View Full Version : Babcock considers ditching Helicopters
minigundiplomat
20th Jul 2018, 01:29
Tucked away in the Times business section this morning, was an article on Babcock, in which Archie Bethell hints at selling off the Helicopter Operations in the North Sea.
Not sure how you'd unpick that from the rest of their operations globally?
Ascend Charlie
20th Jul 2018, 02:54
They are advertising for B412 pilots in Oz
gulliBell
20th Jul 2018, 10:44
That's right. And pretty low requirements, only 2000 hours total time etc required. But the NVIS is a tough tick in the box to get.
9Aplus
20th Jul 2018, 12:21
Not sure how you'd unpick that from the rest of their operations globally?
For the rest of WWW they are doing just fine.... in case you like to hear, good joke.
That's right. And pretty low requirements, only 2000 hours total time etc required. But the NVIS is a tough tick in the box to get.
NVIS very easy to get , if you want to pay for it ......
The Hard bit >
Australia Border Force Baseline Security Clearance
gulliBell
21st Jul 2018, 01:32
NVIS very easy to get , if you want to pay for it .....
I made enquiries about doing the NVIS in an AW139 but CASA hasn't approved the course yet, even though somebody else will pay for me to do it. I'm told, approval expected in early 2019. For me the security clearance is the easy bit.
Mustapha Cuppa
21st Jul 2018, 07:18
Interesting choice of thread title
dingo9
21st Jul 2018, 12:31
I read the same article. Babcock is a huge beast and NS offshore is just another part of their empire, a column in a spreadsheet. If it ain’t making money they’ll sell it... simple.
Thread drift but talk of NVIS being a box to tick is dangerous. Being skilled and suitably qualified to fly safely with NVIS requires supervised experience hrs building, just like all flying disciplines. An on line course and a few hours at night to get a tick on your license will end badly. Just saying.
Non-PC Plod
21st Jul 2018, 16:58
"Being skilled and suitably qualified to fly safely with NVIS" is actually quite a generalisation, because it depends how and where you are going to fly with NVIS.
I have delivered quite a few basic NVIS courses recently, and this only qualifies pilots to use NVIS as an aid to night flying above 500'AGL. (We are not talking tactical flying, or landing in confined areas here!). With this kind of caveat, it should keep pilots away from the most dangerous NVIS environment (low level, and hover) until they have built up sufficient experience to move on to more advanced training. Of course, you never know whether he is going to respect his limitations once he has completed the training, but you can say that about any training, not just NVG!
Vertical Freedom
22nd Jul 2018, 05:18
Babcock still pumping in Oz, so don't know where this story comes from, but it's just that, a story!
212man
22nd Jul 2018, 05:43
Babcock still pumping in Oz, so don't know where this story comes from, but it's just that, a story!
I didn’t see the article but the OP says “North Sea operations”, so what’s happening in Oz is probably irrelevant!
rrekn
22nd Jul 2018, 05:52
Pumping in Oz eh? I heard they are loosing $7m a year offshore as a result of bidding all their current contracts below cost (and hence the departure of Mr Boag).
Dingo is right, if a sector is not making in the Babcock empire, it will be sold off.
There needs to be some consolidation in the market with Babcock, Bristow, CHC, NHV, ERA, PHI and Heli-Union competing for the same pie.
Brother
22nd Jul 2018, 08:54
Pumping in Oz eh? I heard they are loosing $7m a year offshore as a result of bidding all their current contracts below cost (and hence the departure of Mr Boag).
I heard that brs is also losing lots of $ in Oz and I also heard they are down to 2 ac for inpex. I know a couple of their good 92 drivers have gone recently as they seem to keep on shrinking.
rrekn
22nd Jul 2018, 12:03
Shrinking is right Brother, once both Prelude and Icthus move into production, Broome will be a very small town, likely with only one operator... Interesting times ahead.
Vertical Freedom
23rd Jul 2018, 02:41
as is the rest of GA....shrinking :mad:
ChopperFAN
23rd Jul 2018, 21:33
https://youtu.be/kfUMAHNO-Tg
Guess soon each will need to find their own way to work
gulliBell
24th Jul 2018, 05:25
Impressive lift to weight ratio, no doubt.
Pablo332
24th Jul 2018, 17:08
It was that or a 225.
lowfat
3rd Aug 2018, 18:48
Well If you read the transcript from the Bristow first quart report one of the investors asks Johnathon Balif (bristow CEO). As he has $350 million dollar liquidity does he see a M&A cycle (merger and acquisitions) opportunity .... One word answer.... YES
Goodbye babcock hello bigger and better NEW Bristow... LOL
helicrazi
3rd Aug 2018, 19:12
So what's Babcock MCS Offshore worth? Profit last year £4.4m, using the multiple of profit formula, not worth much? Assets? Mostly leased?
Value of contracts? Surely that's tentative, based on termination clauses in the prospect of a sale.
ROI for Babcock, a huge loss.
going to be interesting to watch this one unfold.
So what's Babcock MCS Offshore worth?
Simple - whatever someone is willing to pay ;)
lowfat
4th Aug 2018, 20:46
Its really how badly does the babcock board want to divest it self of a troublesome child.. Bristow would love the contracts especially sumburgh .. Of coarse the money men would carve up the Aberdeen real estate and decimate the workforce now Ithink about it its really quite sickening ...
jimf671
5th Aug 2018, 14:19
What this may be saying is that Babcock simply do not have the skills to run anything difficult.
This is just one of several well-known major companies that are too used to governments shovelling money at them.
9Aplus
5th Aug 2018, 18:31
:ok: Right to the point.
212man
6th Aug 2018, 06:51
What this may be saying is that Babcock simply do not have the skills to run anything difficult
Are you for real? This is a village taxi service compared to the other activities they operate in their portfolio!
9Aplus
6th Aug 2018, 13:19
Simply, they do not care.... that is catch 22
Heathcliff
7th Aug 2018, 08:44
Are you for real? This is a village taxi service compared to the other activities they operate in their portfolio!
They may not have the skills required to operate in aviation. Just because a company is successful at some things does not mean they can be successful at anything.
jimf671
8th Aug 2018, 19:04
Are you for real? This is a village taxi service compared to the other activities they operate in their portfolio!
Village taxi? A ninth of their turnover? Really?
minigundiplomat
3rd Aug 2023, 13:22
For the rest of WWW they are doing just fine.... in case you like to hear, good joke.
All the best comedy has a hallmark of truth. You're welcome.