Contractors Forum

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Tue May 27, 2008 12:24 pm

I'd like to see a connies string. I think a lot of us could use it where we could discuss rates, contracts, agencies. Not to support another slag fest that VAL seems to attract every couple of weeks. A string for us would just give us the ability to say "hey these guys need X number of 400 guys" or "such and so agency is really good to deal with" or "hey they are forgetting to mention there is no hanger". I know some people may be ringing their hands at this but hey, communication is a good thing. So all the connies shout out and we could get somthing for the "have tools will travel" group.

airwrench · Post by **airwrench** » Tue May 27, 2008 12:27 pm

Sounds good, how Holland treatin ya?

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Tue May 27, 2008 2:33 pm

I'll second that motion.

chowda · Post by **chowda** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:53 pm

I third it, although factual info(ie;val) concerning companies can be invaluable. The trick is to present it in an intelligent manner
The "no hanger" issue was nicely forgotten about when an offer(better than his usual rates) came up recently. A little digging around filled in that blank.
Did I mention it was in Iqaluit.....

Also, if anyone knows of extra seats available on a Q400 course, please post or pm me. I know of a few people who are interested.

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:24 pm

Yeah, see thats where the forum would have been good...cause I knew that. (No hanger) But the guys you're working with are pretty cool. Holland is the same airwrench, they were sad to see you go, I heard they were bugging Don to get you back. The other cdn had to go home for a family emergency so I'm here by myself but I think they need 5 more guys. Dash experiance an asset.

airwrench · Post by **airwrench** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:51 am

That too bad bout the other Cnd, might come back soon perhaps, anyone know bout ant Dash 8 courses with seats open?

AW

Ballsssssss · Post by **Ballsssssss** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:14 am

Does one need an M2 to go work at said place in Holland?

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:17 am

JD Aero is in charge of the holland thing. Good money, Nice place to stay. Lots of work too. The first time around is a bit "interesting" but after that it's okay.

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:35 pm

chowda wrote:Also, if anyone knows of extra seats available on a Q400 course, please post or pm me. I know of a few people who are interested.

Flightline Training is running a Q-400 course soon. Contact Phyl at:

phyl@flightlinetraining.com

chowda · Post by **chowda** » Thu May 29, 2008 2:16 am

Thanks for the response, but Im not a fan of that company.

I should have specified "Flight Safety" Q400 Type courses. Had my 100/200/300 D8 course with them, and would recommend it.

airwrench · Post by **airwrench** » Thu May 29, 2008 6:32 am

anyone putting on a dash 8-300 course?

brownbear · Post by **brownbear** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:41 pm

May I ask what the deal is in Holland? Is only Dash 8 experienced guys wanted? I have lots of deHavilland experience but it is all DHC-6 stuff.

Is the JD company more for that Holland contract? How is Contract Aero?

Pat Richard · Post by **Pat Richard** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:50 pm

In regard to contract aero -

From personal experience, you can take 4 people on one job, and hear 4 different stories to do with travel time pay/no pay or hourly rates. I've also witnessed the lack of pay differential between qualified/experienced guys, and those who aren't. They pay was the same whether licensed/endorsed, or unlicensed/apprentice, with some very few exceptions. Makes for easier accounting, i guess.

I do have to say I did always get paid on time, and most of the time the amount was correct. The times that werent were due to changed details that were "forgotten" when I was being given the pitch to take the contract. Other than that, I personally think their rates have stagnated, as they've been offerering the same 35 a/hr, 50 a/day, usually shared accomadation, for a number of years now, for some pretty "remote" locales. But again, you may be able to leverage your own better deal. For the 35 a/hr, they generally charge 45 for you to the(maybe more now)company, so there maybe room to squeeze some change out of them.

All in all, not the worst agency in aviation, but also not the best.

My 2 cents.

CanadianLimey · Post by **CanadianLimey** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:48 am

Hey, I'm an Avionics and I just finished a contract with Contract Aero. You are right, it is $35/hr $50/day, not bad money, and they always paid on time. The only gripe I have with them, is that when you are done, they don't tell you that you are not going back up. I found out a week before I was due to go, from a friend who works for the company, and I would never had known. Other then that, they pay the right amount.

brownbear · Post by **brownbear** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:11 am

CanadianLimey wrote:Hey, I'm an Avionics and I just finished a contract with Contract Aero. You are right, it is $35/hr $50/day, not bad money, and they always paid on time. The only gripe I have with them, is that when you are done, they don't tell you that you are not going back up. I found out a week before I was due to go, from a friend who works for the company, and I would never had known. Other then that, they pay the right amount.

So your not heading back to YZF for FA? You must have been due about now to go...... if you're who I think you are. If not disregard. If you're the right guy...you told me the story about the terrorists you could have shot that blew up the barracks a week later in the mysterious car.

CanadianLimey · Post by **CanadianLimey** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:36 am

So your not heading back to YZF for FA? You must have been due about now to go...... if you're who I think you are. If not disregard. If you're the right guy...you told me the story about the terrorists you could have shot that blew up the barracks a week later in the mysterious car.[/quote]

Yeap it is me. With a nickname of CanadianLimey, who else could it be.

Nope, they are sending the other guy, and basically told me that I may not ever go, even so I was requested by FA. Then I only found out by someone up in YZF that I wasn't going only last week. Nice to go up, do a good job, get requested to go back only to have CAS go the other way. I'm a bit bitter now, because I'm scrambling to find another contract. Some notice would have been nice.

brownbear · Post by **brownbear** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:54 pm

That's unfortunate. It was a fun rotation.

I look at it all as very temporary anyhow. I've seen companies lose all the contractors overnight with little warning. It's part of the game.

Would have been nice for CAS to give you a bit better head ups. Try the other companies direct up there. Go around the middle man.

Cheers,bb

Grease Nipple · Post by **Grease Nipple** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:27 pm

CanadianLimey wrote:Hey, I'm an Avionics and I just finished a contract with Contract Aero. You are right, it is $35/hr $50/day, not bad money, and they always paid on time. The only gripe I have with them, is that when you are done, they don't tell you that you are not going back up. I found out a week before I was due to go, from a friend who works for the company, and I would never had known. Other then that, they pay the right amount.

$35 an hour is not the right amount. It is far to cheap. Full time licensed endorsed mech's will make almost that and have many benifits on top of that. Contractors shouldn't be charging less than what fulltime employees cost, it isn't good for them or us. We need to make a decent wage to cover our costs between gigs. Try to get a plumbing, eletrical, carpentor, painter, etc to come to your home for $35 an hour.

If people stop accepting these shit rates then they will go up. I have been contracting for a long time and the rate hasn't changed in a very long time yet fulltime wages have gone up more than 50%. We need to start demanding more money, not accept less.

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:49 pm

CDN Limey, why don't you try another agency or contact the company yourself, then get another agency, I think they like it when work falls into their lap. Unless the company has a exclusive with CAS. Hell you may even get a better rate.

CanadianLimey · Post by **CanadianLimey** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:15 am

bombardierfixer wrote:CDN Limey, why don't you try another agency or contact the company yourself, then get another agency, I think they like it when work falls into their lap. Unless the company has a exclusive with CAS. Hell you may even get a better rate.

Funny you should say that. Last night I got a call from a YZF company, not FA, and I have a direct contract (a tester contract really), that could lead to a bigger contract. Now I have to decide how much to charge, considering I have to foot the bill on workers comp and such.

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:51 am

Cool, good for you. Ask them about insurance, you know if you burn down the hanger or somthing.

MR. SCAB TO YOU · Post by **MR. SCAB TO YOU** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:15 am

I worked with most of you guys. I have an issues with companies not wanting to pay anything close to what they pay some contract agencies. I try to explain to them that we are , are own contract agency. I love it how they keep requesting me to go up, but only if I go through CAS.

CAS is just a tool for us. But the pay isn't want it should be. Haft the time they don't even know what your up to, till they get an invoice. I worked for this one place that wouldn't even bother to tell CAS. They would just sent me my flight infor directly and not even till them. But they must of signed one of there contracts that state for them not to hire anyone of his guys. But were are not his employees. And that came from the horses mouth.

But they do pay ontime somewhat. But if they can screw you out of some money, they will.
ei. travel pay. All the places I have worked at payes it. It is mostly 8 hours each way. But they just want to pay you per-diem for the day. I hope you all hear this. Cause I don't put up with it and neither should anyone else.

chowda · Post by **chowda** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:39 am

I have an issues with companies not wanting to pay anything close to what they pay some contract agencies.

A concept I have yet to understand, and I've given up trying to. It goes against all logic.

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:13 am

Employers think that they can get away with a little more when it comes to contractors I think. You know you can get more OT out of a connie than maybe a full time guy, A connie is less apt to say no. Connies actually cost less due to taxes and benefits. Some places though rely too much on contractors though and then they are confused why nothing moves forward. If you want to grow your organization you build on the full time guys and invest in them then supliment with connies when needed. But as my friend says CCC Chaos Creates Cash.

But it seems this thread is doing its job and we are talking so the next time XYZ agency calls you can say "No, I want this please" or " I don't get out of bed for less than_______"

SeptRepair · Post by **SeptRepair** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:29 am

Good points had by all, I agree connies should be a temporary fill in to supplement exisitng employees. I came to the shop i am at now as a temp connie and 6 years later im still here. The expectation of working OT for straight time is felt. I have bent a little and worked about 45 hrs a week at my contract rate. Recently that 45 hr week has turned into 80 hr weeks. I have now started charing OT on anything past 40 and they have yet to question me. If i do get questioned my defense is "I will be damed if im going to be making less an hr on a sunday than one of your 3rd yr apprentice employees on double time." As for our rates compared to a full time employee. I had a talk with one of the managers a few years ago and he openly stated that the cost of an employee including, stats, vaction pay, medical & dental, 3 sick days/yr and pension actually equivilates to 1.46 times the hourly wage given. So to them, a contractor paid at the same wage/ a little bit higher hourly, was still cheaper than an employee.

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