Early 40s...

Not sure if this is restricted only to nationals, but it's the first time in a long time I've seen an airline offering ab initio places.
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/g...pilots-career/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-41279162

Bristow Helicopters has confirmed that the company is seeking to make 12 redundancies among pilots at its Shetland and Norwich bases, which are serving the oil and gas industry.

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandga...066.1494507576

....perhaps a good opportunity for any Bristow pilot seeking voluntary redundancy.

Bristow have a number of contractor pilots at Norwich so there should not be any need for full-time 'redundancies' there.

Not true. The AW189 is remaining in Norwich as well as Aberdeen. It's just a reduction in work in Norwich for the type, hence not so many crew required.

You would like to think that those at risk on the 189 would be moved across to the 139 fleet which has contract pilots, but not the case which is very sad for them.

What is your opinion, is this development the manifestation of a whole new era with a permanently very reduced RW market, or "just" a long term dip in the industry which will eventually recover, as seen before in earlier decades? If it ever picks up again after a time where nobody trains RW, may low timers even have an easy shot for Offshore?

Depressing Situation
 

If it's a dip it's the longest in O & G history. The global market started to dip in 2014 IIRC. Fracking has had a huge effect, the oil sand industry is thriving; hate to seem pessimistic but personally I don't think it'll ever recover to pre 2014 or the halcyon days of the 90s.

Just my two penneth.

NEO

I can't see a return to previous levels in the offshore UK sector. The other thing I find sad is that the companies would rather pay contractors on a particular type, than have a dedicated workforce. These companies no longer become employers, just a basic agency with a far too top-heavy management structure. As said above, anyone thinking of a flying career in helicopters would probably be better off investing in fixed wing where the market is great for pilots right now.

We tend to forget when we live in a given age that industries come and industries go, relatively quickly. Coal is a good example in the recent energy industry. The rise of inland extraction makes offshore expensive. You only have to look at advances in windfarm technologies and the fact that car companies are now all moving to electric to realise that big changes are in hand. Drone technology advances don’t help the rotary industry from a pilots viewpoint and self driving cars aren’t that far away along with vastly reduced car ownership. I’m not suggesting it’s all over but I think it’s certainly a new norm rather than a dip.

Good riddance to it I say.
Anyone who has seen the utter contempt your client holds you in will understand.
Very appreciative of your excellent service and general 'can-do' attitude right up to the point they need to cut costs further to pay shareholders, irrespective of how much has been wasted in other areas....
Aye, you can keep it.