Whats Happening in the Torres Straits

[belly tank]

Max,
Yes it is our AOC there, as we operate the machinery there also. yes you are correct about the aircraft owned by New Zealanders who now live here.(They do not fly) the operation employs Aussie pilots for info.
If its any consolation to you CASA has no problems with us being in NSW and operating a base in QLD as many other operators do this also. (could it be you work for another company somewhere nearby also )
i guess you werent inexperienced and unkown at one stage or another right
get some facts straight first buddy

[kwikenz]

Poor Jingoistic Max

Max - and exacetly what is the point in your comment about the GC operator being run by Kiwi's?
Nice looking gear with more on the way. Not beating around in old s tbox jetrangers for merely the DOC + change. A bit of competition doesnt hurt anyone mate. If it upsets you, set up in competition and do a better job and out trade them.
Get on the right page and realise that the problems are much broader and more complicated than being about a single issue... especially one so inane as being from another country. You may one day wish to live and work elsewhere... think about the reception you would like.
So what... the Wallabies are at the moment. They'll be back... keep your knickers on!

[rotorwing]

Kwikenz

I think between you and the other joiners the thread has been somehow lost in their interpretation. I wish ya all the best, up there, in all ya do and I hope that it work's for ya

[benq]

i agree with you R/W
the thread has gone to the dogs
it started about rats leaving a sinking ship and going to hopefully a better place.
then a few LOSERS joined in (something 44 ah yeah r driver 44) and gave us some verbal crap about not knowing what we are talking about.I think this could be some body from the (watch this space,hold on for the ride)management of australian H....

and now we are talking about unions, HELLO.
Stuff the unions. they do nothing
I opened this thread purely to vent my anger and frustration at the wankers in companies that stuff up good companies..
Reef Helicopters was the best company to work for before the year 2000.They had a good crew 4 machines and 6 pilots and you would tour out of TI 4 weeks on 1 week off down to cairns or where ever . Or you stayed at TI and got drunk,fished and had a bloody good time.
On a sunday every now and then all staff and families would be ferried by the standby ems pilot to an island by helicopter for the day. Moral was high everybody was glad to be there, and every body worked hard,but they enjoyed it.
Can you believe this ,, the staff used to dine and drink with the owners when they visited TI. They were asked their opinion on matters and what they thought about company policy.
staff know the owners by face not just name........

THEN a 412 came along and a new CEO
More pilots more crewies(kelpies) back stabbing, secrets,whos doing what, how can I get better than him,,,,etc etcetc etc etc..
Downhill from there

Give me the old REEF,,,what happy memories
To all the blokes that can remember those days at reef
Remember the christmas day feast and the coldies

have a beer and smile,,,,,,,Kay W was not that bad

[McGowan]

benq,
Unfortunately, life is like that. There would not be many helicopter pilots out there that can't say the same thing about numerous companies, "the good old days".
I know that it is very annoying when big machines arrive and new management comes along, then the bean counters, then the new pilots, new crewies, new engineers, it all gets too big and too impersonel. You end up a number instead of a valued part of the operation. The job becomes a big buisness, not the corner shop run by the family. (Not talking Mafia here!!!)
I have never worked for AH, or delt with them, so can't comment either way on what is going on up there. Although I'm sure it will sort its self out eventually, too much money involved for it to just fall over.
I think the unfortunate thing is, as some have said, if the guys don't like it, go. Others will be along very quickly to fill the viod, regardless of how bad some will say it is.

[benq]

are the rats still leaving the ship....????

Word from the bridge is YES..

And the flow of B/S is still at a steady pace

[ron_burgundy]

a new development

ive been watching this thread re: the AH boys with interest and figured it was time i registered so i could add my little bit of info.........

a big rumour has it that the EMS contract is still very much up for grabs and AH's neighbours have been apparently sighted with tape measures in hand sneeking across to AH's hangar sizing it up to make sure their new BK fits

[belly tank]

Ron Burgundy!
Ive seen your movie!!............must admit your a legend!, and yes you did win Christina Applegate in the end .......can i borrow your burgundy suit ive got a wedding to goto next weekend

[benq]

Heard yesterday from a little rat( birdie) that the position advertised for 412 captain,,2 weeks ago drew the huge response of
0 applicatates

GEES I wonder

[ron_burgundy]

Bellytank

Baxter and I have checked the wardrobe and you may borrow the burgundy suit for your wedding. The ladies love it.

*********************************************************

News just in to the Channel 4 newsdesk, you couldn't smack the smiles off the faces of the the rats that have or are leaving the ship, all the best guys.

I'm Ron Burgundy
You stay classy
Planet Earth

[bellfest]

exactly how many have left and where have they all gone? presumably most to Hevilift.
big problems for HA if they can't get any crew! I bet they are dumbfounded and can't for the life of them work out why not

[benq]

The word is that the coees are being pushed into the captains chair and some of the good i dont make any waves 206 drivers are being made cojoes.

I can see that is going to work on those dark black stormy tropical nights ,in the straits...
UM UM UM

Hang on for the ride and watch this space ( ex ceo famous words) will take on a whole new meaning....

heard 3 or 4 captains went to hevilift and some of the kelpies also

[Op's Normal]

benq

The word is correct.
Captains and Kelpies have seen the light. I have it on good authority that there are more to follow.
In the last couple of months there have been 5 pilots from the Torres Strait Base (206 and 412) move on, and so far 3 crewies, not all to the same company.

As they have said, " you can only hang on for the ride for so long and the dangled carrots have rotted".

[floatsarmed]

Customs Security Clearances?

The security clearances that required to go ANYWHERE near the Customs contract stuff up in the Strait take months to come through, if any more 412 Captains leave then I think AH will be in the canoe without paddle.

The head office management only have themselves to blame as the only reason that the operation ran as well as it did was that the crew on site were a good hard working professional bunch.

If they think that they can just slide a new bum onto the Captains side in the 412 from elsewhere in the company then they are dangerously deluding themselves! Being a great longranger driver with many thousands of hours does not readily translate to being a competant Captain of an IFR "systems" aircraft without the requisite time, training and experience being invested into said pilot by the company. The Customs contract up in the Strait is worth a heap of dollars so I hope it doesn't end up in someone having a monumental prang just because they got stuffed into a seat they were not quite ready for?

Good luck to those brave enough to move on. In this case the grass may well be greener on the other side of the fence!

[Op's Normal]

It may not be a case of "The Grass,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,". I hear the grass at AH has turned to mud. Chatting the other day, I hear the confidence level with the management is at rock bottom, hence the movement of crews. I hope the people I know up there don't get caught in the mire. A former CEO had told staff up there that " Shake any tree and a pilot will fall out". He was obviously thinking of monkies and paying them peanuts.

[Twin Head]

Unfortunately, AH will survive and there will always be new bright dedicated bums on old tired and frustrated seats. AH will offer the new recruits 5% less and still be 2% better off after their lustrious 3% rise in the past .

[B.A.N.D]

Scary

Originally Posted by floatsarmed

If they think that they can just slide a new bum onto the Captains side in the 412 from elsewhere in the company then they are dangerously deluding themselves! Being a great longranger driver with many thousands of hours does not readily translate to being a competant Captain of an IFR "systems" aircraft without the requisite time, training and experience being invested into said pilot by the company. The Customs contract up in the Strait is worth a heap of dollars so I hope it doesn't end up in someone having a monumental prang just because they got stuffed into a seat they were not quite ready for?

If the above comes true I wouldn't be surprised to see more crewies walk.
Who in their right mind would want to be in a machine at night, in the gloop, low level with a pilot who has limited experience in that type.
5 cent 50 cent

[Blackhawk9]

Whats Happening in the Torres Straits?..................Obviously nothing ! As the 412 is in a million bits on a major inspection at Redcliff airport, so AH will getaway without IFR twin drivers for a couple of months up north while the work is carried out, how companies like AH get away with major downtime and noncomplience on major contracts which the likes of Bristow and CHC can't do is beyond me!!!!! But you get what you pay for! No backup in Torres strait, old clunker under performing AB in Adelaide, and all this from the big Australian owned operator....... No thanks i'll work for a reliable foreign owned company thank you!
P.S. I just hope the boys doing the refurb don't get there fingers burned with payment like some have in the past, they are a top bunch of blokes.

[Twin Head]

I find it hard to believe that there is no fine for heavy maintenance without a backup twin in place. The shores of Oz are open to the public

[benq]

[quote=Blackhawk9;2830234]Whats Happening in the Torres Straits?..................Obviously nothing ! As the 412 is in a million bits on a major inspection at Redcliff airport, so AH will getaway without IFR twin drivers for a couple of months up north while the work is carried out,


Black H9

Where did you get the couple months for major from.....I heard it will be down for a max time of 5 weeks, well thats what AH are planning on and thats what they have told the customer...Apparently.. good one

Heard the last major was also a very quick one 4 weeks comes to mind

Can you imagine the corrision they would find if they do the job properly and strip the machine back to bear metal, after nearly 7 years in the tropics and overflying salt water its entire life...
Eh, but that would cost money....
I hope some one can keep us informed on the progress of this machine while its down there
Some one told me the other day down time for majors for 412s overseas are generally 3 to 6 months..
5 weeks seems a bit quick

What do you guys say?