PHI Pilots are saying...

[Francis Meyrick]

 

 

In this turbulent day and age, two themes are a constant:

1) Everybody is quick to complain, and s-l­-o-w to say “thank you”.

2) Corporations are greedy, capitalistic relics of an age that should be bygone. They don’t care about their employees. Let’s overthrow the system, and usher in an era of Universal Happiness. Vote for more benign (bigger) Government. (and More Taxes).

 

Forgive me therefore, as a renegade, lower caste, working class worm, to buck the fashionable trend, and say “Thank you” to PHI Helicopters Management.

We worker bees, depending on years of service, are all staring in (delighted) (WTF!?) surprise at single or multi thousand dollar bonus checks. A PHI Management "thank-you" to the grimy troops for an accident free 2013. In this day and age, that's extraordinarily generous. They did not have to do that. Nothing anywhere says they had to do that. But they did anyway. Damn. That’s what I call profit sharing. No kidding.

Thank you! A bunch of us trouble makers down at Intercoastal City really appreciate it...

 

Edited March 24, 2014 by Francis Meyrick

[aeroscout]

Pilots love to complain. But many times they do it from an ill informed perspective. One subject they complain more often and more loudly about is compensation. They want the evil rich owners, and corporate officers to take all that evil profit and redirect it into pilot paychecks.

But the perspective they miss is the risk taken by ownership, and the responsibility taken by corporate officers.

 

And by risk I don't mean gambling or the lottery. I am talking about a vision that sees a new invention or a new process being commercially viable, then acting on that. The average employee has about enough vision to see to the next paycheck.

At my company there is a $50,000.00 deductible on all hulls. I don't see one pilot taking on the risk to cover a deductible like that.

 

So keep flapping your gums. The more energy you put into that, the less you will have left over to do anything about your miserable complaining existence.

 

Congrats to you PHIers who earned your safety bonuses. Success begets itself. So does failure.

I support your continued success, especially if it is Moggy winning it !

 

edit owners

Edited March 23, 2014 by aeroscout

[Wally]

... At my company there is a $50,000.00 deductible on all hulls. I don't see one pilot taking on the risk to cover a deductible like that....

 

Pilot error, frequently fatal, I would offer as considerable risk taken. A fair few pilots have paid the ultimate cost for regulatory, maintenance and manufacturer error as well.

 

The philosophy that earnings (or property) represent a portion of your life in exchange, then employer and employee become, in a sense- partners. Screwing your partners, in either direction, is bad business in the same way that screwing your customers is penny wise and pound foolish.

[aeroscout]

 

Pilot error, frequently fatal, I would offer as considerable risk taken. A fair few pilots have paid the ultimate cost for regulatory, maintenance and manufacturer error as well.

 

The philosophy that earnings (or property) represent a portion of your life in exchange, then employer and employee become, in a sense- partners. Screwing your partners, in either direction, is bad business in the same way that screwing your customers is penny wise and pound foolish.

I definitely see your point, and I agree with it almost without reservation.

[zippiesdrainage]

To keep it in perspective:

 

An (average) Firefighter makes $47,000

An (average) Police Officer: $50,000

An (average) Soldier: $36,000

 

Sure, being a helicopter pilot has its ups and downs (HUMOR people!), but when it comes down to it, we get to sit in a seat, doing something that most people would kill to do and we (occasionally) get paid equal to or greater than men and women who run into burning buildings or put themselves in the middle of disputes between dangerously unstable people or half a world away getting shot at and never knowing if the person's backyard your driving by will decide to shoot you.

 

All in all, we've got it pretty darn good, we're pretty lucky and our job only tries to kill us occasionally rather than constantly.

 

disclaimer: I don't want to start a flame war here, I googled average salary for these positions and don't presume to have any first hand knowledge of the salaries of the above jobs.

[adam32]

To keep it in perspective:

 

An (average) Firefighter makes $47,000

An (average) Police Officer: $50,000

An (average) Soldier: $36,000

 

Sure, being a helicopter pilot has its ups and downs (HUMOR people!), but when it comes down to it, we get to sit in a seat, doing something that most people would kill to do and we (occasionally) get paid equal to or greater than men and women who run into burning buildings or put themselves in the middle of disputes between dangerously unstable people or half a world away getting shot at and never knowing if the person's backyard your driving by will decide to shoot you.

 

All in all, we've got it pretty darn good, we're pretty lucky and our job only tries to kill us occasionally rather than constantly.

 

disclaimer: I don't want to start a flame war here, I googled average salary for these positions and don't presume to have any first hand knowledge of the salaries of the above jobs.

 

You are at least 30% lower then real life with those figures...

 

All three of those positions make more then an average rotor pilot.

 

You really want to make some money? Go apply for a babysitter position at a Prison, first year with OT will be 6 figures.

[Francis Meyrick]

 

You really want to make some money? Go apply for a babysitter position at a Prison, first year with OT will be 6 figures.

 

That appears to be a little disrespectful, to put it mildly, towards correction officers in general.

 

Having personally worked in that field of endeavor, I would point out:

 

1) "Babies".......it is a thankless, and often dangerous task. Hardly a baby sitter. You routinely risk being showered in urine or feces or stabbed by these "babies". You will be screamed at, volubly threatened, and you will witness the full depravity of the human animal. You will also observe once-good people needlessly destroy their own lives.

 

2) Pay. I submit that whatever these guys are paid, it's not enough. I know many who make half of the six figure sum you are bandying about. And put up with long hours and appalling working conditions to collect it.

 

3) Job security. So many of these agencies are facing huge budget pressures. They never know when the axe will fall. On pay, on benefits, on retirement benefits. They also never know when much needed backup is not available due staff shortages and cutbacks..

 

I really think you do not allow for the massive regional variations in pay and working conditions for the three occupations you indicate. Or the stress and risk.

 

What you and I do for a living, is pure joy, compared with many of those guys. Believe me.

 

Those are three professions that have my total, undivided respect.

 

The Murderer

 

The Guinea Pig

[Fliesbecauseracecar]

Well done and congratulations on your accident free 2013, incredible.

 

Not going to make any wage comments, other than the fact that after 20 years of service, and 14 years of flying, my compensation is not something I complain about, but the early (enlisted) days weren't easy, I nearly doubled my paycheck delivering pizzas on the side.

[palmfish]

Making six-figures and living near Savannah certainly has it's appeal, but PHI pilots fly single-pilot and don't do 4 hours worth of planning, risk assessment, and AAR's every time they fly... ;-)

[aeroscout]

Making six-figures and living near Savannah certainly has it's appeal, but PHI pilots fly single-pilot and don't do 4 hours worth of planning, risk assessment, and AAR's every time they fly... ;-)

Is that HEMS ? I hope your patient is stable while you are forced to do all your paperwork.

And I hope the company forcing all that paperwork is being honest about lift times.

[Darren Hughes]

Indeed. It seems PHI see the benefit of making their work force feel valued. With that they've gained loyalty, and stability in their employees. Both of those things effectively bring overheads down in the long run, and make for a more profitable company.

[jeffs]

Im sorry to say, but no soilder makes 36,000 after being in for 5 years and making it to E-4, I was making max $24,000. and defiantly not 30% more then $36,000 maybe an officer.

[palmfish]

Is that HEMS ? I hope your patient is stable while you are forced to do all your paperwork.

And I hope the company forcing all that paperwork is being honest about lift times.

No, not HEMS. I don't think many HEMS pilots are making over $100K.

 

I was being a bit tongue in cheek to the Army Aviator from Ft. Stewart who posted before me. I guess it didn't come out in translation...

[Fliesbecauseracecar]

I got it, and you are right. I am definitely ready to retire from the army and start the next chapter of my life. 3 years to go, to massage the finances to where I want them, then into the real world for me.

 

I am sure there will be things I miss, but palmfish does a good job highlighting some of the things I won't. A stable residence for the family, and no more trips to fly in unfriendly skies have to rank right up there as well.

[Francis Meyrick]

 

 

Indeed. It seems PHI see the benefit of making their work force feel valued. With that they've gained loyalty, and stability in their employees. Both of those things effectively bring overheads down in the long run, and make for a more profitable company.

I think that's exactly right.

As regards stability, I'm one of the guys who fly a high flying job, and there's a financial incentive of $9,000 a year to stay on that contract. Prior to the bonus, lots of complaints, lots of grumbling, lots of pilot turn-over. After the bonus, a huge sea change. Much more retention. And a sense of "Oh well, hey-ho, roll up the sleeves, it's off to work we go." A sense of being appreciated for working.

 

Also, what impresses me. In prior employment, I've seen lip service to safety. Kind of a religious ceremonial thing. For the PR benefits. Impressing the customers. Not so PHI. The doors at top management are indeed open, always, if any grunt needs to bring up an issue that is not being addressed. They mean it, when they say "Destination Zero" is the target and "Zero is possible."

 

Far and away the best helicopter job I've ever had. ("Lord, help me not screw this one up")

 

[palmfish]

I got it, and you are right. I am definitely ready to retire from the army and start the next chapter of my life. 3 years to go, to massage the finances to where I want them, then into the real world for me.

 

I am sure there will be things I miss, but palmfish does a good job highlighting some of the things I won't. A stable residence for the family, and no more trips to fly in unfriendly skies have to rank right up there as well.

Thanks for that reassurance, it's sometimes hard to "hear" tone on an Internet forum. :-)

 

I served 25 years (20 years flight) with a combination of active and reserves and I think you are in a great position to retire in 3 years and move on to a second career. Of course you pointed out the benefits of being a civilian, and you have certainly done your time and earned the right to settle down. With your pension it should be no problem finding a job that you enjoy, gives you the lifestyle you seek, and pays enough to maintain your standard of living.

[Fliesbecauseracecar]

Well, part of the plan is finishing up the wife's degree and putting her to work. That is the racing fund and retirement account plan. My pension and next career are the maintain standard of living plan.

 

 

. . .but you know what they say about plans.

[Francis Meyrick]

 

...and putting her to work.

 

How does that trick work??

[aeroscout]

 

How does that trick work??

Yeah, like you would ever try to pull that one off !

[Francis Meyrick]

 

 

Yeah, like you would ever try to pull that one off !

 

you haven't met my 20 year long lovely, albeit formidable helicopter wifey... all five foot nothing, ninety five pounds, and hands-on-hips-tapping-foot...

 

and you hear this; "Oye! STOP THAT!" bellowing across the fields behind our house. And I swear, EVERYBODY, (husband, 3 donkeys, 2 miniature horses, 3 goats, 12 chickens, 2 geese, 4 ducks, Guinea Fowl, dogs, cats, a pigeon and a parakeet....) ALL come to instant, RIGID attention. Like ("Is it ME?")

Usually it's not you. Just the Peking Duck screwing the Rhode Island Chicken, or something, and then you sense this collective sigh of relief...

 

I have politely "suggested" her getting a job, but SHE says she's busy enough "PICKING UP AFTER YOU LOT...."

 

Just saying. I'm open to all suggestions...

 

Edited April 29, 2014 by Francis Meyrick