But that is NO excuse for a courtesy communication from Bristow to the MoD explaining the delay. There are a lot of people's lives on hold over this response.
I'll say it for those who are afraid to:
"Wake up Bristow and meet your responsibilities". Conversation costs nothing.:ugh:

Don't be too hard on HMS Bristow TC. It is clear to me after years of :ugh: that it is not the contractor that is the problem. The problem is their customer. When every word is under scrutiny, it is hard to fashion a conversation. Talking to a Coastguard contractor is like trying to negotiate with North Korea.

jimf,

Really? Somehow it's the fault of the Coastguard that Bristow's HR process has been so protracted and un-communicative. The basing and crewing solution has always been a known factor; any delay in the recruitment process is only down to internal Bristow issues. These may be genuine of course but to palm the blame off onto the Coastguard is a cop-out.

I feel I have to pipe up here. Bristow have maintained throughout that the process for Managed Transition would be a fair one. Last night I (and I can only presume everyone else still going through the process) received a phone call from an individual who is high up in the managerial chain of UK SAR. The individual apologised for the delay and informed me that the reason was due to making sure that EVERYONE was able to attend their interviews before offers were made.

I appreciated the personal phone call, which could just have easily have been a mass email. It also highlighted to me that Bristow are sticking to their guns, which despite the frustrating wait, I'm sure most people will appreciate.

Front-Enders received a phone call, rear crew still enjoying a deafening silence. Not good. The lack of information and progress is causing some to seriously reconsider their options. :=

snaggletooth - welcome to the civilian world.... & when you say 'seriously reconsider their options' what exactly would those be??? If you were one of those still waiting for interview (through perhaps no fault of your own), would you want all the jobs to be given out? What difference is another week really going to make....:ok:

Err, staying in the mob, transferring to another role when Mil SAR ends and continuing to take the Queen's very generous shilling – it's not rocket salad. Many of us do not need to dance to Bristow's tune, although I for one would love to work for them if the package is right. :ouch:

That's absolutely fine, as long as you are confident that everyone received the same phone call on Friday night. You might be less content if that turned out not to be the case.

Torque - good point, well made. I know several did, but obviously cannot comment on the masses.

I can. And they haven't!

Rear crew job offers have been coming out today via phone.

:D excellent news. Good luck to all!

SAR Rear crew?
 

I believe rear crew offers are now on the street, confirmed by a few LinkedIn job changes this week....

Anybody know if there are any posts left for us civvies or has managed transition gobbled them all up at a snip? :ugh::ugh:

Bristow have stated that they would like a one third split at each flight between ex-Navy, ex-RAF and civvy so don't give up hope.

Yes, that what I was told too.

So, for 10 bases, that's 3.33 bases worth of crew from each provenance. It's a very simplified model but even so it leads you to some interesting sums.

If that one third aspiration applies to rearcrew as well, it remains to be seen what background those civilian rearcrew come from. Ambulance service perhaps? Bristow appear not to have been frightened to offer positions to a range of military experience, from those with apparently no SAR pedigree to some of the most experienced SAR operators in the land. Therefore it can be assumed that places could remain for suitably qualified potential rearcrew with no helicopter experience.

Vie,

Im not so sure you can make that assumption. Bristow's requirement to fill front seats include captains and co-pilot positions. They also need to create a system that is sustainable. In other words, within the military transition, they will want to draw experienced SAR captains in their twilight years right through to younger, less experienced pilots to happily fill co-pilot positions with aspirations to work towards SAR command sometime in the future.

With rearcrew, whilst they will look for a range of age and experience to make the contract sustainable, I think the idea that they will happily employ guys with quote " no helicopter experience" unlikely....although of course not impossible.

Remember too the recruitment field for the 'civilian element' is a lot broader than just the UK...:ok:

ps.... "some of the most experienced SAR operators in the land"....did crab get a job then?!:E

Makes you wonder what the long term plan for Bristow's is, with regards to SAR rear crew.

Once the transition is over and we are steady state, ie. 5 years time, where will the suitably qualified rear crew come from?!

Is ab-initio air crew training the option!?

Is employing ambulance techs the answer?

I think only time will tell, but we need to remember that this is a long term national contract and with personnel movements, promotions, sickness, retirement etc then there will always be a requirement for staff.

There's a fair nimber of civilian rear crew who have doing the job for the last thirty years.