Hi Hummingfrog -
I worked the offshore rosters on both the Piper/Claymore and Forties for a fair period. At the time it was Week on/week off which really meant 8 on/6 off by the time you had done your travelling. Two weeks on/off would have been far better for me but was not an option. While based onshore I was bounced between Strubby, Humberside, Beccles, Blackpool and Bournmouth so there was never anything more stable about homelife!
Without doubt the best roster I ever worked was Sumburgh (in the Peter Boor days - Top bloke! Where is he now?) 5 on, 2 off, 5 on, 9 off. Still cracked 900 hrs flying less than half the year!
The option to have 2 blocks of three weeks off would cost me 42 days leave under my current scheme (we only get 36 days/year) and you get two weeks off every month, it sound good to me!!
And no, I am just a line pilot so no hidden agenda.
Cheers
TeeS