Where to now for Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd?

[pilotguyguru]

I see in local newspapers and a couple professional forums that Australian Helicopters, the incumbent Coastwatch helicopter contractors, have lost a bid for a second Coastwatch contract based out of Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Noting the self-perpetuated, chronic staffing issues that have plagued this medium sized company for a couple years now (several posts on PPRUNE will confirm the rubbish these pilots have endured from management) I am wondering what people think about Helicopters Australia winning the contract? What are the management of Australian Helicopters now thinking aboutlising such a lucrative contract which is right in their neck of the woods in terms of operations?

Is this a case of the Federal Government of Australia taking note of the way this company has managed its current Coastwatch contract and as such have decided to issue a new contract to a different tenderer in the hope that things might run smoother in the future. Afterall, it must be limiting to run a 24x7 Coastwatch helicopter service with no more than 2 qualified and experienced B412 captains, going off what other posts would suggest. Does this now mean that unless things change long-term, the growth prospects for Australian Helicopters, post the expiration of the current contract on Horn Island, are somewhat limited?

Over to fellow aviators for their thoughts on what ramifications this will have on both these companies, namely Australian Helicopters...

[benq]

Interesting!!!!

Reef/AH just got to big for their boots. The dog wags the tail not the other way round

[pilotguyguru]

So...BenQ...was it a case of the company getting too big too quickly or growing at a good rate, minus the right people at the top to do the growing. Surely some upper management there must be kicking themselves that someone else got a contract in which they specialise in. Certainly many questions beg after Australian Helicopters were earlier awarded a long-term contract for Horn Island and the Torres Straits...interesting.

[Rocket Fuel]

It amazes me incredibly that a company can turn a blind eye to its key resources for so long; helicopters, pilots and engineers. And continue to operate?

It pains me with the neglect throughout the company the pilots get with pay and conditions. Admittedly an EBA is underway to improve this but is it all too little too late??? The only way it has been pushed through is by a mass exit if pay wasn't increased. Currently they are being paid less by 30% compared to other operators? Who in there right mind would sign on with a company operating like this? The results have been evident in the amount of staff they turn over, to the point the Horn Island contract roster could not be filled??? Surely this has something to do with Helicopters Australia winning the Gove Customs contract.

The engineers are in the same boat i have heard that the Horn Island SBE, Adelaide SBE and Gladstone/Mackay SBE have all resigned in the last month. We think we have it tough, but they are in the same boat; overworked and understaffed. No wonder they are leaving; the HI base has three touring engineers for 4 aircraft operating 24/7, Adelaide has 2 for 4 aircraft 3 operating 24/7, 1 engineer back to back for 3 aircraft in Mackay and 1 engineer plus an apprentice for 4 aircraft in Gladstone. Ow lets not mention heavy maintenance because there isn't any untill the aircraft are falling apart....I've heard the 206L at Redcliff (from HI) has just about wrote itself off with repairs required.

Where does this leave the company? No pilots to fly broken Helli's.. Times have to change!

[gulliBell]

They will always be able to find pilots, even some that are prepared to work for free. Same recruiting method as always, just need to shake the tree a bit harder and they'll fall out. But the Engineer tree is almost barren of fruit, and that is problematic. Especially I&E Engineers which are essential to be on hand to keep an IFR helicopter going.

[sling]

Why is it that AH is doing so badly on the pay front?? Is it because they are underbidding on contracts, against the might of CHC etc...
Obviously the lack of engineering talent coming through is a huge issue for the industry in general, not just AH.. When the supply get's short the price goes up with demand and then the supply will re-engage once they see a whorthwhile dollar.

BTW, how many contract do AH have in Oz? Can't be that big a market can it?

[rivnut]

hey.....I heard today from reliable sources that Boeing has awarded AH to provide SAR and loadmaster training at the Army Aviation Base at Oakey. Any truth in this? If AH is as bad as it is made out to be then how can they get such a lucrative contract from a very high-end reputable company such as Boeing??

[Turkeyslapper]

Yeh I also heard that AH are in with Boeing to supply aircraft and crews for the SAR and loadmaster training contract at Oakey.

Be interesting to compare pay checks....AH 412 SAR Captain...Sweet FA...Boeing instructor on Jetrangers flying circuits...100K+

Interesting conversations at lunch time I am sure! :ugh:

[benq]

"One of the worst incidents I heard about from a bloke working there was when the CEO's wife went to Horn Island as a consultant on a couple thousand dollars a day to talk about performance management for the staff."

hey jack of all trades

Was this the famous TUCK SHOP CO-ORDINATOR incident??????
Also heard that a few pilots got down degraded from 412 to jet ranger, for getting to p-ssed at the company xmas party, also by the same CEO. Is this right too?
If so, could you fill us in on at that was about!!!

cheers

[noexcessivecranking]

Strong stuff. Good to see that libel and personal attacks are still okay here. :rolleyes:

Do any of you actually work at AH, or is it that you applied but got knocked back, or that the company you work for missed out on a contract they got?

Can you think of any other Australian-owned company who would have been able at the time to go head to head with a huge foreign-owned company and win a big contract like the Adelaide one, and others?

Do you have any idea why the Gove contract went to Helicopters Australia? I don't, I've got nothing to do with either company, but do YOU know? Are YOU close enough to either company to have intimate knowledge of the contract negotiations? I've worked in government-related contracting long enough to know that a company missing out on one or two contracts they've bid for means absolutely nothing to their ability to maintain their existing contracts or continue to bid for further business. You win some, you lose some.

Have you given consideration to the idea that HA may have been taken more seriously because of the groundwork that AH did in proving that Australian-owned companies CAN mix it with the likes of CHC and Bristow?

What's the point in attacking them? What's the point in personally identifying and insulting people? Post anonymously if you like (hey, I am!), but I feel it's terribly dishonourable to identify and speak rudely of someone when you're not man enough to identify yourself.

I know enough about the company to know that the current problems are probably nothing whatsoever to do with the person you've mentioned, who I believe hasn't been "in charge" for several years. I don't even know who is at the top these days, but regardless who is, come on guys ... let's try to keep things RELATIVELY civil. :oh: :ok:

[chopmoo]

I was employed in Gladstone a few years ago when it was Marine (as a engineer)
One of the best places I have worked , great bunch of people ,good gear ,pay was market rate
We did work hard and got the job done every time .
It is so sad to hear that the company has turned around

[noexcessivecranking]

Not even close. I don't have any mates working there, so you've clearly got a better handle on the current situation than I do. My main objection was to personally identifying and attacking an individual in a public forum. Like I said, I don't even know who's in charge, I just happen to know who isn't.

[Enzo...TMBPITC]

I used to work with Australian Helicopters as an aircrewman not less then a year ago and its certainly changed a lot in that time since I left. Its sad to hear so many of the great guys I used to work with have since left and moved on to different opportunities elsewhere. Sure people come and go, but such a large number of people have left in such a short period of time...sad stuff really.

Sadly, another guy is leaving in the not too distance future which is a real shame for all concerned, especially the local haunt of amateur beach volleyballers. Its also not great to see a local company with so much promise, which also has good growth prospects for the future continuing to experience such harsh growing pains.

[benq]

enzo,
come on dry ya eyes princess, it doent get an harder than this......"this was a famous saying by a kelpie at reef many moons ago"

They have the recruitment thing happening again,,,
Guess what, another 412 captain resigned the other day going to Gove,,that leaves one captain to do 2 on 2 off and 24/7 duty
how does that work?

Good luck Guys

[Enzo...TMBPITC]

Cheers BenQ...but seriously, these days my eyes only water when the XXXX gold cans run dry in the fridge over at the orphans bar....or when half my clothes get flogged from the clothes line!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :*

[Skitso]

Hey Enzo..that clothes thingo is a load of bumpkin.....girlfriend I heard your too scared to go and collect them from where you left them.....:D And Benq the company pilots votes on its new EBA very soon...Dont be suprised if a few drivers might like to work there especially the single engine guys...pretty good offer for only 24 weeks work a year.:ok: The guy who's left is gunna fit in well with that job and no doubt he will enjoy it to the same degree...All the best bomber, not many of the old guard there now...

[Enzo...TMBPITC]

Hey Skitso...I'm pretty busy this week, but lemme know when you are free and I will come around and grab those clothes ok?...thought I left them somewhere closeby...:\

And any sign of my missing washing powder...still missing half a kilo of washing powder from under the house.

[benq]

Enzo

You didnt leave your clothes at Jeanas pl;ace again.....
and skitso, so its bomber going bush in the territorry...

skitso whats the GEE OO on the your the pilots/ we're the company, so cop it up the date, EBA....
And wats Clackers up too?

Stock the fridge skitso

[rotorwing]

What can I say!!

You guys up there have got some serious issues!
All the best to the guys(and girls) who are both staying and going and to those who are still wondering WHY?!!!
Why is Clackers still there??
Word of warning Skitso.............Careful!! Softly, softly.
Enzo..........Your input is magnanimus if not futile and lacking any realism and meaning. Good to see you on the forum though and wait till you have something of substince too add next time(with some truth).
Al the best
rotor

[Enzo...TMBPITC]

Hey rotor,

Not too sure who you are and I mean no disrespect at all, however I am not going to get onboard this forum or any other one for that matter and start ripping into people or companies whether they deserve it or not.

There are loads of problems with AH that both the staff and those external to the company are aware of, but I will leave the usual broadsides come from others on this forum.

Sure I could get going with a lot of 'stuff'...true, meaningless or otherwise...about AH and other companies I have worked for. However, I'd rather just shut my mouth, keep my nose clean and get on with the job of flying and having fun and leave what happened in each company with that company. And a bit of fun with old skitso never goes astray.

Anyway, been a few longs days flying so I am off for a brew and kip. Also heard that AH lost another 412 driver today so I guess that leave 1 poor old bloke left.

Cheers,

Enz

[gulliBell]

I'd rather just shut my mouth, keep my nose clean and get on with the job of flying and having fun and leave what happened in each company with that company

Admirable sentiments, too bad it doesn't work the other way as well. Many employer's are only too keen to shaft their former staff amongst other employers, rather than leave what happened in each company with that company.

[eagle 86]

Rotorwing - the words are magnanimous/substance!!
GAGS
E86

[rotorwing]

Thanks for the spell check eagle. Appreciate it. We all need a check now and then!!
Enzo, now working in a company where I enjoy the flying a great deal, always have kept my nose clean, but still can;t close the mouth on issues such as looking after staff and general aviation safety overall.
Would love to catch up for a beer and discuss but by the sounds of the thread there ain't no XXXx Gold left in the resupply up there!!
Perhaps it will have to be harbourside, Northsville some day.
All the best and keep flyin safe and above all keep your nose clean Bravo India Tango Charlie Hotel!!
Cheers
Rotor
.

[Enzo...TMBPITC]

Howdy rotorwing,

I see your point and as far as the XXXX beer supply goes, its not too bad...but with some notice I am sure we can get some more put on ice for a thirsty lad, tired from all the good flying he is doing :) or harbourside will be just as nice whenever I can manage to get down there. By the way, if you like that Tooheys Gold, I hear there is plenty of it going cheap...last I saw they couldn't give the stuff away, even with fake VB and XXXX labeling on the outside of the can :yuk:

Flying-wise, always keeping it 'in the green' and trying to stay clean.

Regards,

Enz (aka the carbonara king)

[Skitso]

Hey Enzo, "the cabonara king" mate it seems you love tasting things with a creamy sauce...:D How did ya go with ya clothes and washin powder?
Benq... you mentioned what was clackers up too? Well I can only say the last time I saw him he was orchestrating a culinary masterpiece at sugar world...basically bbq'n frozen snags with onions :ok:
And Rotor Wing why is clackers still there? I might have to leave that one up to you too follow up. He's up on the Island 15 days of the month and the numbers in the phone book?...give him a buzz and get it first hand pal.
Though I must say AH getting worse???? that statement is as bad as drinking a flat beer with a dead cigarette in it.
The EBA is through and its a goodie to the majority hopefully its a sign for better things to come...