Scotia and Bristow's main priority at the moment is to retain (and to find more) pilots who have leaving at an alarming rate from the North sea to the far more rewarding employment in the Fixed wing world. The situation for the offshore Helicopter industry is desperate. Contracts are not being fully met because of the pilot shortage. The well prophesied crisis is here now. The operators will have to hike up pay and conditions to such a level to stop people leaving and to get others to rejoin. Ultimately there is no alternative to this.
The pay rises in the North Sea will begin to have an effect on the pilot market on-shore. Market Forces will prevail and you will have to pay your onshore pilots far higher salaries to retain them.
Watch this space over the next months and year!!

TC – I have been shortlisted, as it happens for the Humberside job but I am not going to pursue it further due to a variety of reasons (Location being but one!) the salary being offered however, is sensible and rewards those with a broad breadth of experience, which is why I feel that my current unit get me on the cheap! I am well aware of the current state of the helicopter industry and as a result of current market forces am trying to get a suitable remuneration.

My major sticking point are ex mil pilots who have no experience of the civilian market or indeed no charter experience whatsoever who are quite happy with their lot (plus pension of course!) and will sit for years in their current position quite unaware that they are being exploited.

Morning Shuttle – A few years ago I was all set to leave the Military and join Bond as it was, then, about two weeks before leaving you all got very incestuous and my job disappeared. At the time I was promised SFO and about 37K to start. Has anything changed? Is it worth me going back up to Banchory or Inverurie and looking for a house?

See this weeks Flight Int. Scotia are after exp pilots with 3000hrs probably for entry as Capts as they are desperately short of exp pilots to fill the RHS as exp co-pilots are leaving for fixed wing. Inexperienced pilots are plentiful but an experienced pilot could negotiate a high entry level on the salary scales as they are desperate.

So how many PPL instructors get paid 35K ? Well it's nice to see the question of pay come around for it's regular airing, with the usual sniping at ex-mil guys and their pensions.

Yes I am one. Yes I have a pension...it's worth just over 350 a month after tax. But...it took me 24 years to earn it, 13 of those flying. So at 47 after 30 years of employment I'm fairly happy with my lot.

No snipe intended MG - I also have a mil pension - The thrust of my argument is: While you and other police pilots (predominately ex mil) are happy with their lot the industry is rapidly moving on and there does not seem to be any movement on our behalf to keep up. Why should the police enjoy the benefits of a 4500 hour pilot with 15 years military flying behind him and pay him peanuts whilst Scotia (for example) are desperate for those very same pilots to go and work for them for a considerably enhanced salary. I also find it intensely frustrating when I raise this subject to be compared only with other police pilots as if my ATPL has ‘Police Flying Only’ stamped all over it!

Despite these comments I do enjoy my flying with the police – I just hate to think that I am being taken advantage of hence my original request (just to steer the topic back on track!) for info relating to pay scales and increments throughout the industry.

I'm not sure that we can compare our wages with what the North Sea guys get. They generally fly bigger, more complex aircraft, have full IFR ratings and fly 7-800 hours a year quite often in atrocious weather. It's like saying that 737 crews should be paid the same as 777 crews.

You could probably get a good deal on the North Sea at the moment if the shortage is as bad as it seems. Have you applied yet? Me, I'm happy working 4 on, 4 off.

BFN

Letsby

Have been told that SFO at Scotia is 41K.

Looks like you are beating your head against a wall over this one. But I always thought a pension was something for your old age not used to supplement working income.

Maybe this is why you won't let any civilian pilots into the Police.

:)

Don't know where you get your figures but I'm looking at the present Scotia pay scales and the year 1 command starts at 40k so I'd find it unlikley that an SFO earns 41k. But watch this space!

I agree with pitchlink Scotia command start from around 40k to 54k (18yrs)I haven't the figures but an SFO top would be around 41k starting somewhere in the 30s.
The fact is no one will pay higher salaries until they have to. The Market force argument still holds true. Don’t despair, we are becoming a rare breed. Military pilots are mostly leaving to go fixed wing and though the flying schools are putting out a few raw CPL(H), who in their right mind will pay to get a CPL(H) at around 80k when a fixed wing license will cost half that.......and you can get double the pay with an airline.
Our time will come !
I would be surprised if Scotia are taking on direct entry Captains, I don’t think the Co-pilots would stand for it. Moral has been low enough as it is and it would possible put things over the edge.

The Flight advert seems to indicate that they are after direct entry Capts as 3000hrs is the usual oil company minimum hrs for a Capt to fly on contract. Scotia it seems has promoted everybody it can as most of the remaining copilots have very low hrs and little non N Sea exp and will be unsuitable for command for some years yet: that is if they have not left to fly fixed wing!!! So now is the time for market forces to act in N Sea pilots' favour so long as the helicopter companies are disuaded from trying to employ cheaper non EC pilots.

LA
I fully support your efforts and reasoning. I believe we have the same employer and am attempting to put the same case as you as my basic has dropped by about 25% in real terms since I joined the company.
I too am ex military but don't have the benefit of a pension to susidise my pay. With over 20 years flying experience I now find myself being valued less and less. Although I love the job I and others in my position are being forced to look elsewhere just to maintain our former standard of living.
I would value your input in my attempt to present a case to the management at a meeting soon. The more united we appear the better.
I tried to email through you this site tonight but it came back undelivered, any way I can get in contact ?

Salaries
 

I am doing a quick survey on salaries. I am an EMS/SAR pilot in Australia with ATPL(H) and CPL(FW).I have about 6000 hrs total with 1000 hrs B212/412, 700hrs BK117,1600hrs S76, 1300hrs B206/S350(ASTAR). Most of my time is in Offshore, EMS/SAR and Media. Could anyone tell me what someone with these numbers could earn in the US, Canada/Alaska, or the UK :cool:

Giving you a rough idea about UK based SAR. Carried out by Bristow Helicopters for the Coastguard. Using S61's at 2 Island bases and 2 mainland bases. Employment deals very, but at the moment, and going on past info; with your 'experience' you 'could' negotiate entry with a Captain's rank perhaps 4-5 years seniority. Basic salary plus North Sea Commander and various allowances (increased if based on an Island with accommodation provided), £45 - £46K if single, more if married. Bristows are in the middle of pay negotiations so those figures should increase. CHC Scotia's 2 Irish based S61 Coastguard SAR Ops are not as well off given the currency and taxation factors (Scotia is also in the middle of pay negotiations)

Hope that gives you some idea of what to expect. The cost of living is high in the UK, so your Aussie $ based salary if around $60K? would more than make you better placed, with fun in the sun included.

In Canada you would probably earn between $60K and $75 K (Canadian Dollars). The Canadian and Australian dollar are comparable I think.

Helicopter Freelance Rates
 

I am an Instrument Rated JAA ATPL(H) flying medium twins outside the UK for a major operator. Getting GBP250 per day plus expenses. Anyone doing better??

I'm not personally involved in the rotary world but I know of several freelancers on £200-£250 per day. I've heard rumours of £400-£500 per day for the British Grand Prix - supply and demand - and the fact that it's a difficult, long and tiring day for the pilots.

Post rescued from the wrong forum.

Anyone able to help?

£250 per day is not that good for an IR rated twin pilot, you can get that flying shag jet rangers.

IR twin drivers should, and can get, £300- £350 per day. (well thats wot i get)

ITS time some people stopped "doing it for the love of it" and let the pros earn some more money.

Rumour has it that rates are better 'up North', hope so as I'm soon to move:-)

My experience of Freelance Rates has been brief (5 yrs) but eye-opening.
The company/insurance stipulation of 1500 hrs min is soon kicked into touch when a young pilot comes along with a fresh commercial looking to build hours. The company know that they will work for next-to-nothing. It's then down to the judgement of the management to expose him/her to tasks that are deemed suitable/capable so not to tarnish their flt safety/Ops reputation.

Pilots get hacked off when rates are kept low, almost casting dispersions upon their qualifications.....but then no one is forcing you to stick with the company, one of the advantages of being 'Freelance'

A reasonably experienced full time North Sea Captain, (12 years seniority) is costing his employer circa £365 per working day including employment costs (Salary X 1.2). He/she is protected by all sorts of employment laws and in the event of redundancy, is likely to receive a reasonable package. Any Captains on a day rate on the North Sea should be invoicing for at least £500. The employer must pay for the flexibility he gets in being able terminate at will with no cost. It is about time the pilots (in conjunction with BALPA ) stopped undercutting each other and come up with standard charges for day raters.

See that pig flying overhead ??