Bristows making redundancies in UK very soon?

[helimutt]

I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me if there's any truth in this rumour?

It would appear that the offshore helicopter companies in the UK may be about to undergo certain changes, and after all of the improvements in terms and conditions over the last few years, that will all be lost and a return to worse T's & C's will become the norm.

:sad:

[detgnome]

Although not directly related to the original post, I have just been chatting to a friend who works in the Ninian field and he tells me they are about to cut their flights from 18 a week to 11.

[serf]

BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Jobs to go at helicopter company (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7959864.stm)

[gwelo shamwari]

Heard this might happen from a trusted source a month or so ago and now seems to be happening... I heard that mainly the UK and International (West Africa!!) will be targeted but not sure about the Gulf of Mexico. The GOMEX as quite a few spare pilots but has just stopped hiring.

Hoping that pilots will not be affected by cuts.

Bristow (http://ir.bristowgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=91226&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1268699&highlight=)

[malabo]

West Africa? With Aero Contractors cratering, Caverton down to maybe one helicopter, Evergreen spinning its wheels, Bristow was the last pillar of respectable operations in Nigeria and was taking all the significant volume of work there. I would have thought that all the North Sea furloughed pilots would finally be sampling a warm work assignment, and fleshing out their repertoire of tales to impress barmaids and copilots.

[SASless]

Malabo,

It used to be the upwardly mobile young co-joes coming for their "command" time or the old farts that had need for a place to hide that staffed Bristow Nigeria with British Pilots.

You reckon hard times might lever some of Aberdeen's Finest off their roost up there and force them to seek warmer climes in search of a pay cheque?

Oh....won't they be in for a very rude shock!

[J LeDeels]

According to the Memorandum sent to Bristow from Richard Burman the reductions have already been made in Nigeria and the next area where the axe will fall will be UK and Norway unless more contracts are won. It certainly looks as if the hard times are coming - again :{

[GKaplan]

From BALPA website:

PILOTS CALL FOR ACTION ON NORTH SEA JOB LOSSES

Commenting on the announcement from Bristow Helicopters, the largest operator in the North Sea, that they are being forced to make up to 30 of their helicopter pilots redundant, Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of BALPA (British Airline Pilots' Association) said:

'Talks between BALPA and the company start on Friday.

'The news comes as a disappointment, but BALPA has developed an approach to tackling the impact of the economic downturn that has 4 key stages:

1. pressure testing the employers financial claims that cuts have to be made

2. looking at alternatives to compulsory redundancy such as early retirement packages and offers of part time working

3. ensuring that if compulsory redundancies are necessary they are dealt with by the industry-standard method of
Last In- First Out and

4. supporting individual members through the trauma of compulsory redundancy.

'BALPA's approach is to avoid having to proceed to stage 3, and will be working hard to achieve that. Our relationship with Bristow has been good in the good times, and these difficult times will test its resilience. The signs to date are encouraging.'

Standing back from this specific announcement Jim McAuslan said "the announcement raises broader concerns about the supply chain in the North Sea. It would appear to BALPA that the Oil and Gas companies continue to make huge profits and yet are remorselessly squeezing businesses all the way down the supply chain.

'There is a real danger that this approach could squeeze many businesses out of existence or force businesses into cutting corners. This boom and bust approach should be a concern to everyone who cares about a sustainable and safe industry in the North Sea.

'Politicians should take special note if Scotland is to retain the strategic wherewithal to tap its natural resources'

[outhouse]

Sorry 3D, If I delete the comment will it affect your quote?
O

[3D CAM]

O
Not at all, I will remove my post. Confused that's all! Not too hard with me admitted.:)
3D

[bondu]

The press release on the BALPA website has been removed, as the numbers quoted where inaccurate. The rest of the release, however, was accurate in its 'attack' on the oil companies.

The total cost of helicopter operations for one year on the North Sea is probably less than 5% of the oil companies total transport bill, which in turn is no more than 5% of the oil companies out goings. Basically, they pay peanuts, small change. Our total costs are probably less than the profit generated during one day's trading of oil company shares on the stock market. :ugh:

bondu

[outhouse]

Not a problem 3D, a badly worded post by me. I remember well getting my redundancy, I was lucky and the new fresh start in pastures new gave me a chance to add to the skill base and tackle new challenges. The move away from ABX and UK was great for the family.
I only mentioned the 139 because I know that it’s a machine that is popular and that vacancies do exist just now in some parts of the world, not really relevant on this Bristow thread though. 1999 was my year.
O
:ok:

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

I got made redundant in 1991 (BIH Maxwell era). It was ****!!!

[you want what??]

i hear that double bogey!!! i was a '99 redundee!!!!

[quichemech]

I was made redundant in 92, you're right it really is the pits, hence why I no longer work in the offshore sector, too many hatchet men running the companies now, hire, fire, hire, fire. At least there is some work still about for us engineering types who are prepared to move away from Scotland.

[Ludolf]

Damn I'm glad I left offshore driving a couple of years ago. Sad to hear about the redundancies and for the colleagues being affected by it.

[terminus mos]

At a Bristow internal meeting with staff it was said that the company wanted to cut $75m overhead out of the business.

They should take a longer term view, right now it's quarter to quarter cash consideration only. They ignore how much it costs to retrain etc.

[Seymour Belvoir]

Hecate - any more details of today's redundancy plan?

[bigglesbutler]

cut $75m That's globally in the group from what I have been told, each business unit will be responsible for a proportion of that.

Si

[terminus mos]

That's what I understand as well Biggles. Has Bristow lost any work in Australia due to the downturn?

[AlfonsoBonzo]

There have been no redundancies announced by Bristows. Not yet at least

[bigglesbutler]

In all honesty I don't know what the state of contracts is, I know the local management are trying to come up with a plan to weather the downturn but no specifics yet.

Si

[Hompy]

Here's a cost saving idea..... Stop buying airlines!

[Abdulbandul]

Any more news about the impending North Sea job cuts?

Slump in oil prices, oil companies introducing equal time on equal off?

Bristow to make an announcement next week...

[FalkoB]

@Abdulbandul


If you are an bristow employee, you will be notified soon enough.
If your not, it's non of your business.

[mark one eyeball]

Bristows made me redundant in 1983 along with 71 others
Then I started the transition to fixed wing and never looked back

Anyone young enougn should do the same thing
Plenty of jobs in se asia and good looking girls too

Take the plunge!

[helimutt]

Bit harsh there Falko, sometimes redundancies in one of the larger operators can have a knock on effect to others and does/will affect others, so I feel its a valid question to ask.

Maybe Abdul is an employer looking for qualified soon-to-be ex Bristow pilots to man a contract and is hoping for redundancies to happen? Who knows? Maybe he's your next CP, or not. :E

[Sir Niall Dementia]

A lot of C.Vs are flying out of the Bristow crew rooms at the moment, with some very good experience attached.


SND

[Rigging Pin]

As most probably know; A severence package has been produced.

Anyone more insight on these rumours and willing to share;
Bristow ABZ looses chevron to NHV?
EBU will need to loose a fair number of AC and sure enough if airframes go, pilot numbers/ engineering numbers will reduce... any numbers out and about?

:( Anyone? :hmm:

RP

[Ground flight]

Meeting tomorrow ??!!:sad::sad: Good luck guys

[Abdulbandul]

well that went well...!

[EESDL]

Bugger?
That pushes me further down the pecking order - atleast the ABZ girls n guys have ratings from this century ;-)
To be honest - I would jump at redundancy and look to change jobs - Iran has stacks of cheap oil to sell and flying offshore is going to become a lowly-paid job due to pilots' mentality for self-harming T&Cs
Good luck

[lowfat]

https://www.energyvoice.com/opinion/82594/opinion-bristow-redundancies-a-good-pointer-to-the-future-of-the-ukcs/

Bristow helicopter jobs at risk - BBC News (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-33549158)

[Abdulbandul]

Here we go again it would seem..

[Abdulbandul]

@Abdulbandul


If you are an bristow employee, you will be notified soon enough.
If your not, it's non of your business.

You're. None.

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Having taken the voluntary package in 2015 (I bit their arm off, it was almost too good to be true), I would be surprised if more people aren't let go.

Since the oil price slide things appear to have gone from bad to worse; yet another restructure exercise but hardly any shrinkage at corporate level, just some new faces with different titles. Loss of major long standing contracts in Aberdeen, Nigeria and Australia along with a seemingly entrenched belief that the O & G sector will get better somehow (ostrich mentality ?) plus a serious decline in share value have put them not too far away from Chapter 11 territory.

Very sad. They (or rather a couple of very loyal managers) took good care of me when I needed them.

NEO

[nbl]

Here we go again it would seem..


And what exactly is going again?

[lowfat]

job loses obviously.. its a bristow job loss thread.

[fadecdegraded]

Bristows made me redundant in 1983 along with 71 others
Then I started the transition to fixed wing and never looked back

Anyone young enougn should do the same thing
Plenty of jobs in se asia and good looking girls too

Take the plunge!

How old were you when you made the switch from RW to FW

[SAR driver]

How old were you when you made the switch from RW to FW
A fair question. I'd be interested to know as well. I'm in my late 30's and sometimes think about it

[MINself]

A fair question. I'd be interested to know as well. I'm in my late 30's and sometimes think about it

Early 40s...

[WillyPete]

Even corporate FO jobs are hard to come by, nationals or even ASEANs always getting first dips...operational and training experience don't count, even knowing full well that this is something the locals don't care for much (eg the passion for aviation...being willing to progress into training roles...)

Not sure if this is restricted only to nationals, but it's the first time in a long time I've seen an airline offering ab initio places.
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/gb/careers/cadet-pilots-career/

[helicrazi]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-41279162

[Apate]

Bristow Helicopters has confirmed that the company is seeking to make 12 redundancies among pilots at its Shetland and Norwich bases, which are serving the oil and gas industry.

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/152684/bristow-pilot-cuts-another-terrible-blow-claims-union/?_ga=2.252681161.1710105938.1507662344-609275066.1494507576

[gulliBell]

....perhaps a good opportunity for any Bristow pilot seeking voluntary redundancy.

[Same again]

Bristow have a number of contractor pilots at Norwich so there should not be any need for full-time 'redundancies' there.

[TTFD]

They are moving the AW189 to ABZ so it's either move to ABZ or P45

Not true. The AW189 is remaining in Norwich as well as Aberdeen. It's just a reduction in work in Norwich for the type, hence not so many crew required.

Bristow have a number of contractor pilots at Norwich so there should not be any need for full-time 'redundancies' there.

You would like to think that those at risk on the 189 would be moved across to the 139 fleet which has contract pilots, but not the case which is very sad for them.

[Krautwald]

What is your opinion, is this development the manifestation of a whole new era with a permanently very reduced RW market, or "just" a long term dip in the industry which will eventually recover, as seen before in earlier decades? If it ever picks up again after a time where nobody trains RW, may low timers even have an easy shot for Offshore?

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

What is your opinion, is this development the manifestation of a whole new era with a permanently very reduced RW market, or "just" a long term dip in the industry which will eventually recover, as seen before in earlier decades?

If it's a dip it's the longest in O & G history. The global market started to dip in 2014 IIRC. Fracking has had a huge effect, the oil sand industry is thriving; hate to seem pessimistic but personally I don't think it'll ever recover to pre 2014 or the halcyon days of the 90s.

Just my two penneth.

NEO

[helimutt]

I can't see a return to previous levels in the offshore UK sector. The other thing I find sad is that the companies would rather pay contractors on a particular type, than have a dedicated workforce. These companies no longer become employers, just a basic agency with a far too top-heavy management structure. As said above, anyone thinking of a flying career in helicopters would probably be better off investing in fixed wing where the market is great for pilots right now.

[drugsdontwork]

We tend to forget when we live in a given age that industries come and industries go, relatively quickly. Coal is a good example in the recent energy industry. The rise of inland extraction makes offshore expensive. You only have to look at advances in windfarm technologies and the fact that car companies are now all moving to electric to realise that big changes are in hand. Drone technology advances don’t help the rotary industry from a pilots viewpoint and self driving cars aren’t that far away along with vastly reduced car ownership. I’m not suggesting it’s all over but I think it’s certainly a new norm rather than a dip.

[EESDL]

Good riddance to it I say.
Anyone who has seen the utter contempt your client holds you in will understand.
Very appreciative of your excellent service and general 'can-do' attitude right up to the point they need to cut costs further to pay shareholders, irrespective of how much has been wasted in other areas....
Aye, you can keep it.