Meeting and greeting the big boss at PHI back then involved him coming into the "pilot lounge" while some of us were sitting around, waiting for the dreaded calls for the next flight. I guess he felt obliged to be polite and greet his pilots?
Even then I had heard rumours that he at least on one occasion had stated that he could find all the pilots he needed in the gutters of Bourbon Street. Consequently, I did not feel moved in a good way by the experience. Quite the contrary it left a foul taste in my mouth, especially knowing the high hostility level regarding pilot representation in PHI.
When it comes to Craig Dobbin and CHC, no doubt the multiple takeovers some years back brought all of us in CHC Europe together in CHC-PA. In addition some of us have become aquainted with lots of colleagues overseas.
The consequence of this has been numerous and in some cases substantial improvements to terms and conditions since 1999 for all members of CHC-PA.