OFFSHORE WORLDWIDE
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* Norsk Helikopter has become the second offshore oil support operator to reach 10,000 fleet hours with the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, and the first European operator. Norsk currently operates five S-92s to support offshore activity in the Norwegian sectore of the North Sea.
The achievement follows a similar milestone achieved just a few days earlier by PHI Inc., with its fleet of six S-92s, primarily operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Two more are due to enter service (N792PH and N892PH) with PHI by January.
* The pilots strike at PHI Inc came to an end on 10 November after the Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 108 Executive voted to abandon their action and make an unconditional offer to return to work. Increasing disquiet among the striking pilots over the Union's handling of the situation and a gradual drift back to work by members influenced the surrender. Less than a third of PHI pilots still belong to the Union, and the Executive's earlier actions are now likely to face an internal Inquiry.
The vote came after PHI made it clear that the company was not going to renegotiate the pay and conditions agreement it unilaterally introduced at the end of August (HELiDATA News 27 September), which led to the union calling the strike action. Since then PHI has recruited some new pilots and given notice to the strike breakers, whilst maintaining the majority of its services.
On 15 November PHI Inc indicated in a memo to all its employees that the rehiring of the striking pilots would not be immediate, saying that there were "complex practical and legal issues relating to appropriate return to work procedures" that needed to be considered before the union's return to work offer could be implemented.
Certainly returning pilots will have to accept the company's terms and conditions before being rehired, but the delay prompted a further spat with OPEIU officials, who claimed that the company was stalling in fulfilling its obligations under the Railway Labour Act. Subsequently the OPEIU filed a complaint in the Louisiana Federal court on 27 November, seeking the immediate reinstatement with full back pay and benefits of pilots who took strike action.