CHC for Sale ?
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Great rumour, and I wouldn't be at all surprised. I think we will see all of CHC sold off piecemeal in the next couple of years, so I guess it has started, at least I hope so!
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There have certainly been strong rumours about various parts of the organisation being sold, spun-off or shut down. Activities since the sale include two major operations being shut down, Heli-One in the UK and Heli-Dyne in the US. Most recently 120 employees of their composite manufacturing operation in Newfoundland were laid-off, in addition to the 250 earlier in the year.
The new owners appear to have taken a very practical business approach to evaluating their businesses and personnel resulting in a number of high level senior managers quietly disappearing from both CHC and Heli-One.
Talking to any of the exhausted and stressed out managers from the company, few appear to have confidence in even their own future. A new management team hired from outside has replaced most of the exisiting structure, and they have laid off and cut out many levels of expensive management.
They have struggled with business goals versus the aviation regulatory environment they operate under, and made decisions that have resulted in people getting laid off then hired back immediately. As a result the fixed wing side of the business is apparently in disarray.
Although they have talked growth for some parts of the business, there is no investment and the employees appear very concerned that their future is extremely uncertain. The internal view is that the company is trying to encourage people to leave of their own free will by fueling uncertainty and appearing non-commital toward the future.
The greatest realization is that they bought a large corporation with some extremely valuable components, some moderately valuable operations that can be grown and some complete disasters that have the potential to severely impede the viability for short to medium term growth - many of which have been discussed here - including Nigeria, fixed wing, excess inventory and Heli-One Vancouver. The new owners are very successful with their business ventures and have extremely well defined business goals and models to draw from - there certainly appears to be no reason that they will not be very successful with CHC.
The internal management message is growth and investment, including further acquisition; but the belief of a growing number of managers seems to be more major internal restructuring and divestment of non performers - both business and people!
The new owners appear to have taken a very practical business approach to evaluating their businesses and personnel resulting in a number of high level senior managers quietly disappearing from both CHC and Heli-One.
Talking to any of the exhausted and stressed out managers from the company, few appear to have confidence in even their own future. A new management team hired from outside has replaced most of the exisiting structure, and they have laid off and cut out many levels of expensive management.
They have struggled with business goals versus the aviation regulatory environment they operate under, and made decisions that have resulted in people getting laid off then hired back immediately. As a result the fixed wing side of the business is apparently in disarray.
Although they have talked growth for some parts of the business, there is no investment and the employees appear very concerned that their future is extremely uncertain. The internal view is that the company is trying to encourage people to leave of their own free will by fueling uncertainty and appearing non-commital toward the future.
The greatest realization is that they bought a large corporation with some extremely valuable components, some moderately valuable operations that can be grown and some complete disasters that have the potential to severely impede the viability for short to medium term growth - many of which have been discussed here - including Nigeria, fixed wing, excess inventory and Heli-One Vancouver. The new owners are very successful with their business ventures and have extremely well defined business goals and models to draw from - there certainly appears to be no reason that they will not be very successful with CHC.
The internal management message is growth and investment, including further acquisition; but the belief of a growing number of managers seems to be more major internal restructuring and divestment of non performers - both business and people!
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chc sale or cover story
The sale rumour has probably been started by FR, to take the heat away from pay and conditions, if people are worried that the business is for sale, they will be less worried about pay and conditions, more smoke and mirrors, i would say.
But at the end of their playing they mat find themselves with nothing less to sell.
They have a strong committed workforce, just give rid of the losers that mis-manage it, and that would solve half of their problems.
It will be interesting to see if the pilots and engineers make a stand against them.
sly
But at the end of their playing they mat find themselves with nothing less to sell.
They have a strong committed workforce, just give rid of the losers that mis-manage it, and that would solve half of their problems.
It will be interesting to see if the pilots and engineers make a stand against them.
sly
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Well, as everybody knows companies change hands and managers come and go but pilots, techs and ground staff are always required. It would just be a change in colour scheme for most!
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CHC bashing
Talking to any of the exhausted and stressed out managers from the company, few appear to have confidence in even their own future. A new management team hired from outside has replaced most of the exisiting structure, and they have laid off and cut out many levels of expensive management.
Although they have talked growth for some parts of the business, there is no investment and the employees appear very concerned that their future is extremely uncertain.
There are no big changes in the management of the different CHC E companies; Changing an MD is no big deal as long as the rest of the organisation with all the experience stays!
The closing of the H1 facility in Aberdeen was IMHO a good business decision. They were never as good as H1 Norway on quality and on time delivery. And for the volume of work, it was not sufficient work for both entities in Europe. For the other facilities, I don't think they should have been there in the first place.
CHC Europe, especially CHC Norway is doing fine, they signed the possibly largest ever(worldwide!) offshore contract some time ago. They are building up to that now with 14 new machines, 92's and 225's. (even full AWSAR 225's) NO INVESTMENTS????
UK interim SAR with a bunch of 92's and 139's - NO INVESTMENTS???
Of course this is a rumour network, but do not fall for any cheap shots at a company that actually does quite well. I am not talking about the present UK HR issues here, mind you, but from previous experience through 30 years+, it is a good company to work for.
Last edited by SafetyCase; 14th Jul 2009 at 18:24. Reason: looks better
It is a very good place to work I would say, and so does my family.
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I am not talking about the present UK HR issues here, mind you, but from previous experience through 30 years+, it is a good company to work for.
CHC Norway may be doing well but CHC Scotia (UK) is certainly NOT.
And its a far bigger mess than just HR issues in the UK. The company is being mismanaged right from the top.
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Well not anymore it isn't! Well certainly not if you're in the UK.
I know CHC isn't perfect, and I will agree there are problems, but they will be worked out, and we have good working conditions because we have fought for them (and long may it stay), but keep it in perspective and be careful about choosing your battles. There is far worse out there, and it is still a business and has to make money, otherwise none of us will have a job. The nature of the business is that it can be a unpredictable. We are in the private sector and at the mercy of our owners, whoever that may be - like it or not. I do agree that the business in Scotia has been very badly handled, and I hope the union can enter decent dialogue to get long term agreements in place that can be incorporated into working law to prevent this happening again. It will get sorted though, and it will happen again.
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Horror Box, you obviously have no idea about the CHC Scotia issues right now. Good terms and conditions? On the decline. Wait till the southern bases go out on strike. The reasons behind this? Terms and conditions being attacked, and that word is not used lightly. It'll get a lot worse before it gets better for the folks down south.
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The problem is.. for all the pilots who are rightly upset over the way terms and conditions are being eroded, there are no other jobs available right now. Other north sea operators aren't hiring, bugger all police/EMS/VIP charter jobs around. The alternative? Go earn £18,000 a year as an R22 instructor, yeah right. Any job is better than no job, and the employers probably know this.
Interesting, i am lead to believe that Bond, NHV and Bristows are recruiting or are about too. But unfortunately for those who have never worked offshore it is harder to get a foot in the door, once you have the offshore experience it is easier to get a job offshore because you already tick most of the boxes!
Last edited by chcoffshore; 15th Jul 2009 at 19:07. Reason: added a bit more
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Come on someone, that's some great goading by the wizzard. Someone must want to tell him what they feel about sensitive issues regarding employees conditions and rosters on an open forum.
I'm almost tempted myself...
Nope, as the great man, Inspector Clouseau used to say to Kato, now is not the time or the place.
I'm almost tempted myself...
Nope, as the great man, Inspector Clouseau used to say to Kato, now is not the time or the place.
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Wizzard, I heard tonight that the Taliban have indeed thrown their towels in. Unwrapped from their heads, no less.
Ok, so maybe that isn't quite strictly true, but on the other subject of which you speak, a certain gentleman has made it clear that he doesn't believe the Southern Base pilot workforce have the bottle for Industrial Action. I believe this may be one of the most foolish assumptions he has made to date. As The Guvernor has posted, not the time and place for an employee to post, but for a relative of an employee, who is actually directly affected, who is more than happy to post without fear of a job loss, it appears that 100% of the Union members in the Southern North Sea have said they will agree to Industrial Action should the company implement their new proposed roster.
That's not 45%, or 50% or even 75%. That's 100%. Let's see what happens then Mr Wizzard.??
The strike may not actually ever happen but those guys 'sure are pissed' at the way management are riding roughshod over their terms and conditions!
Ok, so maybe that isn't quite strictly true, but on the other subject of which you speak, a certain gentleman has made it clear that he doesn't believe the Southern Base pilot workforce have the bottle for Industrial Action. I believe this may be one of the most foolish assumptions he has made to date. As The Guvernor has posted, not the time and place for an employee to post, but for a relative of an employee, who is actually directly affected, who is more than happy to post without fear of a job loss, it appears that 100% of the Union members in the Southern North Sea have said they will agree to Industrial Action should the company implement their new proposed roster.
That's not 45%, or 50% or even 75%. That's 100%. Let's see what happens then Mr Wizzard.??
The strike may not actually ever happen but those guys 'sure are pissed' at the way management are riding roughshod over their terms and conditions!