Issues Affecting Canadian Industry?

[Vertical Mag]

What issues do you feel the Canadian helicopter industry is faced with today that will shape the industry of the future?

If the issues are negative, how can they be changed?

 

[MagSeal]

Unity, tariff rates and cross border shopping.

Untity between the masses is a pipe dream. tariff rates may need to hit an all time low, effectively putting aircraft into long term storage, before anyone gets their act together and unites, (see previous comment) and puts up and keeps up the rates. And cross border shopping...well, the damn US dollar needs to do something beneficial for us, not detrimental. :wacko:

 

[firehawk]

Magseal said it, RATES, to many low-ballers, Cheap rates equals poor treatment to their crews low pay scales and who knows what else it is effecting,

 

[Nomex]

Agree that tariff rates are probably the biggest issue. $$ or more precisely lack of revenue due to low tariffs and for those companies that try to keep the rates at a reasonable level, lack of work because those with low tariffs are getting it, both result in the employees' suffering.

An indepth article on tariffs - sure will be controversial with a lot of companies - see what customers (government & private) look for when they decide who to fly with - is it always only the rates. Case in point is the contract Mustang was awarded for the 350B2 for three years in Wood Buffalo Nat Park at a tariff of about $1000/hr AND when the contract was awarded the Minister responsible for National Parks - I think it was Anne McLellan PRAISED Mustang for giving such a low bid - that sure doesn't help keep the rates up at a reasonable level.

Another issue is the minimum hours placed by various companies (such as oil & gas) for various types of flying. When you look at minimums for some of these companies, they are a duplicate of the next one - most being advised of what they should ask for by a "consultant" - most companies in the NE of BC know the story behind the minimums and the "consultant". Obviously a lot of aerial work requires various degrees of experience, but a lot can be performed safely by low timers. Where can companies find 1,500 to 2,500 hr pilots to fly well site to well site over the muskeg in an R22 at slave wages? I know a lot of operators come up with agreements with the workers at these companies to have pilots with less than the required hours fly and some I have no doubt some skate around the issue of hours, pressuring the pilot to bullshit the customer, or else not fly. What sort of liability will result when an accident happens and it comes out the company deceived the customer......it wouldn't be pretty. An offer for a bid a few years ago for a wildlife capture job required minimum 12,000 hours, several thousand on type and with several hundred hours doing capture and with a 500 odd hr PIC time in the previous year. That was a government job, and the "pilot" I think they were looking for and presumably had the job written for, couldn't even do it due to recency.

Over the past 3-4 years, these minimums have jumped due to the emergence of these consultants, policy and other factors and I am sure it has affected the job prospects of the new pilots.

There, Mike, some ammunition for you!

 

[cyclic monkey]

What appalls me is the libertine and brazen audacity of modern helicopter journals in search of stories.
They simply attempt to use the impersonal and anonymous internet to look for new topics.

I remember when the real perspicacious journalists would come to the hangar at 4:25 pm and offer to buy beers for thirsty pilots at the local watering-hole in exchange for exciting stories of glory and daring-do!!!!!

Then after a little inebriative lubrication the most determined of the gazeteers would offer to buy a capacious plate of ribs and baked potatoes at an establishment of fine comestibility in order to disinter the real low-down, hands-on scuttlebutt of our industry.

Of course to really tap into the heart of where the gladiatorious pilots thought the future of our business would lay, a serious chronicler would invite the inteprid flying warriors out for several after-dinner beverages at an evening spot, typified by comfortable furniture, scantilly-clad serving wenches, and nubile dancing nymphs that become even more scantilly clad as the evening progressed.

This all resulted in an evening of great erudition, culture, and enlightenment for the munificent and plenteous gentleman-of-the-press.
I feel this remains as really the only way to gather stories that feature the courageous valiance, intestinal fortitude, affability, companionship, and veracious authenticity that is part of our everyday lives.

Aaaah.........the good old days...........

 

[MagSeal]

i see cyclic monkey found a dictionary.....

 

[Over-Talk]

Yeah, damn right. Just what Monkey said !! .................................................... (I think).

 

[MagSeal]

i think he's been drinking....exactly what, I have no idea.

 

[Blackmac]

Whatever he is drinking must be over 100 proof.


Don

 

[407 Driver]

To paraphrase my esteemed colleague,

He wants whiskey and Beef, served by half naked gals if you want the story.

 

[firehawk]

Cyclic Monkey - You going to pass some of that around next week? By the way where are the wenches at
in this town that your talking about.

 

[Heli Ops]

Cyclic Monkey - I have to disagree with your post, both from myself and also on behalf of Mike at Vertical. The successes of both our magazines are because we get out into the field and report from the "front lines" so to speak, and we try to look after those that help us. I will admit that in the past I have been slack on doing this but over the past couple of years made a concerted effort to give thanks where it is due.

A couple of days ago we did a set up photo shoot of a dummy accident scene with a BK117 in Kiwiland and I shouted everyone lunch that helped make it happen, fire crews, ambulance, helicopter crews and the police guys. Cost $150 Kiwi dollars so it was a decent feed.

Following day it was out at dawn with an AS350 doing topdressing in the countryside and today I am in Melbourne, Australia on my way to Dubai and Oman for some stories. I know Mike has just got back from some trips throughout the US and Canada so I hope you comments are directed at other magazines.

Besides in my opinion thats one of the best things about this industry, being able to get out there and shoot helicopters doing what they do best. Go and have a look at some of the images on the Rotorheads forum in Pprune and you will see what I mean.

The day Mike and I start doing stories from home is the day I think you will find that we sell off our magazines.

Anyway just my two cents worth.

Heli Ops

 

[gannet]

Heli-Ops,

I don't think the cyclic simian was pointing any fingers. We all know that quality products are not produced through shoddy practices, and as we have posted many times in the past there are two high quality mags on the market now and a some of mediocre ones to round out the magazine rack.

I'm finding the experience requirements to be my stumbling block in finding a job. I brought hours out of the military, but not the experience employers want. Only thing that anyone has found interesting so far is my night hours, and I don't really want to be a day-sleeper for the rest of my long and prosperous life. Oh well, I guess I'll sell my soul back to the devil. At least he pays well.

 

[Vertical Mag]

Cyclic Monkey,


My post was purely to create some discussion to learn a bit more about some of the issues that are affecting the industry in general so when I DO call on the operators and regulators next week, I can have a bit more understanding of some of the real issues instead of trying to talk out of the side of my mouth.

So, yes this is a search for information for a story that will be appearing in an up-coming issue. Isn’t this the stuff you want to read about? I’d be more than happy to quote you though Cyclic Monkey if you have any thing you would like to provide!

 

[Blackmac]

Mike: Nomex pretty well hit the nail on the head with his post. I am aware of the 12,000hr pilot that the contract was written for (Fort Simpson) I believe. I asked the person from wildlife what would happen to his requirement if the person he made the scope of work just had a heart attack. His response was, "I'll take anybody with bird catching experience".

With the advent of GPS, which is a requirement I put in government contracts over ten years ago. The people I trained and the person presently in charge of that section try and be fair and actually make the scope of work as fair as possible.

As far as rates are concerned the contract is awarded to the low bidder meeting all the requiremnts of the RFP. That department has to live by those rules.

National Transportation Agency in 1987 elected to deregulate the industry and was a big mistake IMHO.

Transport Canada continues to put helicpters in the same category as the "Air Taxi" industry. If Transport hasn't noticed I see very few Air Taxi operators which the regs are written for actually operating vertical lift aircraft.

The HELICOPTER INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNIQUE AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT DO NOT KNOW THIS IS TRANSPORT CANADA.

PLEASE MAKE REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE HELICOPTER INDUSTRY AS A SEPERATE ENTITY.

Speaking for the helicopter industry it should be re-regulated to get rid of the shady operators, advise all government departments to write thier scope of work around the company the meets all requirements with respect to safety, providing the properly equipped helicopter, pilot qualifications based on the companies recommendation for the work to be carried out, (no minimums hours as presently stated) (in accordance with all government contracts,there is a clause that if the pilot is not qualified he must be repelaced at the company cost, which could include down time), the hourly rate and minimums are the last item that should be considered.

De-regulation allows the CLIENT not only to play the operators agianst one another, but also allows the CLIENT to actaually have a say in how the pilot and helicopter will perform thier duties.

NTA is the only agency capable of re-regulating the industry and not under "Air Taxi" operations. The industry can be re-regulated ("RULES") without having to change hourly rates on an ongoing basis.

The "Rules and Regulations" would have to be written into every contract, the minimums that must be charged must be written into every contract and the hourly rate that is charged must be a minmum of 10% of the market value of the helicopter using current blue book value.

MINIMUMS SHOULD BE AS FOLLOWS: (Long and Short Term Contracts)

Long Term: 3 hr per day averaged over the period of the contract (more than 30 days)

Short Term: 4 hr per day, averaged over the period if more than seven days and less than thirty. This would be in effect from 1 June to 31 August


Basing Charges would apply on contracts exceeding two months but would be calculated as follows;

Basing Charge: $xxxxx per 30 days (must be equal to 3hr/day minus maintenance charge)

Hourly Maint Charge for every hour flown up to 90hr/mo: $xxxxx

Hourly Maint. Charge for all hours flown in excess of the averaged minimums over the period of the contract: $_________ (more hours flown costs increase)

NOTE: The purpose of the basing charge is to allow the client a possible saving of the maintenance charges that are not incurred by the operator if the calculated minimum hours are not flown.

This an un-ending story as far the industry is concerned and just some of the problems we will be lobbying for when we get into action.

People are free to add their own thoughts, actually they are welcomed.

HELICOPTER ENGINEERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION, CANADA