Pitchlink: "...if BIH have to go so that rates are increased then so be it."
I'm sure your fellow Pilots in BIH would not quite agree with you on that one.
Changing companies every few years to follow the contracts cannot be the answer...there's no security for the workforce (let's not forget it's not just pilots who have to keep changing) and an insecure workforce is not a very loyal one. What is needed is for the three remaining North Sea companies to work together at increasing rates, & therefore moral, and not to offer "break even" rates just to keep the company afloat until the competition are forced out of business.
Having flown for both BIH & Bristow I know which company I would prefer to work for again. I have never met a more loyal & professional group of pilots than my former colleagues in BIH (I'm not saying that Bristow pilots are unloyal or unprofessional) and it saddens me to hear "rumours" that the company that gave me my footstep into the aviation industry might be "facing the final curtain".
For those North Sea pilots who are young enough (under 45 ???) you really should consider converting to fixed wing...I know the flying isn't as much fun and there's always the cost (it cost me about £12k) but at least you don't have to look for a new job every three years (hopefully). I left to fly "planks" a few years ago and, although I miss flying on the North Sea, I can now afford to fly helicopters for fun without thinking that I should be putting the money in the bank for when I'm made redundant...again. I definitely feel that I made the right decision.
Good luck to EVERYONE on the North Sea, especially BIH.
I hope that this winter treats everyone kindly.