Thomas coupling
18th Jan 2001, 19:08
I've started this thread because of a suggestion by 'Eden' that this deserves a topic all of its own. Before I get stuck in, I wish to qualify my rantings by making it quite clear that I am only speaking from within the emergency services industry. If there is a comparable state of affairs elsewhere within the commercial world then let others make their views known, I could not comment on it. My other qualifier is that I bear absolutely no sleight on my FW colleagues whatsoever. Each to their own.
Our dept has personal experience of this and I also know for a fact that other units have experienced the same.
My argument may no doubt be flawed (as someone will comment on), but this is a talking shop and we are all in this together, so what the hell....
My understanding of it all is that a pilot who goes to the trouble of obtaining a FW ATPL, has gone thru considerable blood, sweat and tears to obtain such. Not to mention the tens of thousands of pounds in costs. It is therefore my assumption that they will want to use it in anger sooner rather than later. Now if that pilot also has an ATPL(H)[which 98% of all emergency services pilots have, as opposed to a CPL], then more power to their elbow...BUT...why use it as a primary means to obtain a flying job when they know that a FW slot could (on average) offer them more of what they are looking for [more money, more money, easy flying, more money, seeing the world, more money]. The only reasonable answer to that might be: I want to dabble in helo's first because this type of flying interests me, and then I'll move on to my long term career with an airline! What would be the point of applying for a FW licence if you aren't going to do that?
Secondly, there is the older FW jock who decides that commercial FW flying is not for them anymore, maybe because they don't get home every night, or the flying is downright boring, etc. But they went out and tried it for a few years and now want a bit of the helo action. Fine, just fine, that's their perogative. They worked hard for 2 licences, so why not use them. So they join our merry band of operators and decide to stay, or worse still realise perhaps, it's not for them and move out again! [I don't know too many FW jocks who have come back to helo ops].
These two scenarios set the scene for what then affects those of us already within the industry. Those of us who want better T's and C's and apply pressure to our employers at every twist and turn to produce excellent contracts for the loyal helo pilot.
Every time a helo pilot moves out of the rotary world and away into the FW world, it destabilises what has already been achieved. For instance, why develop a contract based on loyalty and trust, for the long term, when 'x' years down the line that pilot with FW quals hands in their notice? What's the point. They would rather redefine the contract on a short term basis because it more readily caters for the transient pilot. A rotary pilot happy with their employers does not become a transient pilot (except for a more obvious and personal reason for moving jobs).
During the interview, what are you going to tell your prospective employer when they ask you what is the purpose of your ATPL(A)? If you were honest you would tell them that in due course, sometime in the future you may consider crossing the line to fly FW. If you were a little less honest then you would hide the fact that you even had an ATPL(A)!
How is that employer to respond to this? What incentive do they have to support activities within the industry to raise the conditions of employment for helo drivers so that they are then comparable to those experienced in the FW world(in general!)?
Everytime one FW leaves another 'rookie' joins the industry, glad to be offered the job and the employer might see this as their opportunity to peg back the T's and C's that the predecessor enjoyed. You (the FW pilot) are not doing us any favours when you do this. I have been very active in preparing pilot contracts and I am constantly reminded of this anomaly (along with other issues, it has to be said) by my employers.
Please don't get me wrong. I don't begrudge the pilot who wishes to dual qualify (in fact there are a minor number of slots where both ratings are needed). I don't begrudge the fact that their transition from one side to the other (whichever way) is done to improve their personal lot...BUT they must realise that this activity does not help those of us who are striving to ensure comfortable employment practices here within the emergency services industry for those who wish to stay within that industry.
Rant over...commence firing!
http://www.gograph.com/Images-7298/AnimatedGif/redstar.gif
------------------
Thermal runaway.
[This message has been edited by Thomas coupling (edited 18 January 2001).]
Our dept has personal experience of this and I also know for a fact that other units have experienced the same.
My argument may no doubt be flawed (as someone will comment on), but this is a talking shop and we are all in this together, so what the hell....
My understanding of it all is that a pilot who goes to the trouble of obtaining a FW ATPL, has gone thru considerable blood, sweat and tears to obtain such. Not to mention the tens of thousands of pounds in costs. It is therefore my assumption that they will want to use it in anger sooner rather than later. Now if that pilot also has an ATPL(H)[which 98% of all emergency services pilots have, as opposed to a CPL], then more power to their elbow...BUT...why use it as a primary means to obtain a flying job when they know that a FW slot could (on average) offer them more of what they are looking for [more money, more money, easy flying, more money, seeing the world, more money]. The only reasonable answer to that might be: I want to dabble in helo's first because this type of flying interests me, and then I'll move on to my long term career with an airline! What would be the point of applying for a FW licence if you aren't going to do that?
Secondly, there is the older FW jock who decides that commercial FW flying is not for them anymore, maybe because they don't get home every night, or the flying is downright boring, etc. But they went out and tried it for a few years and now want a bit of the helo action. Fine, just fine, that's their perogative. They worked hard for 2 licences, so why not use them. So they join our merry band of operators and decide to stay, or worse still realise perhaps, it's not for them and move out again! [I don't know too many FW jocks who have come back to helo ops].
These two scenarios set the scene for what then affects those of us already within the industry. Those of us who want better T's and C's and apply pressure to our employers at every twist and turn to produce excellent contracts for the loyal helo pilot.
Every time a helo pilot moves out of the rotary world and away into the FW world, it destabilises what has already been achieved. For instance, why develop a contract based on loyalty and trust, for the long term, when 'x' years down the line that pilot with FW quals hands in their notice? What's the point. They would rather redefine the contract on a short term basis because it more readily caters for the transient pilot. A rotary pilot happy with their employers does not become a transient pilot (except for a more obvious and personal reason for moving jobs).
During the interview, what are you going to tell your prospective employer when they ask you what is the purpose of your ATPL(A)? If you were honest you would tell them that in due course, sometime in the future you may consider crossing the line to fly FW. If you were a little less honest then you would hide the fact that you even had an ATPL(A)!
How is that employer to respond to this? What incentive do they have to support activities within the industry to raise the conditions of employment for helo drivers so that they are then comparable to those experienced in the FW world(in general!)?
Everytime one FW leaves another 'rookie' joins the industry, glad to be offered the job and the employer might see this as their opportunity to peg back the T's and C's that the predecessor enjoyed. You (the FW pilot) are not doing us any favours when you do this. I have been very active in preparing pilot contracts and I am constantly reminded of this anomaly (along with other issues, it has to be said) by my employers.
Please don't get me wrong. I don't begrudge the pilot who wishes to dual qualify (in fact there are a minor number of slots where both ratings are needed). I don't begrudge the fact that their transition from one side to the other (whichever way) is done to improve their personal lot...BUT they must realise that this activity does not help those of us who are striving to ensure comfortable employment practices here within the emergency services industry for those who wish to stay within that industry.
Rant over...commence firing!
http://www.gograph.com/Images-7298/AnimatedGif/redstar.gif
------------------
Thermal runaway.
[This message has been edited by Thomas coupling (edited 18 January 2001).]