Weststar helicopter operation.
 

Anyone got the scoop on the living/working conditions for this crowd?

Obviously they are shouting the salary out there to prospective pilots, but what are the other t's and c's like, particularly the dig's. :ok:

Check your PM

VEMD,

would you like to PM also to me any info you have about them?
I'm also interested in that operation indeed, and they contacted recently me for some brief infos about me...

Thank you for your kindness

Maeroda

Griffo, check your PMs

Heard Weststar had all their vacancies filled in.:oh:

That will be the same person who told you about NHV aswell then! :ugh:

Would think that Richard Nicolau and Nana know what they are talking about :rolleyes:

Perhaps you wish to share with us what you know?

No not really you seem to know all there is to know about the market place!:D

@MyTarget: Am I your target? Did I miss some new rotary job post announcing vacancies for "Trolls" for Pprune? I believe I didn't and you probably ought to get a life! :bored:

As a quick remark: Weststar is currently not offering any co-pilot positions to foreign nationals. If you have at least 100 hours P1 time on the AW139 you should be fine:ok:

A second Truism....

If you are on a good lick in the helicopter industry....enjoy it while you can!

Because it isn't going to last very long! Never will all the important things be there...Pay, Job Security, Lifestyle, Location, Equipment, Tasking...something is goinig to go down the hill and as "UM Lifting" so correctly states....Turnover rates spike!

There is always an Operator that will underbid your outfit for the work!

Hey Guys, are you able to PM me as well with any details?

Cheers.

QD

Would that be the Richard Nicolau who ended up in Stavanger when meant to be heading for Sumburgh? Best read the small print very carefully.

I'm also interested in Weststar operations: roster, pay etc...anyone have info, please PM.

Would any of the Weststar crew care to enlighten us about the operation? Info on conditions at the various bases would be good too.

I too would appreciate a PM with WestStar employment info for 139 Capt.

Need Malaysian License?
 

Does anyone know if a malaysian license is required? In their 'available vacancies' section of the website it is a requirement for captains, but for co-pilots it says 'Hold a Valid Commercial pilot’s licence for helicopters, Or higher category, acceptable to the Malaysian Aviation Authorities'.

Anyone know if an FAA certificate is 'acceptable to the Malaysian Aviation Authority'?

Mmmm ...


The word 'was' .... that the only foreign licences acceptable to the Malaysian authorities (other than Malaysian licences of course) were either JAR ATPLH or FAA ATPLH ... WITH AB/AW 139 type ratings already on them.

The above info of course subject to retrospective amendment as necessary ;)


Cheers

Terms for the validation of a non-malaysian pilots licence from an icao contracting s
 

If you check their DCA website, Cpt. Yahaya provides useful info about that topic:

DCA may validate a pilot's licence for purpose of public transport for a period of the licence validity or not exceeding a period of six months (Maximum of 2 years for Co-pilot)

A non-Malaysian licence holder seeking regular employment as an aircrew on Malaysian registered aircraft will not be issued with a Certificate of Validation unless he/she meets the term of conversion of non-Malaysian Pilot’s Licences (Aeroplane or Helicopter) of ICAO Contracting States.

For the purpose of applying for a Certificate of Validation, a foreign pilot licence's holder must meet the following requirements:
(a) a valid Medical Certificate.
(b) a valid Radio telephony Operator's licence.
(c) a valid Certificate of Test/Aircraft Rating.
(d) a valid Instrument Rating (if applicable).
(e) a valid Instructor's Rating (if applicable).
(f) pass Malaysian Air Law, Flight Rules and Procedures examination, except flight for paragraph 2.
(g) obtain licence authentication from country of issue
(h) clear police security vetting.
Note:
1. The above Certificates/Ratings must be issued by a single licensing
authority.
2. DCA may reject the application if the applicant is not proficient in English language.

Source: http://www.dca.gov.my/Division/Fligh...Validation.pdf

awesome
 

thanks for the info on the licensing question. I really appreciate it.

does anyone have any info on the schedule? do most of the pilots live in malaysia, or commute from somewhere abroad?

I'm currently living in the US and flying for a tour operator but looking to move into (international touring) offshore work as the schedule and pay are desirable. I'm researching any AW-139 / S-76 operators I can find and hoping to get picked up as a co-pilot.

I currently have about 2500 total time with experience in the EC-130, AS-350, and BH-206.

If anyone has any info on operators utilizing the 139/76 that may be hiring, please send me a PM.

Thanks

Appleater

I don't think you will have much luck with a Co-Pilot position at Weststar, I would imagine that preference for lower experience positions would be given to national pilots.

In my many years in the industry, I have almost never known (with the exception of the majors) expatriate touring Co-Pilot positions.

You may be wiser looking at hiring on with one of the US GOM operators as a Co-Pilot to increase hours and experience then you could subsequently look at Captain positions internationally?

@ 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?