GOM Now Hiring Europeans?

[i4iq]

Nice thought - but I find it hard to believe that there would be a need considering the deluge of US applicants they must have. But I'm not in a position to know...

[Ned-Air2Air]

Dont dismiss it that quick. I was recently down at Era in Lake Charles and there were quite a few non Americans there, English guy flying the EC155, a kiwi girl doing her conversion onto the S76 etc. Think I saw a total of about ten non americans there.

Was talking to Ed Washecka their CEO yesterday and he said they are about to start a recruiting drive as they are going to need around 100+ pilots over the next few months because of expansions etc. Might be worth contacting them, like the old saying goes, you have to be in to win.

Ned

[SASless]

Ned,

Was this after you had been at the Titty Bar for a few hours? Unless someone is going out of business down there....huge expansion just does not happen anymore in the GOM. I sure hope they do get to expand...and there is a shortage of pilots down there but with turnover that will always be the case. The cost of commuting is becoming an issue and fewer young folks are willing to live in Louisana or East Texas anymore.

[i4iq]

Maybe the fact that "young folk" don't want to live down there is why they need to go on a recruiting drive...

What's wrong with East Texas?

[Ned-Air2Air]

SASLess - Who said they were expanding within the GOM :E

[fishboy]

It takes a LOOONG time to get through the visa application program:* . not something that will happen soon I think. They will certainly look at you if you already have a visa, but not otherwise.:(

[Bitmonx]

And how much would that sponsorship fee be?

[i4iq]

It doesn't actually take that long to go through the visa application - if you're thinking of the H1B route. Can be expedited and completed within 14 days. I think the standard app. fee is $1k and expediting it is another $1.5K.

Does also depend on allocation of H1b's.

Have a lawyer contact if anyone wants it...

[fishboy]

I think you will find that helicopter pilots do not qualify for the H1B visa. To qualify for that visa there are quite specific requirements. Here is a VERY brief guide:

There are 3 main requirements to determine if you qualify for an H1B Visa (specialty occupation):
1) theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge;
2) a bachelor's or higher degree (or its foreign equivalent) in the specific specialty; and,
3) one or more of the following:
- A bachelor's degree (or its foreign equivalent) is typically the minimum entry requirement for the position;
- The degree requirement should be in line with the industry or, the position is so specialized that the work can only be performed by someone with a degree.
- The employer company typically requires a degree (or its foreign equivalent) to perform the job function or,
- The nature of the job duties are so specialized that the knowledge and skills required are normally associated with the attainment of a bachelor or higher degree.


I think you will find that none of this is required to be a helicopter pilot, and as such means we are not eligible for that visa.

[i4iq]

Where there's a will, there's a way...

If you have a degree, that's great, it makes it easier. Other than that, you can apply for recognition of prior learning. 3 years experience is equivalent to 1 year of a 4 year degree program. You'd therefore need 12 years experience or a combination of uni credits and experience.

It would not be inconceivable to use other skills in order to make your application for an H1b a specialist job. You'd need to use your imagination in combining your skills into a job which requires specialist knowledge but it can - and has been done. Whether that is appropriate in this situation - I couldn't say - but if they were willing to work with the applicant it is possible.

[unhappyhamster]

What do you mean by "excluded countries"?

These are countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States during the five years immediately proceeding the registration period.


Just seen this statement published for the first time on the consular web site.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/faqs/faq_visa_iv.html

[i4iq]

If your parents were non UK citizens and citizens of a non-excluded country you can still apply for the lottery program... (with a couple of caveats)

[i4iq]

Hey Ned, never did ask where they're going to expand - couldn't be Alberta by any chance, could it? (Not that it's in the US of course...)

[B Sousa]

I think you may find a lot of folks from other countries are being trained or checked out in the GOM to fly for U.S. companies that are diversified in other countries. Not necessarily working in the states.
Also when some of the new guys get an initial VISA to do training its good for a certain period. They can work on that VISA until it expires. Listen to the Radios as there are many accents now working in the states.
Those that I have met are pretty good folks, Welcome....

[Cyclic Hotline]

Era expanding into Alberta?:rolleyes: Whatever next?:oh:

That might qualify as the most brilliant speculation ever posted on PPRuNe - and believe me there have been some crackers!:}

[i4iq]

Cyclic Hotline

Why's that? Thought they supported the oil industry?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4649580.stm

[Ned-Air2Air]

i4iq - Not Alberta but a good thought. :ok:

Their plans are a bit further afield :E

[havoc]

PHI announced that is plans to double the monthly hire to 16/month and have trained 100+ pilots by November.

Several reasons, reduce mandatory overtime, and provide vaction coverage.

[SASless]

Questions pop to mind Havoc....

Why use contractors to do "mandatory overtime"....that has never been an issue before...why now?

Vacation coverage....why now....it was never a problem before?

Why double the training pace....that many pilots leaving to cause this or is there some expansion taking place?

If there is turnover....as reported in other places that point the finger at the EMS side of the house as being a revolving door situation....why can the management not find a way to retain people and eliminate the need for additional training costs? Just where are all these pilots to come from? Is there no bottom to the well (as the Bob Suggs School of Helicopter Management endorses) or is the bucket hitting the bottom?

I would suggest the GOM companies for sure....and EMS outfits as well....have a retention problem....not a recruiting/training problem. When numbers along the lines of 30-40 percent annual turnover rate are publicized and a shortfall of about one pilot for every seven positions are known....that says something about the operators being out of touch.

Common sense tells us that each pilot retained is one less that must be identified, recruited, and trained. Maybe the US Helicopter industry could learn something from the US Trucking industry. Exactly the same thing happened there in the past few years but the trucking industry has come to grips with the problem by first admitting to themselves there was a problem.

The modern day HR movement is one impediment to success....and the idea that a file drawer full of Resumes means something is pure dreaming. When one weeds through the piles of Resumes....usually only one or two are of any value since the pilot has already found a job by the time you sift through the stack. Granted....a year or two down the line he might be free again but then he will send you another Resume probably. HR departments should not be doing the recruiting and hiring....that should be left to the Chief Engineers and Chief Pilots...while HR merely sees the necessary paperwork gets completed.

[havoc]

SASLESS

A few notes about the subject and interesting enough the questions you posed are also what the union is also asking.

● Since our major challenge is staffing the medium/heavy aircraft, we have refocused our efforts on hiring experienced pilots who can quickly meet our customer requirements.
● Many of the very experienced pilots in the job market prefer working on a contract basis instead of as a full-time employee. Additionally, these pilots generally have aircraft qualifications for which we are in short supply (thus requiring less time to complete training), and can provide relief for business and customer requirements. This ultimately reduces the need for mandated workovers, and as an added benefit, their presence will eventually open up more vacation slots for our PHI pilots.

I am not sure of this is in response to the unions strike vote (pending release from mediation).

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

well I'm told 500 hours gets you co-jock on a 412 at the moment. That will seem pretty reasonable to any NKOTB - even if you have to live in a swamp - but will the constantly reducing experience requirements, cause any real safety issues long term on the GOM ?


SASless my well informed friend - over to you....

[SASless]

Safety issues in the GOM???

Well now...there is a Tar Baby if ever there was one!

The Bobby Suggs School of Helicopter Management probably has a core belief that says something about "If the FAA will approve Monkeys flying....it will save on personnel costs. If Bobby could have gotten away with having Monkey's flying and only have to buy Banana's in bulk.....he probably would have invested in agricultural real estate in Nicauraga and Haiti.

The oil company minimum standards drive the hiring standards in the oil patch. The Bobby Suggs concept of pilot recruiting in the gutters of the French Quarters has been overtaken by events....dem gutters be empty of pilots ya know....one hurricane too many and the floods washed away all de garbge.

The American helicopter industry faces a crisis...there is a pilot shortage and the industry hasn't caught on yet. They have a turnover rate in the Gulf that runs about 30 percent per year. At some point....the well runs dry....only so many pilots get out of the military in a year...only so many will come back for a second go at the GOM...and after that....seats go empty and working GOM pilots have to workover...go without vacations....and funny enough, attitudes get bad....and.....turnover goes up.

The cure for the problem is in retention...and some creative approaches to training folks in-house. Bristow did that during the heyday of the North Sea and had good success at it. The American helicopter industry has got to change....there is no other option.

Using younger, more in-experienced pilots in two pilot crews makes sense. It provides the new pilot with an experienced mentor who can guide the young one along the path of rightousness until they are fully prepared to go it alone in a single pilot machine.

The Pilot unions and oil companies need to join in that effort....it is in everyone's best interest to do so. Helicopters right now are the biggest killers in the GOM....not a record that I think the industry can ignore or elude. Evolving into larger crew served IFR aircraft will foster better safety and provide a means to bring along a new generation of pilots.

Until we can get past the "old" way of doing business in the American Helicopter industry....I doubt much positive change will occur. The FAA, NTSB, pilot groups and other interested parties are promising to reduce helicopter accidents by 80 percent....this could and should be an intergral part of that process.

Just one guy's view of things.....garnered over about forty years of flying helicopters.

[i4iq]

I thought the shortage of pilots was a myth. Being a newcomer I've heard both sides but perhaps that's a good reason for hiring more europeans and being more flexible in helping out with visas etc?

Is this alleged shortage just in the US by the way?

[tottigol]

There's a shortage of EXPERIENCED pilots willing to uproot their families for compensations that are fairly flat across the country.
There's no shortage of 500 hrs pilots ready to work for free, and that's the real problem of the current US helicopter industry.
Unless the Feds step up to the plate establishing minimum requirements for some specialized applications (it's already been done in Europe), we'll see 1000 hrs and then lower starters in activities such as HEMS.
There are several new flight schools pumping out an ever growing number of "flight instructors" with not much time outside the traffic pattern, but most will say it's a catch 52 situation:"cannot build experience if you already ain't got it".
Going back to Europe seems more attractive every day.

[Revolutionary]

Tottigol my illiterate friend, you make Joseph Heller turn in his grave.

[Darren999]

If you fly here in the US going back to Europe to fly isn't possible at the moment, unless you hold that JAA Licence. But I have been told there are rumours flying around to say that my change next year. Once EASA takes over licencing, there maybe a chance that FAA ATPL licences maybe, recognised in the UK. If that were the case I would consider heading home. Closer to family etc. Let's see....:ok:

Darren

[SASless]

The day the CAA recognizes the FAA license I will stand naked on Trafalgar Square and give the entire Rotorheads membership two weeks to draw a crowd.

Whatever you are drinking has plainly gone to your head!

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

Uncle Ralphy !! There could be some truth in what Dazza has said - a pal of mine who works in Geneva, has been firmly told that the whole JAA system of exams is to be scrapped lock, stock and barrel ! I will not believe it until it happens, but we're getting a little closer to the future.:uhoh: So you'd better get prepared for a night in Charing Cross nick ! In the the meantime Darren - start reading mate - you may actually find it enjoyable ! The KOL was twice as hard !

[Darren999]

I will be standing next to Kissme in Trafalgar Sq!!, I think it would be a fine site to see! we could probably sell tickets!!! Kissme your right about the KOL, may just start reading. Hope your ok, check your emails
Darren

[NickLappos]

SASless,
You give 2 weeks to draw a crowd - big mistake. The crowd will be MUCH bigger if you gave only 10 minutes, and made sure nobody knew it would be you!

[SASless]

The CAA give up all 14 exams??? Where is the money to come from that change will cost the Crats?

[finalchecksplease]

The money could come from the tickets they sell to people wanting to see you naked, there is a market for everything these days you know Geronimo… :E
Hope it’s not too :mad: cold!
Joking aside I would not count on the CAA swapping a FAA ATPL licence for a JAA one until hell freezes over.

[tottigol]

Tottigol my illiterate friend, you make Joseph Heller turn in his grave.

Thank you for your precious input Rev, it is a fundamental addition to this thread.:ok:
On a more important subject, I'd be happy to see that change applied all over Europe. As of right now there are still wide differences among most Countries over there.

[The Rotordog]

PHI's has two problems.

The first is the expansion of their EMS division. Too many GOMers are trying to jump ship and fly the air ambulances. All things being equal, it's better to sleep in your own bed every night than one out in a swamp in southern Louisiana. And if given the choice, most will opt for the former. Reports are that PHI has instituted a "stop-loss" program for the GOM. If true this will inevitably run them afoul of the union if it has not already.

The second problem is that when the union was voted-in back in 2000, fully 50% of PHI's pilots were age 50 or older and only a literal handful were older than 61. So six years down the road we are definitely at "crunch time." The most senior guys will be dropping out in ever increasing numbers in the next five years. This second problem affects not only the GOM division, but EMS too.

So what does PHI do? They must attract experienced and qualified pilots in the first place, and somehow convince enough to stick with the GOM even when given the option of a position within EMS. Back during the first round of union negotiations, I had some conversations with management. I told them of my belief that PHI would eventually be forced to pay GOM pilots a premium over and above what pilots in other sectors get. It was an observation that was neither dismissed out of hand nor even scoffed at. And it may come to pass.

But there is that darned Catch-52, the "spillover effect" if you will. If PHI raises the pay for GOM assignments, then pilots at Air Log will surely (and justifiably) demand the same. Not to mention, pilots in PHI's EMS division will scream and howl in protest. Too, operators around the country will increase their salaries to match PHI (this has always been the case, and there is no reason to think it will cease). And 'round and 'round we go!

Industry-wise, EMS flying has always been thought of as slightly better than other "menial" types of flying such as GOM which is perceived as crude and basic and unchallenging. Whether this is true or not, a paradigm shift needs to occur. As I see it, PHI's only solution is to add a "bonus" of some sort for their GOMers. And it will have to be more than a pittance. There will have to be a real incentive to stay in the GOM, otherwise pilots will bail at the first opportunity- which they're doing now and in fact have done all along. It's just that it hasn't been too much of a problem in the past.

[SASless]

I know some very senior management folks at the three major operators attend this forum and are well aware of what is said here. It would be interesting to hear how they see the state of the American Helicopter Industry to be...particularly regards this "perception of a shortage of pilots" and statements that suggest they are having retention and recruiting problems.

[i4iq]

This makes very interesting reading - particularly those of us about to embark on a new career.

Presumably this will have a knock on effect for lower time pilots at some point but what shape is this likely to take? I hear that internships are a thing of the long distant past - presumably a revival of this is highly unlikely?

What is the shuffle likely to look like? I assume the 200 hour pilots wont be given a job in the GOM, but the replacement pilots have to come from somewhere...

[kwikenz]

The big companies all seem to offer very similar packages... high 40K- mid 50K + benefits. Does this sort of money befit the job and does it afford a reasonable quality of life for a family?

Where does one find slightly better renmueration in the US or is it fairly relative to the various costs of living around the states?

[rudestuff]

catch 52? is that anything like catch-22?

[i4iq]

:hmm:...sounds more fixed wing than rotorwing!

[Vertolot]

The day the CAA recognizes the FAA license I will stand naked on Trafalgar Square and give the entire Rotorheads membership two weeks to draw a crowd.

SASless, that was a good one, ha ha :) . I have difficult to believe that the EASA should recognise the FAA ATP. On the Engineering side EASA have been implemented since September and they will not even recognise an FAA STC for example.... But I still hope of course that the new EASA licensing system should be a more flexible and better system than the JAR (an improved JAR system), but who knows!

[Bitmonx]

Does anybody know why the JAA does not recognise FAA licenses that have been issued before the JAR's became effective (grandfathered)? Is it just a political thing?

[Vertolot]

It was possible to do this before JAR became affective. For example in Finland JAR-FCL2 became affective 01.01.2000. If you had begun to convert your FAA licenses before this date you were able to convert them quite easily.

The point was that you had to start to convert the licenses when the old national system was still in use ie. before 01.01.2000. If you just started the process before this date then you had (I think it was) 2 years to finnish up the conversion.