One thing Bond did provide the pilot workforce was job security. They did this by expecting and getting flexibility from the workforce. While the other two operators went through their hire and fire cycles Bond never made a pilot reduntant despite several lean periods. What Bond never quite got right was their salaries. They always lagged behind. They did however have a good pension scheme - you got good value for your contributions.
The Bonds' sell out to HKS was the turning point in the managements ability to keep the workforce with them. The directors got very involved with building defences against "attack" from the Norwegians and took their eye off the workforce and its aspirations.
Also, it was very easy to keep moral up in an expanding Company with new a/c arriving and plenty of oportunity for promotion or change of base or a/c type. This changed when the North Sea peaked.
As to the Bonds coming back - I think they will get pilots because the Bonds (with the oil companies behind them)will pay what it takes to get them - and it might not take much because Bristow or (more likely) Scotia will have to lay off pilots when the oil companies take work away from them to give to Bond.
The Bonds will not however get the same sort of flexible workforce as they had in the early days unless they significantly improve pay and conditions and buy the flexibility and willingness they want. But if they pay the rate needed then they will get the people they want.
[ 16 September 2001: Message edited by: roundwego ]