Sounds very much to me like CHC are trying to form one single global operation encompassing all current bases. Their aim will be to employ everyone there (the US) and all on the same pay, terms and conditions irrespective of where you live or work. One operation centre will deal with all crew scheduling and rostering and flight program management for all operations. They will also deal directly with the customers I imagine. I think this has been on the cards for a while and is the economists wet dream. Just imagine getting rid of all those ops people, planners and crew managers around the world and replacing them with a wonderful outsourced american version. They are going to save a fortune - for about 5 minutes.
Suddenly a norwegian who has worked for Helikopter Serivice for 20 years and lives in Norway is told he is now working 6/6 and is paid the same as someone working in Africa. I also wonder how the customers might feel about this. Where they were used to be able to quickly make a phone call to local operations centre and speak to someone in their own language to sort out a problem or get a last minute ad hoc flight on line, they now have to ring Dallas. "Sorry sir you are going to have to speak American otherwise we cannot help. But in the meantime here is your reference number. Someone will get back to you within 2 days to help you." I can imagine a few well paid contracts falling by the wayside in the future, as well as some interesting union action. To be honest this all sounds rather like a union busting attempt to me.
I am just a cynical old bastard - I know. I am sure it is going to be nothing like that really!
Last edited by Horror box; 1st February 2012 at 22:39.