Hey everybody,

Wanted to get some perspective(s). I'm burning out at my current gig and trying to make sure that I'm not being unreasonable.

Here are the facts:

Single Pilot, 1 Aircraft (single turbo-prop)

24/7 365 on call. 56K a year. No bennies (1099). Hotels, but no meals or rental car paid for. No hard days off or PTO. No relief pilot. $50 per diem.

An average month is 17 days flying, 12-13 days overnights. Usually 12 hours notice, but about 25% less than that. Lots of redeyes and some international flying too.

I negotiated the terms for 2 years when it was represented that I'd be flying MAYBE 150 hours a year and they encouraged me to have other part time flying. I've flown 286 hours in 7 months, been gone 89 days out of the past 120. I have to give up trips on other jets all the time because of my lack of schedule.

I feel like I'm flying too much for too little (so say we all), but I am gone more than the average regional guy and not making much more coin after taxes, and I don't have hard days off. I figure I should be making $500 (+) per day if I'm flying this much and on-call 24/7, either that or I need solid days off.

My plan is to have a sit-down with the mgr and renegotiate compensation/schedule or walk (Boutique, Surf, something like that; or maybe even a Regional). They're nice enough people, but I'm burning out.

Also, I'm a pretty young guy just over ATP mins a year ago.

Am I being unreasonable?

24/7 365 and 1099 is completely illegal in the eyes of the IRS. After taxes that you have to pay, 56K is horrible. No meals or rental car? Great Scott! Run as fast as you can.

Just by reading the first few paragraphs, I would've left a looooong time ago...

Complete crap.

That sounds awful, you're not being unreasonable at all. All that too for a single engine turbo prop, which will do nothing to advance your career. Goodluck!

I'm asking because I don't know, but why is that illegal to the IRS


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Because contractors set thier own schedule.

I think you are getting a raw deal. This might get you started...

https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small...ed-or-Employee

I think it is safe to say without changes in compensation AND staffing, I would probably bail. That being said, the best way to negotiate is when you have a offer letter in hand from another employer. I would strongly advise to reach out and see exactly what is available to you at this point in your career. Everyone has had crummy jobs in this profession, but most importantly you want to be able to show recency in flight as well as biting off more than you can chew without another offer letter in hand. Sounds like it may be time to part ways either way. Best of luck-

This is a rotten deal and you should make a change as soon as you reasonably can. There are so many things wrong with it that it is unlikely to ever become an acceptable job. However, you mention that meals are not paid for; does not the $50 per diem cover that?