PHI

[RtrCFI]

Hi folks-

I keep seeing identical posting for PHI every month or so. Same generic openings with same generic requirements. The trouble is, I hear a rumor that they have hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes in their "bank." I heard that the postings are just an attempt to keep people interested and keep their "bank" current.

 

Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge?

[aclark79]

I left PHI last month, but before that they continued to hire every month for the light ship and for SIC's in the mediums. The direct entry to SIC's were all military pilots with SIC experience. The majority of light ship pilots in the last 4 months were all coming from Rotorcraft and so had lots of offshore time. As of last month you needed offshore time and a recommendation to stand out.

[romanweel]

As of last month you needed offshore time and a recommendation to stand out.

 

So even the entry-level jobs aren't really entry-level. You have to magically come up with off-shore experience to get hired to fly off-shore. I've already been told not to bother with RLC, they don't care for females in their fleet. What am I supposed to do, buy my own 206 and go joy-flying "off-shore"? How are other people doing this?

[r22butters]

So even the entry-level jobs aren't really entry-level. You have to magically come up with off-shore experience to get hired to fly off-shore. I've already been told not to bother with RLC, they don't care for females in their fleet. What am I supposed to do, buy my own 206 and go joy-flying "off-shore"? How are other people doing this?

 

That's called the standard entry-level "Catch 22". You can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job.

 

It seems the only way people are getting jobs in this industry is by knowing the right person.

 

So go to the seminars, Heliexpo, and hang out at airports, maybe then, eventually, you'll meet someone who will let you in?

[mechanic]

"Catch 22" happened to me in the automotive industry back in 92' when I separated from the military. Most shops wanted 5 years working experience, I only had 3.5 years full time work experience due to boot camp and technical training requirements. I worked on diesel/gas powered fire trucks, most shops didn't count that, so basically I had zero experience.

 

Talk about shortages, there is a major shortage of mechanics, just pick an industry. But, the "Catch 22" is still in effect as well. No one wants to do service work any more. It takes going to a tech school of some sort to compete nowadays. I jumped into the small engine/garden industry because all the old timers are retiring or dying out, so there was large demand here where I live and I opened up a totally new modern "idea" for a lawn shop. I am having employee problems now and did from the beginning. There are not many people trained here that can function on their own and not too many schools that even teach lawn/garden industry related classes. This industry is becoming more complex, the engines now are more like the engines of early 80's cars/trucks.

 

I was just looking at a VA application for On The Job Training or Unregistered Apprenticeship programs. I think the heli industry and as well as others need to be aggressive about locating GOOD employee's. It is getting harder, I get many people coming in wanting work but no skills or very limited skills. Kids now days are expecting too much up front. I have a guy that has missed more work in the first 6 months of employment than I did in 15 years in my previous job, he asked me a few weeks ago if he could take his vacation because he is getting burned out!

 

I think Bristow and Boatpix are making a good honest effort to find a way to help. I am not aware of any smaller companies making such efforts as of late. I am sure there are some that are doing what they can. I am glad I didn't finish to jump into this market and then have to go back to doing mechanic work. I am just sittin on the sidelines waiting at the moment, hoping to get back into the saddle soon.

 

Regards

[kodoz]

Has anybody been looking at the JH Original Forum? There's been a bunch of chatter about layoffs (pilots and mechanics) at RLC. Never know what to believe there, but anybody know the story. Big picture, is this because GOM operations are too far down to sustain the current operators, or is this going on because companies are shifting business from RLC to the other operators?

[helonorth]

RLC has lost a lot of contracts. A big one was Apache, with most of it going to Bristow and some to PHI. I would be surprised if RLC is still around in six months. And yes, they have laid off a lot of people in the last couple weeks.

Edited October 8, 2010 by helonorth