THC/The Helicopter Company
Hi all
Looking for anyone who has direct info on that outfit. Passed the interview, currently going through admin / HR process to join some time next month. This seems to be the hot new gig everyone wants to join, but can anyone currently working there share their impressions? Thx |
Which airframe ?
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On the H145
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have you accepted an offer?
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What about you?
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Originally Posted by Treetopflyer
(Post 11275452)
What about you?
|
JOKE:
THC Helicopters? Interesting name Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Everyone must be very relaxed! :JOKE OVER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol |
One post, six replies, no information.
PPRuNE at its best. |
Hi TTF,
While poorly placed to talk about the recruitment process (sorry), from within the industry there is a certain level of head scratching as to what THC are up to. Undoubtedly well financed, they seem to be working on a 'build it and they will come' mentality with their aircraft orders. They are very much currently focused on the domestic side in KSA and have no plans to get involved in oil and gas which is the main use of commercial aircraft in Saudi. There is a thought that with KSA opening up under the direction of the Crown Prince MBS, THC's role will be to facilitate the move to being more like the UAE with VIP tourists and attractions. They are also likely to win utility work with NEOM, the new development KSA is hoping to build as a 'city of the future'. If you are able to ask them questions at the interview (rather than them just asking you), I would focus heavily on what exactly do they foresee you doing on a daily basis as from the outside, ordering a whole heap of aircraft with no work for them seems a bit of an expensive folly. Pilots with nothing to do tend to get bored quickly so while it might be lucrative in the short term, unless there are some ideas about how much you will fly it might not be the best opportunity depending on what you want to do. |
They have a contract to establish a nationwide EMS service with 23 bases in the next years, so that would be a guess where the helicopters will be needed. But tourism and VIP charter will be a big part too I guess.
https://www.airmedandrescue.com/late...do-helicopters |
Thanks guys.
indeed the 23-base HEMS project was mentioned during my interview, and as I understand they have already opened the first bases. I am now in touch with the HR who are arranging my arrival in the country, including the visa, but not getting much responses from them in terms of timing… Which makes it a bit hard to manage with my current employer notice period. |
Originally Posted by Treetopflyer
(Post 11279289)
Thanks guys.
indeed the 23-base HEMS project was mentioned during my interview, and as I understand they have already opened the first bases. I am now in touch with the HR who are arranging my arrival in the country, including the visa, but not getting much responses from them in terms of timing… Which makes it a bit hard to manage with my current employer notice period. |
Darn good advice:
Originally Posted by DOUBLE BOGEY
(Post 11279595)
TTF my advice would be to stop posting on PPRUNE during you recruitment process....you never know who's reading!! Unless of course they ask you to do it.
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Pity it's only rotational 6/6!
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Originally Posted by Medevac999
(Post 11279899)
Pity it's only rotational 6/6!
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Originally Posted by Nescafe
(Post 11279907)
Onsite is available, but you’d have to be very keen!
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Hi everyone, I am contemplating working at THC on the 145. Anyone have any additional details? How much flying, what type of flying, pros, cons, etc. Please PM me if you want.
Thanks! |
Originally Posted by Simply_Fly
(Post 11542427)
Hi everyone, I am contemplating working at THC on the 145. Anyone have any additional details? How much flying, what type of flying, pros, cons, etc. Please PM me if you want.
Thanks! HEMS is much similar to what you’ll find in the UK, apart from the traffic & traffic management. You will almost never close down the aircraft on scene. A 2 lane highway suddenly has cars 7 or 8 abreast as they try to route around each other, or even cross into the opposite carriageway driving into oncoming traffic to minimise their wait. once you’ve lifted they’re off, they’ll pass within metres beneath the aircraft, stealing any chance for you to reject. IFT is a joke. You fly to your local airport to wait the arrival of your patient. It’ll be an hour. Get them onboard & fly them to the usual next level hospital & wait another hour for the ambulance to arrive, even when you pre warn the ops cell, they take no advice. You could be sat with a patient dying in your aircraft unable to supply AirCon because it’s too hot to go ground run for longer than 30 mins. Thing to remember is you’re on duty for 42 days, no days off. Shifts are sunrise to sunset. Some places you’ll have the luxury of a decent hotel some you’ll have much less luxurious accommodation. Aircraft are parked outside all day, every day. The staff responsible for accommodating you only do so for 2 weeks at a time & you’re therefore locked out of your room every 2 weeks until it’s been rearranged. Your hire car may be in your name, may not, it may be insured, it may not. Your flights home will be what’s easiest for them not you, even if yours makes much more sense. When you first get in country you’ll do what they call ‘on boarding’, where you do various medicals for Bupa(only covers you at work), ID & aviation medical. Almost 30 work orientated tests, your ELPT, HUET & a GACA ATP & AIP exams. Supposed to be done in 4 weeks but that rarely happens & however long it does take will then have your line training & first rotation added to the end of it. 6/6 roster ain’t too bad. Medics work 8/4. The local attitudes are the hardest thing to accept. You can send email after emails & get no reply. They all have massively slopey shoulders & will never accept blame, so will never make a decision. Nothing gets done on Sunday as it’s the first day back to work or Thursday because they’re knocking off for the weekend. Have a feeling this may be a bit late but hope it helps😜 |
Sounds like Saudi hasn't changed much since I was their in 2002. Most single car accidents I've ever seen in my life and by far the worst driving.
|
Originally Posted by Macaco Norte
(Post 11587401)
Thing to remember is you’re on duty for 42 days, no days off.
|
Originally Posted by Macaco Norte
(Post 11587401)
Amount of flying depends upon where you’re based. Most bases, you’ll be lucky to get a dozen hours a rotation, as most bases are what they call IFT or Inter Facility Transfers, Air Ambulance tasking if you like. Some are REMS/HEMS & at these bases you might get anywhere between 30-60 hrs per rotation. Busiest in Riyadh, where all flying is below 500’ because of airport.
HEMS is much similar to what you’ll find in the UK, apart from the traffic & traffic management. You will almost never close down the aircraft on scene. A 2 lane highway suddenly has cars 7 or 8 abreast as they try to route around each other, or even cross into the opposite carriageway driving into oncoming traffic to minimise their wait. once you’ve lifted they’re off, they’ll pass within metres beneath the aircraft, stealing any chance for you to reject. IFT is a joke. You fly to your local airport to wait the arrival of your patient. It’ll be an hour. Get them onboard & fly them to the usual next level hospital & wait another hour for the ambulance to arrive, even when you pre warn the ops cell, they take no advice. You could be sat with a patient dying in your aircraft unable to supply AirCon because it’s too hot to go ground run for longer than 30 mins. Thing to remember is you’re on duty for 42 days, no days off. Shifts are sunrise to sunset. Some places you’ll have the luxury of a decent hotel some you’ll have much less luxurious accommodation. Aircraft are parked outside all day, every day. The staff responsible for accommodating you only do so for 2 weeks at a time & you’re therefore locked out of your room every 2 weeks until it’s been rearranged. Your hire car may be in your name, may not, it may be insured, it may not. Your flights home will be what’s easiest for them not you, even if yours makes much more sense. When you first get in country you’ll do what they call ‘on boarding’, where you do various medicals for Bupa(only covers you at work), ID & aviation medical. Almost 30 work orientated tests, your ELPT, HUET & a GACA ATP & AIP exams. Supposed to be done in 4 weeks but that rarely happens & however long it does take will then have your line training & first rotation added to the end of it. 6/6 roster ain’t too bad. Medics work 8/4. The local attitudes are the hardest thing to accept. You can send email after emails & get no reply. They all have massively slopey shoulders & will never accept blame, so will never make a decision. Nothing gets done on Sunday as it’s the first day back to work or Thursday because they’re knocking off for the weekend. Have a feeling this may be a bit late but hope it helps😜 |
How much do they pay for the 6/6 roster with 42 duty days?
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On average…around £10k a month.
Consider UK tax & NI, no pension contributions, no loss of licence, no private medical(except while you’re at work) & you’ll be better off with a UK Offshore income, much better off if you include over time. |
Is there any difference in pay between the singles & multis? Cojo vs Capt?
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Originally Posted by Macaco Norte
(Post 11588155)
On average…around £10k a month.
Consider UK tax & NI, no pension contributions, no loss of licence, no private medical(except while you’re at work) & you’ll be better off with a UK Offshore income, much better off if you include over time. |
Originally Posted by Lurcheroo
(Post 11612868)
what sort of salary is paid for UK Offshore work ?
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Originally Posted by PlasticCabDriver
(Post 11613112)
There are many variations dependent on company and roster types, but very broad brush: FOs start year 1 in the high £50k’s, top rate P1s are into the £130k’s. That’s without any additional duties, TRE, LTC etc.
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Originally Posted by Lurcheroo
(Post 11613117)
thank you ! Sorry I’m not sure what TRE or LTC are ?
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Originally Posted by Medevac999
(Post 11613183)
I take it you are not a pilot then?
On a serious note, I’m not. Although the aspiration is now that I’m finally earning a really good amount of money I can accelerate my savings significantly and start training. Ultimate aspiration being SAR. Anything that means I’m ‘home’ each day is where I’m looking. HEMS, NPAS, offshore are all appealing. Money is not the driving factor as I appreciate the majority of jobs won’t match the £71K for 35 hours over 4 days(actually at work more like 25-30 hours and do even less of that actually ‘working’), very good pension, very good conditions job I have. I just want to fly helicopters and be able to go home at the end of the shift. it’s just nice to know what conditions are like for jobs in the heli flying industry. If i had to guess based off similar things in the railway then I’d say something to do with training or examination. Thank you, Appreciate the info a lot :O |
Originally Posted by Lurcheroo
(Post 11613117)
thank you ! Sorry I’m not sure what TRE or LTC are ?
Line Training Captain |
Originally Posted by PlasticCabDriver
(Post 11613211)
Type Rating Examiner
Line Training Captain thanks so much :) |
Stick with what you’re doing on the railways. Sounds like you have a good gig there. This rotary world isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.
LZ |
Originally Posted by Hot_LZ
(Post 11613355)
Stick with what you’re doing on the railways. Sounds like you have a good gig there. This rotary world isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.
LZ Don’t think I could forgive myself for not giving it ago as I’ve wanted to fly since I was young. originally was interested in fast jets with the RAF, that started to turn towards rotary at some point but that never worked out anyway. I could be swayed in going fixed wing if it was just for fun (no more than a PPL) as I’m not interested in the airlines. Thank you, appreciate your insight. I suppose we shall see what life brings. If it doesn’t pan out so well then I can just stick to the railway I suppose :} |
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