GOM Gossip

[nwexpress]

Just wondering if anyone can give me advice on GOM offshore flying. I've had harsh jobs before in my life but I'm wondering if it's as bad as some say it is.
Also, if any of you could advise me on what too avoid in applying for this job and where NOT to live(or apply) would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Gomer Pylot]

I don't think there's one answer. Some jobs are very good, some very bad, and most in between. If you don't mind flying over water, and aren't afraid to say no, then you should do ok. Some people take that first flight out over the water, and just can't handle it.

As for where to live, you can live anywhere. With a 7/7 or 14/14 schedule, you aren't tied to the Gulf coast. Air Log may not be the best place to go right now, with a strike vote being taken, but otherwise I have no particular advice, other than try the larger companies first, because you'll have a better chance of surviving. As a general rule, the smaller the company, the smaller the maintenance, and the bigger the push to fly. Admittedly, that's a sweeping generalization.

[nwexpress]

Thanks for the advice on large vs. small company preference.
I can't say water is my favorite terrain too fly over but neither is high altitude granite with strong wind gusts either...
I guess what it boils down to is a willingness and determination to accept the pro's and con's of any job.
Does anyone know where some of the more desirable places to live down south when GOM flying? How close do most companies want you to be anyway?

[SASless]

Read this article today....an interesting article...amongst the tidbits contained there is the following....

Graves points out that each of the three major helicopter operators in the Gulf raised rates last year by 30%.

"The increase in rates we charge oil company clients enabled us to play catch-up and replace aging aircraft," he explains. "We also had to improve compensation for pilots and mechanics, to retain people and reduce high employee turnover. It was long overdue."

The link follows.....


http://www.aviationtoday.com/cgi/rw/show_mag.cgi?pub=rw&mon=0502&file=0502offshore.htm

[S92mech]

Alot of the dates in the report are wrong. Carol Suggs sold PHI in 2001, not last year. The big rate change came soon after, again not last year.

[ATPMBA]

Quote from article: "hover at $27 a barrel"

What I don't like about "Aviation Today" articles is that they don't have a date when it was written. I wish they would change that.

[Mars]

I think that we all have the feeling that this is yesterday's news.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

How many pilots are employed on the GOM and where are the major hubs around the Gulf? Is it predominantly oil or gas ? Is the field expanding in exploration and how long is it estimated that there are resources left there?

Thanks guys !

[Gomer Pylot]

I don't have an exact number of pilots, but it's well over 1,000. PHI and Air Log have that many between them, nevermind Era and all the rest. It's almost entirely oil and gas, or at least support of it. There is more exploration going on all the time, much of it now in the deepwater areas well over 100NM offshore, and there is plenty of hydrocarbon resources available for the foreseeable future.

[ENG Brit]

With around 4,000 offshore structures and 15,000 workers "camping out" offshore each night, there are plenty of aircraft needed.

A guess would be 1,000+ pilots in the GOM with PHI the largest followed by AirLog at just under 300 pilots, and ERA making the big three. There are a couple handfull of other operators: Omni, Houston, Republic, Evergreen that provide serice to the oil & gas companies and a few oil companies operate their own fleets of varying size from 3 or 4 to 10+: Taylor, Exon, Chevron, El Paso, etc.

There are bases from the SW Texan coastline through to the eastern end of Louisiana with several companies operating out of Galveston, TX, Sabine,LA Cameron, LA, Morgan City, LA,m Intracoastal City and Venice, LA. Most companies are headquartered in LA.

That should get you started and there's plenty of GOM people here who can answer more specific questions.

Im not a Gomer yet, but hoping to head that way next month.

Regards,
James

[katismo]

Well, see you out there then. I hope also. Ok, that might be a little optimistic way to start but, some how you need to do it.

Is there possibilities to guy who has 5000 hours with 2500 turbine (all by the helos) and a new green card on a pocket? Got a FAA licence asap.
Need a adwise what is the best contact?

[Gomer Pylot]

With 5,000 hrs helicopter time you shouldn't have a problem. The larger operators have websites which will give you contact information. Just put the company name into Google and you can find them.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

Gomer Pilot - roughly how many crews are there per machine for the average GOM operator? Thanks.

TFS

[ENG Brit]

Single engine ships B206B/L, AS350, EC120 ,etc are VFR only and single pilot. There are also some twin VFR aircraft Bo105s and AS355 flown single pilot. The IFR ships are twins generally B212, 412, S76 and are two-crew.

As many operators work pilots 7 days on / 7 days off (or 14/14, with a few 5/2 and 4/3), there are at least two crew per aircraft for the different work schedules, or "hitches". The larger companies also operate pilot pools where pilots are assigned to aircraft at differing locations based upon company need.

James

[Gomer Pylot]

There are pretty much 2 crews/aircraft across the board. As the saying goes, "There are no holidays in the oil patch", so it's definitely a 365 days/year operation. Almost all jobs are 1 for 1, either 7/7 or 14/14, so you need 2 crews/aircraft. It's actually a little less than that, because there are a few 5/2 jobs, and not all aircraft are covered fulltime, but that's the norm. Most are single-pilot, but all mediums are 2-pilot, because FAR 135 requires 2 pilots for any aircraft configured with 10 or more passenger seats. Thus the number of pilots is more than twice the number of aircraft.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

What's the current job market like on the GOM? Is there a surplus of pilots or is it pretty easy for a 1000TT pilot to get a gig? Is the employer/employee relationship still tense?

[slgrossman]

The demand for new pilots in the GoM is pretty steady these days. PHI has been hiring about four per month for the last several years.

The companies can afford to be somewhat selective in their hiring at the moment, but attitude is all important. A 1000 hour guy may very well impress the interviewers over a more experienced pilot.

Most companies are looking for pilots who will minimize their training and operating costs. Therefore, if you can convince them you'll be easy on the equipment, will keep the customer happy, and will stay for the long haul you'll be more attractive than someone who plans to use this as a stepping stone.

Relations with management vary from company to company. At PHI they are now and have for some time been pretty cordial.

-Stan-

[thecontroller]

how many do employers require? i heard it had ben reduced to 500?

[Gomer Pylot]

Each operator has its own requirements. I haven't heard of 500 hours being enough, but I don't keep up with every company, because there are just too many, and I already have a job.

[Revolutionary]

I'm sorry to say this, but 500 hours of experience just isn't enough to survive in the Gulf, both literally and metaphorically speaking.

It's not an especially difficult job, but it does require you to be able to put it all together: weather knowledge, aircraft familiarity, flying skills, administrative skills, customer service, efficiency, productivity and most importantly; common sense.

500 hours of experience roughly equates to a six-month stint as a flight instructor at a busy flight school. Which is not enough time to master all of the above skills sufficiently.

I respectfully submit that you'll need around 1,500 hours of experience, and that reputable offshore companies will tend to think so, too.

[HH60Pilot]

You'll find that the 1000 hour point is what you are going to need before you start sending resumes out. That is what most of the large companies are requiring before sending you an offer for an interview. I have heard of a couple of the smaller companies hiring with fewer hours, but were still looking for over 800.

I must differ with 'Revolutionary' with what he posted about experience. The number of hours of flying time will equate with your ability as a pilot as far as how well you fly, however, it has no bearing on weather knowledge, aircraft familiarity, administrative skills, customer service, efficiency, productivity, or commen sense. Those are all traits that a person has whether they are a pilot or not. No amount of flying time can give a person common sense, a person either has it or they don't. I know people that have wonderful administrative skills, but have no clue on how to fly an aircraft.

As Gomer stated, each operator is different, so find out what each one requires and send them a resume when you get them met.

Doug

[Decks]

Dont be in any major rush to the Gulf till you have at least 1200+ hours. It'll still be there next year.
I went down to PHI with 1800 of instruction and ENG and found things tough. Its a very steep learning curve going from an R22 instructing, to an L model flying six pax 100 miles offshore in bad weather. If you start as a co pilot that curve is vertical... if you start as a p1 its very stressfull too. I can honestly say that I barely slept for my first few weeks on the job.. which didnt help much either. Of course its fairly straight forward once you know it, but untill you do, dont be in any mad rush.

[Revolutionary]

HH60, of course 500 hours of experience as a pilot has a bearing on weather knowledge, aircraft familiarity, administrative skills, customer service, efficiency, productivity, or commen sense. These are all things you learn, in the context of aviation, while you are working your first paid job as a pilot. Even common sense is a learned trait -you gain it by making mistakes and saying to yourself: "Whew! I'm not doing that again!"

As Decks said, 1,800 hours is just barely enough on a practical level to be successful at your job in the Gulf. Never mind that a few small companies may hire someone with 800 hours of experience. I'm sure you would find that their standards are lower in every department. Protect yourself; stay in your current job until you get to, say, 2,000 hours and then get on with one of the big three: PHI, Air Log or ERA. They're all good companies to work for.

[kwikenz]

If one was hoping to look for work in the GOM region, what type ratings might be the most use for a resonably entry level fella (1300TT IFR etc).

What types are the most predominant and what would be the best to get for an entry level position.

Cheers :ok:

[Teefor Gage]

Water landing rating is a must........

[Aser]

Teefor Gage:
Water landing rating is a must........ :D

[SASless]

FAA Commercial with Instrument rating.....Bell 206, EC-120, AStar 350.....will do it. (...a big ol' rubber ducky might be useful as well)

[kwikenz]

120 and 350... sounds a bit odd for offshore. Got the 206 and the IFR though.

Why all the references to unplanned swimming? Dodgy pilots or dodgy operators? Or is it a particulalry challenging area?

[Devil 49]

Commercial and instrument. If you're selected, they'll train you to proficiency in the aircraft you'll be assigned to, including water landings, emergency egress and survival.
Being familiar with turbines is a plus. You won't get enough IFR to maintain proficiency unless you're in an IFR position, so consider how you'll maintain that- you'll NEED IT when you need it. The traditional 180 turns worked for me for 13 years, but not everybody's that fortunate. Flight Sims are better than nothing...

[Gomer Pylot]

Read the other GOM thread for why swimming is a good skill to have. When the one engine you have quits, you're going to have to swim, at least until you get the raft deployed and get your body into it. That said, I've been flying since 1968, and so far I have not had an engine fail me, in any type. The only swimming I've done has been in well-maintained pools.

There are a number of 120s, 350s, and other types flying in the GOM, not just 206s.

[thecontroller]

Assuming I have 1,000 (piston) hours and FAA licences....

Do the GOM companies employ Europeans who do not hold work visas/green cards?

Or is a work visa/green card needed before they will even consider you for a job?

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

forget it - you will get a job washing dishes, but not flying helis - too risky for the operators. The only way is marriage !!:(

[Revolutionary]

There are plenty of 'Furennurs' working in the GOM, but they all have valid permanent residency papers. Are there any Americans flying in the North Sea on a tourist Visa?

[rudestuff]

Are the rumours true about there being a shortage of helo pilots in the GOM?

The reason I ask is that I am a Brit currently in the US working as a CFI - on a J1 like all the rest, rapidly approaching the big 1,000 and wondering what my next move is...

I'd really like to know whether there are any companies in the GOM that are so hard-up they would sponsor an H1B?

I appreciate that US pilots don't want us dirty stinking foreigners taking all their jobs - I just heard a rumour that ERA might be considering it, and wondered what the score was...

[SASless]

Don't know about the H1B bit...but tea drinkers in coffeeland?

There have been some changes in the Visa rules lately...increased fees and such that might affect that concept.

Air Log is 42-50 pilots short each day I hear.

PHI is probably in about the same shape.

ERA is paying double time for workover to get guys to work (I hear anyway....)

If the big three with their pay and benefits are having those kinds of problems....they should be willing to explore avenues to address the problem.

However, that being said....do not hold your breath.

One of the outifits is still having a significant problem with turnover amongst the younger and newer pilots....as EMS jobs open up near their homes....off they go like a teenage girls knickers when she drops some Ecstasy at a party.

The 7/7 roster the company insists upon is the major problem....whereas a simple change to the 14/14 as ERA operates on, would go a long ways towards solving that problem. Commuting costs have gone way up with the increase in petrol prices and the pilots are paying the costs. The change to a 14/14 roster would cut commuting costs in half with no cost to the company....but that change is a dead issue. ( As I hear it anyway....)

Hit the telephone and start calling all the operators....maybe one of them will find a way to start importing some foreign help. Afterall...they can only say "No!".....until one of them says "Yes!", then you are in the offshore flying game.:ok:

[peachpilot]

why aint you found a bird and got married ?

[rudestuff]

That would probably be plan D...

Problem is, with this job i've never got any free time to meet them...
Where I am all the decent birds are married with kids before 20 - usually to complete losers.
That whole thing about the English accent being irresistible is a crock of S*** too...
Plus a CFI's salary probably wouldn't keep them in too much style.

Anybody else done it? get married, that is...

I'd be interested to know the routine.

[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.

[SASless]

We are sick and tired of hearing about how much more professional the UK Offshore Pilots are than the Gulf of Mexico Pilots are. Thus, we have decided to put you lot to a test to see if you can pass our Pre-employment Written Exam. Take this test and see how you measure up:


1. Calculate the smallest limb diameter on a persimmon tree that will
support a 10-pound possum.

2. Which of these cars will rust out the quickest when placed on blocks in your front yard?
(A) '65 Ford Fairlane
(B) '69 Chevrolet Chevelle
(C) '64 Pontiac GTO.

3. If your uncle builds a still, which operates at a capacity of 20 gallons of shine produced per hour, how many car radiators are required to condense the product?

4. A woodcutter has a chainsaw which operates at 2700 RPM. The density of the pine trees in the plot to be harvested is 470 per acre. The plot is 2.3 acres in size. The average tree diameter is 14 inches. How many Budweiser's will be drunk before the trees are cut down?

5. A front porch is constructed of 2x8 pine on 24-inch centers with a field rock foundation. The span is 8 feet and the porch length is 16 feet. The porch floor is 1-inch rough sawn pine. When the porch collapses, how many dogs will be killed?

6. A man owns a Georgia house and 3.7 acres of land in a hollow with an average slope of 15%. The man has 5 children. Can each of his grown children place a mobile home on the man's land and still have enough property for their electric appliances to sit out front?

7. A 2-ton truck is overloaded and proceeding 900 yards down a steep slope on a secondary road at 45 MPH. The brakes fail. Given average traffic conditions on secondary roads, what is the probability that it will strike a vehicle with a muffler?

8. With a gene pool reduction of 7.5% per generation, how long will it take a town which has been bypassed by the Interstate to breed a country-western singer?

How did you do?

[Whirlygig]

1. Depends on the specific breaking strain of the persimmon tree but, for argument's sake, let's say it is similar to the rowtree, then you're looking at a diameter 13/16ths inch.

2. We are looking at rust acceleration here not total rust capacity. Since the rust profile is generally inverse exponential, then the younger car will rust more quickly since the other two are already total baskets cases and couldn't possibly rust anymore.

3. Equivalent to 160 pints, therefore, 13.33333 car radiators are required. Since that is a ridiculous answer, we'll say 14 rads.

4. There are 1,081 trees. Initially, each tree takes a minute to cut down. After 5 trees, a Bud will need to be partaken of. Each Bud will increase the tree-cutting time by 5% (being the alcohol content approx). This means that 217 buds will have been consumed.

5. No dogs will be killed as they're all out hunting.

6. If these are proper good-old-fashioned English acres, then there is bags of room for all appliances and a biege dralon sofa each!

7. 66/1

8. One generation since they are all family anyway.


How did I do Sassy? Bristows had better gimme a job now!!

Cheers

Whirls

[SASless]

Typical bean counter....got all the answers but knows naught about the real world. Working on assumptions and not real data....averages and means...try again Gig! You might qualify for Air Log (A Bristow Group Company) but Houston (Not a Bristow Group Company) would never touch you?

[Whirlygig]

That is not fair Sassy, you know that I am a true English Rose (actually not strictly true but I don't wish to refer to myself as an Irish Shamrock!) and I know nowt about your strange American ways. Some data, I have had to use UK standards for example, our typical ale is way, way stronger than the stuff you call beer and some data, averages have to be assumed since the full data is not given, for example, what is the diameter of the chain saw? What IS the Young's Elasticity Factor for a persimmon tree? Sloppy questions my sweet!

Anyway, Houston's loss :8

Cheers

Whirls

zxcvbn - get with it sweetie. Sassy is an old and venerable pilot of the Huey. There are photos of him and said Huey on this forum. He is not a 14 year old kid (although I suspect he was once, sometime before I was born!).

[chuks]

If that fellow is 14 years old then I want to know what he's been drinking!

[SASless]

Chuks Dear Boy....

Just like that teenaged 212man.....lots of Gulder! If you had not stuck to all those Shirley Temples you too might have held onto yer youth as we have.

[Heliport]

zxcvbn
I am now convinced that SASless does no work whatsoever and spends all day on pprune.
Or maybe he's not a pilot, but just a 14 year old kid who's pretending. The internet famous for that kind of thing.
So.. Sasless, care to post your resume?!

That's the second time you've had a go at SASless.He's chosen to ignore you on both occasions, and now treats your challenge to post his resume with the disdain both you and your challenge deserve.
What do we know about your 'resume'?

Your post February this year: "As an R22 CFI .........." R22, eh? Keep at it and you'll probably move up to the R44 soon.

Your post March this year i have 25 hours night, logged under the FAA system
does any of this count towards a jaa night rating? do i have to do the full 5 hours with a jaa instructor? or just a checkride? any ideas?
25 hours night! On your own? In the dark? That's very impressive.


With 10,000 hours, 2000 US Army instructing, two Chinook combat tours in Vietnam, flying Hueys in the National Guard and flying numerous types all over the world in his logbook, I guess SASless doesn't feel the need to prove himself to some upstart.
When (or, if) you ever get enough experience to be worthy of carrying his flight-bag, your comments might not look so pathetic, but perhaps by then you'll be more mature and won't feel the need to make them.

SASless is a valued contributor to this forum. So far, the few (just about) useful things you've contributed to the forum are some snippets of training information for your fellow wannabees.


Heliport

[Whirlygig]

Ah! Now we get to the bottom of it. zxcvbn is just peeved because his silly robot/man-in-a-suit video got moved to Jet Blast.

There are reasons for moving threads to more appropriate forums; one of them being that, in the moderator's opinion, the thread would receive a wider and more appreciative audience than the current forum.

Ain't no big deal and since Jet Blast is more popular than Rotorheads, should be taken as a compliment.

You may well have intended your posts having a pop at Sassy as "jokes" but that's not how I read them or, indeed, did Heliport. So, if two (or more) people misinterpret your tone, then you need to re-examine your tone and maybe consider the use of smilies.

It doesn't take much to do some research on here and before you make personal comments about someone, it's best to check their past posts.

If you want to have a pop, my "posts per day" is higher than Sassy's AND I have a full-time job. So what! All that means is that I don't have a television.

Cheers

Whirls




The robot thread was moved to Jetblast by one of the Admins because it had nothing to do with helicopters or aviation.
Heliport

[SASless]

....and Whirls is a whole lot better looking than I am too.:)

[Heliport]

That's certainly true. :)


Anyway, back to the thread .....................

[R22DRIVER]

Ah Sassy, im going to have to agree with you on that one!

Keep up the posts. I always enjoy reading your posts, they make me laugh! After the personal tour you gave me of your Huey at Helitech at Duxford your posts are always great to read!

Keep them coming!

Ps. You must know the sayings:-

You know your a red neck when.....

Some of them sound familiar in your above posts!!!

:ok: :ok:

[Gerhardt]

SAS, while Whirls may be better looking I think Heliport is your #1 fan. Not that there's any doubt that Whirls is a close second.

[Heliport]

while Whirls may be better looking Make that definitely better looking. :)

I'm a great fan of all the experienced pilots from all over the world who give their time to the forum, both generally and to helping beginners achieve their ambition.

A forum is only as good as its members - and we're very fortunate with ours.


H.

[i4iq]

Actually, I'd quite like to read SASless' resume. I think it would make great reading - is it posted anywhere?

[papa68]

G'day all,

It's interesting how the first people to question another's credentials are often (not always) those just starting out. I would have thought that if you're a little lacking in the experience department, some discretion might be in order before "challenging" with a demand of their resume.

I would also assume it polite to provide a brief description of one's own credentials if the object is to compare experience or justify one's right to pprune away. It's a wise man/woman that know's his/her limitations...

P68:D

[papa68]

By the way SASless,

I didn't even know where to start with your GoM entry tests! Down here in Oz we're not too bright but we can lift heavy things.

P68:D

[trapezoid]

Speak for yourself P68 !

:ouch:

[papa68]

Sorry trap,

No harm intended. In any case, I have a dodgy back so I'm not even sure I fullfil the "I can lift heavy things" part of the equation.

P68:D

[212man]

"Just like that teenaged 212man.....lots of Gulder"

Hardly touched the stuff! Had a very unfortunate experience with some (lots!) of Satzenbrau (Gulder's big brother) and pretty much stuck to Heineken/Becks etc thereafter.

Shortly to leave my teens, sadly; currently twenty nineteen, but soon to be twenty twenty!:{

Any chance we could have the multi-choice version of the test?:ok:

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

212man,

If you had a truly bad experience with Satzenbrau you'd look at least twenty thirty !!

I recall sharing a car from Lagos to Warri with Sas about 15 years ago. We got "checked" 17 times on the way. When we got there (7 hours later), I headed straight for the bar and had a very bad experience with Star............ never touched it since.:ouch:

NEO:ok:

[nutcracker43]

By the way SASless,

Down here in Oz we're not too bright but we can lift heavy things.

P68:D

You must be a marine!

NC43

[chuks]

After one of my final farewell parties (just the third, I think it was) I returned to the clammy embrace of the big red-white-and-blue machine to find that one thing had changed at the Watering Hole.

It was still the same crowd at the bar but behind it, what were those brown bottles with the flashy tin-foil neck decor?

'Satzenbrau. It's new. Here, try one...'

I awoke the next morning to find that I had been fitted with a steel skull-cap two sizes too small and that some joker had taken my eyeballs out and sanded and varnished them before crudely refitting them. Also, my mouth tasted the way the parrot smelled. 'Welcome back!' I guess it's called.

As Dirty Harry once said, 'A man has to know his limitations.' So it's Shirley Temples for me. Well, I did have a Guinness at my last final farewell party, if that counts.

[Hippolite]

SAS

Still working on it but if I get any right please don't send me back to the GOM. Being an escapee I constantly have nightmares about being caught and returned there against my will.

Just one question, are the dimensions of the thing y'all call a mobile home the same as what I'all call a Trailer? In feet and inches in case you are trying to trick us all!!

Hippo

[Whirlygig]

Hippo,

as I found out to my cost, there are a number of holes in the questions and it is up to us to determine our own assumptions and to justify them where necessary.

So a mobile home may, or may not be, the same size as a trailer. 'Sup to you!

Cheers

Whirls

[SASless]

Mobile Home


http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/html/assets/images/1962_Darbycraft_013104.jpg


Trailer

http://www.drbukk.com/gmhom/images/aview.jpg


Mobile Home on the Water
http://www.drbukk.com/gmhom/images/floathome.jpg

GOM Pilot Quarters (Standard)

http://www.drbukk.com/gmhom/images/kytrailer.jpg

[chuks]

During my first, and last, job as a gen-u-wine airline pilot (F/O for Atlantis Airlines PLC of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on a Twin Otter) some brainbox came up with the idea of catching the big numbers coming out of Florence early in the morning to Myrtle Beach. This involved a nightstop, of course.

Rather than spend big money on two rooms at a Days Inn or a Motel 6 our management secured the use of a 28-foot trailer or mobile home or whatever it's called. This was a new one to me, not being a son of the South in any way, shape or form.

I had noticed these things parked up dark hollows with the cut-up tractor tire flower bed, the rusty '66 GTO around the side, various hound dogs of dubious parentage standing watch by the side of the road and some creature clad in denim that had seemingly lost its razor glowering as if to say either 'Whar you frum?' 'Whut you lookin' at?' 'You frum Noo Yawk City?' or perhaps all of these. It came to my mind that I had better not stop to pass the time, just in case that was the wife and not the husband I was looking at there. Never in my wildest dreams did it come to mind that I might actually get to spend a night in such a contraption as a mobile home.

So there we were for our first Florence night stop, told that, 'Accomodation has been arranged.' The kid who did the dispatching dumped us in front of this... thing. Jerry Bohon and I just looked at each other, as if to ask who was making a joke here.

It was winter and this contraption must have had cardboard for insulation. The hot-air furnace would noisily run for about five minutes, raising the temperature from zero to about plus twenty C. and then shut off. Ten minutes later it would repeat this cycle, all night long.

When we got up in the morning (notice I did not say 'wake up' since we had been awake all night long listening to the furnace) we turned on the radio to listen to 'The Egg Report.' Well, I guess it made a change from classical music on WQXR, 'The Radio Station of The New York Times.'

The next time we had to do this Jerry and I brought sleeping bags, so that we could turn that furnace off. Of course then we did a little problem with getting up to dress in freezing temperatures but at least we had been able to sleep.

Well, at least I found out why that guy by the side of the road looked so grouchy!

[Hippolite]

Thanks Whirls,

I think I was just about to crack the answers but SAS's new pictures gave me such bad nighmares I have decided not to enter the game anymore.

The thing is that apart from the one on stilts, I have seen most of the other types for real down there near Morgan City!

You would think that those pilots would park their veeehiccles a bit better, they make the place look untidy!!

Hippo

[Whirlygig]

You would think that those pilots would park their veeehiccles a bit better, they make the place look untidy!!
That's because they haven't got marshalls with ping-pong bats to guide them in.

Cheers

Whirls

[Pandalet]

You might be a GOM pilot if:

your aircraft has a twin-tone colour scheme: primer red and primer grey

your helicopter has a shotgun rack

you think a twin squirrel is a romantic dinner for two

your hunting dawg costs more than the helicopter you fly him around in

all your flight suits have logos sewn on

you think a gazelle is foreign food

you've ever been told that you can't enter a helicopter in nascar


sorry, shamelessly adapted from various sites - I'm sure you're all really nice folks down there, really :ok:

[Whirlygig]

:ok: Nice one Pandalet,

I can just imagine Sassy stroking his beard and nodding wisely to those words, wondering what the joke is!

Cheers

Whirls

[SASless]

Whirls,

If you only knew how true some of those are!




Boudreaux meets the Devil


Ole Boudreaux, he die and he don't go up! When he get down there, that old devil put Boudreaux in a room by himself. The Devil, he crank up the heat and come back an hour later. "How you like that?" Devil asks.

"Ah my cher, it be just like a summer day down in the quarter of Nawlins" say Boudreaux.

Devil he crank up the heat some more. When he come back, Boudreaux is sweating, done got his shirt off and panting for air. "Now how you like that?" say the Devil.

"Ah my, it's just like when we was down on dem bayou in the summer a catching dem catfish and boiling them crawdads!" say Boudreaux.
Old Devil, him get mad. He reach up there and turn the heat down. Way down about -40 degree, and leave.

When he come back, Boudreaux is in there shivering, he got the ice on his nose and hair, teeth chattering.....Devil asks "OK now, you cajun, now how you like dat?"

Boudreaux say "It's so cold! My friend, I just can't believe it, I done won so much money I don't know where to spend it!"

Devil asks "What you mean?"

Boudreaux say "This is hell, right?"

Devil say "Yeah."

Boudreaux say "Well if it's this cold, the Saints must have won dem Superbowl!"

http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/7245/jokes/bjokes.html

[Droopy]

The heliport security team
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/chestnut1675/USRSF.jpg
The guy in the pink shirt looks strangely familiar....

[Gerhardt]

:ok: I can just imagine Sassy stroking his beard...


you do that a lot?

[handysnaks]

Can anyone else hear banjoes?

[Whirlygig]

Can anyone else hear banjoes?
Any time I want to! I play the banjo (4 and 5 string!)

Cheers

Whirls

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

and Sassy - no mention of Bubba in your test ? Hmmm.

[SASless]

Bubba and Earl, two Gulf of Mexico Helicopter pilots, are driving back home from Fourchon when they notice they need some gas. They start looking for a gas station and see a sign that reads "Free Sex with Fill-up." They pull in and tell the attendant to "fill 'er up." After he's done the attendant goes to the window and says that it would be $18.00 for the gas. (This is an old story.)

They pay and as the attendant starts to walk away Bubba yells "What about my free sex?". The attendant rolls his eyes and goes to the window and says, "OK, but you have to guess the magic number. It's a number between 1 and 10." Bubba said, "6." The attendant says "No, the number is 3. Sorry."

As the attendant starts to walk off Earl says, "Give me a try." The attendant says "OK." Earl says, "7." And the attendant says "No, I told you the number was 3."

Bubba then speeds off and Earl looks over and says, "I think that game was fixed. There is no way to win." To which Bubba replies, "Uh, Uh, my wife won three times last week."




(Adapted from a Lewis Grizzard story told on the Designing Women television show)

[R22DRIVER]

Sassy,

You sure know how to find them good jokes and keep my entertained during my CPLH theory revision!!

Keep em Coming! :ok: :ok:

[IHL]

Whirlygig:
I have to correct you on the " one minute to fall a tree " thing.

It actually takes between 5 to 7 minutes.
1 st you have to cut a notch in the direction you wish the tree to fall .
2: Make a cut equivalent to > than one bar (chian saw bar) width on the side opposite the notch.
3: Drive in the felling wedge to prevent the chain saw from getting jamed into the tree trunk ( not fun).
4: Cut through the remainder.


Now if you're going to limb the tree after it has fallen add 30 minutes.


IHL
Part time helicopter pilot/ part time logger.

[i4iq]

I can't see them wasting time with a chain saw - I reckon they'd just use Det Cord and they'd soon have a fast average....

[SASless]

Four Gulf of Mexico Helicopter Pilots are walking down the street window shopping. Then they turn a corner and see a sign that says "Helicopter Pilot's Bar" over the doorway of an entry into an establishment that doesn't look all that well kept up.

They look at each other then go in. On the inside, they realize in this case, they could judge the 'book by it's cover'.

The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you! What'll it be, gentlemen?" There seems to be a fully stocked bar so the men all ask for a martini. In short time the bartender serves up 4 iced martinis - shaken not stirred and says, "That'll be 40 cents, please." The four Helicopter Pilots stare at the bartender for a moment then look at each other - they can't believe their good luck.

They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis and order another round. Again, four excellent martinis are produced with the bartender again saying, "That's 40 more cents, please." They pay the 40 cents but their curiosity is more than they can stand. They've each had two martinis and so far they've spent less than a dollar. Finally one of the men says, "How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime a piece?"

The bartender replies, "No doubt you've noticed the decor in here. And the outside ain't nothin' to write home about. I don't waste money on that stuff. But, here's my story. I'm a retired Gulf Of Mexico Offshore Helicopter Pilot and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the lottery for $45 million and decided to open this place for working Helicopter Pilots. Every drink costs a dime -- wine, liquor, beer, all the same."

"Wow. That's quite a story." says one of the men. The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn't help but notice three other guys at the end of the bar who didn't have a drink in front of them and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.

One man finished his martini and, gestured at the three at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, "What's with them?"

The bartender says, "Oh, those are English North Sea Helicopter Pilots.

They're waiting for happy hour."

[i4iq]

Nice one! lol :ok:

[Whirlygig]

Oh, those are English North Sea Helicopter Pilots.

They're waiting for happy hour
More like, they're waiting for someone to serve dry martinis properly, Any fule no that martinis should be stirred, not shaken. James Bond got it wrong and that was Ian Fleming's joke!

Cheers

Whirls

[mrwellington]

Bubba looks at his divorce lawyer, puzzled......"So yaa mean to say she's still legally my sister ?"

:}

[crop duster]

The heliport security team
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/chestnut1675/USRSF.jpg
The guy in the pink shirt looks strangely familiar....
I'm pretty sure that one in the pink is our sheriff here in East Carroll parish.:ooh:

[SASless]

Bubba & Earl, two Gulf of Mexico helicopter pilots, were in a bar enjoying a beer on their way home when the decided to get in on the weekly charity raffle. They bought five tickets each at a dollar a pop.

When the raffle was drawn, each had won a prize. Earl won 1st prize, a year's supply of gourmet spaghetti sauce and extra-long spaghetti. Bubba won 6th prize, a toilet brush.

At the end of their break week when the guys met back in the crew quarters, Bubba asked Earl how he liked his prize, to which Earl replied, "Great, I love spaghetti! How about you, how's that toilet brush?"

"Not so good," replied Bubba, "I reckon I'm gonna go back to paper."

Some photos of commuting helicopter pilot's cars seen at a south Louisana heliport parking lot:

http://www.lilligren.com/Redneck/images/redneck_car_air_conditioner.jpg

http://www.lilligren.com/Redneck/images/Redneck_SUV.JPG

http://www.lilligren.com/Redneck/images/redneck_body_work.jpg

[GLSNightPilot]

I saw the guy in the pink shirt (he had changed into a blue one w/ a badge) watering the shell in the parking lot in Houma the other day. Guess he didn't have time to go inside to use the facilities, what with all that important gate-guarding to do. :eek: :}

[crop duster]

Couldn't tell in the photos, but in Louisiana junk like those always have a dealer tag usually in the back window and never carry liability insurance. :yuk: Also, most don't have a drivers license. By the way, SASless, you forgot to mention in Louisiana we always put our spare tires on the roof of our trailer houses. No it's not to keep looters from stealing them, it's to keep the roof from flapping in the wind.:suspect:
barryb

[SASless]

I ran across this anonymous post on another web site and found it to be far more insightful than a casual reading of it would suggest.
We keep talking about the "turnover rate" amongst Gulf of Mexico offshore pilots. This might just pass as a case study of that situation.
Perhaps the author of this will come forth and add to the account.
A friend of a friend asked me what it's like to work as a helicopter pilot in the GOM. He was never in the armed forces. He works at a desk job, and is getting bored. I told him to imagine the following:
1. Drive 100-400 miles to your workplace the day before your 7 day hitch starts. You make the long commute because where you work is a place nobody would want to raise a family. If you don't have a family, it still doesn't matter- because where you work is a place even you would not want to live.
2. Wake up at 3:30am - 4:30am every day for the next 7 days in a row, dressed in brown or blue/white polyester clothes.
3. Preflight your aircraft in complete darkness as you are swarmed and bitten by enormous clouds of mosquitoes.
4. Get in your aircraft that is full of hungry mosquitoes and fly smelly customers to smelly locations, or lay around at the base on smelly couches all day, watching the History Channel.
5. Get stuck off-shore and spend the night in a very small room with 2-3 smelly ex-convicts that off-gas their deep fried dinners all night. Enjoy the cigarette smoke that is pumped through the air-conditioning system into your room. Wake-up and stand in a moldy, filthy shower the next morning while being watched by an perverted, obese man.
6. Do not drink alcohol for 7 days in a row.
7. When you sign out at the end of your 14 work hour day, drive or walk to your company's mini trailer park, where you will now a very small space with everyone that you worked with all day, sometimes even your manager. Either watch what he is watching on TV, or go to your sleeping room and listen to what he is watching on TV. Can you imagine sleeping in the same trailer as your office administrator, boss, and co-workers for 7 straight days? Remember that there is nowhere else closeby to go....no town, no coffee shops, no restaurants, etc...
8. Eat at the local gas station, or drive 30 minutes for a meal, or drive 30 minutes to a substandard grocery store and then cook your own meals in your trailer.
9. Drive 100-400 miles home, at the end of your 7th work day. Or don't drive home, because you have been mandated for workover, and now you are going to stay another 3 days. Call the wife- I'm sure she'll understand (again).
10. Wait for a check in the mail that is nearly half of what you where making at your desk job. Wonder how you will ever save enough for retirement. Wonder what skills you will have in 25 years when you can no longer qualify for a flight medical.
11. Your children grow-up, and your spouse grows distant, while you spend half of every year away from home. Soon, you realize that the 5-6 days that you are at home on break don't even matter anymore, because everyone thinks that you are the invisible man, or that you really don't exist at all...
12. You don't discuss your work days with your family anymore, because more often than not, it is humiliating to you, unless, of course, you make up flying stories that are not based in reality.
13. When the hurricane comes, you will not be going home- the company needs you. Your house might get wiped out, and your family may need you, but you will be expected to work through the disaster, while your family fends for themselves. You may not return home for more than a week after your house has been damaged.Anyone care to add anything else?

[HOGE]

And who says there are no great jobs in aviation?

Form one line, no pushing.:}

[JHR]

SAS you are the eternal pesimist! You forgot the part about the six figuire income and only working every other week. Real people do live South of I-10
Of course I'm glad I'm not one of them.

[slgrossman]

To be perfectly honest this guy does hit a lot of his points right on the money. To be sure, it’s a pessimistic view, but a lot of it is uncomfortably accurate. I came to the Gulf at a point in my career where I had no other viable options. I hadn’t established much of a civilian career yet, and not a lot of operators were hiring in my area. I jumped in with both feet and was ecstatic just to have a job. Living and working conditions were as he said, spartan at best. The customer, no matter how stupid, was always right, and the company would seldom back you up. The way this guy describes it is probably the way a lot of folks still remember it.

After a pretty rocky start things began to improve somewhat and I decided to ride it out. And things continued to improve. The scare of union organization induced our employers to “up the ante.” Advancement and upgrades began to open up. I looked forward to going to work every week.

Fast forward fifteen years. There are, without a doubt, jobs being flown right now that match nearly exactly the description our friend wrote, but they are not nearly as prevalent as they used to be. The major operators have taken some huge steps toward supporting their pilots’ decision not to fly in the face of adverse weather or airworthiness concerns. All three of the major operators are updating their fleets with new aircraft or aggressive refurbishment programs. Housing and base facilities, though still spartan, are being updated or replaced outright in many locations. Finally, after over 50 years of operation, my company was bought by someone who knows how to run it on a for-profit basis. I’m flying a brand-new (for the first time in my career) fully-equipped medium twin for a great customer. I live in comfortable quarters at one of our few bases located near civilization, and I’m paid a reasonable wage. I'm grateful for all that.

But, I’ve reached the point in my career that I have more to lose than I have to gain by changing employers, and my company knows it. I’ve become what I used to ridicule – a lifer. I still enjoy what I’m doing, but the thought of retirement no longer scares me the way it used to.

I must confess that I still abhor the weekly commute (250 miles / 4-1/2 hours for me). I hate being away from home for a week or more at a time. I hate not being home to help my wife when a hurricane comes through, and I hated losing my car to hurricane Katrina last year – I really loved that car. I hate the very idea of mandatory workover. I hate the loss of continuity in my life. But most of all, I hate every time I had to break a promise to my daughter while she was growing up.

-Stan-

[The Rotordog]

For years...decades?...the GOM existed in its own little world. Most of the guys were ex-military, and the nomadic two-world civilian life they hired into was actually a step up from what they were used to. But judged against all of helicopter aviation, as it is now, the GOM falls short.

Stan sez:The scare of union organization induced our employers to “up the ante.” Advancement and upgrades began to open up.Stan, Stan, Stan. You know full well that it was not the benevolence of the company that caused those things. "Old guys" were simply retiring (and going EMS!) faster than PHI could replace them.

First the company tried the "direct-to-SIC" route. How many low-timers did they hire, 12? And how many quit just as soon as they got an IFR 412 check-out and a few hours under their belt? Nope, not 12. Eleven.

When I hired-on in '87, PHI very plainly told my class that we wouldn't be wth the company long enough to fly the 412, oh and sorry about that. We shrugged. None of us planned on staying that long anyway. Of the six guys in my new-hire class, the other five were all gone within two years. At my five- or six-year level, Scheduling called and said they were sending the 412 books, etc. to me and that a 412 ground school class was scheduled. They were shocked when I declined. Evidently, not too many maroons turned down an "upgrade" to SIC (which it really wasn't, in my humble opinion, since it involved no extra pay at that time and I was already a PIC and still wasn't planning on staying for even one more year). But I digress...

So the fact that "advancements and upgrades" began to open up was more a factor of the start of the pilot shortage than any good-will on the part of the company.

You also say:Housing and base facilities, though still spartan, are being updated or replaced outright in many locations.Heh. Yes, hurricanes have a way of doing that. And that is the good/bad thing about housing your employees in mobile homes. They might really be awful (and let's be honest, they really are), but they do get replaced every so often whether the company wants to or not.

Yadda, yadda, yadda. All of the above means nothing. You end your missive with this:I must confess that I still abhor the weekly commute (250 miles / 4-1/2 hours for me). I hate being away from home for a week or more at a time. I hate not being home to help my wife when a hurricane comes through, and I hated losing my car to hurricane Katrina last year – I really loved that car. I hate the very idea of mandatory workover. I hate the loss of continuity in my life. But most of all, I hate every time I had to break a promise to my daughter while she was growing up.My buddy Greg...you know Greg...it used to kill him to be over in Lousyana when his babies were born and walking and talking for the first time when he wasn't there - and couldn't be! And it used to kill me watching how it affected him. "Luckily," being single I didn't have those family issues, although I still hated being away from home for so much of the time, wondering if the water heater was going to blow this week or whether the place was being burglarized and my prized porn collection (every PLAYBOY since 1972!) ended up under some neighborhood druggie's mattress and my ABBA 8-tracks ending up on Ebay.

Stan, what you said is the very crux of what is objectionable about the GOM. As a job, it fairly sucks if you put a value on having any kind of home life. There is not bloody much that PHI can do about it short of moving the oil industry to someplace more civilized, and I don't think they're about to do that. For some pilots and mechanics, perhaps they can fool themselves that the week-at-a-time at home more than makes up for the week-at-a-time spent away. Personally, I don't believe it does. But that's just me.

And as for all that other stuff about the pilot being the lowest human on the totem pole out there? Well, it's true but who really cares? If all I wanted was to be respected and adored, I would've chosen a job that put me in an airline pilot's uniform. Out in the GOM, the flying (remember that part of what we do?) is as good as it gets anywhere. Pilots who have problems with their command authority and ego would probably have just as tough a time with a drunk corporate client who demanded to be landed at his hover-hole house. After dark. During fog season. I've flown charter/quasi-corporate as pilot for a construction company with their own ship. The personal issues really aren't any different than in the GOM, except that while flying for the construction company, I used to get belittled while wearing a white shirt and tie. No matter what the job, it's tough not being the CEO!



P.S. Sorry you lost Big Red.

[Nigel Osborn]

Reading these posts, it makes me much more happy that I couldn't get a green card to work in the GOM.
Back in 1975 in Doha, Qatar, our company bought 2 rebuilt 205s from PHI. Both had had bad accidents, hence the rebuild & came with 3 very good PHI engineers. They were a lot better than the 205s! Bob Suggs came for a visit & actually invited my wife & I to his hotel for dinner! As I had plenty of offshore time, he offered me a job in the GOM & when he found out I liked sailing, offered me his yacht to take his young wife out as he couldn't sail!
Despite those perks, it seems I was lucky I couldn't work there!

[Hippolite]

There is a lot of truth to all these posts so far. Fact is that touring isn't much different wherever it is, Karratha has its limitations as well not to mention having to live half your life at Truscott or Troughton Island! I supose Australia hasn't graduated to living in trailers yet although some of the accommodation could be better.

Maybe Aberdeen where one at least lives where one works isn't so bad....if you can put up with living there and never seeing your house in daylight on working days!

Whether its the Middle East, Shetland Islands, GOM, or West Africa, helicopter pilot touring jobs are not that great when it comes to a stable family life. Then again, all jobs which involve frequent travel and time away from home have their downsides.

That's Aviation I guess.......

[SASless]

One can walk onto a mobile home lot and buy a better quality single-wide trailer for about 18,000-20,000 USD. Thus ,lets double that figure and call it 40,000 USD for your standard GOM helicopter staff trailer. Five guys per shift to the trailer, normal life expectancy of the trailer (being reasonable here) ten years.

I guess that runs to about 400 USD per staff person for the purchase of the accomodation over the ten year period (or about $1.09 per day per person).

That does not include land, utilities, telephone, cable/sat TV, internet, janitor service, repairs, taxes, or depreciation.

Maybe someone that has purchased one of these things and leased it to their company can provide more accurate figures.

Sounds like a pretty good bargain for someone.

[eagle 86]

I drive 6.5 hours for a five by five day/night VFR HEMS in a pleasant medium-sized country town three hours drive from the country's largest city - pays OK - around twenty hours/month and every flight provides a different scenario/challenge. GREAT job satisfaction. Why anyone would even contemplate offshore is beyond me - the flying must be as boring as bat**** let alone all the other crap!
gags
e86

[Phone Wind]

Sounds just like touring to Nigeria as well, except for smelly trailer etc., read smelly old room in a house built to substandard 40 years ago and never properly maintained and for the 200 mile commute read 3 days travel to or from Canada or Australia. Great life being a touring pilot

[22clipper]

I must confess that I still abhor the weekly commute (250 miles / 4-1/2 hours for me).

And I've got such a long way to go
(Such a long way to go)
To make it to the gulf of Mexico
So I'll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind

......with apologies to Christopher Cross!!

[The Rotordog]

I used to hate my 4.5 hour one-way commute. Did it until I just couldn't do it anymore, then I quit. (I think I left with my sanity, but I'm not sure.) On the drive over, I'd frequently sing along with this tune:


Oh look out world,
Take a good look
What comes down here
You must learn this lesson fast
And learn it well.
This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
Oh no, this is the road...
Said this is the road...
This is the road...
To hell

apologies to Chris Rea

[TukTuk BoomBoom]

Stan thats a really useful comment about the industry in general.
Ive seen so many jobs like that with guys almost burnt out and only a couple of guys i know have had the guts to move out of the industry.
Its the most over hyped industry outside of hollywood and alot of people are completely unrealistic about the personal satisfaction they are going to get from helicopters 10-20 years down the track.
I really like my job but i trade the security and family life(thank god i dont have one) for the travel and (dare i say it) the adventure.
The conditions can be crap, worked on a job where all our maintenance was done at night in the bush with a grizzly bear hanging around the tree line that would come into camp during the day and scare people, and worked on a boat with 24 gay Korean sailors for a shipping company where deck bosses had disappeared at night over the side.
Its the beer and the chicks and the travel for me but once im over that it will be time to go i think
You know when its time to move on but its hard to pull the trigger.

[Heliport]

FAA’s JRC Decision to Approve ADS-B Funding for Gulf
June 07, 2006

The FAA Joint Resource Council has approved investment and funding decisions associated with moving forward with ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) describes the decision as a historic event and tremendous achievement for the offshore helicopter community in the Gulf, as the Gulf has been selected for Segment 1 of the new technology.
“The need for accurate weather, direct communications, and surveillance capabilities has never been greater to support the 650-plus helicopters flying offshore.”

The FAA, HAI, and industry officials, representing platform and helicopter owners in the Gulf of Mexico, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in Lafayette, Louisiana on Thursday, May 18, 2006, to formally establish a cooperative government/industry business relationship to enhance communications, weather, and surveillance capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

The HAI says the signing of this MOA is a milestone achievement for the offshore helicopter industry after more than four years of work with members of the Helicopter Safety Advisory Committee (HSAC) to obtain sorely needed improvements for rotorcraft operations in the Gulf.

"The helicopter industry and platform operators will provide space on the appropriate offshore platforms for the installation of the ADS-B equipment, and helicopter transport of the required personnel to install and maintain the equipment. It is estimated that the in-kind value of services to be provided by the helicopter industry is in excess of $100 million.

The HAI President, Matt Zuccaro says:“I believe that due to the very nature of helicopter operations, which involve low altitude, off-airport, remote location, all-weather situations, our segment of the aviation community stands to reap the greatest rewards from the ADS-B technology. Accordingly, HAI will be exploring the potential for ADS-B benefits to other segments of our industry, such as helicopter emergency medical services, corporate, utility operations, and others.”

[Flingwing207]

YES! :ok: :ok:

[JimL]

That's excellent news for our industry - it's nice to see the FAA/HAI/HSAC in the vanguard of this particular development.

Well done to all who were involved.

Jim

[slowrotor]

Any idea how much an ADS-B set costs?
I remember when it started at $70,000 then dropped to around $12k. Wondering what the price will be when it is mandated.
I am concerned about the cost for private sport flyers.

[SASless]

JimL,

Don't forget the NTSB that took the FAA to tasks about the problems in the GOM and the media that put the FAA in a very bad light over helicopter safety issues.

The FAA has been brought into this kicking and screaming after ignoring the helicopter industry in the GOM forever.

But, as you say....Good news and way too long in coming.

[SASless]

PHI is down about 40 pilots...mandatory workover still in effect (despite some pilots refusing to workover). No CBA signed yet and rumours of PHI to begin paying for prior experience for new hires in order to attract new pilots.

ERA is down 50 pilots and despite being awarded the US Government MMS contract...cannot perform the mission due to shortage of experienced pilots. Rumours abound about much increased offers of pay for pilots qualified to fly that contract. Supposedly, ERA has been calling current Air Log pilots who have flown that contract and making offers of employment if they will leave Air Log.

Air Log is 40 pilots short, pay being reviewed, also strong rumours that prior experience will now be paid and the old five year maximum increment for experience will go by the boards and all pilots (including current employees) will be boosted to their appropriate level should the new scheme be approved.

Air Log Pilots working extra days on "Bonus Jobs" (worst customer...worst living conditions...that pilots refuse to workover on) are now at 1.75 times daily rate PLUS a daily 250 USD Bonus. A workover bonus pool is in effect....each day worked over normal roster "buys" a lottery ticket for a 1000 USD bonus. Air Log's CBA does not allow mandatory workover and thus all such work is by volunteers.

Some rumours have surfaced that suggest the GOM Operators might be considering building their own "Accomodation Modules" on offshore work sites that have substandard living accomodations (most are) to allow the pilots a clean, healthy, quiet, smoke free sleeping accomodation.

Potential management shakeup suspected to be coming at one of the big three...the Greasy Pole Theorem of Helicopter Management seems to be alive and well in the GOM.

Yes....there is a pilot shortage in the GOM.

Yes...the Operators know it.

Yes...for sure the pilots know it now. Within a year or two...Pilots will probably reach Free Agent Status much as in Professional Sports.

What say you Stan, Gomer Pylot, Gomex....any truth to these rumours?

[N Arslow]

Requirements dropping? They will be allowing non-US citizens to fly next...:ooh:

[thecontroller]

GOM pilot shortage? simple solution. get them to pay for US-visa sponsorship of foreigners. theres plenty of 1,000 hr HAI grads out there that will jump at the chance of a GOM job....

[crop duster]

Boost the starting pay by 20K and that'll bring us out of the closet. I'll bet Ole Suggs (PHI) is doing back flips in the grave.

barryb

[BaronG]

GOM pilot shortage? simple solution. get them to pay for US-visa sponsorship of foreigners. theres plenty of 1,000 hr HAI grads out there that will jump at the chance of a GOM job....

I don't think the problem is quite so simple. Companies have in the past provided Visa sponsorship (HAI itself is one such example), but you can only do 1 or 2 a year due to the visa system - nothing like the numbers required to fix such a large deficit of pilots.

BG.

[Flingwing207]

I don't think the problem is quite so simple. Companies have in the past provided Visa sponsorship (HAI itself is one such example), but you can only do 1 or 2 a year due to the visa system - nothing like the numbers required to fix such a large deficit of pilots.Actually...

What an employer is required to do is demonstrate that qualified US citizens or nationals cannot be found to fill the positions - this must be done by advertising nationally in appropriate venues, posting on government/municipal job-bank rolls, and recruiting within their own organization.

After a certain time, the employer can then apply for visas. The number they recieve is in proportion to how many jobs they need to fill versus how many jobs of a similar nature are unfilled nationally. So if 20 helicopter companies are applying for 400 visas, and company "A" has 50 openings unfilled, they will get about 12% of the total visas the INS allows for all the companies. How many visas the INS decides to allow is decided by... ...well, nobody knows. There are other requirements for the employers - housing must be provided, work guaranteed, and a few other things, but once a program is in place, it runs pretty smoothly.

So it would be entirely possible for ERA or PHI to bring qualified foriegn nationals in to fly the aircraft, it wouldn't be surprising to find the process has already been started.

[R1Tamer]

I asked the PHI HR representative about the whole Visa issue at the Heli Expo this year. It seems that the US Immigration system requires them to count every single application they receive from US applicants whether or not they are actually qualified by in any way to fill the relevant vacancy.

As you can imagine she told me that they get literally thousands of applications from wannabes and as a aconsequence the US authroities do not believe there is a shortage of US citizens available to fill those positions.

They have been trying to go down this route for over five years now each time to no avail.

Unfortunately!

[murdock]

I am glad to hear there is a shortage of experienced pilots in the GOM. The U.S. needs the workforce for their oilfields and if they arent willing to hire skilled foreign workers to fill the positions then thats their own loss. Canada has a shortage of skilled pilots also, but if you have at least about 600-1000 hours, and the Canadian commercial icense, then you can be sponsored to work there as a skilled worker, and they welcome immigration by skilled workers. The U.S. makes it harder and harder each year to work and immigrate there. Look at what they are doing with the J1 visa - now reducing the time you can spend training and working.

Flingwing 207 - unfortunately its not entirely that easy. With the current U.S. visa system, to be sponsored under H1 visa system, you have to have a college degree as a minimum of education requirements. The U.S. legal system does not consider a helicopter pilot as being a professional - as I have been told by lawyers. So you could have 10,000 hours as a helicopter pilot, and nothing more than a diploma and you are not elegible for sponsorship. And as it stands right now we all know there are not that many sponsorship visas issued every year and the majority of those go to the I.T. industry.

As always like everything else in life - they will wait and wait till the **** really hits the fan and then scramble to try and do something. Lets see how things work out for them then.

Good luck all!

[212man]

Showing my (genuine) ignorance: what's a college degree; is it the same as a university degree in the States, or something different?:confused:

[rumline]

Unbelievable..
I hold a degree and have 6000+ hrs, most of which are multi engine offshore. A (lovely and talented) wife who's acquired 18yrs in Intensive / Coronary care nursing experience...and we've been told many times, she can get a visa, no problem...I, on the other hand at best should learn Spanish and take up brick laying.:ugh:

[BaronG]

<snip>
So it would be entirely possible for ERA or PHI to bring qualified foriegn nationals in to fly the aircraft, it wouldn't be surprising to find the process has already been started.

As a couple of others mentioned, in principle this is possible, however the practicalities make it very difficult (particularly given the limited availability of H-1 visas).

One other thing to remember is that the GoM companies (like everyone else) lack experienced pilots. If they're going to get Visas, they want guys with 1500+ hours, some offshore, IR etc etc. The thing is, people with that level of experience are presumably already working (or at least able to work) where they are now - e.g. a JAA ATP is presumably already able to get/has work in Europe.

So, while the GoM companies might look into Visas, the odds are they'll get very few experienced guys, and a lot of low hours guys (which they can get in the USA).


@ rumline

If your wife can get a Visa, then you should be able to get one off the back of hers without your background being relevant. Of course, that assumes you'd want to do that.

@ Murdock

The j-1 time change is just a rumour as far as I'm aware - do you have some more information on that?

@ R1Tamer

Re: PHI and low hour guys applying: The thing is from the outsiders perspective, when you get your commerical ticket, you should be good to do commerical jobs. I guess the government sees it the same way - hour/experience requirements aren't something they care about.

I suppose the implication is PHI should pull their fingers out and take low hour guys through some kind of training rather than just hire foreigners. I think that would be a welcome change for everyone but based on experience, highly unlikely :)

[HueyHerc]

Is it a lack of available, qualified new hires...or is it an inability to keep good pilots after a year or two in some of the south Louisiana garden spots?

I think the problem for the GOM companies right now is simply trying to keep pace replacing the pilots who are leaving after building enough time to fly somewhere else. That problem won't be solved with foreign pilots, they will eventually do the same thing.

Significant improvements in terms and conditions for experienced pilots is the one and only answer.

[SASless]

Say something simple like going the Oz method of company paid travel to/from work sites maybe?

Going to a 14/14 roster to cutdown on commuting?

Improving the accomodation standards to at least equal to a Motel Six perhaps?

Getting rid of the plumbers uniform and getting something a bit more "professional"?

[turtlehawk24]

:ok: There is not a helicopter pilot shortage,there never has been and never will be.. The only shortage I see is a shortage of compensation/benefits!!!
Its about time we started getting paid for our experience..

[gwelo shamwari]

If these companies where hurting as much as they say the are, they would provide better scheadules, increase base pay and provide better benifits. However this does not seem to be happening as one could earn nearly twice as much by roughnecking (I know that this is fact in south america and west africa for expats) with 28/28 scheadule, benifits and so on than a helicopter pilot in the gulf.

I am new to the industry, and what I can't understand why it is like this? Helicopter pilots are highly skilled people and I think we should be treated so. We spend our life saveings to get the training, struggle like mad to build hours and then get paid peanuts and treated like trash. And the thing is most people are happy with this because "hey, at least I'm flying". I think this attitude by the pilots has to change before things will get better.

If we have no self value, they for sure will not value us.

[Brian Abraham]

Same as a uni degree 212.

[Flingwing207]

Well, starting pay has gone up around 20% in the last 15 months, you can get BC/BS insurance, 401k and stock options at at least one company as a new pilot. It's a 14/14 world for the most part (again in the last 12 months).

Remember, wages and benefits aren't driven by a pilot shortage, they are driven by a service shortage. As soon as the customers start screaming for helicopter services at any price, the wages will go up.

[SASless]

I disagree Fling. I would suggest it is all "rates" driven. As the operators raise rates then they can afford to pay higher wages and provide better benefits and conditions.

If a single operator of the big three raise rates, the other two will follow. The oil companies will pay the increase. There is no reason for the helicopter operators to always do it on the "cheap". That is a flawed business concept that has held the US industry back all these years. There is a difference between "Cheap" and doing it for a "fair" rate. No one wins if "cheap" is the rule. Just look at the state of the industry in the GOM now as compared to the NorthSea.

[paco]

Yes, that's true. It amazes me how companies seem to have the idea they should be cheap all the time. Oil companies have the money and will pay the proper rate - they were certainly happy to keep a PA31 and pilot in Rainbow Lake for three days while a surveyor went to look at a burial ground!

I mean, if you go and talk to someone who is in charge of a fleet of trucks and JCBs, all of which are not cheap, and a lot more complex to operate, and tell him he can have a helicopter at not much above the DOC rate, don't be surprised if you get treated with a certain amount of disdain.

SASless - are those shortages on top of the "normal" shortages that companies have so the guys can have some overtime?

Phil

[SASless]

Paco,

As I am told....the shortage is what shortfall there is between butts to fill seats needed on a daily basis. There is more work available in the GOM than can be done due to the lack of aircraft and crews (pilots and maintenance staff). Thus it would appear at this time (in wake of Katrina and normal expansion with very high oil prices) there is a general shortfall of helicopter capacity in the GOM.

A fair number of pilots from the Vietnam Era are approaching retirement age and that point in life where medical issues become a problem. Combine that with the general inability of the American Helicopter industry to train and provide useful experience to the new guys coming in....then it begins to explain the problem.

The oil companies and insurance requirements demand "experience" and having 700 jetrangers (or equivalent) running about the oil patch does not allow for the use/training of younger inexperienced pilots.

It is not just the operators at fault but the old way of doing business in the Gulf and now EMS industries.

There are well experienced pilots out here but when you have to take a huge paycut and/or loss of lifestyle to take up the GOM flying....very few will make that trip. The whole way of looking at helicopter pilots in the GOM is going to have to make a quantum leap in philosophy before this situation will improve.

The younger guys coming into the business are not going to endure the treatment the old farts have....nor should they.

The only way for real change to occur will be when the oil companies and operators finally agree to the necessary changes and subsequent costs....or wait for a major depression to hit again and oil prices go back to Ten Bucks a barrel.

There is no chance of the latter happening thus I see the oil companies and the operators having to accept the inevitable and belly up to the bar with their wallets in hand.

The sad part of this is other places in the world have been doing the very things that would turn the GOM around almost overnight and the same oil companies pay the operators for those expenses.

[Foggy Bottom]

I earned 100K+ last year. Now that was working a 56/28 rotation, not an even day rotation. I would fly the gulf on a 14/14 for no less then 70K (?) plus benefits. I would imagine that there are lots of pilots like me out there that would return to the US for a decent wage. Once again, there is no shortage of pilots. There is a shortage of experienced pilots that are willing to work for the starting wage of the GOM operators. The union has done an admirable job of raising the wages for starting pilots. It also forces the operators to depend on "in house" personnel for their experience pool, which as we all see is drying up.

[SASless]

This is the link to the Bristow Anuual Report (what used to be OLOG).


http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?dcn=0000950129-06-006133&Type=HTML


Our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel could have an adverse affect on us.

Our ability to attract and retain qualified pilots, mechanics and other highly-trained personnel is an important factor in determining our future success. For example, many of our customers require pilots with very high levels of flight experience. The market for these experienced and highly-trained personnel is competitive and will become more competitive if oil and gas industry activity levels increase. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in our efforts to attract and retain such personnel. In addition, some of our pilots, mechanics and other personnel, as well as those of our competitors, are members of the U.S. or U.K. Military Reserves who have been, or could be, called to active duty. If significant numbers of such personnel are called to active duty, it would reduce the supply of such workers and likely increase our labor costs. Additionally, as a result of the disclosure and remediation of activities identified in the Internal Review, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified personnel, and we may incur increased expenses.

[Gomer Pylot]

If you look at the financials posted by the GOM helicopter companies, you'll see they're making record profits. The oil companies are throwing money around like it was Christmas, because they have more profits than they can spend. Air Log apparently has decided to spend some of their money on pilots. PHI still seems to want to poor-mouth them, and I hear they lose more than 50% of each new-hire class, either to other companies paying much more money, or the pilots just can't fly and flunk the flight training. You have to be a pretty poor pilot to flunk out these days, and there are lots of them applying. A release from arbitration is around the corner, according to a little bird, and a cooling-off period would start soon thereafter. Just about every contract ever signed under the RLA has been agreed to near the end of the cooling-off period, almost never before, so maybe a benchmark contract will be signed soon, and then everyone might get a raise. BP & Shell likely won't look kindly on a strike, although there isn't anyone else who could take those contracts in the short term. There aren't enough helicopters available, nevermind pilots.

If you listen to the radios, there are nearly as many foreign accents on the frequencies as southern drawls. There is a ton of foreign pilots in the GOM, and the number is growing rapidly. The number of female pilots is also growing, and I think that's a good thing.

14/14 schedules are easily available from just about any company, but lots of us don't want them. 14 days is too long to be away from home, and too long to be at home. Those who disagree with this can easily get a different schedule.

I made >$100k last year, but that was as a topped-out IFR captain with lots more overtime than I wanted. Lots more. I would be happy to have more money thrown at me, and I think it's coming eventually. Unfortunately, inflation is about to hit with a vengeance. Oil prices this high will force the price of absolutely everything to rise, everywhere. I just hope the raises keep up with inflation. $100k may not be a very high wage in a couple of years.

[Project Pilot FH1100]

PHI has a problem. Well, a couple of problems.

1. For decades, PHI has set the salary standard in the U.S. Other operators unapologetically key their payscales to what PHI pays. As soon as PHI bumps up the pay, it goes up nationwide. Thus, it's difficult for PHI to attract pilots to come down to the GOM from a strictly dollars and cents standpoint.

2. While salaries are up thanks to the union (and don't even argue that point), retention is as bad as ever. There are a couple of reasons for this. Pilots come down to the GOM expecting a certain standard of living. They get there and discover that living in a swamp is, um, not fun. (Sure, you interview up in the shiny, clean offices in Lafayette. Then you get to the bases where the real work is done and go, "Holy crap!) A certain percentage of new-hires just find that lifestyle unappealing and will be gone in under a year. Another percentage will find the flying itself unchallenging and unappealing. GOM pilots are certainly not masters of their domain; they answer to many bosses, some of them shockingly uneducated. You just have to focus on flying the helicopter as best you can, because the actual operation of it is out of your hands. Oh, and get used to being called "Skip" (short for "Skipper").

So the living conditions suck, and the flying itself does damage to the self-image and self-esteem. The combination of the two produces the high turnover that has been going on forever and probably will not abate.

During the union contract negotiations back in 2000, I spoke informally to one of the management guys who'd been sitting across the table from us during a break in the session. We were not mortal enemies as you might imagine. We had all worked together for many years and had fairly warm relations outside of that particular business.

We agreed that the GOM starting salary would some day probably have to be well above that for other segments of the helicopter industry (like EMS), and it still might not be enough to attract and more importantly, keep pilots in the GOM. We also agreed that, given the huge egos of the EMS pilots, it would be a cold day in hell before that ever happened. Not to mention the fact that nationwide, other operators would just keep pace anyway.

We also talked about ways of improving the living conditions of GOMers. But honestly, there's just not a lot that can be done. The helicopters are where the work is, it's as simple as that. And where the work is is not pretty. Most of the time, it's literally at the end of the road, a road that may or may not dependably be above sea level. At many bases, there are no "luxuries" such as movie theatres, malls, or decent restaurants nearby. Hurricanes periodically come in and wash everything away, so spending big bucks on company housing is a tough sell to the CEO. Thus, it's cheap-ass mobile homes or apartments in which a bunch of guys share kitchen, living, and bathroom areas. Thank God the two-guys-to-a-bedroom is a thing of the past. That really was terrible.

Bottom line, this manager and I agreed that PHI would always have a problem attracting and keeping guys in the GOM.

GOM flying is a crude lifestyle that's not for everyone. It necessarily requires pickup truck driving types of guys, not Lexus driving types of guys. And you know what? Some of us don't want to be pickup truck driving types of guys, no offense. I came to PHI with seven years experience as a commercial pilot. I stuck it out for another 13 years before I'd had enough. I only expected/planned to stay 6 months. But I was single and the time off suited me at the time. The years went by quickly, let me tell you, and the fun had definitely gone out of it somewhere along the way. I'd have left sooner, but in 1995 I signed-on for the union drive and it took five long years to get it done.

In 2000, I predicted the current crunch. Back then, fully half of PHI's 550 pilots were over age 50, and only a literal handful were over 60. None were over 62. It did not take a rocket scientist to see that there was going to be a problem. Unsurprisingly, PHI management did not see it, evidently. Or if they did, they took no pro-active steps to do anything about it. Believe me when I tell you this: It's not solely about the money.

PHI may never be able to stop the turnover, no matter how much money is thrown at the pilots. With that turnover will come the need for a never-ending supply of qualified pilots. Where will they come from? There is an easy, viable solution that I have suggested before. PHI must start an in-house commercial flight school. Low-time instructors will come to work there, get a seniority number, learn the ways of the company, then easily graduate to the GOM with little additional training when they have enough time. Hire the best students to replace the instructors who move up. Simple and effective.

[murdock]

Project Pilot FH1100 - I am a bush pilot and was wondering just how bad are the living conditions you are describing. I know you talk about no such luxuries like malls, theatres and restaraunts, but I am just curious as to what the living arrangements are truly like. I had contemplated workingin the GOM a while back and was thinking about doing it for a short while to try it out. In the bush, we either live in crew houses (duplexes, trailers, etc) or sometimes hotels, camps and tents. Places to eat are a treat sometimes and the idea of a mall or theatre is quite novel. I know the majority of GOM pilots work either 1 week on and 1 off, or 2 weeks on and 2 off. For the most part we do about 4-6 weeks on and 1-2 weeks off. Since I have never worled in the gulf, I cannot say how the flying is, but I do enjoy the flying in the bush, being a utility pilot I find lots of challenges everyday, between forestry fires and long lining, etc. Maybe thats the only thing that keeps me sane for being out in the bush so long.
Thanks.

[SASless]

There is no comparison between Bush Work and The GOM. Start with the Salmon/Trout fishing after/during work and the sheer enjoyment of an open fire and cold beer after dinner.

Get caught drinking a beer with your dinner on shift in the GOM and it is down the road.

Two different mindsets between the two sets of folks unfortunately.

[crop duster]

Project Pilot FH1100 - I am a bush pilot and was wondering just how bad are the living conditions you are describing. I know you talk about no such luxuries like malls, theatres and restaraunts, but I am just curious as to what the living arrangements are truly like. I had contemplated workingin the GOM a while back and was thinking about doing it for a short while to try it out. In the bush, we either live in crew houses (duplexes, trailers, etc) or sometimes hotels, camps and tents. Places to eat are a treat sometimes and the idea of a mall or theatre is quite novel. I know the majority of GOM pilots work either 1 week on and 1 off, or 2 weeks on and 2 off. For the most part we do about 4-6 weeks on and 1-2 weeks off. Since I have never worled in the gulf, I cannot say how the flying is, but I do enjoy the flying in the bush, being a utility pilot I find lots of challenges everyday, between forestry fires and long lining, etc. Maybe thats the only thing that keeps me sane for being out in the bush so long.
Thanks.

The living condition depends on the contract you are on. If you stay on the beach you'll probably stay in a trailer house or an apartment. They're usually not terrible but unless you have a neat freak staying there they tend to get a little nasty after a while. Not many pilots are going to start house keeping after a long day offshore.

Depending on location there is usually some kind of place to get food near by. Some guys bring food with them when they start the hitch. I use to get a to-go-plate from one of the cooks on my last trip back to the beach or eat a bowl of cereal.

When I stayed offshore we ate like kings. Some platforms have cooks and some cook for themselves. There was always somebody that was a pretty good cook. I usually cooked breakfast and the others really appreciated that. They would ask me each week what I wanted to add to the grocery list. Every person is allowed X amount for food each week. If the crew likes their pilot they take care of him/her. If they don't, it can get tough. We simply had fun while we worked. If the weather was bad, which happens quite often in the winter we played dominoes or video games. Someone was always playing practical jokes on each other. I only worked in the winter so we watched a lot of football and basketball. Especially college sports where LSU was involved.

The flying can get pretty boring at times. There's not much of a challenge except weather and that can get bad quick. I was lucky. I was going offshore each winter to get away from the crop dusting mindset. Out there I had no stress. If a bird broke down I'd call a mechanic. At home I have to fix it. Offshore the pilot is a good thing. He's the guy that's going to take us home. He's the guy/girl that brings the daily paper and so on... At home when a farmer walks in the door he's about to spend large amounts of money and sometimes he's not in a good mood about it.

My situation at home changed and now I can't go back each winter. But, if the situation were different, I'd be back every year. I love the smell of salt water. I loved watching the different types of vessels come and go. I loved the friendships made with just good old country boys trying to make a living. I think about it every day, especially right after an irate farmer walks out the door.

barryb

[SASless]

I have been very critical of CHC's Human Resources Department way of doing business.....how long will it be before CHC catches on to improvements are needed?

As every recruiter knows....every person "retained" eliminates having to find a replacement. Is it a retention problem or a recruiting problem?


Recruiting costs hurt incomes Company Earnings
Jul. 15, 2006. 01:00 AM

CHC Helicopter Corp. says it earned a lower fourth-quarter profit than a year earlier as the company spent more to recruit and train new pilots to meet the growing demands of the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Vancouver-based flight-services company earned $10.8 million, or 23 cents per share, for the three months ended April 30.

That compared with a profit of $17.2 million, or 38 cents per share, a year earlier.

In the fourth quarter, sales hit $250.6 million, up from $242.2 million.

The average analyst estimate for the fourth quarter according to Thomson Financial was for a profit of 46 cents per share, based on four analyst estimates with a range from 32 cents to 66 cents.

The average analyst revenue estimate was $264 million, based on three analysts with a range of $261 million to $267 million.

CHC supplies helicopter services to the offshore oil and gas industry around the world.

In addition to spending about $2.9 million or five cents per share on recruiting, relocation, training, business development and aircraft introduction, CHC also took a charge of $3.6 million or five cents per share related to restructuring.

The company said strength in the Canadian dollar also shaved $2.2 million, or four cents per share, from its bottom line.

Talks earlier this year between Craig Dobbin, chairman and founder of CHC Helicopter, and two private-equity firms about a potential takeover offer ended without an agreement.

The company said it spent about $1 million, or 2 cents per share, related to the talks.

CHC earned $90.7 million, or $1.97 per share, for the financial year ended April 30 on revenue of $1.01 billion. That compared with a profit of $56.5 million, or $1.23 per share, on revenue of $967.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

canadian press

[Gomer Pylot]

I think a number of companies will eventually come to the realization that it's cheaper to pay more to keep the employees they have than to keep paying, over and over, to train newbies who leave after getting the training, to work for other companies which pay more. Even ass-kissing pilots who get moved up into management can do simple arithmetic, or at least one would think they can. The hard part is getting them to do the arithmetic in the first place.

[Chopter]

Saw this in the news, PHI pilots may strike in 29 days...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060729/BUSINESS/607290328/1046

[DryAir]

Out of curiosity.. how much does PHI pilots take back after tax?

cos i make about 24k sterling a year here as a P1 S61N.. maybe we should strike too.. if it wasn't illegal to do so.. lol :yuk:

[rick1128]

ERA is starting to bring in new blood. Talked with their Chief Pilot at HAI earlier this year. They will hire someone with a Commercial Helicopter and Instrument rating and 500 hours Helicopter. They start out as a SIC. After 1000 to 1200 hours Heli and at least 3 PIC recommendations they are considered for upgrade. They will hire someone with 1100 hours with a Helicopter CFII. But it is not such a good deal as they are thrown to the wolves so to speak. They are totally on their own in a 206.

As for the cooks, the not so good ones don't last too long. One way or the other, they are gone. You take care of the cook, he will take excellent care of you. But the absolute best eating is on the rigs with cajun cooks. The most important rule, NEVER eat on a rig with a skinny cook.

There are a large number of applicants, but so many of them do not meet the requirements of either the insurance company or the oil company. The oil companies are getting quite strict on pilot requirments. Companies like Shell, Chevron and BP and made studies of all the accidents that have occurred with helicopters supporting oil operations and have used those studies to change contract requirements. A small part of the problem is that helicopter operators look at SIC time as useless time and most do not count it. The GoM is requiring more and more two pilot helicopters, but many operators are not making use of the potential training and evaluation capacity that that seat represents.

[SASless]

Rick,

I found it to be the rule about "Cooks"....ensure they are first on headed for the beach and fetch them the papers along with those for the rig boss and and very good things happen for you. In a small bush camp, washing a few dishes never hurts.

[Gomer Pylot]

After taxes? That's a difficult question. Taxes vary by state, and by the amount of deductions you can come up with. The US tax code isn't understood completely by the IRS, the legislature, or by H&R Block. Not by anyone.

From the PHPA website, salary before taxes, before anything, starts at US$37,000 and goes up to $79,994 for a topped-out IFR PIC. This is toward the bottom end of US GOM salaries.

[Flingwing207]

ERA is starting to bring in new blood. Talked with their Chief Pilot at HAI earlier this year. They will hire someone with a Commercial Helicopter and Instrument rating and 500 hours Helicopter. They start out as a SIC. After 1000 to 1200 hours Heli and at least 3 PIC recommendations they are considered for upgrade. They will hire someone with 1100 hours with a Helicopter CFII. But it is not such a good deal as they are thrown to the wolves so to speak. They are totally on their own in a 206.No Jet Rangers left in the Era fleet (couple on the ramp for sale), so it's EC120 or AS350BThere are a large number of applicants, but so many of them do not meet the requirements of either the insurance company or the oil company. The oil companies are getting quite strict on pilot requirments. Companies like Shell, Chevron and BP and made studies of all the accidents that have occurred with helicopters supporting oil operations and have used those studies to change contract requirements. A small part of the problem is that helicopter operators look at SIC time as useless time and most do not count it. The GoM is requiring more and more two pilot helicopters, but many operators are not making use of the potential training and evaluation capacity that that seat represents.Era is adding a lot of bigger VFR ships - EC135, A119, A109 (and phasing out the EC120). Not sure you'll see a VFR SIC position in the near future though.

[Chopter]

Source:
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/NEWS01/60814012
PHI’s unionized pilots and the company, which have been in negotiations for the last 29 months regarding pilot contracts, have agreed to public interest conferences with the National Mediation Board.
The announcement comes two weeks after the union announced it had been released from national mediation and entered into a 30-day cooling off period, the last stage before a union can authorize a strike.
Steve Ragin, president of the union, called the conferences “super mediation” and said they will begin Aug. 23 and conclude presumably at the end of the cooling-off period.
PHI Inc., a helicopter transportation company that serves the oil and gas and air medical industries, has accused the union of making “unreasonable and irresponsible” demands that threaten the company’s future.
The company also claimed in a statement that it did not believe the majority of pilots would walk off the job and that it has contingency plans in place to protect its customers, employees and business.
Ragin has argued that the pilots are some of the lowest paid in the business. The company has offered a salary comparable to others but it has not agreed to offer back pay to pilots since the last contract ended in May 2004.
Ragin has said the union, which represents PHI’s 550 pilots, has been granted authority to strike.

[SASless]

Now as I recall...when Air Log (a Bristow Group Company) had their last CBA fuss....there was feathers all over the place....and the company coughed up money retroactively to the end of the last CBA. That is not an unusual demand I would think....the CBA is a contract and does not end during negotiation but is "renewed" as they note in their June 30 SEC Form 10Q filing. If PHI in this case wishes to drag its feet for 29 months then it would seem they would have to pay up. I can assure the management that will be the Union demand.....and they will stick to it. I am sure that....oops...would assume the PHI management knows that. But then....GOM helicopter management types sometimes do the darnedest things which defy logic.

I love the argument....we compromise and we will go broke. Yeah, right!

It would appear PHI lost 2.8 Million dollars this past quarter.....after taking a 12.8 Million dollar hit for buying back debt. Thus it was really about 10 Million USD to the good before buying the notes back during the quarter and still have about 217 Million USD in cash assets.

[SASless]

The little birdies are singing again in the GOM.

Heard amongst the chippering was something about one of the big three firing a senior pilot for some unannounced reason. Then within two days, rehiring him and giving him a pay rise. It is suggested the change of heart occurred shortly after the Boss Fellah realized he had fired his only S-61 TRE/IRE (DPE in American).

Surely this is a false rumour?

[Gomer Pylot]

Well, the S61 reference pretty much nails down the company. Neither Air Log nor PHI have any S61s.
Another rumor is that the notes PHI paid off, including a 5% penalty for early payment, were issued by Al Gonsoulin. Somebody made money on that transaction. Apparently he studied very intensely under Bob Suggs, who used substantially the same tactics to show no profit all those years.

[gomex]

If anyone believe that PHI lost any money last quarter, I have some fine desert land for sale in southern Louisiana. PHI flight time was up almost 20%, every helicopters that is in flyable condition are on full time contracts. All the GOM operators have raised their rates this past year, and I believe they all include automatic increases in jet fuel cost. as the price of jet fuel rises. The financial statement also said PHI lost money on selling of two aircraft; the used helicopter market is going real strong. I know that Air Log is trying to buy any surplus equipments they can get their hands on. I have a feeling PHI sold these aircraft to one of their subsidiary. This has been done many times in the past. I will be watching for a good outcome for the PHI pilots. The pilots have the support of all the Air Log pilots, we will do what ever they need us to do.

[SASless]

Hey Gomex,

When one becomes a Training Captain for the GOM outfits, is that considered a management or supervisory position? Would not that 61 Check Airman have been working closely with the Director of Training....Chief Pilot....Director of Ops on a daily basis providing input on training standards, procedures, and the such?

[TiPwEiGhT]

Are there many openings for pilots in the GoM right now? Just curious...

TiP:confused:

[Flingwing207]

Are there many openings for pilots in the GoM right now? Just curious...
TiP:confused:Yes there are - For instance, both Era and PHI are currently attempting to hire about 10 - 14 new pilots a month.

[TiPwEiGhT]

Thanks Fling. What sort of experience do they look for and do they show interest in overseas trained pilots? Does anybody have any opinions on the type of work there?

Thanks, TiP:ok:

[Flingwing207]

Thanks Fling. What sort of experience do they look for and do they show interest in overseas trained pilots? Does anybody have any opinions on the type of work there?
Thanks, TiP:ok:Generally around 1200 hours and an IFR rating to be a VFR captain, more variable for an IFR SIC (I've seen as low as 700 hours and CFII). The SIC pay is about $10K/year less than the VFR captain pay.

Not sure how they would work with foriegn ratings.

How's the work? Well a VFR pilot goes on duty at 0530, flies until about 1800, does paperwork and a compressor wash and gets done by 1930. Some days you might fly 7.5 hours, other days you might not fly at all, it depends on the contract. If your aircraft has A/C, you are happy (a lot of them don't, mine does, ha ha). You will spend your day looking for places to eat, pee and get fuel while you shuttle folks around the various structures poking up out of the Gulf (and dodging the pretty much daily thunderstorms and IFR pockets that pop up all over).

That's a sneek peek. :E

[Gomer Pylot]

Every company in the GOM is hiring as fast as they can, and none can hire fast enough. Turnover is very, very high. There are lots of foreign pilots, from just about everywhere, and it's becoming somewhat uncommon to hear a southern US voice on the radio. Lots of women, lots of people from everywhere. If you have 1000 hours, a work visa, and a commercial license, you can get hired. The hours may not be mandatory.

[walesuk]

Hey everybody,
Got a few questions if anyone knows answers... someone here said ERA is hiring with part 135 minimums but their website says 1200. Is one for SIC and the other for SIC?

Also, I heard that the ad for Air Log is for SIC although the ad doesn't state that. Anyone know for sure? If it's SIC, any idea how much time you get, what kind of aircraft and how long till they move you to PIC?

I saw that some of these places have employee housing... I imagine that's only for the employee and not for spouses? From some of the stuff I read here, not sure I'd want my wife there anyway!

I'm hoping to get down there working in the next couple of months... is the fall a bad time for hiring or will there still be some vacancies then?

Thanks for the info...

[crop duster]

Hey everybody,
......I saw that some of these places have employee housing... I imagine that's only for the employee and not for spouses? From some of the stuff I read here, not sure I'd want my wife there anyway!
I'm hoping to get down there working in the next couple of months... is the fall a bad time for hiring or will there still be some vacancies then?
Thanks for the info...

All of the GOM operators provide housing while you are on hitch but this aint like home. It'll probably be a trailer house (moble home for the sensitive ones) or an apartment somewhere near the base you fly out of. It's not the kind of environment your wife would want to stay at and most don't allow it. This is company housing that just gives you a place to sleep and wash your clothes and a$$. :ugh:

barryb

[Gomer Pylot]

I don't know about all the requirements for individual operators, so you need to talk to the companies about that. I suspect requirements are somewhat flexible, depending on need at the moment. At the moment, need is high.

As crop duster said, the housing the companies offer is for employees only, and not that elegant. You generally get a small twin-size bed, a private room if you're lucky and share it with another pilot if you're not (AFAIK you don't have to share a bed at any company, though). The bathroom is always shared with at least 2, maybe more, rooms. Don't even think about putting your family in there, if you care about them at all.

The fall shouldn't be much different from now - the pilot shortage isn't going to be over for some time.

[ENG Brit]

Flingwing,

Your "how's the work" comment brought a smile as it's almost exactly what the fractional/charter business up here in NY has been like all summer long.

Yes, its off-topic, but I had such a deja vu moment there I had to put pen to paper, so to speak.

Going back to sleep now...I mean official crew-rest, lol.

[SASless]

Sounds like a repeat of the Air Log debacle.....PHI is fighting to the bitter end after dragging their feet for over two years on renewing the CBA.

Article published Aug 23, 2006
PHI, pilots have 5 days to agree
Jason Brown
[email protected]
Final discussions between Lafayette-based helicopter company PHI and the union representing its 550 pilots began today over a long-standing pay dispute.

The meetings are taking place in Washington under the supervision of the National Mediation Board and have been referred to as a "last- ditch effort" to resolve 29-months worth of negotiations.

The parties presumably have five days, or until Monday, to negotiate an agreement before the federally imposed 30-day cooling-off period is lifted, which would free the company and the union to take any action they deemed necessary.

For pilots, who are arguing for increased pay and back pay for the last two years since their contract expired, among other issues, that could mean a strike that would affect not only the oil and gas industry, where PHI has some 336 pilots, but also the Emergency Medical Services division of PHI, which has 221 pilots across the United States.

PHI bills itself as a world leader among helicopter companies and has developed a sizable and profitable business in the Air Medical industry. Locally, three of its largest clients in the Gulf of Mexico are BP, Shell and Exxon.

"We feel like the ball is pretty much in the company's court," said Steve Ragin, president of the pilots' union. "We've gone just about as far as we think we can go. We will do our best to avoid a strike."

Representatives from PHI, who were not available for comment Tuesday, have said in the past that they do not feel that the majority of pilots would walk off the job, but contingency plans are in place should a work stoppage occur.

Ragin has said he feels the company has once again underestimated the "will and determination" of its pilots.

"We've made preparations for that eventuality and if the company is not willing to come up with or at least try and meet us in some fashion, then a strike would seem almost a certainty," Ragin said.

Those preparations include a communication network, housing for out-of-town pilots who want to participate in any work-stoppage activities, printed signs for picketing and two Web sites for quick updates.

Tim Kolysko, a PHI employee and spokesman for PHI's EMS pilots, said should a work stoppage ensue, pilots will ask the company's customers, vendors, suppliers and contractors to discontinue their business with PHI's EMS division in support of the pilots efforts until the issues are settled.

He said the patients and vendors "will continue to be served by our numerous and capable competitors."

[Chopter]

Source:
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060827/NEWS01/608270360

Pilot contract talks get critical
Union says it won't strike if storm in Gulf.


The threat of a strike by the unionized pilots of Lafayette-based helicopter company PHI could be stifled by looming Tropical Storm Ernesto.
For more than two years, the parties have been locked in a dispute over pilot back pay and salaries.

On Wednesday, PHI and the union began meeting for the first of five days of "Super Mediation" hearings, with the National Mediation Board in Washington in a "last-ditch effort" to reach an agreement on a new contract.

If no agreement is reached by 12:01 a.m. Monday, both the union and the company are free to pursue other measures.
For the union, that could mean a strike.

But the pilots, who today enter into what is likely to be the last day of contract negotiations with the company, have said they would not put offshore workers at risk by striking when a hurricane is in the Gulf.

On Saturday night, Steve Ragin, the pilot's union representative, said in a phone interview the two parties still were "fairly far apart," and that the company had presented its final offer to the union. Today, the union will give another proposal to the company. Ragin said the union's proposal will be a "bold move" but he isn't hopeful for a settlement.

The outcome of the negotiations will affect not only the oil and gas industry, where PHI services Shell, Exxon and BP, but also the Air Medical industry, in which PHI has grown exponentially in the past few years across the United States.

The union has prepared itself for this worst-case scenario: the picket signs are ready, a communication network has been established and housing arrangements for outsiders have been made.

The company, which has declined repeated offers for comment, has said in a statement that contingency plans are in place and that in the end it does not believe the majority of pilots would support a strike.

But how can one of the country's leading helicopter companies, which in the past few years has seen increased profitability, and its pilots, who have one of the industry's best safety records, find themselves still at odds approaching the eleventh hour?


Pilot pay
PHI is one of the three major helicopter companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2005, on an average day there are 3,591 flights transporting workers and equipment to offshore rigs and platforms.
The union, which represents 557 PHI pilots - 336 in the oil and gas industry and 221 in the air medical sector - says PHI pilots are among the lowest paid in the industry.

Part of the union's hopes is to make their salaries and benefits comparable to those of PHI competitor Air Logistics.

However, PHI maintains it has offered a pay package that would bring it above the published pay rates of its major competitors in both the oil and gas sector and the air medical division.

"After over two years of bargaining, the OPEIU (the union) has regrettably persisted with unreasonable and irresponsible economic demands - demands that have no justifiable competitive basis," a PHI representative said in a statement.

Ragin said the company has grossly overstated the union's demands.

"They overestimate the economic impacts of our demands and while it's possible that their proposals are roughly equal to the stated pay schedules. In terms of total compensation they still aren't close," Ragin said, referring to their competitor's benefits and bonuses.

Ken Bruner, president of the Air Logistics pilot's union, said the tactics PHI are employing are similar to those Air Logistics used a couple of years ago during their union's contract renewal.

"It's the company's last big effort to try and break the union. It didn't work with us and I'm sure it won't work with PHI," Bruner said.


PHI's record of profitability
Many in the industry believe PHI management will be able to avoid a strike by the pilots. Al Gonsoulin, the CEO of PHI, is well-regarded in the industry for his business know-how.
In 2001, Gonsoulin paid roughly $32 million to Carroll Suggs, the former CEO and majority stockholder, for a 52 percent share in the company. Suggs' husband Bob founded the company.

Before buying PHI, Gonsoulin successfully founded and sold Sea Mar, an offshore marine transportation company, for more than $100 million.

Suggs said she admires Gonsoulin's business sense and thinks he will do the right thing for the shareholders.

"I love PHI. I never want to see it fail ever," Suggs said.

Even before Gonsoulin took over in September 2001, the company was undergoing change and had begun an overall rate increases. The most drastic increase in a decade occurred in May 2001, according to the company's annual report.

In February 2001, before the sale to Gonsoulin was finalized, the company slashed 161 employees, 120 of whom were terminated through a restructuring.

In December 2001, Erroll Babineaux, vice president of Acadian Ambulance's Air Medical division, which then leased five helicopters from PHI for its Air Medical Division, received a call from Gonsoulin.

Babineaux said Gonsoulin gave him an ultimatum: either pay 45 percent more for their services or find another operator. He gave them two weeks to decide.

"He left us with no choice. We could not afford to pay the 45 percent increase," Babineaux said, citing that 65 percent of the company's income came from patients on fixed incomes. Acadian Ambulance contracted with Shreveport-based Metro Aviation.

"If Metro Aviation had not come to our rescue, we would have been out of the Air Medical industry," Babineaux said.

To Babineaux, it marked a change from the old administration, described as "good corporate citizens" to one that put profit margins first.

But Gonsoulin's vision bore fruit and within a short time, the company's stock began to climb from approximately $11 a share to more than $30 where it has remained.

"He's a good businessman and a good businessman makes a profit anyway he can," Babineaux said.

Even Gonsoulin's pilots are quick to point out how his leadership has benefited the company.

"The market share of the EMS segment has been growing exponentially in PHI under the stewardship of Al Gonsoulin," said Tim Kolysko, an EMS pilot for PHI and spokesman for the EMS segment of the union. "We must recognize that Al has done a tremendous job at adding value to the company and bringing PHI back to profitability."


Industry reaction
Some in the industry say even if the pilots were to strike, other companies would pitch in to help keep traffic running to the rigs.
"It is an industry of survivors. They'll work it out .... In a crisis, they'll all work together," Suggs said.

Rodger Bagwell, CEO of RotorCraft Leasing, another helicopter company operating in the Gulf, said his company has not been called on to help but would if needed.

"We've got extra equipment and pilots available in case customers get in bind," he said.

The Air Logistics' union, however, has said it will stand in support of PHI pilots.

Mike Suldo, president of Air Logistics, is familiar with union negotiations and said he hopes both sides reach a fair resolution.

"Sometimes it makes wounds that are hard to heal," Suldo said.

[SASless]

Mike Suldo, president of Air Logistics, is familiar with union negotiations and said he hopes both sides reach a fair resolution.

"Sometimes it makes wounds that are hard to heal," Suldo said.


Tactics like recruiting a Snitch within the Union Negotiating committee and then giving the guy a management job after being caught red handed... does not go a very long way in building bridges.

It is bad enough to use underhanded means... but to rub it in by keeping the guy on-board to "supervise" the very folks he betrayed....now that takes a lot of brass in my book.

Somehow concepts like trust, honour, integrity, ethics, good common sense (or the complete lack thereof).... spring to mind when I think about tactics such as that.

How do you heal those wounds Mike?

Note: Mike Suldo was not President of Air Log when that occurred.

[TiPwEiGhT]

Can anybody tell me what Era is like to work for and also what the EC120's are used for?

Cheers, TiP:ok:

[Flingwing207]

Can anybody tell me what Era is like to work for and also what the EC120's are used for?
Cheers, TiP:ok:The EC120s are used to move 1 - 3 people and smaller tools and cargo (no external load). Some contracts will keep an EC120 offshore for days at a time (Era policy requires the ship comes in every third night for inspection). They might also be used for crew change for smaller rigs/platforms. Most times you won't go too deep, although you might go out 100 miles at times. They are definitely weight-range limited, and on high DA days, every takeoff is an instrument takeoff (eyes glued to the FLI).:eek:
From the pilot standpoint, Era is a young, busy, fairly cheerful, somewhat tactically disorganized company. If you have a desire to move up in aircraft, the next two years will be good as the huge stack of new aircraft come on-line. After that things will slow down a bit (more like PHI or Air Log). Pay is competetive, benefits are excellent, and at least for the last year or two, there has been no mandatory workover - most times there are more folks looking for workover than is available. So if you don't mind a little chaos, Era is a good place to be.

[SASless]

One of the GOM Bubba's I have bent elbows with in the past suggested I have been listening to a slanted version of the "snitch account" I posted earlier. He suggested Air Log, that Bristow company, did not seek out the fellow and did not use any ill gotten information, and opined the whole tale is one that will wind up being a GOM Myth one day.

Now we know PHI in the past sent out a letter containing a paycheck with "Zero Dollars" reminding the pilots that would be their salary if they continued towards a union thus no telling what does go on down there in the GOM during Union drives/CBA negotiations.

Now I am befuddled as to what the "real" truth is.....too many myths forming up here. At least it is a lively place to work the GOM....never a dull moment it appears.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

Anyone know the latest on the GOM ADS-B ?

[Gomer Pylot]

There is no latest. It doesn't exist. Some people have made some promises, but that's the last thing that has happened, as far as we can see. If anything further happens before my retirement, I'll be surprised.

[SASless]

Negotiations between the PHI Pilot's Union and PHI appear to have ended without an agreement. The cooling off period required by law is over. Last minute mediation attempts have failed.

PHI management has instituted pay and benefit increases consistent with their Best and Final Offer.

PHI management has filed for an Injunction in an attempt to prevent the Union Pilots from striking.

The Union has not begun striking yet....and there has been no decision announced by the Court regarding the Company's request for an injunction.

29 months of negotiation and no settlement....anyone willing to bet on the strike beginning? Who will win out if there is a strike?

[Devil 49]

Nobody wins if the pilots strike. No matter what customers have told Lafayette, the company loses in the long run- Air Log managed to avoid a pilot's strike, the others are building fleets and capability.
Talk about driving away business, sending your customers to the competition.

There's not enough money in the world to restore internal cohesiveness and morale to PHI, after a strike. Mr Gonsolin has bet all his chips on either the pilots not striking, or management breaking the union. Neither is the winner a negotiated deal is. His pilots would be entering a hot market, experiencing the first stages of a shortage. The first week out will be a lark, the next week will be tedious, and then they'll (the pilots) start wondering why they're thinking of going back- as the hurricanes season peaks? My guess is that the EMS side is in an even more vulnerable situation.

[SASless]

Devil,

Are you in essence saying the management of PHI has picked the wrong time to force the Union hand on this?

Are the economic pressures going to force PHI to cave and meet the union demands?

Hurrican season is here however no storms are headed for the GOM currently. Ernesto appears headed for Florida and then back east to the Atlantic which gave a reprieve to the GOM.

News reports indicate the Union decided to withhold action until Ernesto was no longer a threat.

Why would a gamble to break the union be worth the risk at this time. The oil companies are making obscene profits....Exxon alone has cash holdings that exceed the networth of both GM and Ford put together. The oil companies will hot hiccup at a rate increase from PHI.

If PHI raises rates....I am sure Air Log, ERA, and all the other operators would as well....which does not cause competition issues or a loss in market share as a result of higher rates. The EMS side of PHI is more at risk in that regard vice the GOM unit.

PHI is setting on a fair bit of cash as well and is making money on the GOM side which offsets the EMS losses.

Which side stands to lose the most long-term.....PHI the company or the Stiking Pilots if it comes to a sure enough strike?

How long can a regular GOM pilot hold out without that paycheck coming in?

Can PHI replace a significant number of pilots when they cannot man the aircraft they have now without resorting to mandatory workover which is one of the grievances that has been a problem in the past prior to the impending strike?

Turnover and recruiting problems existed long before the negotiations began....and surely must be a consideration PHI must weigh in their decision on how they handle this affair.

[havoc]

Spoke to several PHI EMS Pilots and the are not likely to stay if there is a dual pay scale (EMS vs GOM). Some might go back to to the GOM.

So the company will win by depleting union membership, maybe trim the EMS side by not being able to fill the seats. In the EMS market there are other providers that can fill the void if PHI closed bases.

Back pay or legal fees the company ends paying something and I bet the company would rather pay the lawyers, strenghtens their positon over the union.

Why would a gamble to break the union be worth the risk at this time. Look at the airliners, labor costs are the reason poor managers are filing bankrupcty and reaping big bonuses and the tax payers are picking up the bill on underfunded retirement plans!!

PHI is very much anti-union.

[SASless]

I know of at least one large helicopter operator that took investment holidays on their pension funds back when investments were covering things....then cried poor mouth when the big pay rises hit and they "could not fund" the pension system if the pay rises went through. All legal by that country's law too mind you.

Perhaps Nutcracker 43 could expound upon that for us.

Havoc,

Perhaps the company is thinking the union solidarity is not as strong as it might actually turn out to be. When the PHI union formed it was with only about a 70% vote thus a fair number of pilots were not supporters of the union.

Buzzes I hear out of the GOM suggest that number now approaches 90-95%. If that is true...this will get interesting in a hurry.

[Boudreaux Bob]

Article published Aug 29, 2006
PHI files strike-talk complaint
Injunction delays continued talks, union says
Jason Brown
[email protected]
Kayla Gagnet
[email protected]



PHI filed a complaint in federal court Monday seeking an injunction that could halt a possible strike, alleging that the union, which represents its 550 pilots, has been negotiating in bad faith for the past year. (Twenty nine months the negotiations have been going on isn't it?)

Union leaders said Monday that the injunction has delayed their plans, which could have ended in a strike.

The complaint follows failed negotiations last week in Washington, D.C., where both parties attended five days of "super mediation" meetings with the National Mediation Board.

On Monday, both parties were freed from a federally imposed 30-day cooling off period and returned to Lafayette without an agreement over pilot contracts, which expired May 2004.

Union President Steve Ragin described the meetings as "very contentious" and that the union made "really impressive moves" toward accepting the company's proposal with the exception of retroactive pay for pilots.

Ragin said the union feels its pilots are owed roughly $5 million in back pay.

"I can tell you that PHI is going to be spending well over that in legal fees trying to fight the union," Ragin said.

"And I don't mean that as a threat, I'm just forecasting what I expect they'll be doing as a matter of course."

Lafayette-based PHI, one of the country's leading helicopter companies in both offshore oil and gas and air medical transportation, issued a statement Monday claiming the union continued to make "unreasonable economic demands" that "were not in the overall best interests of the company or its employees, including its pilots." (Just what might that be? The back pay from May '04?)

PHI said it has now implemented "substantial economic improvements for its pilots, consistent with its final contract proposals made at the bargaining table." (Legal but sounds like a old time "take it or leave it deal on pay.)

Those include "an economic package equal to or better than PHI's primary competitors in the oil and gas and air medical services segments of the helicopter service industry."

Ragin said union officials have yet to analyze the full economic package implemented by the company.

According to court documents, PHI seeks to force the union to bargain in good faith, with the intentions of reaching an agreement and avoiding a strike.

PHI accuses union negotiators of "going through the motions" in negotiating for better pilot pay and back pay, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

The company claims the union has used delay tactics by refusing to meet for bargaining sessions or stalling the sessions and cutting short negotiating time. (After 29 months even a feuding husband and wife can settle a divorce!)

It claims that the union ended the parties' final bargaining session on June 30, "notwithstanding the fact that progress was made due to the Company's concessions and good faith attempts to reach an agreement." (Sounds like the management refused to budge on the retroactive pay issue knowing the Union would not budge on that either!)

Ragin denied all of those claims.

It sounds like to me that PHI is trying to use the court to deprive the Union of its rights under the US Labor law. The PHI decision to implement their pay scales frees the Union to resort to their self help efforts. If the company can go the self help routine, and they did first, why should the Union not be able to do so.

Sounds like the arseholes want their Kate and Edith too.:=

[Devil 49]

SASless,
I don't have any information as to PHI management plans. I don't think there is a "good time" to cause labor issues. That said, this seems to me as a spectacularly bad time for PHI to back it's pilots to the wall. Accusing them of negotitating in "bad faith" strikes me as the absolute icing on a pie in the face.

I hear that management's been unable to staff through the summer? And, there's been heavy demand on pilots to fill unstaffed seats? Me, I'd be HACKED off beyond words at that situation.
Add: 29 months of negotiating;
Record profit years for your major customers;
Increasing technical demands in GoM aviation;
Your major competitor with freshly resolved labor issues putting them in the catbird's seat;
Last years' hurricane season ratcheting up tension regards evacs (Ernesto may not be a factor, but the season peaks in September with two more active months after that);
And the EMS side newly expanded in very competive markets, and I'd say this is a very bad time to kick sand in their pilot's faces. The pilot's compensation packages isn't so strong now that they can't afford to move on, and there are slots available, especially for well-trained and seasoned pilots as are typical at PHI. Job openings are out there, so PHI's pilots won't have to "hold out". I see the question more as how many will return?
An aside- When I went from the GoM to EMS, it was a pleasant surprise... Less money (then- comparable now), home every night, and something resembling a normal "family life". Living out of a bag for a week of 14-hour, 95-degree/100% humidity days isn't hard to leave.

I haven't worked for PHI in 9 years, and I don't know who's who in Lafayette now. But if the Local's demands weren't murderous- and I can't see the guys I knew in the GoM being that stupid- Lafeyette's response verges on suicidal. No, I don't see LFT "caving in"- the industry's chafing under poilot shortages, staffing issues, etc., and some in management see no answer to that besides making the situation worse by loading the people who'll work until they drive them away. No long vision, or imagination.
I hope they'll reach a negotiated agreement, otherwise PHI will continue to contract, becoming smaller and smaller. The company was, and probably still is, the top of the line in a lot of very low key-ways.
Why would LFT want to "break the union"? It's easy to blame somebody else for your problems- the organized pilots? It makes LFT's job more difficult, especially with expanding competition? I don't know.

Yes, this is a good time to be Air Log or ERA. There's no losing position, short-term, for the competition. My opinion is that LFT's been looking in the rear-view for way too long...

The pilots win, but maybe, someplace else. Management shrugs, shrinks the fleet, and jumps ship when their pay envelopes become to skinny.

[Chopter]

PHI local 108 labor agreement dispute:

http://www.local108pilots.org/present/index_files/frame.htm

[Chopter]

Sounds like something is going to happen soon...

Source:
http://www.local108pilots.org/

Dear Local 108 Pilots,
On September 7, 2006, OPEIU President Goodwin sent you a report on the status
of negotiations in which he referred to PHI’s Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer Al A. Gonsoulin’s letter to you dated August 28, 2006. Since
those letters were sent, the company has made no effort, either directly or through
the NMB, of a desire to continue negotiations with the union.
In his letter, Mr. Gonsoulin notes that all retroactive payments will not be paid
until there is a ratified renewed agreement. How would PHI and the union reach
such an agreement without negotiations? We do know, however, that an
agreement cannot be reached by the company unilaterally implementing its own
terms on a dictatorial basis.
It is our sincere hope that job actions do not become necessary in order to reach a
ratified renewed agreement, but it appears that the company is forcing the
possibility of such actions upon the pilots by not negotiating with the union.
Please note that you have a legal right to strike or engage in other types of work
stoppages. It is illegal for PHI to fire you or threaten you with discipline for
refusing to fly as part of your participation in a legal strike or work stoppage.
Communications are imperative!
Please make certain that you check the union’s web site, your e-mail and
phone messages on a regular basis for further information.
If you have not heard from the union by e-mail or phone within the last 36 hours,
you will need to forward your e-mail address and phone number to the union
immediately at [email protected].
September 18, 2006

PLEASE PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE TO ALL PILOTS
When called upon to participate in a strike or work stoppage, please read the
following statement to any representative of the company who calls or questions
you about your actions or your work status:
“On the advice of my Union, I must inform you that I am engaging in a
legally authorized work stoppage until further notice.”
Please carry the above statement with you at all times:
If PHI questions you further, simply repeat that statement. Remain calm!

[SASless]

Chopter,

Has the PHI request for an injunction against the Union been resolved? When Air Log tried that routine it seemed to backfire on them and the Judge did not take their side as they had hoped.

As I recall Drew Milke (now ex-CEO) was ordered to appear by the Judge which was most unusual in a labor dispute.

Is PHI in the same boat...looking for pie in the sky...and fixing to get their butts burned?

[Chopter]

SASless,

I can't tell you, I work for Air Log. Local 107 said they would keep us updated by email, however I have not heard anything for almost 3 weeks....

[Chopter]

It has begun...



Dear OPEIU Local 108 Pilots,
Because PHI has not bargained in good faith with OPEIU and Local 108, we have been unable to reach a fair agreement we, as professional pilots deserve for our families and ourselves.
Because PHI will not bargain in good faith, we have no other option than to exercise our legal right to conduct a work stoppage until PHI begins bargaining in good faith and we reach a fair agreement. PHI has forced disrespectful and inadequate conditions of employment upon us and we must take action.

Therefore, effective 4:00 A.M. Central Time, today, Wednesday, September 20, 2006, all OPEIU Local 108 Pilots in the employ of PHI are hereby instructed to not report for duty at the beginning of your work shift. Please contact the picket coordinator at your Base location for further instructions and picket line assignments.

For those pilots not on hitch, please stay at home until further notice.
For those pilots on hitch, please secure your aircraft, take all personal items with you when you leave your Base; and contact your picket coordinator.

Do not return to duty until you receive official word from an OPEIU Local 108 Representative. Please continue to monitor our Local 108 Web site and Hotline for updates.
If PHI management questions you in any way, please read and repeat if necessary, the following statement:

“On the advice of myUnion, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice.”
Remember, our strength is in our solidarity. Together, we will win the fight for respect and working conditions we all deserve as professional pilots.
In unity,
Steve Ragin and the OPEIU Local 108 Executive Board.

[SASless]

"I can find all the pilots I want in the gutters of New Orleans!"

Well....we will see if that is true now.

Want to start a pool....I say 72 hours of strike and PHI pays the full Retro pay! (That includes settling...writing it up....and getting the offer to the members of the union)

[Gerhardt]

I got wind of that last night from someone whom I have a great amount of respect for. Stressful times, to be sure. Best of luck to her and her fellow pilots walking the line.

[Chopter]

In the News:
PHI pilots union set to strike today
Group has filed complaint about bad-faith bargaining
Jason Brown
[email protected]

PHI's unionized pilots are expected to begin their strike today despite the company's attempt to get a federal court injunction to prevent them, a union official said Tuesday.
On Aug. 28, PHI filed a complaint for declaratory judgment and permanent injunctive relief against the union arguing among other things that the union practiced bad-faith bargaining during its negotiations over pilot contracts.
Union President Steve Ragin said the federal judge has yet to order the injunction and that the union, which represents approximately 550 PHI pilots, is free to take self-help measures following its release from federal mediation in August.

Ragin said the public should expect some picketers at select PHI bases, as well as near the PHI headquarters on Evangeline Thruway.
"The most significant thing will be all of the helicopters that won't be flying," he said.

PHI is a helicopter transportation company that flies oil and gas workers into the Gulf for companies such as Shell, Exxon and BP. It is unclear as to exactly what kind of an impact this could have on the oil and gas sector.
Also unclear is how many union members actually will participate in the strike. Ragin said an undisclosed number of both PHI's oil and gas and EMS pilot union members resigned following the implementation of an economic benefit package offered by the company after the union's release from federal mediation.

"We have a good strong core of support. We expect to be successful, otherwise we wouldn't try this," Ragin said. "Of course, it's always an iffy sort of thing, and PHI has tried to diminish our support but we believe the majority of the pilots on both sides. Both Air Medical and oil and gas both support the union and what we're doing

[SASless]

http://phihelico.com/admin/PHI%20Union%20Negotiation%20Press%20Release%208%202%2006%20_ 2_.pdf

Seems the thought is OPIEU (meaning the Air Log Local) agreed to lesser pay and benefits than being asked for by OPIEU (meaning the PHI Local) and thus PHI (the company) is being unfairly treated by OPIEU (meaning the PHI Local).

The company suggests it will be harmed beyond repair if the Union Demand is met.

A review of the PHI SEC filings and stock history shows the company to be doing quite well.

A comparison of PHI (stock symbol PHI), Bristow/Air Log ( stock symbol BRS), and Canadian Helicopter ( stock symbol CHC) stock histories for an interesting view of how the big three are doing.

Yahoo provides a quick and easy way to do that in their financial section.

[tottigol]

History is being written in the Gulf of Mexico today. I believe this event is as important for the helicopter pilots in the USA as was Air Logistics first voting for collective representation and starting a trend.
Today we need to see whether the pilots that followed in the footsteps of their senior fellows have the capability to understand that their current pay is not just thanks to pilots demand.

Interested spectator.

[SASless]

Um,

You are entirely correct....had a brain infrarction there for a bit.

http://finance.yahoo.com/charts#chart4:symbol=phii;range=my;compare=fli+brs;indicator =split;charttype=line;crosshair=on;logscale=on;source=

[tistisnot]

It must have been a hestitant step forward but well done for standing up to demand the due reward and remuneration for such a skill level (which is continually tested, unlike most other professions), for such a commitment of finance and/or military service ($50,000 or 5 years) to achieve a qualification without which none of the oil companies could operate fully but all of which has sadly been ignored for so long - many reasons admittedly, but time for people to wake up to this injustice and stop treating you like lowlife cannonfodder.

[SASless]

http://cmsimg.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DG&Date=20060920&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=609200338&Ref=AR&Profile=1046&MaxW=600&Q=80

A reporter at the Lafayette newpaper, The Advertiser, will be doing daily updates and other updates as necessary as the situation at PHI develops.

[bondu]

To all the guys and gals in PHI,

ALL THE BEST!!

Go for it!

bondu :ok:

[SASless]

This report was good for a laugh....the old Bobby Suggs School of Helicopter Management in action....

September 20, 2006
PHI Pilots Striking

Unionized pilots at PHI went on strike Wednesday, after two-and-a-half years of negotiations failed to produce a new labor agreement.

Reports of picketing in Terrebonne Parish have been called-in to the TV 10 newsroom.

But at the Lafayette facility, flights were seen leaving and there were no signs of picketers.

PHI provides flights to the offshore industry and for medical emergencies.

One offshore worker in Houma told us that he and his co-workers are stranded until further notice.

Roger Robinson says he and others have been waiting since 4:30am. He says when he arrived, he saw PHI pilots with picket signs around their necks.

Robinson says his company is hoping to use boats to get workers to and from the rigs.

TV 10 attempted to get a comment from PHI, but was told to, 'leave the premises.'









PHI estimates 25 percent of pilots participate in strike
Jason Brown
[email protected]

PHI, the Lafayette-based helicopter company, said today it has instituted contingency plans to deal with a strike by its unionized pilots.

PHI’s pilot union has called for all of its members to cease operations today.

The union called it a “historic first nationwide strike of an organized helicopter pilot workforce” in a news release issued today.

Union President Steve Ragin said members are expected to picket later today and that he believed that approximately 90 percent of PHI’s offshore helicopters have been grounded due to the work stoppage.

The company issued a statement this afternoon saying that it is "disappointed" that the union is moving forward with the strike but it is prepared.

"As a result of these job actions, the company has implemented
its contingency plans to continue safe and normal operations to the greatest extent possible. It is not known at this time the extent to which these actions will continue," the statement said.

The union represents PHI’s 538 helicopter and 19 airplane pilots in both AirVac and offshore operations.

The company said in a statement that about 25 percent of its domestic pilots in both the air medical and offshore fields are participating in the strike.

The union is calling for pilots in both divisions to strike. Locally, PHI flies for customers such as BP, Exxon and Shell and has 66 EMS bases in 15 states.
The union has been negotiating with the company regarding pilot contracts for nearly three years, and Ragin said the strike was “necessary to break the impasse and to move negotiations forward.”

The company said that it has implemented an "industry-leading compensation package for its pilots."

The union and company were released from a 30-day cooling off period after ongoing federal mediation August 28.

[Chopter]

From Local 108:



Our strike is clearly having an impact on PHI. PHI is attempting to intimidate pilots with its "report to work or be permanently replaced" memo and statements. Our lawyers believe that PHI has violated and continues to violate the law with these statements and actions, and they are preparing a response. But you should know that PHI has no one to replace you, and they cannot lawfully just declare you to be "permanently replaced" by someone not hired. If our position is vindicated, PHI will owe you your job, back pay, back benefits and other damages. If PHI calls you, tell them "On the advice of my Union, I must inform you that I am engaging in a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice." Stand firm. Don't let the Company scare you.

Also, you are not required to call in or risk termination as directed by PHI. If contacted by PHI simply read then the following and hang-up the phone:

“On the advice of myUnion, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice.”

PHI has been duly notified of our work stoppage and cannot order you to do anything!

Our strength is in our unity!




The company is attempting to call pilots who are off duty in an attempt to man the aircraft grounded as a result of the work stoppage. You should ignore such calls from the company, and if you accidentally end up on the phone and are asked to come in, or anything else for that matter, you should recite to the company the following:

"On the advice of my union, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice"

Although it goes without saying, under no circumstances should you accept any offers or answer any questions from the company over the phone.

[GLSNightPilot]

Where the 25% figure came from is anybody's guess. Obviously they are spinning that the pilots on break aren't striking, so that takes care of better than 50% right there. It's not true, but it's something to make the customers feel better. There was no picketing in Lafayette early because there are almost no jobs flying out of there, all the pilots were in Morgan City and Houma, and it took awhile to drive to Lafayette. The picketing took place in the afternoon.

[havoc]

After a long call with a PHI friend:


The off hitch pilots had previously received letters stating that if they dont answer their phones (in event of work action) they will be released. All pilots have received similar letters, the EMS side stating the bases will be closed.

EMS west of the Mississippi has the better showing with the majority of bases shutdown. East of the big muddy, the bases are operational with at least 2 pilots. Lack of communication from the union pissed off the EMS guys and hence the low support.

$1000 bounus to show for work, double time on shift and $1000 bonus if you stay the week.

Training flight pilots had been told that in essence they can still have jobs but not in Training flight if they are in the union.

[SASless]

he off hitch pilots had previously received letters stating that if they dont answer their phones (in event of work action) they will be released. All pilots have received similar letters, the EMS side stating the bases will be closed.

Oh my....that doth sound like an illegal action by the company under the Labor Laws...unless I am horribly mistaken.


News article re strike.

Article published Sep 21, 2006
PHI pilots picket
Union members march outside headquarters
Jason Brown
[email protected]
The long-standing threat of a strike by PHI's unionized pilots became a reality Wednesday afternoon as more than 50 pilots with pickets in hand marched near the roadway of the company's Lafayette headquarters.

"Nobody wants to go on strike, nobody out here wanted to be out here on strike, not a one of us, but sometimes you get forced to stand up for what you believe in and we've been forced to do that," said union member Ed Bandy, a 16-year PHI veteran.

The helicopter company founded in 1949 serves the offshore oil and gas industry, and since 1981, has been rapidly expanding its presence in the air medical sector. The company said in a statement Wednesday it has instituted contingency plans during the strike to ensure its clients are not adversely affected.

The strike is the product of more than two and a half years of failed negotiations between the company and union regarding pilot contracts that expired in May 2004.

The major sticking point is retroactive pay, which the pilot's union argues should be paid from the time the last contract ended. The union estimates the pilots are owed about $5 million in retroactive pay.

The company has resisted that demand, but instituted pay increases for all its pilots when contract talks with the National Mediation Board in Washington failed Aug. 28.

Oil and gas industry spokesmen said the strike had not yet had a noticeable impact on their companies, although spokesmen for Shell and Conoco-Phillips, both of which use PHI to transport oil and gas workers in the Gulf of Mexico, said backup plans were being developed should the strike be prolonged.

Mike Suldo, president of Air Logistics, a PHI competitor, said it has been called on to help out and is ready to do what it can.

It is a busy time in the Gulf, and Air Logistics pilots are already working overtime.

"We don't have a whole lot of extra helicopters. None of the companies do," Suldo said.

He said he believes PHI and its pilots will settle the dispute quickly.

It is unclear exactly what impact the strike has had on PHI itself, as the company and union issued different figures for the work-stoppage Wednesday.

According to PHI, about 25 percent of the company's pilot work force participated in the action. But union president Steve Ragin said in excess of 80 percent of PHI's 538 helicopter pilots and 19 airplane pilots were on strike.

Ragin said the work stoppages occurred at bases across the Gulf coast, as well as throughout PHI's 66 EMS bases in 15 states. Along the Gulf coast, Ragin estimated that about 90 percent of PHI's helicopters were grounded because of the strike.

In the air medical industry, representatives from hospitals in Indiana, Texas, Arizona and Kentucky that contract with PHI said Wednesday they had not yet felt any impact from the strike.

Todd Harper, spokesman Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, said it has uses PHI, as well as other helicopter companies, to transport patients to its Level 1 trauma center.

"At this stage, it's really hard to say whether we've been impacted," Harper said.

But Capt. John Strickland, a 16-year PHI employee and EMS pilot out of Phoenix said he estimated half of PHI's 14 Arizona bases were out of operation because of the strike.

EMS pilots have many of the same issues as those in the petroleum industry with the addition of PHI's alleged proposal to pay EMS pilots a lower wage than those in the oil and gas sector.

"I'm confident that we have a pretty fair representation," Strickland said, speaking on behalf of PHI's EMS pilots.

To the union, it is an issue of pilot pay, vacation days, unused sick leave and mandatory overtime, which they claim has kept them from their families and personal lives.

"What you're seeing here is a total rejection of Al Gonsoulin's philosophy, his management style and his managers," Bandy said.

Gonsoulin is PHI's CEO and majority shareholder.

The company has said in the past that giving in to the union's demands would endanger the company's financial viability, as well as threaten the jobs of nonunionized employees.

Following the release of both parties from federal mediation in August, the company has implemented what it referred to in a news release as an "industry-leading compensation package for its pilots, which is above both its main competitors in both the oil and gas and air medical segments."

In the statement Wednesday, PHI said it is "extremely disappointed that the union has elected to conduct these job actions at this time."

In the meantime, the strike has affected both veteran pilots like Gerald Harding, who has worked for the company for more than 30 years and newcomers like Laurie Puckett, who has been with the company for less than a year.

"Honestly, it's a scary feeling to risk your career, but at the same time, there are things that we are fighting for and standing up for," Puckett said.

(Arnessa Garrett and Bob Moser contributed to this story.)

[Old Skool]

I think the crucial day will be tomorrow(friday), this is when the off hitch guys are due to report for work. If only a few guys and gals show up then this may be a turning point.

PHi are running a job advert elsewhere calling for 'permanent replacement pilots'

where do they think these pilots are going to come from, do they think pilots from other operators will jump ship to PHi for less money and all this stuff going on.

[Old Skool]

from local 108 to PHi

Mr. Richard Rovinelli

CAO and Director of Human Resources

PHI, Inc.

Lafayette, LA 70509



Dear Mr. Rovinelli:



I have reviewed PHI’s memo to pilots dated September 20, with the subject “Duty to Report to Work.” The statements contained in this memo are in flagrant violation of the Railway Labor Act, and are further indication that PHI acts without regard to its legal obligations.



PHI seeks to require employees to communicate to you that they are on strike, and if they do not, the pilots are discharged as “having abandoned their job.” By letter faxed to you the morning of September 20 by OPEIU, you were informed that OPEIU was on strike. You acknowledge receiving this letter in your “Union Strike Info” posted September 20 on the PHI website. This is a lawfully called strike and not an abandonment of a job, no matter how cleverly PHI tries to address the issue. The law is clear that pilots cannot be terminated for engaging in a strike. There is no requirement that an employee on strike must individually communicate this to PHI or any other employer for that matter; OPEIU is the employees’ representative on this issue. PHI is clearly engaging in a campaign of unlawful intimidation and coercion.



PHI also claims to be permanently replacing pilots on strike. Pilots can not be replaced if no one has been hired, and cannot be lawfully replaced with individuals who are already employed by PHI, such as the so-called “contract pilots” and trainers or supervisors. If replacements have been hired, I am requesting that you provide us the names of the replacements or alternatively, the number of replacements hired, the positions for which they were hired and their dates of hire.



OPEIU stands ready to vindicate the rights of the pilots unlawfully replaced and or discharged by PHI. OPEIU demands that PHI immediately begin complying with its legal obligations.



Very truly yours,

Paul Bohelski, Intn’l Rep.

http://www.local108pilots.org/docs/21%20Sep%202006%20Letter.pdf

[SASless]

Three of Fourteen Arizona based EMS aircraft are flying....

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail/PrintFriendly?contentId=947755&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&siteParams=1007&print=true&detailAction=/Home/Detail&portletLogoDisplayed=1




Perhaps PHI has (or think they have) a Federal Judge in their pocket....not that would ever occur in Louisana! Best they not pin their hopes on the Judge that sat on the Air Log case anyway.....or they may find themselves standing tall in front of him and have to explain what they are doing.

Harken back to the Air Log CBA fight.

Posts 132-135 for instance....


http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112151&highlight=Air+Log%2C+OLOG%2C+CBA

[B Sousa]

SAS, Its Louisiana. EVERYONE has a Government official in their pocket. Only to be out done by Las Vegas.

[Old Skool]

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=133355&s=143441&i=133323

just click on the link, 'part of the union'

[slgrossman]

The current work action at PHI is unprecedented in our industry in its size and scope. It’s been a vehicle for many dire predictions and much distortion of the facts. My bias in this matter ought to be obvious, but I and most of my fellow pilots believe the company has attempted to ignore, minimize, or divert attention from the real issues. Or perhaps they just never did understand them in the first place. They have consistently failed to acknowledge that this disagreement is not nearly so much about money as it is about doing the right thing. That it’s about treating their employees individually and as a group with respect and equality. You can get a sense of what the company thinks of us by the tempting offers of additional bonus money they’ve begun to dangle before us, hoping to entice those who can’t see beyond the end of their nose.

To give credit where it’s due, PHI does an awful lot of things right, and most of the time it’s a great place to work. Top-notch maintenance, a reputation for safety, comfortable living quarters, and a certain sense of camaraderie. For the past two or three years I’ve been flying for a terrific customer in a fantastic helicopter. I’ve held what I consider to be the best job in the company, bar none. There’s no one at PHI whose job I envy, be it pilot, manager, even CEO.

But there are a few things that PHI does very wrong, and that’s the foundation of this dispute. We’ve all seen fellow pilots put in a financial bind when they’ve temporarily lost their medical certificate. For almost a year many of us have been subject to unpredictable mandatory workover to the exclusion of a normal family life. For two and a half years the company has had our services at bargain rates due to the lack of an ameded contract. We have a Director of Human Resources who, due to his hatred of unions, seems to seek out opportunities to antagonize the pilots and to cultivate the adversarial relationship that has developed between himself and the staff. But the worst sin turns out to be one of omission. Unlike many other forward-looking companies, PHI seems to be perennially in the reactive mode. We don’t forecast problem areas and address them early. Instead, we almost invariably wait until they’ve become a crisis before we act.

Perhaps we pilots should just sit back and be thankful for what we do have, which is admittedly, a lot. But these issues have been holding back progress far too long. For years our industry has been handicapped by a second-class citizen mentality which was capitalized on and fostered by our employers under the guise of economics. It still pervades the industry and has reduced the status of much of commercial helicopter aviation (in this country, at least) to the equivalent of driving a truck.

But PHI’s management still thinks it’s just about money, and Al Gonsoulin is a stubborn man who’s used to getting his way. I’m afraid this may be a lot longer fight than many expect. I’m afraid of what will be left of the company and of the generally amicable working relationship that has existed up to now between our pilots and management. I’m worried that it may sour some realtionships with our customers. But this work action is the catalyst for needed change in our industry. Understand that we’re not doing this out of any altruism, that it’s first and foremost for ourselves. But assuming we’re successful, it will benefit the entire industry in the long run.

-Stan-

[bondu]

Stan,

You have summed up the attitude of managements throughout the whole helicopter industry worldwide!

And done so most eloquently!

Well said!

bondu :ok:

[SirVivr]

My first visit to the GOM was in 1978. First civilain employment. After a few months of 206 flying 110 miles out, no offshore fuel, limited flight following, etc, I had a few beers with the then Chief Pilot.

One of my questions was: T******, it seems to me that all the companies in the Gulf go out of their way to aggrravate the pilots. Reply: Consider that all pilots have big egos and if they get mad at one company they will quit. The result is that all the companies then get experienced pilots at beginning wages.

Perhaps the management people believed and still believe that?

Our value to the company, and customers, along with our egos, steadily rise.

"When the going gets tough, the tough turn weird. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".

This "pro" supports our PHI brethern. Keep at it chaps. We will overcome. Disliked it when others chanted the same, but now it's our turn.

Chas A

[GLSNightPilot]

Air Log, Era, and Jerry's Kids (aka Rotorcraft Leasing) are all operating at capacity, and have no spare equipment or pilots to even start taking over PHI's work. PHI asked Air Log for help, and was basically told "tough s**t, we have no spare equipment". The suggestion that they use PHI aircraft was laughed at. This won't be settled overnight, but PHI has only two choices - settle, or go out of business. The longer it goes on, the more money they lose, and they're losing a lot right now. Between BP, Shell, and Exxon, I suspect it's well over US$1 million/day, probably more. The economic package that would supposedly bankrupt the company was less than $5 million.

[SASless]

Let me figure this out.

PHI suggested to Air Log that Air Log Union pilots be assigned PHI aircraft to fly PHI customers from PHI facilities while PHI Union pilots are on strike?

Air Log has a very strong and cohesive union membership to the tune of about 90% membership or more. Workover at Air Log is not mandatory as at PHI. Air Log runs about 40 pilots shy of meeting their own daily requirements.

UH....This just plain ain't gonna happen GI!:ugh:

ERA wond the MMS contract and has had extreme troubles meeting the work load due to shortage of aircraft, pilots, and support personnel. They are still in turmoil with the merger of Tex Air and ERA flight operations with some notably unhappy folks. I just do not see a lot of help coming from them to bail out PHI.

The other small outfits are going gang busters themselves. Evergreen is having trouble with their startup SAR operation in the Persian Gulf....fire season is winding down a bit so they are still pretty short of pilots as always.

Even with offers of 650 USD per day....contract pilots are all but impossible to recruit and retain particularly after some bad experiences with pilots new to the Gulf of Mexico.

I am beginning to believe the PHI Brass made an assumption that the union would not be able to organize an effective strike due to the low ratio of Union Pilots to non-Union pilots and hoped any work action would be very short lived.

From the background chatter I am hearing from dem little birdies is the boys and girls are prepared to stay away as long as it takes. One of the very things that made the strike happen actually funded the pilots individual war chests. The company running short of pilots generated the need for excessive mandatory workover demands which resulted in the receipt of lots of money from overtime pay. Unfortunately for the management, the pay did not compensate the folks for their time away from home and family. That was aggravated by too many cases of no notice given until the day pilots were due to start their time off.

Compound that by vacations being cancelled but having a "Use it or Lose it" policy on vacation and sickleave just rubbed salt into that sore.

Me thinks this was a poorly thought out effort to rid PHI of the Union which is going to fail.

The tragic part of this is the cost to the entire staff of employees and the company this event will cause. All of it could have been avoided if the management had faced reality and bargained in ernest with the Union.

If it is as stated.....the only hangup being the Retroactive Pay....$5,000,000 ...then this whole thing is FFS! (Flat Frigging Stupid):ugh:

Perhaps Mike Suldo will tell us whether the PHI folks actually asked Air Log for help. That would be a very telling commentary on the mindset of the CEO of PHI if he did in fact really ask for Air Log to send pilots/aircraft to help.

[Old Skool]

Thank you CHC Helikopter Service

http://www.local108pilots.org/docs/support-060921-L108.pdf

[Gerhardt]

Hats off to them for their generosity.

[SASless]

By PATRICK COURREGES
Acadiana bureau
Published: Sep 22, 2006


LAFAYETTE — Union pilots with the PHI helicopter transportation company continued their strike for a second day Thursday, calling for retroactive pay from increases pilots say they should have received during nearly three years of contract negotiations.

Jack Bower, secretary for Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 108, said Thursday that among the issues that led to the strike is that, during the recent 2 1/2-year negotiation period between the union and the company, pilots did not receive regular pay increases, such as cost of living.

He said that union pilots want that retroactive pay, as well as agreement on sick leave accruals the company wants to pull back and on requiring all pilots in the company, union or not, to pay union agency fees.

Bower said that the union is required to represent all pilots whether union or non-union, so should be paid to cover expenses.

A PHI official, who did not identify herself, said the company’s news release on the subject matter, sent out Wednesday, still stands and would be the only information released Thursday.

According to the release, about 25 percent of the pilot work force is participating in the action and the company has implemented contingency plans to continue normal operations as much as possible.

The release says that PHI has offered the pilots an industry-leading compensation package, and management is disappointed that the union has elected to go through with a work stoppage.

A company statement released in August, noted that PHI management believes that the union has “regrettably persisted with unreasonable and irresponsible economic demands” for the past two years of bargaining.

Bower said the 25 percent figure given by PHI is probably low, but that because of the shift schedules within the company, the true number will probably not fully be known until today when the three-day shift rotation is scheduled to change.

He said that no more than half the pilots are on duty at a given time, and if 25 percent of the total force did not show up for work, that could mean about 50 percent of the pilot work force might be expected to be participating in the strike.

Bower said he has heard that the stoppage has caused the company problems in meeting its contract obligations with one large customer, BP, and several smaller ones.

He said that pilots think the company is holding fast to its stance in hope of breaking the union by forcing them to choose between holding out and crossing the picket lines.

Bower said many pilots have already crossed back, and his own wife was frightened by a letter sent by PHI stating that he would be “permanently replaced.”

He said “permanently replaced” is not the same as fired, but the company wants to scare pilots who believe they cannot get their jobs back if they do not abandon the strike.

Story originally published in The Advocate

[Chopter]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060922/20060922005379.html?.v=1

LAFAYETTE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2006--PHI, Inc. ("PHI") (Nasdaq:PHII - News; Nasdaq:PHIIK - News) reported today that the Office & Professional Employees International Union ("OPEIU"), the Union representing PHI's domestic pilots, has made numerous false public statements regarding PHI's flight activity. Contrary to the Union's claims, during the period of the strike, the Company's Gulf of Mexico Oil & Gas operations have completed approximately 80% of its normal flight volumes, and its Air Medical segment is operating at about 90% of the volume prior to the union job actions. PHI continues to provide the highest standard of flight safety and service to its customers. According to public statements by PHI's primary customers, the impact to their operations has been minimal.

[havoc]

AZ EMS pilots are being called, individually and offered more money, a Tuscon Pilot was offered $2000 to report to work, he declined.

[SASless]

Now Bubba, when a helicopter pilot turns down two weeks wages in a show-up bonus.....that is something to etch in stone! Perhaps AL Gee listened to the wrong mystic!

Air Log guys are not being worked to death....seems some still are watching TV instead of flying today. That is the luxury of being on an exclusive use contract I guess....or is it the oil companies don't really work as "friendly" competitors?

Mixed reports are coming out about the impact the strike is having on PHI's operations.

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of how many aircraft were flying today and how many were grounded as a result of the strike?

Has anyone accepted a job offer with PHI as a result of the "Permanent Replacement Pilot" advertisements?

[SASless]

Reports of a full court press by PHI HR recruiters have surfaced and all indications show that even the old Bob Suggs concept of looking in the gutters of New Orleans has paid dividends.

Photographic evidence of short notice departures by new recruits......

http://www.homeless.org.au/images/squat-nam.jpg

[Drooping Turns]

Lest anyone doubt that there is a shortage of experienced pilots in the GOM, none other than Del Smith, owner of Evergreen Helicopters International, has authorized first, time and a half for overtime and then a 20% pay raise in two consecutive months. What's next? Contract pilots?

[crop duster]

SASless, I promise, when I saw the picture and read the reply, I knew it had to be you before I saw who posted it. Scary.

barryb

[gwelo shamwari]

Not sure if this is true, but through the grapevine I heard that 2 of the GOM operators have recently increased their requirements to 2500hrs in the light that may of the striking PHI pilot are now applying with them.

With PHI only have low requirements to fill seats lost due to the strike, this leaves many in a very uncomfortable situation. That to get a start in the offshore industry they have to cross a union line. :ugh: Not something that I for one would do. :=

Is there anyone out there working for the big GOM operators that can confirm this?

PS. If you want to bash the union or phi please use another thread

[Land of LA]

Why don't you call Airlog, ERA, RLC, etc. and ask them what their minimums are? Check this out......
http://brian.hudson.home.mchsi.com/helopay/index.htm