Working and Living in Trinidad

[cmwangs]

Trinidad

I have spent most of my flying life overseas - West Indies for 8 years - in different communities and amongst different peoples.

The single most important thought process:
You are a visitor in their country. Cultures differ in many ways, what might be normal to the westerner can be seriously offensive to easterners.
Trinidad and Tobago has a very strong eastern culture based on manpower imported from the East a very great many years ago.
It has been my experience that any time spent investigating the country and its people is time well spent.

Remember: Their culture is as a result of many factors, not the least of which is Colonialisation, which leads to the fact that you can represent the negative. That being said, in most cases, they will react to you in the same manner you react to them - And that they are normal folks trying to get bills paid, but, mostly under vastly inferior conditions and abilities. Make as many friends amongst the folks as you can, get to know them as people instead of sources of irritation, be careful of your relationships with the female of the specie, jealousy is a powerful weapon!

Your call to the TT Embassy/High Commission will be the best avenue of information, that added to a modicum of commonsense will be your ticket to a wonderful experience.
CMWANGS.

[chopperdropper]

BCL Trinidad

Of course you could try hanging on to the friends that you make there, who could make life much easier for you instead of being a spineless worm like some are. There's alot of time off to be had once you have become established. Nothing comes easy, those of us who have it, have worked hard for it and will not let a foreigner try to walk all over us, so if it is youir choice to come to Trini ; prepare to work hard and listen to those with the most experience and try to enjoy yourself while doing it.Trinidad is beautiful and full of beautiful people who want to do the most important thing in life.

LIVING !!!!!

Welcome welcome one and all to the land of the land of fete
Trini to de bone

[scottishterrier]

Caribbean Operations

Well,

There you have it folks.

All the objective comments from those who have either experienced the place and those who are currently there.

Only to be given the venomous perspective of the local.

"dont be coming over here to our tropical paradise and expecting to have your feet up. No No NO, we worked very hard to have that advantage and we wont be having any interlopers spoil it".

We will continue to have our sick days while you passers by, should just be happy to be there.

So in an operation that is clearly short of crews the afforementioned attitude prevails.

When will the people at New Iberia get a grip of this operation.

NEVER, is my opinion.

ST

[rotor212]

Run, Run very fast.........try global vectra......

[chopperdropper]

Missed the point

No Gentlepersons and small dogs, the point that I am making is that the Job is what you make it and in ten years I have seen many come and go from the fold, some have left amiably however there are a great many who still think that they poop ice cream from the day they walk in.
Humility will get you miles further than arrogance.
Hope you use it in your next Job ST.

To the rest of you. Welcome to Bristow Caribbean Ops.

[scottishterrier]

BCL

I stand corrected, and appreciate the clarification.

There's alot of time off to be had once you have become established. Nothing comes easy, those of us who have it, have worked hard for it and will not let a foreigner try to walk all over us, so if it is youir choice to come to Trini ; prepare to work hard and listen to those with the most experience and try to enjoy yourself while doing it.

When you go to BCL with a little bit of experience and this isnt your first job since your high office of School monitor dont be expecting too much. Be humble to the experienced folks at BCL and of course you must endure the nonsense with a bucket of humility. Dont tell us we've got it wrong. Remember who you are !. If you are a "spineless worm"this is clearly not the place for you.

ST

[scottishterrier]

Trini Rules

Very well put Roty !

Perhaps those Trini Rules will apply depending on how close you happen to be with the Chief Pilot !

Some get close,some get closer while others take it too extremes

Bristow integrity ...........................

All that good principal gone down the toilet.

There may be some lessons there for all the Cadets and FO's...........
Fast forward your Career All you need is some Parental Connection to the good people in Government. those links to high office will need to of good personal character, unchallengable in behaviour never having been caught with their hand, or anything else for that matter, in the cookie jar/ Honey pot .........
DO NOT PASS GO ! TAKE $ ***** DOLLARS HEY PRESTO YOU ARE NOW A CAPTAIN........And those doors will open all the way even to the CP's position. This will alow all manner of assistance for your Buddies.

BUT YOU MAY WELL GET TO CHAIR THE SAFETY MEETINGS !

This trini code would seem to have been in place for a long time.

ST

[rotor212]

$2,000,000 usd..........
and the cost EY's tailboom repair?.....

[scottishterrier]

Arrogance

Humility will get you miles further than arrogance.

What a laugh.............

The arrogance at BCL has been taken to extremes.

For example...

"You will fly 8 hour days and up to 9 hours once at least in seven days"

It says so in the Ops Manual ! .......

How many people argued with that ?

It lasted only long enough for the Flight Ops inspector to get involved.

Oh and further benefits of the CP, flowing Champagne for the Christmas Party.

I wonder was it ever Paid for ? I believe there was a dispute !



Bristow Code of Business Integrity.............

Our Leadership Charter........

Leading by example in accordance with the companies core values !

Buiding the trust and confidence of the people with which they work

here is a beauty..

Being accountable for their actions and holding others accountable for theirs

Not apparently In Trinidad

ST

[rotor212]

Female Captains?

Are they Trinis? Hmmmmmmm

[scottishterrier]

loss of Staff

So the rumours of more people departing Trinidad for pastures new are rife.

It is believed that a Bristow long Timer is due to leave imminently with another due to follow.

Could be for the Desert !

Question is, Why would people particularly local people wish to leave Sir Vivr's Idyll ?

Rats and sinking ships ! if you pardon the analogy.

So what could be possibly wrong with this operation ?

ST

[scottishterrier]

Living Costs

Roty,

There is some truth in what you say.

I defy you to find me any local who will pay $1500-2000 US/ month for rent. It is true that other costs will be similar.

locals same pay as expats !

When locals leave there families ,friends, home, country and bear the same restrictions, then they can bleat about same pay. .......

Now, I am all for fair pay, but that needs to be agreed for yourselves.

If the locals stood together then an agreement could probably be met with pressure on management. When some locals get one thing and some another, there is however a problem, very devisive. But everyone is making their own arrangements, so they have made a rod for their own back.

For example an Fo on ex-pat salary, Now y don't get that for being a great and consiencous staff member! or the time to study for exams etc.!!!!!!!!! or the senior captain on overseas pay with dubious work ethic and a disregard for aircraft and procedure, Allegedly!!!!!

There is however a motivation to maximise profit in Bristow TnT. And its not gonna find its way to good ol USA.......... Pay crews minimums, work to the maximum, skimp on maintenance and keep crews local WOW savings will be made ....
8-10 aircraft doing 1000hrs/year how much is the that ? will that make its way to the accountants in New Iberia, I think Not. So where could all this loot be going ? I wonder . ..................


As helicopter pilots, IT IS OUR TIME. There is a global shortage of experienced people, to such an extent, as to have been stated. " as restricting the growth of the Oil Industry ".
If locals want ex-pat salaries then let them try going out of their comfort zone and work in another country. They will be rewarded with new experiences, which will benefit themselves in character and maturity, get to work with people from other countries differing cultures and possibly, operations far beyond the possible scope of Bristow Trinidad.

So locals should, if they have the Balls, get off their asses and go see the world until then keep the whining to themselves



ST

[rotor212]

Dirty Laundry

Scotty,
I hope you have as they say in Trinidad "Court clothes"

The Bristow operation in Trinidad used to be one of the best kept secrets in the Industry. The real question is why are people leaving so fast. With the NHSL's CP gone, that's 3 experience locals gone to greener pastures, somebody should be asking themselves WHY?. But we know that will never happen. By the way throwing money at the problem isn't going to fix it either.

A half decent work cycle that's fair would be a good start.........and I mean you're either pulling you frigging weight or you out....you want time off to study, fine, take some no pay leave.......you want 57 days sick leave, that's okay as well......you're fired!!!!! You need to bring back the ole' discipline.....

I could go on for quite a very long while but I won't.....

[scottishterrier]

Crew Shortage

Relax,

All the problems are over.

Despite the departing personell it seems the answer has been found at BCL................................ Bring in the night crews at 15.00 do some flying, then some maintenance, duty till 03.00 when another crew can be on call. Woohoo thats gonna work then isnt it. just when it was thought all was lost...it is only increasing the duty times so it will be OK !...................
Additionally there is going to be a promotion board to bring on some SFO's. Well if they are gonna get paid for it they should have the resposibility !

I wonder, When the chief pilot was promoted, was there a promotion board ? Perhaps Chopperdropper can tell us about what it takes to be promoted. Is this a new thing ?

ST

[triniflyer]

Let the truth be told

The civil aviation of T&T need to shoulder some of the blame for the mass exodus of local pilots and engineers to foreign shores when they bowed to pressures from the local Heli operators to moved away from UK CAA CAP 371 FDP`s to FAA Standard or (Non Standards). The T&T CAA are toothless buldogs when it comes to enforcing proper FDP regs.

As soon the new FDP`s became law, crew rosters and ops manuals changed with longer duty hrs and reduced time off and more flying, again the CAA did nothing.

When are they going to figure out we don`t want to go abroad but are forced to move on, one being money but the main reason is pilot fatigue. Early departures/late landings with 12 - 14 hr duty and minimum days off just don`t cut it anymore unless you work equal time off (not night stby being called part of a day off). We rather move on than risk having an incident or accident acredited to your name.

Local pilots and Eng are experienced and professionals who can hold their end any where in the world. We will continue to depart T&T in droves since the local heli operators only concern with making the mighty $ while their employees are treated like.

You could pay locals same salary as expats but they will always move on since time-off and quality of life take precedent in the end unless you`re wok jumbies like ddg and bs.

May be the operators should have a read Roger Green`s book on Human Factors for Pilots and realised that money is not everything.

I for one would love return to T&T..... if there were ever an equal time-off roster. Untill such time I will continue to remain a happy and well off expat exploring the Asian and African continents and loving every minute.

[rotor212]

In Defence of one Professional in the Directorate

One man looking out for the local pilots in the Directorate can't do it alone boy. At the end of the day, he doesn't have the final say and we all know that he has tried.

Pilot Fatigue? that doesn't apply to the chosen few and Blue Can Org

As for the professionals, Aviation in Trinidad is going to reap the benefits of hiring the dregs...and those with ad-on ratings where "Oh, I burned time flying around the everglades...just to get my 50 hrs". Helicopter P of F, What's that? How can anybody be taken seriously when they've never done an EOL, a downwind quick stop or a navex with a proper track crawl.
Unfortunately, the mass exodus is only going to give those remaining bargaining power......but what can you do....

[triniflyer]

I beg to differ

Rotor 212. I think you`re missing the point, we`re not asking for anyone at the directorate to `fight` for pilots. Just the offshore industry standard (GOM/North Sea ect). A simple case of those who make the decisions are not affected by them.

The results hiring of dregs have already starting to show it`s nasty face......poor SOP`s and disregard for the RFM which can result in many AOG days from chip lights ect.

It`s easy to throw our hands up and say `what can you do` but those of us who had the to go out there and make it are the ones with international exposure can see the whole picture.

This is not just a case of dollars and (sense), the ones who remain are the relatively inexperienced individuals at the low end of the pay spectrum, their only goal is the mighty $ until they gather enough experience to move abroad.

Quality of life at the work place, roster, sop`s ect will always be lacking from any organisation with high turn over of pilots and eng. Your human resource is your best resource.......like money in the bank.

(Most) International companies understand this very well.

[rotor212]

Trini I didn't miss the point, I know exactly what you're talking about, but you need to read between the lines......

[scottishterrier]

What the F@*# !

When are they going to figure out we don`t want to go abroad but are forced to move on, one being money but the main reason is pilot fatigue. Early departures/late landings with 12 - 14 hr duty and minimum days off just don`t cut it anymore unless you work equal time off (not night stby being called part of a day off). We rather move on than risk having an incident or accident acredited to your name.

So, we dont want to go abroad. !!!! ......Well dont go. ... MONEY..... So you want expat or touring salaries and time off ,.... what planet are you on. get paid lots of dollars and Mr Manning and his buddies , who, if i dare say it, are little diiferent from the west wing personalities, Will love for you to give them a healthy slice of your cash.
If touring does not suit and neither does a full time position, do something about it. For too long people have accepted the sh and did nothing about it. When someone takes a stand you all cower and wait for the fall out.... Hoping that you will gain by it ! Once again I say Stand together and take your case to the "west wing". You want your cake and eat it, what a bunch of pussies.

From Sirvivr's previous input, and statement about the TWO FEMALE CAPTAINS , Does he have some kind of foresight. No Not Double Vision!.
Or perhaps he will be on the Review Board, that would bring some non biased view, or even that perhaps he has some inside information as the West Wings Snitch. Maybe he was fantasizing about the possibility of Some Thai Girls to Mold into the kind of pilots to fill the slots !

Well ......"you Just have to trust us"............. Who remebers that little Gem from the chief ?

We rather move on than risk having an incident or accident acredited to your name.

That would not seem to be the case, Triniflapper !

The governor incident for example, So how many incidents will that tally ?


ST

[triniflyer]

Good Luck!

Spewing venom will get you no where......this thread has literally gone to the dogs. I have better things to do with my time, bye forever.