Gerbil_Racer
Work where ever You will feel happy!! Go have a talk at different levels. If you get a good feeling, great go there. Because there are people in all companies that have fun in what they are doing (so great to work with) and people who can never have enough for as little as possible work (sometimes a pain in the B to work with) At the end the difference is not so big, if you have fun at your work!! I for one have had a great 12 years at where I work.
Also with the minor downs. But I still have the best job in the world

Bondu,

Lighten up man!

The comment was followed by another saying that I would sell my house and all its contents to support BHL Management. Just for the record, in case you missed the sarcasm , I wouldn't. It was an appropriate reply to the Cat's inane drivel.

I'm with you brother, let's break out the oil drums and form that picket line! (I'll be voting no).

Missing Piece.

OK, OK! Truce? I think we are on the same side!!

bondu

Are there any rosters which allow one to work out of ABZ and live elsewhere in the UK or is that predominantly for the Shetland crews? Slightly off thread so feel free to PM me if you'd rather.

Scotia's new roster which starts on Oct 10 is 7 on 7 off but they have specifically stated it is not a commuting roster. Don't know how they will police that though.

The guys based on the 40's do 14 days on 14 days off and a few of them live in sunny Spain. If you have a Dauphin rating and will live on a rust bucket scattered with aspestos (recent allegation) I am sure someone will bite your hand off.

I am just a lowly cojo though so that is speculation not a job offer.

Reality check?
 

Hi chaps,

I don’t often post but as I have several buddies at Bristows I got a bit interested in this thread. At the risk of being sent to Rockall as well I felt compelled to make a few “real world” observations on some of the comments:

“the new management culture is to continue where the last one left off, keep all the money for itself”

So Bristow’s nice new EC225’s were free then???

“The oil business is booming”…”with the oil price as high as it is, and soon to go higher again”

And the helicopter operators are raking in the extra profit as the oil company’s fall over themselves to offer higher rates to helicopter operators! NOT. Some basic market research suggests that quite the opposite might be true.

“it's not the BALPA representative that gets to spends 800 hrs a year out in the north sea”…

Wow, Bristow pilots all hit the FTL max! Second jobs all round then!

”…both North Sea pilots, who do spend 600 to 700 hours”

…ahhh, this is probably closer to the truth!

“Equal Time Roster - Bristow may occur March 2006, if roster meets five company requirements, CHC Starts 10th October 2005”

Hang on a minute - will this be all it’s cracked up to be – or will the company feel obliged to call you at all hours during your duty time? Probably OK if you’re working in the back of beyond but if you are at home I suggest that you might like to keep that diary totally clear during duty time...and don’t stray too far from the phone!

“The guys based on the 40's do 14 days on 14 days off and a few of them live in sunny Spain.”

If I was wavering before now I’m right behind your case for an increased pay offer!

“I'm with you brother, let's break out the oil drums and form that picket line!”

…and watch those messages of support for your cause pour in from the oil company’s; “no problem boys & girls, you just let us know when it’s all settled and we’ll fit our crew changes in around you…in the meantime we’ve got some contracts to cancel…”

Surely we aren’t really this divorced from the real world, are we?

Anyway, got to go and pack now. Will I need sunblock on Rockall at this time of year!

By Golly, Bristow must have retained old Homer Deakins for this one too!

Cancel contracts because of a rate increase to pay for increased staff pay and allowances?

Name one instance of that ever happening anywhere in the world's oil patches!

Scotsheli,

You sound like a decent enough character and I wouldn't suggest you go to rockall for one minute. However, if you insist, not only will you require sunblock you will also need enough bricks and mortar to build a wall high enough to stop the other two clowns from climbing over and interfering with you.

Hello Scotsheli,


No need for you to go anywhere, it is good to have different opinions! Here is mine regarding some of your point:


I don’t think this is how it works. A helicopter operator does not buy a new type and then hope an oil company will use it and pay the higher rate. The helicopter type is always specified in the tender for a contract and will (should) be priced accordingly. It is the oil companies who are paying for the modernisation of fleets, not the operator.



It is certainly true that the oil companies will try to keep the extra profits for themselves as much as possible (as would any other well run company) but if there is a substantial increase in flying activity which is well beyond the contracted flying hours then there is certainly room for negotiations. Also ad-hoc flying is sold at a premium rate if the oil companies are lucky enough to find an operator with the spare capacity.



This might have some bearing if a contract is just up for renewal. However as has been said before, I don’t remember an oil company ever cancelling a contract for that reason? (has there ever been a cancellation of a contract in the North Sea for any reason?)



The rest of your comments seem to suggest that you think all those North Sea part-timers are already having the time of their life and any improvement in pay and benefits is taking the pi$$. No idea what your background and current position is but maybe your “benchmark” needs to adjust?


Someone some time ago said that nothing is truly objective! (We are still waiting for this twin of his returning from his light speed journey through space to prove the point!) Therefore your “real world” does not necessarily have to match the North Sea one and as you are not directly affected yours should just remain as is – good for you if that is what you seek. Others think remaining still is going backwards.

Scotsheli.

If the drilling companies can increase rates by 100% why can't the heli operators? The only reason, at the moment, is the lack of backbone in the senior management ranks!!
We are classic 'price takers', to use the economists' term. When will that change?

As for the EC225s; BHL are 'exchanging' 5x AS332Ls for the 2x EC225s. The oil companies are impressed so far with the 225's performance, and BHL may well have to order more sooner rather than later.

bondu

I know this is a rumour network but a few of the rumours need clarifying.

The CHC 40s roster is 15 on 13 off with a daily allowance of £40:{

There are no vacancies at the moment as contractors have been recruited to fill the gaps as very few permanent staff want to spend 15 days living away from home.

Nobody lives in Spain.

What is aspestos:confused: (spelling police:E )

HF

HF

Is that £40 taxed?

Cyclic

The allowance is taxed:(

What in the UK isn't nowadays and I am sure as Brown's finances shrink he will think of a lot more things to tax after all he taxes the tax on petrol!!!

HF

'What isn't taxed in UK?'

I'm sure all the UK pilots are now aware that Gordon has got his beady eye on Loss of Licence. It would appear that all payouts made for LoL will now attract tax and NI to a total, for most of us, of 42%. So those who expected to get £100,000 will only receive £58,000. Doesn't sound quite so good now does it?

BTW, the equal time rosters that have been proposed at BHL are not the same as those at CHC. BHL are looking at the 5/2/5/9/5/2/6/8 (42 day) routine alongside a 5/2/5/4/5/9, (30 day cycle). The 7/7 routine didn't produce the required numbers on weekdays that are required by Operations. With 42 pilots on the 42 day cycle and 30 on the 30 day, BHL can man all their aircraft with allowance for training and sick days.

bondu

HF
"The CHC 40s roster is 15 on 13 off with a daily allowance of £40 "

Sorry, I thought it was 14/14, not too far off.

"There are no vacancies at the moment as contractors have been recruited to fill the gaps as very few permanent staff want to spend 15 days living away from home."

Ahh, Now I actually specifically said it wasn't a job offer but one or two of the newer pilots out there thought they would be based onshore and doing occasional trips to the 40's as cover. As you say, "very few permanent staff want to spend 15 days away from home" my point was that if someone offered to do just that then surely he would at least get an interview?

"Nobody lives in Spain."

Spain, Portugal, France........whatever, I can't keep track of all the holiday homes but it is somewhere sunnier that ABZ

"What is aspestos (spelling police ) "

Apologies, Asbestos. But that is only a rumour even when spelt correctly.

Wow,

is this 24 hours standby duty? Someone please tell these guys out there where the rest of the world is going. Suggest they make it 7 on 14 off and triple the allowance.

For all of you in Scotia, do you get a vacation with the 5-2-5-9 roster?

What would the start salary for a newly hired Co-Pilot be with CHC Aberdeen should he/she be brought on with a few thousand hours and an IR.

Just curious, thanks.

Kangia,

Following the latest pay deal, my spies tell me that a pilot with over 3000 hours should get about £50k on completion of training. An IR is a real bonus towards getting a job but does not effect salaries as everybody has one!:ok:

Command could definately take 5 years though.

Wiz

Thanks Wizzard.

That sounds a pretty good deal.

Ballot on Pay Deal
 

Just to keep everyone in the picture!
The company's offer is out to ballot at the moment. Ballot closes at 1100hrs on 11th October, with result to be released to Bristow's BALPA members soon thereafter. 'Exit polls' at this stage indicate a substantial NO vote.

bondu