contract pilot first experience
 

Hello all
I'm new here and posting this first post to gather few information.
I'd like to know what you have to deal as a contract pilot and how you deal it. i'm not talking about salary but rather all the other things : hotel, transportation, per diem, how they pay you and when etc etc.
Any advice is well appreciated !
thanks !

I charge a daily rate and they pay for food, hotels, rental cars, ect. The daily rate depends on airplane type, location, pilot experience.

I fly a Citation 525 as FO. $200 per day plus expenses as previously mentioned. So if you fly a four day trip, you get $800. If the owner/operator is cool he might split the tips with you.

scopiton -

I'm similar to elcid here but I get basically a monthly retainer for availability and then an hourly rate. All travel expenses are paid by the employer plus per diem.

USMCFLYR

thanks for your answers
do you expect the company contracting you to give you a credit card or do you advance money and they pay you back ?
It would be normal to have an expense account or a credit card if that's possible, am I wrong ?

Full timers where I work have a company credit card but I (part-timer) front it and then get reimbursed after I fill out the travel claim. I'm not sure there is an advantage either way as long as they pay the travel claim in a timely manner and you start out in a manner which allows you to front any bill that might have to be paid before reimbursement.

USMCFLYR

yup that's my point, I'll see with the HR lady.
besides that how is it to be a contract pilot ? I imagine the real advantage is to get the right type rating and work for a good contracting company.

Be careful covering an expense. Unless you enjoy chasing after money, don't float any operator a loan for hotels, gas for the plane, rental car, airline ticket or anything, really.

If they can't afford to just cover it and be done with it, how will they afford your bill when it comes in? And if it is just down to not "trusting" you with a company card, then they should find someone else that they do trust.

I don't float a loan for operating an airplane and if I'm not paid on time, the plane doesn't move. Period. I've had to chase after money too many times in the past.

-mini

Dang, I get $400 a day +$50 perdiem in the NW CE-560, FO. I would have thought the 525 would be roughly the same. Best of luck.

I was kinda thinking that rate was a little low, but is the 525 SP qualified? I'm horrible with the smaller citations