@ Appleater: one other obstacle you may bump into is Offshore time minimum requirements by the customer (i.e. BP, Total, ESSO...etc), you may meet their TT requirements, PIC requirements but may not have their Offshore and minimum time on type requirements (Typically 50 hours for SIC) and ME time (Sometimes 250 hours)

Industry insider advice sounds wise, aim for the GOM, tick that Offshore time box and ideally the ME box as well. Good luck to you.

The foreign license validation thing normally
Only applies if you already have a job to go to from what I have seen.

If not, you will have to convert which can be long and painful. Frm my expereince the DCA were not very helicopter friendly. When
I wrote in they gave me the approval letter applicable to fixed wing pilots, which states I must fly 35 hours in a twin for a basic Malaysian CPL(H), even tho I
Clearly stated I was a helicopter pilot. So paying for 35 hrs in an AS-355 for a basic CPLH was pretty ridiculous and DCA would not budge on this for many months.

Only after my employer spoke to them did they "allow" me to
Do my conversion in an R44 instead. However all my exams were fixed wing exams too. Many totally not relevant to me at all as a helicoter pilot. So just something to be aware of when dealing with the Malaysian DCA.

GOM
 

industryinsider,

Thanks for the feedback. Hiring on in the gulf is definitely on my radar, but I'm trying to explore the 'direct hire' avenue first as this is my end goal - and I'd rather 'job hop' as little as possible.

When you say 'with the exception of the majors', are you inferring that the bigger multi-national operators may hire on someone such as myself as an SIC - but trying to find such a position in a company that operates in 1 specific location/market is going to be more difficult?

If so, can you reply with a few companies you would consider 'majors' that I should be investigating? I'm currently thinking about CHC, and Evergreen but would like to hear your take on some of the other companies out there that may be interested in someone with my skill-set.

I really do appreciate the feedback~

just noticed this post went on to an 2nd page. Peter PanPan, and Garfs - thanks for your feedback, as well.

The more i research, the more it seems like spending a few years in the Gulf of Mexico will likely be the next step - but as I stated, I'm going to give it a try going international first as this is where I truly want to be - and if nothing pans out, I'll head south.

I'll keep you all posted~

Apple

Basically yes, that is what I have experienced. Someone like Bristow or CHC will send an aircraft and crew(s) to an international location but with the proviso that they start to train local Co-Pilots (initially) and technicians to satisfy local labor regulations. Eventually, a local capability is established doing away with most expatriates.

Weststar needs experienced AW139 Captains because the customer demands it. There is no shortage of local experienced (just not in type) Captains and First Officers who will be ready once they have gained experience in the AW139. Your chances of being employed as a foreign First Officer in Malaysia are essentially nil.

Your best long term chances are to become an experienced Captain on twins with an Instrument Rating. The best way would be to approach one of the GOM operators and tell them that you are seeking a position as a First Officer on a twin.

Most of the GOM operators who are not already established internationally are also dipping their toes into international markets (albeit slowly).
If you have the experience to satisfy the oil company's Aviation Standards (which you will have to build in the GOM) you would be surprised at the opportunities that may spring up in the next 5 years, maybe even with the company you would join to avoid "job hopping".

Bristow of course is already an established international and GOM company and would have international vacancies from time to time, likewise, CHC. You could also try PHI and or ERA, both of whom seem to be very interested in International expansion.

industry insider
 

Thanks again for the feedback. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

Westar for engineers?
 

Anyone have any information about Westar and their need for engineers? I hear there are a whack of you Brits over there... any chance of spreading the wealth to a colonialist? ;)

West Star
 

Hi everyone!

A friend of mine is just to apply for the capt. position offered by West Star.

He´d like to get some feedback about the Company, how serious they are, and alll those things (compared with the "Big Ones").

Thanks in advance.

Weststar are a relatively big player in the far east now. Lot of very experienced Uk pilots have considered them good enough to head over there.

Timmyt asked about a 139 rating? It'll probably cost you about 60kEuro, try Augusta in Italy or CAE in New Jersey???

I'm also considering Weststar but finding it difficult to get any info from an expat pilot's perspective. If there are any current Weststar touring pilots willing to share their knowledge of the company please pm me.

Weststar Offshore Contract Win
 

Good win for Weststar. Lot of interest in this contract with both CHC and BRS bidding.
Weststar signs first contract outside Malaysia | Helihub - the Helicopter Industry Data Source

What happened to MHS operation there?

Weststar
 

Anyone who may be interested in working with Weststar; this would be a jolly good time to submit or resubmit your CV, or drop an email.

In which types?
 

The west star openings seem to be for 139 rated pilots/copilots? Any chance to be hired for the 365 as a copilot?

I dropped them an email with CV a month ago, no reply what-so-ever...

Weststar
 

A colleague of mine was recently offered a position with Weststar. On paper it looks good.

In practice, less good. Apparently.

Gullibell. Do you actually have a 139 type rating?

Can someone share roughly what the Weststar package is ?

Weststar
 

Good question Rotorboy.

And would that have anything to do with the Mauritania contract?