North Sea Recruitment
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I left the North Sea, Super Puma Capt,just over ten years ago. Fixed wing Not Easy to start. Now with command 146. Seen alot more of UK and Europe. Yes looking back I did the right thing. We keep being told that there's more fixed wing pilots required, so come on down.
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11 (some say 13)resignations from the major operator in the last 6/7 weeks. Many more looking to go. Not everybody is going fixedwing,they just want out. And this with a 5% pay rise in a few months time. The rush for the door may just have started. And interestingly enough its captains now that are going. Who is going to be left to put the cat out? Who is going to be retiring soon? It's time to vote off the weakest link!
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Nice one Semirigid. Your sentiment has been bouncing around for a while but I have yet to see an answer to such problems.
Is it a global conspiracy to drag helicopter pilots down to the lowest common standard? Not saying Canada is it, but with European pilots apparently doing better than Canadian pilots yet working for a Canadian company could there be more to this than meets the eye. Force out any sensible European pilots, send them to fixed wing, cryout that there is a shortage and get permission to hire cheap foreign labour. As long as cheap foreign labour is available pay need never go up, no Europeans will fly for such low pay and the circle continues, all the time making more money for the parent company. Sounds logical to me.
Is it a global conspiracy to drag helicopter pilots down to the lowest common standard? Not saying Canada is it, but with European pilots apparently doing better than Canadian pilots yet working for a Canadian company could there be more to this than meets the eye. Force out any sensible European pilots, send them to fixed wing, cryout that there is a shortage and get permission to hire cheap foreign labour. As long as cheap foreign labour is available pay need never go up, no Europeans will fly for such low pay and the circle continues, all the time making more money for the parent company. Sounds logical to me.
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Certainly its mostly Captains we are losing from the North Sea. Scotia have taken on several co-pilots recently and I believe Bristow have in the last few weeks, also recruited a handful of new co-pilots with a CPL(H) in their pocket already. I assume the intention is to make up 5yr+ co-pilots to fill the Captain vacancies.
Result:- Job vacancies filled..... Payroll expenses decrease...... experience on the North Sea greatly diminished !!
Result:- Job vacancies filled..... Payroll expenses decrease...... experience on the North Sea greatly diminished !!
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Dragdamper:
I think you're on to something here, but one small correction if I may. We do have a lower end year pay, but you also have to look at the cost of living. I'm not saying I like it, but I think when the 'Overseas Employment Tax Credit' dust settles, it's interesting to see who takes home more!
This is not meant as a challenge as I would sure like you're North Sea salary and living in Canada! I realise that the cost of living is about 2.5 times higher there and that just happens to be the exchange rate!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
I think you're on to something here, but one small correction if I may. We do have a lower end year pay, but you also have to look at the cost of living. I'm not saying I like it, but I think when the 'Overseas Employment Tax Credit' dust settles, it's interesting to see who takes home more!
This is not meant as a challenge as I would sure like you're North Sea salary and living in Canada! I realise that the cost of living is about 2.5 times higher there and that just happens to be the exchange rate!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
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Bristows may recruit cpl's (and the same is true of Scotia) but, if it is captains that are leaving; are there enough experienced f/o's to fill the vacancy slots? The retirement bubble is starting to add to the problem. 25% will retire in the next 4/5 years - halving the experience level. Contact captains are a short term solution, but have the effect of undermining the f/o's! So they see their career halted,and leave,the cycle goes on. With an ageing helicopter fleet, with crew experience going in the opposite direction, the customer will not get the service they want.
Its not just about money, lifestyle is just as important. Disruptive rosters with crews working the legal max will take more people out of the door than just money alone. It's time to wake up the big money in the industry - the customer, if he wants a service in the future; its time to invest now or take the boat!
Its not just about money, lifestyle is just as important. Disruptive rosters with crews working the legal max will take more people out of the door than just money alone. It's time to wake up the big money in the industry - the customer, if he wants a service in the future; its time to invest now or take the boat!
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Sorry, I did not actually mean to refer to Canadian pilots, that comment was referring to Canadian ownership. The point was really aiming at much cheaper labour, eastern European for example or even further east if one rumour is true. N.Sea pay is not bad it is the conditions that are becoming intolerable, but then compare them to those in other countries and I guess they could seem quite attractive.
I hope no offence was taken by our Canadian brothers or sisters. If you are having similar recruitment problems then could the same solution threaten you?
I hope no offence was taken by our Canadian brothers or sisters. If you are having similar recruitment problems then could the same solution threaten you?
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Interesting thread peeps - if you change just a few details then you've got a resume of the engineering situation too....contract ends, troops canned, move to other outfit, start again at bottom of ladder (= keep the cost low lads), every time some don't move, either not hired or fed up with the cycle & either go fixed-wing or selling double glazing.
Once upon a time around 50% or better of a shift were licenced, now around half that if you're lucky (don't forget, no hrs limits for a gingerbeer)
Still, at least Shell made good profits this year - maybe some of that will turn into new helos/pilots/engineers next year, what do you think...
Maybe good times are just around the corner (jam tomorrow?)
Be safe, be happy xxxx
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Ground tested, no fault found
Once upon a time around 50% or better of a shift were licenced, now around half that if you're lucky (don't forget, no hrs limits for a gingerbeer)
Still, at least Shell made good profits this year - maybe some of that will turn into new helos/pilots/engineers next year, what do you think...
Maybe good times are just around the corner (jam tomorrow?)
Be safe, be happy xxxx
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Ground tested, no fault found
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There may be a short term problem, but the solution is easy......offer sponsorship......cost around £40K I guess.....get a young keen individual who will go anywhere and do anything for peanuts....when h finishes his bond at around 6 years hope he leaves to go fixd wing....start cycle again.....no problem. Added bonus = no older more experienced individuals who cost too much and start to moan about problems.
Sorry if its a bit cynical, but I dont believe that experience is valued anymore, just want cheap, obedient bums on seats
Sorry if its a bit cynical, but I dont believe that experience is valued anymore, just want cheap, obedient bums on seats
