off as much as possible. I used to write off approximately 40% of my general expenses and much more on large ticket items that were "categorically an expense of the occupation" (i.e. buy those new headsets you wanted at the end of the year, etc.).

Why would you do the quarterlies and not just once a year? Advantages?

IRS charges a penalty at the end of the year if you don't do quarterly payments if you are self-employed.

I strongly urge self-employed pilots to look at the SEP-IRA option-- not only lowers taxable income, but you are saving for retirement as well. I max this every year.