Ground Crew Wanted

[Heli Surveys]

Heli Surveys are looking for a casual ground crew for an upcoming contract. This role would suit someone considering doing their helicopter pilots licence or someone who has recently completed their licence.

The role will initially be from the 5th-28th September but may lead on to further casual or full time work. The role will be to support a NSW State wide aerial program and requires; driving a ute and fuel trailer, refuelling the aircraft at various aerodromes and unimproved landing sites, transporting flight crew and general support duties.

The role requires many hours of driving each day and operations in semi-remote areas, please only apply if you are comfortable with driving long distances. It is a dynamic job that requires last minute changes and decisions based around variables such as weather and accommodation availability.

Requirements:
- An unrestricted driving licence (only ‘car’ required but licence must be recognised in Australia)
- A “clean” driving history (the odd speeding fine is acceptable)
- Ability to drive long distances and navigate efficiently
- Ability to handle and deliver JET A1 fuel safely (training and PPE will be provided)
- Ability to work closely with flight crew on logistics and planning

You will be required to pass a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening check and provide a driving history from each country you hold a driving licence in.

You will be paid a day rate for each day and all expenses will be covered. Preference will be for you to hold or gain an ABN for this initial contract and invoice at the completion of the project.

If you would like to apply for the role, please send a C.V and cover letter to ops@helisurveys.com.au.

[Heli Surveys]

Thanks to all those that applied, the position has now been filled.

[choppermech1986]

It's wild that as a low timer these days you need an ABN and be willing to be paid at the end of a project.

[av8r]

I’ve done this job with them before. Top quality crew and they paid quickly and in full.

[Gunga Din]

Wanting you to have an ABN and invoice them at the end, means that they dodge having to pay your super or take out your tax, you are expected to hold your own workers compensation insurance, you are supposed to have your own liability insurance, which most newbies wanting to start out have not sufficient funds to buy. It is dismal employer policy, and leaves the poor worker open to a lot of potential problems.

They want cheap labour, and pay the absolute minimum. You pay your own way around the country towns for a month, and cop it in the neck until they pay your invoice.

[Heli Surveys]

Gunga Din, you have a few inaccuracies and misconceptions in your post.

1) We pay super on top of the day rate. Invoicing through an ABN has no impact on whether someone should be paid super or not. The ATO really don't distinguish between full time, casual or a contractor when it comes to super, so if someone is not paying you super and saying its due to you being a contractor, do some research and check this website - https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/super-for-employers/work-out-if-you-have-to-pay-super/super-for-independent-contractors
2) Yes, invoicing through an ABN means we don't take the tax out, which means you get to hold onto that tax until you lodge your return next year, which means you have access to that money until then. This does then require you to pay it back and "put it aside" but it does mean you can use that money for 12+ months.
3) Everyone working for us, in any capacity is covered by our workers comp and liability insurance. Again, I'm not sure who has told you different or where you have worked, but I would be checking up on that.
4) We pay a good rate, ALL expenses are covered by issuing a company card to the contractor so they do not "pay your own way around the country towns for a month, and cop it in the neck until they pay your invoice". We do not expect anyone to pay anything themselves, that's why it was written in the ad. We are not after "cheap labour", we want quality staff who might benefit from spending 2-3 weeks around helicopters. It does not require holding a CPL so we are not looking purely for "newbies", in fact the person we have employed for it is not training for a CPL at all.
5) We are employing someone for 2.5 weeks, there are benefits to both parties by "preferening" them to invoice through an ABN. If that was not going to work for the successful candidate, we would have gone through the casual employment process and admin. It was a "preference", not a demand or requirement.
6) Addressing Choppermechs post, we pat at the end of the job due to the fortnightly pay cycle we do failing awkwardly over that period. Asking someone to invoice for 2-3 weeks of work is not unreasonable, if they are wanting to be paid after the first week and invoice weekly due to their circumstances, we would have obliged.

I agree that the industry at large has done bad things in the past when it comes to the treatment of low hour and wannabe pilots (and probably still does in some places), but please don't assume all companies are always out there to screw the little guys, some want to provide a wholesome and respectful workplace, where employees and contractors are paid appropriately, covered by insurances and cared for by the company.

Jumping on every ad here does nothing but put off employers from advertising.

[Gunga Din]

Heli Surveys,

I am glad to be proven wrong, there have been too many operators who ducked their responsibilities, and I was screwed by one in the past..

Well done for doing the right thing.

[skypig]

Sounds like this company might be one of the better ones.

I used to invoice people and work as a contractor. It certainly has some advantages. But there are a lot of things to research and consider.