Hello Scotsheli,
No need for you to go anywhere, it is good to have different opinions! Here is mine regarding some of your point:
So Bristow’s nice new EC225’s were free then???
I don’t think this is how it works. A helicopter operator does not buy a new type and then hope an oil company will use it and pay the higher rate. The helicopter type is always specified in the tender for a contract and will (should) be priced accordingly. It is the oil companies who are paying for the modernisation of fleets, not the operator.
And the helicopter operators are raking in the extra profit as the oil company’s fall over themselves to offer higher rates to helicopter operators! NOT. Some basic market research suggests that quite the opposite might be true.
It is certainly true that the oil companies will try to keep the extra profits for themselves as much as possible (as would any other well run company) but if there is a substantial increase in flying activity which is well beyond the contracted flying hours then there is certainly room for negotiations. Also ad-hoc flying is sold at a premium rate if the oil companies are lucky enough to find an operator with the spare capacity.
…and watch those messages of support for your cause pour in from the oil company’s; “no problem boys & girls, you just let us know when it’s all settled and we’ll fit our crew changes in around you…in the meantime we’ve got some contracts to cancel…”
This might have some bearing if a contract is just up for renewal. However as has been said before, I don’t remember an oil company ever cancelling a contract for that reason? (has there ever been a cancellation of a contract in the North Sea for any reason?)
The rest of your comments seem to suggest that you think all those North Sea part-timers are already having the time of their life and any improvement in pay and benefits is taking the pi$$. No idea what your background and current position is but maybe your “benchmark” needs to adjust?
Surely we aren’t really this divorced from the real world, are we?
Someone some time ago said that nothing is truly objective! (We are still waiting for this twin of his returning from his light speed journey through space to prove the point!) Therefore your “real world” does not necessarily have to match the North Sea one and as you are not directly affected yours should just remain as is – good for you if that is what you seek. Others think remaining still is going backwards.