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Kudos on that post Maury. I agree with everything you say.

 

A few years ago, we tried to get an organization called HEPAC off the ground. Needless to say, it never got off the ground.

 

If an organization comes about in the future that succeeds in representing helicopter pilots, I'll be happy. But for that to ever come about, it will take a very special group of people to pull it off...

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How am I messing with other people's livelihood again????

You don't even see the problem with your previous statement do you? Your attitude towards the industry, is absolutely the reason it is, the way it is. Happy about flying 74 hrs, and 25% was non rev? And then telling someone that "If you don't like it then leave and we will fill your seat" Just for the LOVE LOL, give me a break. Maybe you should leave the industry? Then we wouldn't have such a large group of pilots out there bringing down the average.

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Kudos on that post Maury. I agree with everything you say.

 

A few years ago, we tried to get an organization called HEPAC off the ground. Needless to say, it never got off the ground.

 

If an organization comes about in the future that succeeds in representing helicopter pilots, I'll be happy. But for that to ever come about, it will take a very special group of people to pull it off...

That sums it up for me too Skidz.

 

Sadly, the majority of the pilots and AME's in the industry agree with the status quo that helicopterjim and 412 Driver adhere to. I'm sure they have their reasons, actually I'm sure they do.

I hate to be pessimistic, but we are ions away from any form of a professional organization representing flight crews in the helicopter industry.

 

There are some very unscrupulous operators in the business, most of us know who they are. Having said that, they are not all like that. The reputable operators have to compete against them, not easy! So for now, it's a race to the bottom and every man for himself.

 

Please convince me that I am wrong!

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MAURY:

 

I started in this industry in 1957 after serving five years with the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Canadian Navy. My time up until 1987 was great as we had by RULES that covered tarrifs (hourly rate and daily minimums) the operator had to abide by these rules as did the CHARTERER.

 

The Air Transport Board (ATB) decided to abolish these RULES/REG'S an went for DEREGULATION OF THE HELICOPTER INDUSTRY ALONG WITH AIRLINES, actually coping big brother down south.

 

For some reason the ATB put helicopters under the same regs as the "Air Taxi" (fixed wing).

 

That ruling abolished any control whatsoever over the Helicopter Industry.

 

The whole industry became a free for all, every body and their dog was granted a licence to operate or get in the leasing game to supply machines.

 

Prior to 1987 (de-reg) the Charter rates were controlled, the operator made a profit, pilots and engineers made a decent salary.

 

Prior to 87, the Operator and Charterer had a much better working relationship as everything was above board and every operator (Canada wide) had to make his Tariff public and if it was for a bid on a contract, his posted hourly rate it could not be changed forty eight hours prior to bid closing.

 

Now a days the industry is run by consultants and the people that hire them, GOOD LUCK.

 

The Industry should never have let the original Tarrif, Rules & Regulation go, now you have to live with consequences and the cut-throat industry it has become, including the FACT that the CHARTERER calls the shot and there is not a GD thing you can do about it.

 

From somebody who loves helicopters and the used to be industry (prior 87).

 

I can *****, moan and groan about the industry, because I will be 80 in a couple of months and probably won't remember.

 

All the best and fly safe.

 

Don

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On a final note, Helicopter Jim, unfortunately many of us do not possess the amazing skills that you no doubt have to land you in your dream job making lots of money. Some of us would actually like to see the industry improve so that more of us could share your good times. They have a word for someone who once they make it to the top, everyone else be damned - selfish.

 

Did you grow up in one of those programs where everyone got a prize .... even last place?

 

I grew up in a program where you worked for what you got .... not one where it was mandated that you get your a$$ wiped for you because you are "entitled" to that.

 

Hard work isn't really that hard ......!

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That sums it up for me too Skidz.

 

Sadly, the majority of the pilots and AME's in the industry agree with the status quo that helicopterjim and 412 Driver adhere to. I'm sure they have their reasons, actually I'm sure they do.

I hate to be pessimistic, but we are ions away from any form of a professional organization representing flight crews in the helicopter industry.

 

There are some very unscrupulous operators in the business, most of us know who they are. Having said that, they are not all like that. The reputable operators have to compete against them, not easy! So for now, it's a race to the bottom and every man for himself.

 

Please convince me that I am wrong!

 

It sounds like you've already convinced yourself you are right.

 

Sorry for that.

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You don't even see the problem with your previous statement do you? Your attitude towards the industry, is absolutely the reason it is, the way it is. Happy about flying 74 hrs, and 25% was non rev? And then telling someone that "If you don't like it then leave and we will fill your seat" Just for the LOVE LOL, give me a break. Maybe you should leave the industry? Then we wouldn't have such a large group of pilots out there bringing down the average.

I'm not happy about the time I flew last year but I live in a wonderful place called reality and I know that one can't squeeze blood from a stone. If you happen to have some magical way of pulling revenue time from thin air, convincing BC forestry to hire idle aircraft to sit and wait for fires when they are doing nothing anyways or perhaps you can singlehandedly turn our economy around... I'll take the illegal drug too! It sounds like a great vacation.

 

I think you missed the point behind my post and if I wrote it poorly that's on me. How many of you heard the saying "you have to be in the right place at the right time"? How many of you worked on the ground for 10 bucks an hour 15 years ago? That was the going rate back then. I'm not a bad person for taking the job. I needed the experience. Why am I such a bad person for keeping a job that made me sick for the first few days of every tour? The only one that suffered was the pilot with his head in the bubble that had to smell it(sorry Jimmy). Did any of you ever pull out a fuel hose too fast only to have the fuel hit the range extender and soak you? (Dumb move but I won't do that again) I did take #### jobs that paid bad but they got me in the seat. THAT WAS HOW IT WORKED!

 

I know I'm out of touch with the current reality because I've never received attitude before from a ground crew member, or would have even considered moaning myself, when asked to finish washing my machine because I has to go do maintenace runs at a differnt base. If I wanted something I proved that I deserved it by doing a good job. I have never had to sign a training agreement ever because my word is good enough.

 

Why am I a bad person for working my *** off as a low time guy? Why am I a bad person for feeling like I can now , with some hours in my loogbook, choose my family over a ****** deal? Why do I feel like I have to kiss a low time pilots *** to do easy things that I have no problem doing even now but have to delegate due to responsabilities?

 

I say to all who have a problem with how I got my start so listen up. I'm not sorry I did it and would do it again. If you regret choosing an industry that works like this then you should have done your research. Things were different long ago but don't think that pissing and moaning has supplemented hard work for getting things you want...not in this industry anyways. I agree this market is tight and the TFW program sucks. It has changed the market value of our skills so stand up and make a change, sit down and deal with it or leave. I'm not saying it to be a dick, those are our options. I have kids to raise and a wife I want to be with. I don't have a problem with my work conditions and my employer is fair so I'm just going to go to the hangar and love my job.

 

Cheers,

 

R

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