So I wantedto talk about 1099 work rules, I only have one student right now, I'm 1099 I like the company and management. They want me to come in and stay unpaid, I have agreed to do this, would you have done the same? I should get more flying from walk in ect. Just wondering if other cfis hang out at the airport for free

 

You work for free?!

 

i got the same kind of offer a year ish ago. Were you given the option to be a 1099 or employed directly with the company? just make sure you have pilot insurance. BTW I told them I wouldn't come in until there are students. I also negotiated almost to the top of the pay scale in the interview. I did turn down a different job that wanted me to just stay at the airport on my off time. If you are low time and/or this is the only option I would 'do work son' since you might not have another option for awhile.

sorry for the random thoughts.

 

I do not. I get paid to fly. They just want me to stay at the airport it's not Working just need to show my face.

 

Are they asking you to do desk work, recruiting, etc or just hang out and shoot the bull. If they are asking you to do work then yes, you should be paid. But if not, there certainly are worse things that you can be doing than hanging out. One quesiton is do you have anything better to be doing? Video games and posting on APC don't count either I'm talking about family, another job, school, etc. One of the best ways to network to a better job is by hanging out at the airport and talking to people. Transients, walk-in potential students, etc.

The decision is yours just some food for thought.

 

I was in a similar situation not too long ago. I was starting to get really ****ed off, because they would get mad if I didn't do extra chores (like wash/wax the airplane once a week, help with basic mx, a bunch of other stuff etc) I was only getting paid if/when the plane was in the air. One of the problems was that the airplane didn't really fly that much, so the pay was really crappy for a long day of stuff.

They tried to hold this "we'll write you a good reference if you keep helping out" - BS... I said that I can a) get paid a daily rate, independent of whether I flew or not to cover the non-flying items. or b) get paid a decent amount more of flying pay. or c) go to work for someone else that had offered me more.

The choice was clear - see ya! While you are 1099 they aren't an employer as much as you are just contracted for work. You can do the things outlined in the contract or more - it's up to you. Anyways...

Someone had offered me more... two places offered a good amount more which included hardly any of the chores as before. The one company is a dream job (for me) that includes flying a 421 part 91 down around Puerto Rico, Dom Rep, and the Bahamas - all expenses are paid, a very good pay rate, get put up in 5 star resorts. I can't complain - the only 'chores' I have to do are sit on a laptop and file an eAPIS, do weight and balance, plan trips, and just make sure the luggage isn't all out of whack, and deal with customs. Not bad at all!

 

oh, well, I guess it depends on how much you value your free time. Personally I love hanging out at the airport, but I also like playing my guitars and I doubt they want that noise in a professional setting.

 

I'd agree with others that there's a fine line between a 1099 hanging out waiting to solicit business and doing unpaid admin/ramp work. I would avoid doing unpaid work, spend your time calling potential students and following up with those who need to be prompted to schedule the next lesson. Don't let them give you grief if you need to go run errands, etc...

 

Exactly. If you're going to be a contract employee, you're really working for yourself. Don't do their chores for them, but do do your chores for yourself.

Two books: The Savvy Flight Instructor and Guerrilla Marketing. Both are how to market yourself. Get your own clients. If you're bringing in 50% or more of new clients, renegotiate your contract status to a flight + commission pay schedule.