Shell Southern North Sea Contract 2012
Epiphany
We are used to losing contracts to smaller, younger, and hence cheaper operators in an industry where the only driver is price. Fortunately in NNS we have more work than we can shake a stick at, though it is still unclear to me where we stand in SNS.
However I get nervous when people talk about "can do attitude".
Whilst I agree with your comments on management, I think we have improved from the point of view of management being more customer focused and certainly the majority of pilots retain their professional pride and desire to do the job well. However we are continually reminded that management and customer consider safety to be paramount, as is compliance with increasingly complex operational rules. This can appear as a can't do attitude but that is the state of the industry as driven by the customer.
We are used to losing contracts to smaller, younger, and hence cheaper operators in an industry where the only driver is price. Fortunately in NNS we have more work than we can shake a stick at, though it is still unclear to me where we stand in SNS.
However I get nervous when people talk about "can do attitude".
Whilst I agree with your comments on management, I think we have improved from the point of view of management being more customer focused and certainly the majority of pilots retain their professional pride and desire to do the job well. However we are continually reminded that management and customer consider safety to be paramount, as is compliance with increasingly complex operational rules. This can appear as a can't do attitude but that is the state of the industry as driven by the customer.
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Maybe you should look again. A far as I am aware there is a leased ERA 225 and a Dancopter 225 currently operating from Esbjerg with a second Dancopter 225 due shortly and another in a few months time.
A lead time of 2 years for delivery of an EC225 might seem a 'bit silly' to you but that is simply the way it is and does not make the bidding or contract start date any easier for operators.
A lead time of 2 years for delivery of an EC225 might seem a 'bit silly' to you but that is simply the way it is and does not make the bidding or contract start date any easier for operators.
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There were 3 Dancopter EC225's fully painted and flying at Marignagne whilst I was there in early May the ERA machine is onlease for crew training etc. before the contract start date of July 1st
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Well that's funny. I heard from someone on the inside close to Dancopter that they are not starting on the promised 1st of July and that Maersk is not pleased at all so far. In fact, apparently Dancopter has hired a CHC aircraft, from whom they won the contract, to cover the first two months of the contract, since they can't deliver. Also a rumour from that side has it that Maersk is not happy with 225 (something to do with cabin room?) and rather have 92.
Next to all this, the Dong contract is still not flown with their own capacity and is still being flown by ad hoc operators, in this case Belair.
So looking at this and with the very short time span they have left, will they also have such a lightening start with Shell?
They seem to be in way over their heads. So, does Dancopter only talk the talk or do they also walk the walk?
Next to all this, the Dong contract is still not flown with their own capacity and is still being flown by ad hoc operators, in this case Belair.
So looking at this and with the very short time span they have left, will they also have such a lightening start with Shell?
They seem to be in way over their heads. So, does Dancopter only talk the talk or do they also walk the walk?
Well, youve also said that NHV doesnt do any sim training at Helisim, right?
Guess what...Ive seen them training there just last week!
So much in regards of credibility and spreading negative rumours...
Guess what...Ive seen them training there just last week!
So much in regards of credibility and spreading negative rumours...
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eivissa
Read my posts more carefully please . I said they at least didn't used to go there . At least not when I was there. So if you havent't been there, don't talk to others about credibility . And for the rest read what ironcheffhey has to say about it.
You were saying about my credibility?
Ps. And like I said to many of your fellow critics, it is a rumour network! Negative or positive. How difficult is it to understand that concept? Or are we all here just to stuff feathers up each other's rears?
You were saying about my credibility?
Ps. And like I said to many of your fellow critics, it is a rumour network! Negative or positive. How difficult is it to understand that concept? Or are we all here just to stuff feathers up each other's rears?
Last edited by SNI; 20th Jun 2012 at 07:10.
Yes it is a rumour network but is there any need to be so aggressive SNI?
I take it your angry because you have to leave Den Helder but hey contracts are won and lost.
The American company's CHC & Bristow are getting a spanking at the moment and the smaller hungrier players are growing, its a cycle and it breaths fresh air into the industry. So good luck to Dancopter Belair NHV etc and i am sure they have jumped through all the hoops and ticked all the boxes or they wouldn't be playing with the large oil companies.
I take it your angry because you have to leave Den Helder but hey contracts are won and lost.
The American company's CHC & Bristow are getting a spanking at the moment and the smaller hungrier players are growing, its a cycle and it breaths fresh air into the industry. So good luck to Dancopter Belair NHV etc and i am sure they have jumped through all the hoops and ticked all the boxes or they wouldn't be playing with the large oil companies.
Last edited by chcoffshore; 20th Jun 2012 at 06:55. Reason: grammer
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chcoffshore
I apologize if I came across aggressive, but all I do is post rumours about the industry that I think are worth knowing for others. And when it's worth mentioning, it will even be about Bristow or CHC. That it so happens to be about the smaller operators this time is logical, since more things are going on there at this time.
It's others that react to me on a personal level when they feel offended. Might wanna speak to them as well, since they clearly haven't read the forum rules, i.e. suggesting that I am a certain individual time and time again. That's the real "not done", not me posting rumours from solid sources.
It's others that react to me on a personal level when they feel offended. Might wanna speak to them as well, since they clearly haven't read the forum rules, i.e. suggesting that I am a certain individual time and time again. That's the real "not done", not me posting rumours from solid sources.
Last edited by SNI; 20th Jun 2012 at 16:39.
Rigging Pin
Scotsheli - Only time will tell but I am confident DanCopter will start flying the SNS Shell from 1st of July onwards.
It will definitely not be Bristow
RP
It will definitely not be Bristow
RP
Last edited by Rigging Pin; 25th Jun 2012 at 09:11.
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I'm probably just being dim, as usual, but I think the expected, and correct, answers to Scotsheli's question would be one of the following two:-
"Yes, we will have four double crewed machines on 1st July"
"No, we will not have four double crewed machines on 1st July"
Rigging pin's statement that "I am confident DanCopter will start flying the SNS Shell from 1st of July onwards" is not one of the above, and could be proven to be true simply by flying one flight only on 1st July. RP leaves us enormous room for to form a misunderstanding! Is he prepared to honour us with a correct answer???
"Yes, we will have four double crewed machines on 1st July"
"No, we will not have four double crewed machines on 1st July"
Rigging pin's statement that "I am confident DanCopter will start flying the SNS Shell from 1st of July onwards" is not one of the above, and could be proven to be true simply by flying one flight only on 1st July. RP leaves us enormous room for to form a misunderstanding! Is he prepared to honour us with a correct answer???
@ Mazadriver - "RP leaves us enormous room for to form a misunderstanding! Is he prepared to honour us with a correct answer???"
There won't be any correct answers until July 1st has gone by. I only give my opinion on what I think is going to happen.
DanCopter will start July 1st... Maybe on their own.. maybe with help from CHC, Bond, Bel Air, Atlantic Airways and let's throw in NHV as well.
Sorry for Bristow (Read - sorry for their pilots, engineers and support staff)
Too bad management has
up.
RP
There won't be any correct answers until July 1st has gone by. I only give my opinion on what I think is going to happen.
DanCopter will start July 1st... Maybe on their own.. maybe with help from CHC, Bond, Bel Air, Atlantic Airways and let's throw in NHV as well.
Sorry for Bristow (Read - sorry for their pilots, engineers and support staff)
Too bad management has
up.RP
Last edited by Rigging Pin; 25th Jun 2012 at 18:17.
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Thanks for the answer, RP, I appreciate it. So it's clear now that your statements, which you write in a very definitive manner, are not based on some shred of fact or rumours you've acquired from a reliable source, but instead are simply your own speculations you've dreamt up and hence are based on nothing.
As a result, I infer that (double-negative alert!) you definitely don't know it "will definitely not be Bristow"! Cheers, for my renewed sense of optimism
As a result, I infer that (double-negative alert!) you definitely don't know it "will definitely not be Bristow"! Cheers, for my renewed sense of optimism
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If Shell award a contract to a small operator at the 11th hour and expect them to start at 2 bases with full crewing in the space of a few weeks then they only have themselves to blame if the start up does not run to plan.
It is not possible to simply open a box of fully trained new pilots and engineers. Even those from the existing operator who have been offered jobs have apparently been held to their 3 month notice period and are therefore unable to start until October. A company does not simply hire 20 new pilots with the prospect that they might be awarded a contract. They hire them once the contract is awarded.
The Doomsayers on here will no doubt crawl back into their crewrooms after the 1st July (and I note that these are the same people who predicted that Dancopter would have no airframes for the contract). Maybe Dancopter will start with help from elsewhere - I have no idea - but I will bet that they will make a success of the contract.
And of course we all know that BHL and CHC never have any problems.
It is not possible to simply open a box of fully trained new pilots and engineers. Even those from the existing operator who have been offered jobs have apparently been held to their 3 month notice period and are therefore unable to start until October. A company does not simply hire 20 new pilots with the prospect that they might be awarded a contract. They hire them once the contract is awarded.
The Doomsayers on here will no doubt crawl back into their crewrooms after the 1st July (and I note that these are the same people who predicted that Dancopter would have no airframes for the contract). Maybe Dancopter will start with help from elsewhere - I have no idea - but I will bet that they will make a success of the contract.
And of course we all know that BHL and CHC never have any problems.
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The reason they donīt have enough pilots (if that is the akilles heel) could be that they offered a pretty bad deal for those pilots wanting to join them. A pre-decided bag of money, think around 30 000 euros, that should cover everything from transport, lodging to cost of EC155 typerating.
Those who did the math came up short even if they would have made it within the minimum hours required.
dude, you dont get experienced pilots to pay for their own typerating on the North Sea, get real.
Those who did the math came up short even if they would have made it within the minimum hours required.
dude, you dont get experienced pilots to pay for their own typerating on the North Sea, get real.
Bristows still have work out of Norwich . While any work lost is a cause for concern it was not the only contract.
I expected Dancopters "Can do" philosophy to be stretched in the early days but Isn't getting someone else to " Can do" the work streeeeetching it a bit far after all that has been said on here.
I leave for my learned friends to decide my Lud.
I expected Dancopters "Can do" philosophy to be stretched in the early days but Isn't getting someone else to " Can do" the work streeeeetching it a bit far after all that has been said on here.
I leave for my learned friends to decide my Lud.