SASless
4th Mar 2005, 16:05
If we do any kind of research into the changing environment within which our industry operates, we see many serious challenges facing helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, training organizations, government agencies, and those of us who have chosen a career doing this kind of work.
We have issues under discussion regarding Restricted Catagory Helicopters, US Forest Service contracting methods, Public agency competition with private industry, EMS safety, Offshore safety, the ever increasing shortage of experienced pilots and mechanics (engineers), inadequate infrastructure for offshore IFR flight, inadequate SAR coverage, bogus aircraft parts, aging aircraft...the list goes on and on.
Compound this by the issue of consolidation of helicopter resources into ever fewer companies as the bigger outfits buy out smaller operators. Which will be challenged by the cyclical nature of the offshore market and the uncertainty of the Fire Fighting business. What role does the ever present Harvard MBA concern with the near term stock price and quarterly report results play?
Are we headed for a crisis down the road....or a series of them in the future?
Do we have significant numbers of people looking into the future and guiding companies towards long term goals or are we doomed to stick to the usual helicopter operator method of "crisis management" that will prevent us from progressing into an ever increasingly technical age with corporate strategic plans that embrace new technology and new ways of doing business?
Are we so competitive that we harm our industry's progress by reducing profit margins to the point that we cannot afford to pay for the new hi-tech gear?
Are we willing to invest the necessary capital in retrofitting hi-tech gear to include TCAS, GPWS, glass cockpits, autopilots, ground aids like ASOS, Sat tracking of aircraft, and other modern gear?
Are the resources going to be made available to increase the amount and quality of training needed to raise standards?
Will any of this work to make our industry a safer and more capable operation or are we doomed to continue doing business as normal into the future? Is this current way of doing business the right way and no changes are needed?
We have issues under discussion regarding Restricted Catagory Helicopters, US Forest Service contracting methods, Public agency competition with private industry, EMS safety, Offshore safety, the ever increasing shortage of experienced pilots and mechanics (engineers), inadequate infrastructure for offshore IFR flight, inadequate SAR coverage, bogus aircraft parts, aging aircraft...the list goes on and on.
Compound this by the issue of consolidation of helicopter resources into ever fewer companies as the bigger outfits buy out smaller operators. Which will be challenged by the cyclical nature of the offshore market and the uncertainty of the Fire Fighting business. What role does the ever present Harvard MBA concern with the near term stock price and quarterly report results play?
Are we headed for a crisis down the road....or a series of them in the future?
Do we have significant numbers of people looking into the future and guiding companies towards long term goals or are we doomed to stick to the usual helicopter operator method of "crisis management" that will prevent us from progressing into an ever increasingly technical age with corporate strategic plans that embrace new technology and new ways of doing business?
Are we so competitive that we harm our industry's progress by reducing profit margins to the point that we cannot afford to pay for the new hi-tech gear?
Are we willing to invest the necessary capital in retrofitting hi-tech gear to include TCAS, GPWS, glass cockpits, autopilots, ground aids like ASOS, Sat tracking of aircraft, and other modern gear?
Are the resources going to be made available to increase the amount and quality of training needed to raise standards?
Will any of this work to make our industry a safer and more capable operation or are we doomed to continue doing business as normal into the future? Is this current way of doing business the right way and no changes are needed?