Whats Happening in the Torres Straits
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Whats Happening in the Torres Straits
AAP on Yahoo News "Faster chopper to patrol Torres Strait"
A faster helicopter with a longer range will patrol the Torres Strait under a new $100 million contract.
Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd (AHPL), which has been operating the Coastwatch helicopter surveillance and response service in the Torres Strait since 1995, on Tuesday won the tender to provide the service for another 12 years.
The new agreement will start in July 2007, a month after the current contract expires.
Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said APHL would operate two helicopters, based on Horn Island.
Under the new contract, the existing Bell Longranger single-engine helicopter will be replaced by a new Squirrel with greater speed and operating range.
APHL will continue to operate its Bell twin-engine helicopter after its tracking and surveillance systems are upgraded.
"These helicopters form a vital part of Customs efforts to detect and deter illegal activity such as drug and people smuggling, illegal fishing and environmental offences in the Torres Strait," Senator Ellison said in a statement.
"They will augment Coastwatch's other aerial surveillance assets in this remote but sensitive area.
"Together with regular patrols by Customs National Marine Unit and Royal Australian Navy patrol vessels, and a new experimental High Frequency Surface Wave Radar system, the helicopters help to ensure that our vital northern sea lanes and islands are closely monitored and protected.""
A faster helicopter with a longer range will patrol the Torres Strait under a new $100 million contract.
Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd (AHPL), which has been operating the Coastwatch helicopter surveillance and response service in the Torres Strait since 1995, on Tuesday won the tender to provide the service for another 12 years.
The new agreement will start in July 2007, a month after the current contract expires.
Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said APHL would operate two helicopters, based on Horn Island.
Under the new contract, the existing Bell Longranger single-engine helicopter will be replaced by a new Squirrel with greater speed and operating range.
APHL will continue to operate its Bell twin-engine helicopter after its tracking and surveillance systems are upgraded.
"These helicopters form a vital part of Customs efforts to detect and deter illegal activity such as drug and people smuggling, illegal fishing and environmental offences in the Torres Strait," Senator Ellison said in a statement.
"They will augment Coastwatch's other aerial surveillance assets in this remote but sensitive area.
"Together with regular patrols by Customs National Marine Unit and Royal Australian Navy patrol vessels, and a new experimental High Frequency Surface Wave Radar system, the helicopters help to ensure that our vital northern sea lanes and islands are closely monitored and protected.""
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So have you AH chaps got any feedback from your management team? Any movement on your wages and conditions? If you guys have been waiting for 12 months for an answer from your head office gurus, then what is going on? Do they seriously value your abilities and effort? How about sending a fire cracker up one of their asses to get them into action? 
Or is their management style the black-hole approach to staff - ask away, send stuff to them, leave messages and it all disappears into a black hole like it never existed. Do they have the slighted idea about HR management and the current problems beings experienced with respect to mid and upper level aircrew shortages?
One previous contract I worked on allowed for cost variations to be passed onto the client, such as increased fuel costs, insurance costs etc etc. And vice verse, if costs were reduced, then the contract rate was also reduced. What scope is there for the management team to simply make an approach to the client (Government??) and request a revised rate schedule due to increased costs in terms of HR? If you can do it for consumables, such as fuel, then why not HR? No fuel, no fly! No staff, no fly?
Or did AH simply undercut everyone in order to get the contract and in return expect that their staff would be happy with below average wages?
Eh?
Is this also the reason for their Adelaide contract and the use of very, very second hand machinery down there...compare their 'competition' whom normally start such contractd with new or much newer gear AND, wait for it, AND they pay their staff appropriate rates of remuneration.
Sorry chaps, but it really boggles the mind.
Or is their management style the black-hole approach to staff - ask away, send stuff to them, leave messages and it all disappears into a black hole like it never existed. Do they have the slighted idea about HR management and the current problems beings experienced with respect to mid and upper level aircrew shortages?
One previous contract I worked on allowed for cost variations to be passed onto the client, such as increased fuel costs, insurance costs etc etc. And vice verse, if costs were reduced, then the contract rate was also reduced. What scope is there for the management team to simply make an approach to the client (Government??) and request a revised rate schedule due to increased costs in terms of HR? If you can do it for consumables, such as fuel, then why not HR? No fuel, no fly! No staff, no fly?
Or did AH simply undercut everyone in order to get the contract and in return expect that their staff would be happy with below average wages?
Eh? Is this also the reason for their Adelaide contract and the use of very, very second hand machinery down there...compare their 'competition' whom normally start such contractd with new or much newer gear AND, wait for it, AND they pay their staff appropriate rates of remuneration.
Sorry chaps, but it really boggles the mind.
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It's a dogs life
A dog will remain loyal to his master provided:
-It’s fed regularly.
-Petted occasionally.
-It’s not kicked up the arse for licking his balls.
A dog will question his position in the pack if:
-It’s master pays more attention to his puppy brother.
-It’s master gives his puppy brother a soft bed to lie on and makes the old dog sleep on the tiles.
-It’s master gives their puppy brother more food, new toys and state of the art kennel.
A dog will start looking through the neighbour’s fence if:
-The neighbour offers him sweet treats.
-The neighbour gives him a scratch under the chin.
-The neighbour appreciates the value of having a good dog around.
A dog will jump the fence if:
-Their master continues to ignore them.
-Their master arrogantly expects him to come when called only to lock him in the laundry.
-Their master continues to feed him with dinner scraps (but usually the master says there are no scraps to give).
Tip for all dog owners:
-Don’t ignore them
-Treat all the dogs equally
-Feed them more than the neighbour
-Appreciate their value
-Scratch them under the chin once in a while and
-Allow them to lick their own balls
-It’s fed regularly.
-Petted occasionally.
-It’s not kicked up the arse for licking his balls.
A dog will question his position in the pack if:
-It’s master pays more attention to his puppy brother.
-It’s master gives his puppy brother a soft bed to lie on and makes the old dog sleep on the tiles.
-It’s master gives their puppy brother more food, new toys and state of the art kennel.
A dog will start looking through the neighbour’s fence if:
-The neighbour offers him sweet treats.
-The neighbour gives him a scratch under the chin.
-The neighbour appreciates the value of having a good dog around.
A dog will jump the fence if:
-Their master continues to ignore them.
-Their master arrogantly expects him to come when called only to lock him in the laundry.
-Their master continues to feed him with dinner scraps (but usually the master says there are no scraps to give).
Tip for all dog owners:
-Don’t ignore them
-Treat all the dogs equally
-Feed them more than the neighbour
-Appreciate their value
-Scratch them under the chin once in a while and
-Allow them to lick their own balls
Originally Posted by gulliBell
Crikey, I am out of touch. I was on that money in the Army at Duntroon in the mid-eighties, and I was a GSO. Surely the Army has handed out a payrise in the past 20 years?
Extract for SSO Pilot:
Salary while undertaking Military (Initial Officer) Training and Employment Training: $28,805 per annum ($1104.85 per fortnight)*. Trainees are promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant at the completion of their Helicopter Tactics Course with a salary increase to $40,675 per annum ($1,560.14 per fortnight)*
Uniform Maintenance Allowance at a rate of $419 per annum ($16.06 per fortnight)* is paid to assist members to maintain an approved scale of uniforms in good order and condition. This increases to $682 per annum ($26.14 per fortnight)* after commissioning to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Service Allowance at the rate of $9,691 per annum ($371.71 per fortnight)* is paid to all members (except for certain trainee categories) below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent. The allowance compensates a member for the unique requirements that service life may impose on an individual and his or her family.
Trainees with dependants may be entitled to Trainee's Dependant Allowance which is paid to enable trainees with dependants to receive a salary not less than $33,291 per annum ($1276.91 per fortnight) while training. Conditions apply. Speak to the Defence Recruiter for details.
Uniform Maintenance Allowance at a rate of $419 per annum ($16.06 per fortnight)* is paid to assist members to maintain an approved scale of uniforms in good order and condition. This increases to $682 per annum ($26.14 per fortnight)* after commissioning to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Service Allowance at the rate of $9,691 per annum ($371.71 per fortnight)* is paid to all members (except for certain trainee categories) below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent. The allowance compensates a member for the unique requirements that service life may impose on an individual and his or her family.
Trainees with dependants may be entitled to Trainee's Dependant Allowance which is paid to enable trainees with dependants to receive a salary not less than $33,291 per annum ($1276.91 per fortnight) while training. Conditions apply. Speak to the Defence Recruiter for details.
It seems more like rats leaving a "stinking" ship to me. Highly qualified and rightfully disgruntled rats that are sick of the odour coming from the sewarage pipe that runs down through the gallies from the bridge. The ship will more than likely continue to float for a good while yet.
When or if it does sink, years and years of tradition will be broken and the captain(s) will well and truly be the first to secure a life raft. In fact they are securing their life rafts right now. Inflatable rafts for one only, manufactured out of cold hard cash with a rashion pack of real estate and superannuation
. No EPIRB required
Companies like this may well have a trial exam on Cristopher Skase and Jodie Rich for their directors before they are allowed to come on board. How to be the 
ers and not the ees.
Just tuck them away and use them to celebrate your next 'real' job
When or if it does sink, years and years of tradition will be broken and the captain(s) will well and truly be the first to secure a life raft. In fact they are securing their life rafts right now. Inflatable rafts for one only, manufactured out of cold hard cash with a rashion pack of real estate and superannuation
. No EPIRB required Companies like this may well have a trial exam on Cristopher Skase and Jodie Rich for their directors before they are allowed to come on board. How to be the ers and not the ees.
How about sending a fire cracker up one of their asses to get them into action?
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I hear the customs contract there requirers the bare minimum of 4 atpl cir capts and 2 ir coees for the 2on 2 off roster.
they had 7 cir capts (including check and training capt) and 4 have resigned and 2 are looking for other opportunities,
that leaves a bit of a hole in the roster one would think????
I wonder if the customer (Australian Govt) knows whats going on.....
What would happen if the media gets wiff of this..
A/H the BIG Australian owned Helicopter company according to their ex- CEO (we've got contracts every where)
Wasnt he the same bloke that ran Pacific into the ground years ago, and tried to do the same at aero power but they were a wake up to him and booted him out!!!!!!!
they had 7 cir capts (including check and training capt) and 4 have resigned and 2 are looking for other opportunities,
that leaves a bit of a hole in the roster one would think????
I wonder if the customer (Australian Govt) knows whats going on.....
What would happen if the media gets wiff of this..
A/H the BIG Australian owned Helicopter company according to their ex- CEO (we've got contracts every where)
Wasnt he the same bloke that ran Pacific into the ground years ago, and tried to do the same at aero power but they were a wake up to him and booted him out!!!!!!!
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Get it back on track
Seems we diverse.
Facts remain.
1 Contracts to service!
2 Time involved to get crew on board!!
3 Recruiting the experience required to fly the contracts.
4 Remaining competetive with the compitetion.
Answer:
Pay the Money and you compete!!
Facts remain.
1 Contracts to service!
2 Time involved to get crew on board!!
3 Recruiting the experience required to fly the contracts.
4 Remaining competetive with the compitetion.
Answer:
Pay the Money and you compete!!
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R44Driver...perhaps you could also provide some evidence to prove otherwise of the accused's efforts in reducing the overall performance of a company. If its who I am thinking of, several and varied sources would suggest otherwise...ongoing and consistant incompetence.
BenQ...any news from the bridge as yet?
BenQ...any news from the bridge as yet?
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r44
Who did I slag off, there has been numerous ceo's at the companies that i have mention and unless you are in the know, you wouldnt know ,WHo i was talking about.
And if you were in the know of who i was referring too ,then you would know that i was speaking the TRUTH. So put that in ya pipe and smoke it.
And how do i know,
I was there
Who did I slag off, there has been numerous ceo's at the companies that i have mention and unless you are in the know, you wouldnt know ,WHo i was talking about.
And if you were in the know of who i was referring too ,then you would know that i was speaking the TRUTH. So put that in ya pipe and smoke it.
And how do i know,
I was there
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Benq,
Your logic clearly defines you. What a git! You have mentioned three companies. How many people have been the CEO for all these companies I wonder.
You're are probably some tosser that has seen a Reef Helicopters 412 and someday aspire to be sitting in a crew seat. It's pretty unlikely I would say.
You probably need to learn to spell first.
Your logic clearly defines you. What a git! You have mentioned three companies. How many people have been the CEO for all these companies I wonder.
You're are probably some tosser that has seen a Reef Helicopters 412 and someday aspire to be sitting in a crew seat. It's pretty unlikely I would say.
You probably need to learn to spell first.
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benq
As usual, couldn't agree with you more. Maybe r44driver is a bit higher up the ladder than I first anticipated and if this be the case he is a true tosser. Interesting to see no ads in Friday Australian, must be that the positions have been filled!!! Any comment from those in the know?
Cheers
Rotor
As usual, couldn't agree with you more. Maybe r44driver is a bit higher up the ladder than I first anticipated and if this be the case he is a true tosser. Interesting to see no ads in Friday Australian, must be that the positions have been filled!!! Any comment from those in the know?
Cheers
Rotor
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"R44Driver" - what sort of a dipstick are you? Here is a group of guys seemingly getting f@3cked over and you jump on and rant and rave like a mad woman on a bad acid trip at the wrong time of the month. Cut them a break and maybe support a fellow pilot get a decent wage for once. Or perhaps you're a part of the management team of AH? Interesting...
. And what sort of a garbage callw as that about being a person who just wanted to fly in the 412 they operate...get a grip mate and when you do, please excuse yourself and your ignorant ramblings.
And "Itoldyouso"...nice of you to join in very very recently and add your 2 cents worth. Very useful indeed. Yes, a company can do what they like and they often do in aviation (especially GA). A lot of companies generally underpay people and treat staff with contempt. Staff are treated like an expense, not an asset to be looked after and reinvested in. Look after your staff, and they will in turn look after your customer, thence your bottom line. Speaking of the bottom of things, perhaps you can go back to the bottom of wherever you very, very suddenly appeared from (joined 22/8/06) and cut these guys some slack as they try to get a decent wage for a decent job.
People - lets NOT forget the average wage these days is in excess of $55K and the minimum wage is $26K. Here we are in the 21st century, in a period of growth and prosperity and we still have companies trying to pay below average wages to their aircrew staff. Perhaps this is why so many pilots and crew are heading overseas.
. And what sort of a garbage callw as that about being a person who just wanted to fly in the 412 they operate...get a grip mate and when you do, please excuse yourself and your ignorant ramblings. And "Itoldyouso"...nice of you to join in very very recently and add your 2 cents worth. Very useful indeed.
Yes, a company can do what they like and they often do in aviation (especially GA). A lot of companies generally underpay people and treat staff with contempt. Staff are treated like an expense, not an asset to be looked after and reinvested in. Look after your staff, and they will in turn look after your customer, thence your bottom line. Speaking of the bottom of things, perhaps you can go back to the bottom of wherever you very, very suddenly appeared from (joined 22/8/06) and cut these guys some slack as they try to get a decent wage for a decent job. People - lets NOT forget the average wage these days is in excess of $55K and the minimum wage is $26K. Here we are in the 21st century, in a period of growth and prosperity and we still have companies trying to pay below average wages to their aircrew staff. Perhaps this is why so many pilots and crew are heading overseas.
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jack of f*** all
Nice tirade, sounds like you are the one on acid.
If you read my first post, it was about the comments made about a particular person.
The second one was replying to someones claim that they were not talking about that person.
Give me a break!
And as far as not supporting fellow pilots, if people are not happy with their job or conditions they should let their feet do the talking. Get another job if you are not happy where you work.
Nice tirade, sounds like you are the one on acid.
If you read my first post, it was about the comments made about a particular person.
The second one was replying to someones claim that they were not talking about that person.
Give me a break!
And as far as not supporting fellow pilots, if people are not happy with their job or conditions they should let their feet do the talking. Get another job if you are not happy where you work.
Hey guys, let's all settle down, take a deep breath and consider this for what it is, good news for all:
1. Good news that experienced guys have an opportunity to move on elsewhere and earn a higher income overseas;
2. Goods news that the freed up seats in #1 should become available to less experienced guys on the fringe of M/E command. They will get the twin experience they need to eventually move on to the higher paid jobs;
3. Good news that the freed up seats from #2 would become available to piston drivers looking to get into a turbine;
4. Good news that the freed up seats from #3 would become available to new CHL's that might otherwise find it impossible to find a flying job;
5. Good news for the flying schools who can now honestly say that potential students really do have some hope of finding a job after they get a licence.
Good news for all, so lets be grateful that the wheel has turned in our favour.
1. Good news that experienced guys have an opportunity to move on elsewhere and earn a higher income overseas;
2. Goods news that the freed up seats in #1 should become available to less experienced guys on the fringe of M/E command. They will get the twin experience they need to eventually move on to the higher paid jobs;
3. Good news that the freed up seats from #2 would become available to piston drivers looking to get into a turbine;
4. Good news that the freed up seats from #3 would become available to new CHL's that might otherwise find it impossible to find a flying job;
5. Good news for the flying schools who can now honestly say that potential students really do have some hope of finding a job after they get a licence.
Good news for all, so lets be grateful that the wheel has turned in our favour.
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gulliBELL
Very nicely said! Couldn't agree more. If all the angst that is apparentley happening in that region leads to a more fruitful, Opportune career for those comming through the ranks than it must be worth it. Opportunities abound at this time for all and it is folly to let such things pass without making a grab.
As for r44driver or is that drivler? You have once again shown your grasp on such heavy matters. "If you don't like the job let your feet do the talking". I believe thats exactly what is happening up there. The problem for that company is how to stem the trickle before it becomes a flood. But I guess having such a firm grasp on things you can sort this out!
Cheers
Rotor
Very nicely said! Couldn't agree more. If all the angst that is apparentley happening in that region leads to a more fruitful, Opportune career for those comming through the ranks than it must be worth it. Opportunities abound at this time for all and it is folly to let such things pass without making a grab.
As for r44driver or is that drivler? You have once again shown your grasp on such heavy matters. "If you don't like the job let your feet do the talking". I believe thats exactly what is happening up there. The problem for that company is how to stem the trickle before it becomes a flood. But I guess having such a firm grasp on things you can sort this out!
Cheers
Rotor