Reverse hindsight
 

Given the current state of the rotary world, what with people departing to fixed wing, retirements, possible reduction in offshore flying, I ask the question:
Where do you career helicopter pilots see yourself in 5 years time?
Answer in terms of location, salary, job satisfaction, or any combination thereof.

HOGE!

Where are you flying? In my Rotary Wing world we have never seen a more prosperous future. I fly offshore for CHC International and the demand for aircrew has never been higher.

When I first came to CHI, we had a total of 20 pilots on full time overseas status with all other positions being crewed from an inter-divisional pool.

Now, CHC Intl employs 1200+ employees and the need for aircrew rises every day!

Where do I see myself in 5 years? Still gainfully employed with CHI with probably a 10% higher income, not that I can complain with my pay and benefits now.

I hope you get out of the rut your in now and get with the rest of us!

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif


[This message has been edited by offshoreigor (edited 02 April 2001).]

I sympathise HOGE and hope that at last we may see a change for the better as a result of the demographic changes that are taking place. Having said that, you and I are here as a result of the big exodus to the FW world in the mid to late '80s and see what benefit that brought the industry (the exodus I mean, not you and I joining!)

I suspect we are well placed to take advantage of any changes that take place here in the UK and especially hope the changes in redundancy laws will benefit those of us who wish to perservere.


------------------
Another day in paradise

The prosperity that is mentioned will happen, and the future is indeed bright.

But I have to temper that with being in the "Clawing my way to the bottom rung" bit I still have yet to go :)

Depressing it is, would rob a bank, but you know they arrest people for that ....

There is a light on the horizon, watching my CFI's where I train, I have concluded if I claw my way up to that level, I will then amass the hours needed to move on within a year or so. (On the other hand I might stay there, if I could work the 206 for the charters, and tours in Orlando, etc., but hey, it's way off in the future, may not even be there, or maybe not a 206 by then).

I'd even consider coming over the pond (being single does have its advantages) to work over there.

Likely in 5 years I'll be either just starting, into, or finishing up my CFI duties in south florida. (With fingers crossed I say it).

Hmmm, there is a bank across the street .....


------------------
Marc

Offshoreigor
I tried to send you an e-mail with a Q or 2 about your post but it came back as undeliverable. Would you mind updating your e-mail address in your profile please.

Back on topic. Where do I see myself in five years time? With CHC International of course.

RBN: Try it again it is my correct e-mail. remember it's .ca not .com

Just for ref [email protected]

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

Offshoreigor, (at the risk of bickering!), your comment of having a 10% higher income over 5 years makes a 2% payrise per year in my book. Hardly cause for celebration. Certainly I see myself as a career helicopter pilot. I want to know where the careers will be in 5 years time. Police work? Air Ambulance? Corporate?
Awaiting comments from the floor.

No, it's less than 2% if you allow for compounding!

------------------
Another day in paradise

WRT the pay rise, 2% is still better than nothing at all.

Where do I see the Industry in five years time? I would still put my money on Offshore Oil and Gas exploration.

Depending on the country you fly in, Police or Air Ambulance work will always be a steady income, but never the big bucks. At least not in Canada.

If your willing to do tours, then overseas offshore flying is the way to go if your master plan is for salting away as much of your income as possible in the shortest possible time.

I know that in the UK it is a little more difficult to get the tax break, ie. the UK's "Physical Prescence" laws can be quite restrictive. But in Canada, they are much more flexible with the Overseas Employment Tax Credit.

I guess it boils down to what your own bottom line is. I would rather you'd asked the question, "where do I want to be in the Helicopter Industry in five years?".

But, as always, that's only my opinion.

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif



[This message has been edited by offshoreigor (edited 06 April 2001).]

Offshore, I agree with you that these times are better than anything most have seen before, almost as good as the early 70's but not quite. I remember getting $75 per flight hour for flying a Bell47G3-B1 with a 100 hour guarantee. Think what that translates to today!

Anyway, so much for the hindsight of an old phart. As far as the reverse part is concerned, Oil and Gas? Absolutely, but don't forget EMS and especially Corporate. The new generation SPIFR twins (B430, A109 etc.) are becoming more and more common and the corporate jobs pay better than anything.

Last but not least and as a fellow expat Beaver, I can't resist taking a swipe at your comments about taxes. Canada's tax system may be slightly better than most European countries, but it is still punitive and doesn't come close to the US where you don't have to pay income tax at all if you don't want to.

5 years from now? Flying a shiny 430 if I can help it.



------------------
You are welcome to visit HELIDRVR here

I found the tax remark puzzling too, a couple of my colleagues are Canadian and from their accounts they seem to have some fairly stiff restrictions on remaining tax free. All sorts of stuff about owning property in Canada etc. In the UK, 8 and 4 works well with normal holidays, anything more and you get into 'staying out of the country' territory.

------------------
Another day in paradise

In response to Helidrvr's post, somebody tell me what $75 an hour in the early 70's is worth today, I'm feeling giddy at the thought of it!

------------------
If it was that good, everyone would be doing it.

Consider:

Tourism is the biggest industry in the world.

How much are pilots paid if they fly for airlines supporting the tourist industry?

Would there be a tourist industry at all except for helicopter support of the offshore oil & gas industry?

Does it matter how many passengers are in the back if you are not allowed to kill even one!

I fly above the weather for 90% of my flying life and my job contributes HUGE amounts to the economy. Many pilots fly 90% of their life in s*@t weather AND OUR ECONOMY WOULD STOP WITHOUT THEM. I think particularly of helicopter pilots supporting the North Sea Oil and Gas Industry - they are paid significantly less than me FOR THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY. WHY?????

Before anyone asks, I've been Military and I've been Civil. I've done Training in both and I've done fixed wing and rotary in both. I've worked with Professionals in both and I've worked with professional !!!!bags (excuse me) in both. Don't bother getting on your high-horse - you never know who's listening!

[This message has been edited by zebedee (edited 06 April 2001).]

I found the EDIT function!

When I read my previous post it seemed angrier than I felt, but the sentiment stands. I have lived on both sides of this fence and have done senior jobs. I know the politics (MBA graduate to boot!) and I know the economics. That's why I'm doing the job I am now.

Given my 'druthers' I'd go back tomorrow to big helicopters and offshore support, but what matters now is how well-off I'll be in retirement. At the moment there's no competition - I'm bored, but I'm financially more secure.

Here's a (radical?) thought - ignore your pilot union representatives, they probably are in cahoots with Management or have their own agenda - speak with your client's union representatives - after all, it's their members you are keeping alive! Do they know what's going on? Would they feel comfortable if they did?

[This message has been edited by zebedee (edited 07 April 2001).]

WRT Taxes in Canada:

The Overseas Employment Tax Credit (OETC) is very simple, if you work for a Canadian company outside of Canada in an approved function, ie offshore exploration, UN, Tourism for at least 182 consecutive days, you will receive the credit. Now when I say 182 days, you don't have to be out of the country for that period, it simply means that your income is derived from a source outside of the country for that period.

Physical presence laws do not apply. It's very simple:

If you earned $80,000.00 dollars in a year, 80% of the Federal and Provincial taxes are waived or tax free. This leaves 20% of your income to be taxed. In this case, 20% of $80K is $16K at the lowest tax rate. This equates to about $3000 total tax payable or about $77K take home.

Now if you are working in Canada, then you would be subject to full taxation, or about 46% in Ontario. This, I would agree is a very heavy tax burden.

Hope that clears things up.

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

TO HOGE:

Use the rule of 7.6 (every 7.6 years inflation doubles), round it up to 8 and you get:

75x2=150
150x2=300
300x2=600

Even if you only use a linear tripling over the period of 25 years, you come out with $225/hour x 100 minimum, or $22,500/month!

Giddy indeed .... :)

------------------
You are welcome to visit HELIDRVR here

[This message has been edited by helidrvr (edited 07 April 2001).]

Offshoreigor/212man,
Re the Canadian tax debate, I think the key words here are 'Canadian company'.

[This message has been edited by army427 (edited 07 April 2001).]

5yrs ago if you had told me that I would be back on a B47 .....(insert 4 letter word).
5yrs from now. Tiltrotor driver. Probably on offshore but SAR/EMS would be lovely thanks. Got to be the best of both worlds. 350kt VNE....yeehaa.
Lets face it team, if we all wanted to fly above the clouds for 12 hrs where the weather is lovely and you get fat on **** food and sugar drinks while the autopilot flys you to the ILS and then lands for you; then I am sure that we could all have a frontal lobotamy and talk Cathay Pacific interview technique tomorrow.
Frankly, money is great but job satisfaction is VERY important. I actually enjoy being IFR with seastate 5 and 70kts+. This is demanding and a great challenge. Vertical out of 250ft timber at max. AUW & PWR avail. is also interesting and night helo work is just a buzz. Need more be said.
I have to go ring Mr Calder now.....
CHC I wannabe.