Flying Off Shore
 

For the guys flying off shore (oil/gas rigs) would like to ask them if it is boring flying in that kind of bussiness as some people says?

Yes. It's really boring.

Why? Could you pls elaborate...

The Blackpool operations ain't that boring since you can do something 10 landings an hour or 24 in 6 hours.

Humberside you get longer legs so it may be half that.

Aberdeen it takes a minimum of 45 minutes before you reach any rigs but you must ask the puma guys that.

It also depends very much on who you are crewed with.

But if you only do it for 3 -5 years you should be able to cope.Also the money makes up for a lot of it.

Will employers recruit pilots to work out of Humberside or Blackpool directly, or is it more usual for crews to move to those locations from Aberdeen?

Are the rates of pay the same for each location or does it vary between the north and south?

What sort of shift patterns do pilots work at Humberside and is there a limit on how far you can live from the airfield?

...and most importantly...are they recruiting?

offshore
 

When I joined I was asked which base I preferred to operate from and asked for a second choice, now I think they only need people for Aberdeen, but I may be wrong.

The work patterns are different North and South and I think they differ at each base. I know theres two different ones at Denes. Not sure on pay scales.

They prefer you to reside within 45 mins of base.

Check out www.chc.ca for job listings.

I don't find it boring, but some people do, I guess you either love it or hate it.

TalktheTQ if I may, what is the current first Officer entry pay for CHC (if you work there), in Europe?

TTT

very useful, TVM.

SB

Some people highly qualified in other fields have become North Sea pilots on the assumption that the job is going to be exciting and varied. Generally it isn't, apart from some panicky moments, and after a few years they became disenchanted.You have to accept that you are really a highly paid bus driver; take the money and the time off and do something interesting in your spare time rather than sitting in front of the box.

TTT thanks, are those figures before or after taxes?
All pay in the USA is usually referred to before taxes.

Very definitely 'before' tax.

Tax (and national insurance etc) in the UK will be 40-50% on those amounts.

I disagree
 

You have to be relative about this boredom!

I am about to enter the industry having come from an office job. You try sitting infront of a desk, day in, day out, same stuff, same office politics, same chat around the water cooler everyday. Do that and then say that this job is boring...I don't think you'll be able too.

And as another person mentioned, you have more than enough spare time to undertake other projects!

2pb

Central North Sea.....Interesting...yes for the first couple of years
Down side... weather usually Cr*p, same routes, lack of variety after a while
Upside...Equal time, get home every night, Good pay.

The flying can be a bit sporting in the wintertime and you have the odd "fun" day. But on the whole it is not really any worse than straping your self to a plank and doing european routes with one of the cheapy airlines...except that you get home almost every night, work half the time and get paid about the same.......

they do get Hosties though!!!

T4

Bristow starting pay for FO's is £42000 - irrespective of hours

Do everyone applying for an offshore job in the UK North Sea need to go through all the crazy psycho test no matter the amount of hours and previous offshore experience?

I was told that all they do is eat ice cream and drink coffee...don't know how true that is though.............:)

no bennyjoha, they don't. Seems only CHC do this. Hop onboard. You too can be a glorified bus driver! :p:ok:

I worked in an office for over a decade before making the change and have to say the grass is never greener on the otherside!!.....same s"@t different office, less change in my pocket!!:ugh:

I thought CHC do all the offshore in the UK North Sea?

It beats working for a living!