Era Helicopters
 

What can anyone tell me about Era?

Training, overtime, contracts, equipment, maintenance of equipment, etc.

Did a search with no results, so maybe no news is good news.

Any help?:ok:

Thanks dig, I've looked through their website, but I was hoping for some opinions from current or former pilots who flew for them.

"What can anyone tell me about Era?
Training, overtime, contracts, equipment, maintenance of equipment, etc."

Just recently finished working for Era Helicopters.

1. Training.... Not too bad, give good training but could be improved in some areas, they have just opened a new training center in Lake Charles and are working to improve training standards.

2. Overtime.... Depends on the aircraft you fly, the need for workover changes all the time depending on which pilots their short of, right now there's a lot of workover for AW139 captains.

3. Contracts.... Varies from production jobs in an A-Star, Pipeline patrol in EC135s to Drilling rigs in AW139s. Good opportunity to upgrade to different airframes and move to different contracts.

4. Equipments.... Nice airframes, lots of new aircraft, lots of variety, probably the best fleet in the GoM.

5. Maintenance.... Generally quite good but depends on the base... Always do a good preflight!!!

Best of luck in your future endeavours, I know you'll do great wherever you go.
Pete and I say Ciao.:ok:

Loose Cyclic:

Not stirring up faecal matter here. Genuinely interested in ERA as a prospective employer. But, yours is the first positive post I have read about ERA. On the "other" forum, ERA comes in for a lot of bashing for management, maintenance ,training etc. While I know perceptions and individual experiences can be widely different,is there in truth to the stuff on the "other" forum?
Alt3

Draadkar

You can disregard most of what you hear on the dark side, too many idiots with an axe to grind. If you do get good information, someone will heap dirt on top of it until you are not sure which version is the truth. I take what I read there with a big pinch of salt.

I also worked for Era but only about 5 months and I left because of my home situation, not due to the company. I must admit, offshore in the GOM is not my favourite, especially in the big ships with legs of 90 to 115 miles over water, very boring but some guys will like that. Weather was good during my time so nothing exciting happened.

I found the training to be very good, minor hiccups here and there in scheduling who goes where but it is a big company with a lot happening, I accepted that so it did not bug me.

I never did workover because I was living on a different continent, too complicated to get into but it was my reason for leaving. Workover was available and paid well, some 61 captains were making about $110 000 a year with a few workovers, not bad.

I was not on one dedicated contract but some ships were and it could go either way, lots of flying some days and very little on others. I averaged 50 hours every two weeks.

I was impressed with the aircraft being flown, mine was ancient but in excellent condition for an old bus. Lots of new stuff either already there or soon will be. If you work hard and keep your nose clean promotion will come quickly.

Maintenance on my type was very good. Being an older type there were many small snags but sorted out quickly. I heard a lot of the maintenance guys have left so I don't know what its like now, I left 2 years ago.

I enjoyed working there.

Yes there is always "some" truth in what you hear on rumour networks and forums, but also the people who are upset about something tend to be the most vocal. I know lots of other people that are happy at Era. There are some genuine concerns and problems but what company is perfect?, if you find one let me know. I didn't leave because I was unhappy, far from it, I just had a much better offer working in the Middle East which I see as a good long term opportunity. If you work hard at Era upgrades come quickly, but remember, many of the problems working in the GoM are the same problems at PHI or Airlog. Hope this helps and good luck :ok:

Thanks tottigol :ok: Say hi to Peter for me

Thank you all for the sensible and balanced responses. Sure is a refreshing change!!
Fly safe.
Alt3.

I didnt know there are oil platforms in ohio, Kansas, Illinois and Missouri

ERA Helicopters is growing and some of the contracts involve flying for customers outside the USA and the Gulf of Mexico.
We just completed a contract is Suriname and have several other good prospective contracts in other countries those include Australia, China, a large South American Country and a Mediterranean one.

Most of the libel written on the dark site is just that, largely directed to someone in particular and mostly coming from one or two individuals with an axe to grind, whether they are right or wrong.

Sorry to sound totally naive, but what is the "other" forum - the "dark side" one? I only ask as I feel I might be missing out on something.
Cheers
Sean

Just Helicopters :yuk:

Beware the dark side young Skywalker!

thank you JAB, I'm going in, just out of curiosity. Wish me luck

to carsickpuppy
 

What specific questions do you have? I have worked for Era for about 2 years. Started in a A119 with no offshore experience and a currently flying a EC135 on the Shell pipeline contract.

Well, if anything on the "dark side" forum can be believed, Era has begun or will shortly begin paying for commuting! (Or some portion of it.) This is an extradordinary step.

Era may be the first GOM operator to see the light and accept the fact that: a) not everyone wants to live on the U.S. gulf coast (or actually in Louisiana for that matter) and that b) commuting from far-away places gets old after a while, especially when you realize how much money you're spending just getting to and from work.

Expect the other GOM operators to follow suit shortly.

Have a friend working for ERA and can confirm that it´s true.
The amount you will recive depends on how far you live from the base.
But if im not wrong so is it up to 500$ per month.:ok:
Very generous of ERA i think. But that´s just my 5cent.

How does one come to be an "axe grinder"?

Is axe grinding legitimate?

If legitimate....what causes axe grinding?

Are these real axes....or merely imaginary axes?

If real...would not there be some concern byr prospective employees upon hearing the grinding noises or even by the employer?