HNZ wins SAR in Oz
 

HNZ have pulled off another big upset, snatching offshore SAR away from CHC and Bristow (who had a SAR S92 on site!).


HeliHub.com HNZ Group announces offshore SAR contract in Australia


Now they are scrambling for crews after the government changed the 457 Visa Rules.


They approached me but want 3 week tours, no DTA and no annual leave!


Anyone else been approached?

Doesn't the other 26 weeks off per year offset that a little bit? Not exactly slave labour!

Yea I figured they were having trouble getting crews after they extended the EOI an extra month on their website.

But I'm pretty sure they will get a way round the 457 issue, especially with the requirements as they stand.

I wouldn't keep your fingers crossed. CASA pilots with the right to work and live in Australia!

Maybe in a few years this CANZUK International becomes reality!!

I'm not surprised they're having trouble finding pilots if this is the agreement they'll be working under:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/agreements/fwa/ae423097.pdf
Very short on detail and far worse than any of the competitor's offshore agreements in Australia. Casual rates, overtime, roster details, annual increment, salary level based on "performance"???

So they do get leave after all - 6 weeks. So 20 weeks work, 32 weeks off.

But check how the leave must be taken: 11.3.b

Ideally the changes to the 457 visa could see more Australian pilots getting better opportunities in their chosen fields, but since 457 is to be replaced with another selective visa programme their is every chance that the gates will be re-opened to allow internationals with specific skills to be brought in for these sort of jobs.

The gates have been re-opened. HNZ just need to pay a one-off $5000 for a visa to employ a foreign pilot, plus $1,800 per visa per year thereafter. In the overall scheme of things the cost and effort for them to bring in foreign pilots to work on this contract is nothing.

Crews are off to France in the coming months for type ratings.

It's sad to watch the "race to the bottom" with wages and conditions in Australia.
Like many places I'd imagine, it's a long hard road to get into a ME IFR job with good pay and conditions. To see the current climate/situation is very disappointing.

It appears the "new players" have either no "award" (EBA), or a pathetic one, that no current ME IFR pilot would voluntarily entertain. Then they pay as much as is required to get the pilots they need on a "secret individual basis". They can then erode these conditions over time. Again, without anyone knowing what anyone else is receiving .

When times are tough, they can get some guys for peanuts.

They just tell every pilot confidentiality, that "they are the highest paid pilot in the company", and "don't tell anyone, or they will want what you have!" Next it will be: "Yours is the smallest pay cut in the company, don't tell anyone else!"

One clueless HR department have glanced over one of the recently drafted "bottom of the barrel awards" and are, stupidly or dishonestly, (hard to tell most of the time) claiming it as the new industry standard.

An experienced, qualified, motivated, loyal, stable pilot group, is apparently valueless in the brave new world.

It's all a cycle. The big winners will be the SIM operators. A large pilot turnover makes them plenty of money.

:(

Forgive me but this seems to be a SAR contract based in Broome. If HNZ had the crews living in Broome & not touring, then it would be on fixed based conditions & not touring. This is what Lloyds did in Karratha where the company provided housing & the crews had normal annual leave & a 5 day week.
If they flew to the oil rig as usual, then it is still a fixed base situation.

Brother I'm curious why now you feel it is inevitable that terms and conditions should be reduced across the industry?

A quick browse of your posting history showed a quite different viewpoint in the past.

I'm glad you are happy. That's great.:ok:

But to list all the hard fought for remuneration and conditions you are personally happy to do without, and claim it is not a race to the bottom doesn't make any sense.

With your logic, the next company just has to reduce the accommodation standards some more, and pay a little less, win the contract on price, and "this will be how things are now" (till it goes further down). Where does it end? Sharing a tent and flying for food?

Make no mistake, it's a race to the bottom, and HNZ is winnning, for now.

A serious and easily answered question: Do you know for sure you are being paid the same as similarly qualified and experienced work colleagues?

Schedule 1, page 17 (Classification and Wage Rates) and Schedule 2, page 18 (Allowances) of the Award has the required rates. If the employees don't get those rates then FWA would be taking action.

John,

I believe most pilots are currently paid in excess of the advertised rates, via individual negotiations. Because, for now, they can't attract the required qualifications or experience for those rates.

I'm not certain, but this is the information circulating the industry.
Hence my genuine question.

HNZ will be in the same position, when another company manages to find some pilots to "work for a bit less" with an even more "different roster" and start tendering. - Race to the bottom.

Confirm, or correct "different roster" means more time away from your family, traveling during your time, on weekends?

Why is it that HNZ are always asking for rated guys, is no one willing to train anyone anymore? Can't expect to pay peanuts and not invest in training staff, only trying to poach rated guys from other contracts so they can keep profits high!!

Brother

Don't take any of these comments as personal attacks.
I'd personally gladly take a lower paying job with a company that treated me better. (But this better treatment would probably have to include travel and accommodation standards if it were a touring position.)

You say you personally only have a 2.5hr flight. What if the next contract the company wins is in Darwin, Victoria, or East Timor? Then traveling in your time becomes less attractive.

You seem to be dodging answering some of the questions, which is one of the biggest concerns of the "new era". "Divided, and deceived we fall."
Also the crazy rumors grow, if no one will provide facts.

If you are willing to share, how many full weekends - Friday night till Monday morning, do you get at home with your family in your 6 week rotation? (3 weeks on, 3 weeks off.)

The rumors suggest at least some HNZ S92 pilots are required to travel on weekends, in their own time. This would indicate 2 weekends home every 6 weeks?

Brother,
If your able, could you check your PM.
Thanks,
LP