Vie sans frontieres

But are they ex-Navy civilians or ex-RAF civilians? I think it's the original flying background that counts so flights don't become too naval or too RAF-like in their orientation.

IFR Piglet

I hear the leave entitlement for the new recruits to UK SAR is only 9.3 days.

We currently get 28 days leave just so ya know.

I say currently with a feeling of slight unease!

Sumpor Stylee

What about the guys not being offered the same allowances as others before them on the transition team…. Or the lack of SAR allowances that have always been the case up until now and those TUPE'd from present terms will maintain but are suddenly not there anymore…..

Lala Steady

Haven't heard of anyone from the mil being offered Lee - does that mean that TUPE will apply to those there even though it doesn't at any of the mil flights?
The managed transition seems to be an inconsistent process aimed at capturing an age group rather than an experienced one.

snaggletooth

The contract is a bit of a c*ck-up and very confusing. However, I have been assured by a man I trust very highly within Bristow that we do in fact get 28 days leave. Contracts may need to be reissued to reflect this.

IFR Piglet

So it would seem there has been a mistake made with the issue of these contracts. Not a good start for some of you in your civilian careers.

My advice:

Given it’s a “mistake” don’t sign the botched contract, request and await a new one.

When it arrives:

Take your time to understand every single word and their implications for you. Even when you think you understand every single word take it to a professional employment lawyer and have them look it over for you. It might cost a little in the short term but help you in the long term. A contract shouldn’t be confusing and therefore not signed until any confusion is cleared up with your prospective employer.

These links may be of some use to you in obtaining more advice.

https://www.gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights-helpline

http://www.acas.org.uk

Finally you are under no obligation to join but it should be worth your consideration to join a union. One is currently negotiating indirectly on your behalf right now.

Welcome to Civie SAR!! Your career long battle to maintain/improve Ts & Cs has already begun (before your foot is through the door….. what a shame). No doubt a concept that will go against the grain initially but you must overcome that discomfort very quickly or risk a shafting in this capital “shareholders rule” world.

Isn’t it amazing how inferior contracts can accidently by mistake with no one knowing slip into envelopes and find themselves in the hands of new recruits. Someone really must stop leaving banana skins about!

satsuma

It would be a bit below the belt if a mass influx of new recruits who don't know any better was used as an opportunity to change Ts & Cs for the worse. Is this what happens when contracts are won by massively undercutting the competition? Where else will we see expenditure slashed?

kellyoldsmunt

well, all the ground work was about to start, but the closure of Manston now puts the base elsewere.

SARowl

How about Southend?

Art of flight

Southend? Tried to relocate the Essex Police ASU there a couple of years ago. Real problems with real estate and long term leases against actually trying to buy a plot to put a building/hangar on. One thing to look for in your contract is bank holidays, as they may be included in your rostered days off.

OafOrfUxAche

Why would closure of the airfield prevent a helicopter unit operating from the site?

kellyoldsmunt

because it wouldn't be feasible to have a helicopter base in the middle of a housing estate, which is what the current owners had in mind from day 1.
they did not own it when the base was announced. and as yet Bristows havnt acquired the land

sonas

Changing tack a little, How come ARCC are co-ordinating maritime taskings and not giving much info to Coasties? Mod holding on for the last few months, and just been a curious individual, what's going to happen to the ARCC when there are NO Mod assets other than a handful of Mrt?

Vie sans frontieres

Probably because they're the Centre that Co-ordinates Rescues by Aeronautical assets. Good question though.

jeepys

With regards to crewing both front and back civvies can be classed as civvies even if they are ex mil. Therefore getting civvie crews with experience should be no problem.

sonas

Thanks VSF, I walked right into that one. I'll go and sit in the corner

Vie sans frontieres

In that case jeepys, won't the desire to have a one third split at each flight be scuppered by the fact that all the staff are civvies?


Does anyone know the training syllabus for newly arrived aircrew? Bristow have stated that there will be a nine month training period for newly arrived pilots and approximately six months for rearcrew.

[email protected]

It seems likely that the ARCC will eventually go to the MOC (new centralised Coastguard centre near Southampton) and the military presence will be limited to the MCC bits (satellite monitoring). However, the CG don't have any great experience of coordinating aeronautical rescues (yes I know there are a couple of CG guys in the ARRC) so they will need some help from those that do - not sure anything is set in concrete yet.

jimf671

... including satellites.

jimf671

New pilots out there now doing O&G and periodically dipping their toe in the SAR pond.