What’s going on at LifeFlight in Queensland?
 

Reports of experienced people walking out the door, struggling to fill rosters, industrial disputes brewing over expired EBAs, new EBA unilaterally drafted by the company being forcefully rejected by the pilots.

Everything is fine there, the tin rattlers just shake the tree and ample pilots fall out to fill any vacancies.

Nothing to see here. Everything is fine.

$586.1m over the next ten years on contracts no one else could tender for? Don’t ask.

Ex- GG, Premiers on the board? Don’t ask.

I thought the massive injection of cash was meant to meet all the costs of the contracts in QLD, but they’re still running gala balls, charity drives etc to raise more funds to build more facilities than all the other operators combined could only dream of having? So what is the half billion for? A donation? Don’t ask.



All the above happens, and to borrow a story from Aussie comedian Carl Barron- it’s like talking to someone and a bit of spit comes out your mouth and lands on their arm….everyone saw it, you both know it happened, but no one says anything. Everyone has seen it happen, but nothing is ever said.

As long as this keeps happening and no one talks about it, smaller operators like us won’t ever get a look in to the big leagues and the contracts in the sunny parts of the country. But as stated, just rattle the tin and the problems will go away. Or if the Company digs in the heels and refuses to offer a decent deal to their Pilots, they will ultimately vote with their feet and the positions will be filled with the unskilled, inexperienced and the blindly obedient. That’ll bring problems of its own.

i think that’s the problem isn’t it? The experienced and qualified pilot tree isn’t producing fruit any more.

That’s exactly what I’m hearing.

Looks like Tibbsy has an axe to grind with LF…

Also Manual Gov for his first post….

QG Air (fully Govt funded) is the one offline due to pilot shortages.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other...id=socialshare

lol, I don’t think so Oogle, been a long time since I worked in Queensland so no personal axe to grind. But I do wonder about the tin-rattling and constant appeals for community support when they’re providing fully funded Queensland Government services.

According to my AFAP mate I just spoke to LifeFlight has spent a LOT of money on legal and industrial representation fighting the pilots and the AFAP over the last two years. I’d be curious to know what % of donated funds are being spent on that.

Surprised to hear of QG Air’s shortages. Used to be very a much an employer of choice. What changed?

​​​​​​​Police took over. Is what I hear.

Quite correct: LifeFlight is on standby for QG Air at Archerfield for September plus others, including a major Fixed Wing operator.

That's because their minimum experience requirements are ridiculous. 500 night PIC and 100 NVIS are mandatory so they are basically saying we only want ex-Army guys.

Not so. 6000+ hours M/E experience, M/E IR, NVIS qualified pilots aren't even making the cut for interview for Lifeflight co-pilot positions.

Ridiculous?

I’d say appropriate to the level of risk in conducting medical transport operations in complex operating environments.

OK. So let them park the bus due no crew and get Lifeflight to cover the roster using pilots with much less than 500 night PIC.

Don't forget ATPL for a single pilot job

Actually just a CPL-H covers you to fly an AW139 single pilot if you have more than 750 hours flight time as a pilot of a rotorcraft (CASR 61.570 refers).
But they want you to have an ATPL, which is a lower bar to jump than 500 night PIC.

Some of you talk about how ‘they’ require ridiculous minimums. Have you considered that these maybe client requirements?

Personally, I don’t t think 100 hours on Nvis is too much to ask … single pilot, 139 on a dark, crappy night can be ….erm, rather hard work and having a solid Nvis (and IFR, NVFR) background helps. It’s also no longer the sole domain of ex army types either… NVIS has been used for what, a decade or more now? Plenty of people from all backgrounds with decent time now.

We had them at Oakey in 1986.

That's a change gulli, they made us get ATPL's at some stage during the 212, 76 era.

yep, aware of that. I’m referring to the civil industry (which was slow on the uptake) and the fact that there are plenty of very experienced goggle pilots around without Army backgrounds.

I know, I currently fly an AW139 single pilot in an EMS role with a CPL(H).