JOBS FOR OUR PILOTS
I would like to thank the Moderator for his astute observations about my efforts in pouring oil on troubled waters, caused by a previous run of really beyond the limit posts, many which have thankfully been removed. In regards to the flack the HAA has had in the past, I hope these few words to the younger pilots will be a boost and hopefully you will realise that people do care about your futures.
While I am the President of the HAA, (we are all volunteers), I will continue to promote the things I love dearly; the helicopter community. Before I proceed; and in regards to the sad postings over the past week. I must suggest people are people and there will always be differences and brawls. Fights, brawls and sniping are like pigeon **** on an aerofoil – just drag. But if we can only rise above this crap and see what is happening out there, then my desire for the younger pilots to get a better life may be a dream come true for myself and our supporters. Today, the trend is that our new members are coming from the younger ranks, which is a healthy sign. The mustering pilots have decided, as we were monitoring the blade problems on their behalf, that maybe we deserve a second look.
So what about the guy looking for a job, or a better job? Australia and New Zealand has 1,800 helicopters, about 200 more helicopters than Canada. To be fair, the Canadians have over double the money invested in their fleet which tends to be turbine or heavy turbine. But we fly 35% more hours, due to the 400 machines tied up in mustering or training. The Kiwis have a heap of single engine turbines, fewer pistons and twins. Kiwis probably have as much invested in helicopters as Australia; due to our large light piston fleet in Australia. Our rate of growth is double the respective GDP. Aeroplane guys are going backwards with only half the GDP growth. Aeroplane twins down 140% in ten years; angry palm trees twins up by 400% in this region in the same time.
I hope the young guys will observe that Australia now has 34 rescue bases and NZ 17! Oddly enough there is a shortage of drivers at the top end of the career ladder. “What about the low hour graduates”, critics will say with plenty of justification. Well the HAA is working with AOPA’s Bill Hamilton to get a handle on the fact that low hour drivers do not have any more prangs than the high hour “nut behind the wheel”. If we can find enough evidence, we hope to convince the aviation insurance providers to give the younger guys a go and lift the outdated rules about hours needed for employment.
So what is the HAA meddling with at present? In November the Australasian SAR/EMS operators met at Newcastle to discuss the recent deaths and near misses at night. About 65 turned up to the HAA event. Many were hurting having not long come from funerals. The Kiwis in particular wanted to meet again and discuss wider issues and thus an HAA Industry Conference was mooted and will be held 17-21 May at Sea World. This gathering in three sessions, will tie up the loose ends about night ops and make new recommendations, etc; have a good look at SAR/EMS issues, such as fire fighting and hoist cable failures and then the let tourist people have their first regional meeting. We gotta start somewhere and now is as good a time as ever!
As an aside, and as a scary observation, the Yanks have killed nine in three EMS night accidents since January. So we really need to take a deep breath and look at ourselves also. We must not scare away the medical system; otherwise patients will be carted around in taxis. And aircrew will be serving beer or waiting on tables.
But we must also look at the Asian expansion and be at Heli-Asia 2004. The HAA President has been appointed the civil chairperson of the civil workshops and in return the organisers have allowed the HAA space to promote our members. Why bother, some dimwits will say? Well China is growing at 12% pa and they need 1,100 emergency service machines by 2013. Now that the Chinese have freed up airspace and profits going out of the country, sales of 300 per year over ten years are now predicted. Well, before you reach for the TV remote and say this is all boring garbage, being beyond your intellectual capability, remember that China has only 130 civil helicopters at present and a very aged military fleet of about 600. All this for a population of one billion!!
Who is going to make and service and market these machines? What about the training of aircrew, ground crew and managers. Look at the enormous overseas facilities now established in this region for their airline trainees. Anyhow, the HAA is going to be there hooting and hollering for our members! My personal frustration are those the rabbits who take all the benefits and give nothing and then whinge! Geez a non-voting membership is only AUD$49.50. You probably spend more on a Friday night with your partner at a “cheap and cheerful” eating place. Why not give the HAA one feed a year. Maybe they can make things better for you so you can move closer to town and eat at a better eating establishment.
To really stretch the minds of the disbelievers, we have been offered a major role in the Australian Air Show 2005. It is proposed that the theme will not be airlines, military fast jets or helicopters for the grunts. In 2005 the Air Show will have civil helicopters as the drawcard. The HAA has leapt at this opportunity and will start work very soon on making this event a success. More helicopter sales means more jobs and more jobs means more training, more training means more instructors, more sales means more engineers, etc.
One last thought. We need to provide new pilots in number equivalent to 15% of the existing pilot roster each year. Why? Retirement, sickness, people moving to another field, etc, etc.. Also present in Australasia is the fortunate fact that our industry is growing at 7% pa. From 600 helicopters or so ten years ago to 1,200 machines now!
Now one last piece of the job jigsaw. A quiz question if you like. The average age of the industry pilot is 48 years, according to CASA. Now it should be 40 years. Thus a heap of old farts are wandering into retirement in the next decade when we are also expanding! Shortages will occur, unless the terrorists dream up some way of scaring away the tourist industry which is tagged as the next growth area.
Now an even worse figure is being tossed around. Some clown posing as a politician years ago said we don’t need apprentices, let’s send them all to university or technical college. So what is this big issue? The average age of an engineer is about 54 years, some says 57 years, depends on what report you read.
Today, engineers are being paid more than pilots in some companies and chief engineers can name their own price. Usually, more than the Chief Pilot. So maybe some of you drivers should look at going down the dual qualification road. At least you will never starve.
Food for thought??
I am heading off for a few weeks so keep your eye on the skid ball and rotor in the green,
Rob Rich
President
HAA
PS: As mentioned before, if you need any directories of OZ, NZ and PNG we can provide them for you. As an example, there are 1,200 helos in OZ used by 582 owners, including 264 commercial companies. Kiwis are about half of these. We have ‘em too if you need these also.