Copter union wants foreign pilots out

[Nereus]

Not content with crashing their onshore helicopters, they now want to move it up a notch!
What they convienently forget to mention is that most of the helicopters being used offshore are owned by international operators, regardless of being put on the Thai register.

most of the helicopters being used for offshore oil-drilling platforms are being flown by foreign pilots, despite the fact that those platforms are in Thai waters.

The exploration rigs are also in Thai waters and foreign owned. The next step will be to ban the foreign crews on them, so that they have a better chance of setting them on fire, or sinking them, themselves!
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http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/new ... ign-pilots

The Helicopter Pilots Labour Union on Wednesday petitioned the Employment Department to block Thailand-based companies from hiring foreign pilots in violation of the law.

Saran Siripoonpol, the union chairman, told Employment Department director-general Sumeth Mahosoth that a royal decree issued in 1979 prohibits employment of foreign pilots to work in the country, except for flights on international routes.

But, some companies took an advantage in the loophole of the law by hiring foreign pilots to be instructors for training Thai pilots. Actually, those employees do not work as trainers, but perform the duty full time as pilots, the union claimed.

Mr Saran said such practice have deprived Thai pilots opportunities for career advancement. He said, in particular, most of the helicopters being used for offshore oil-drilling platforms are being flown by foreign pilots, despite the fact that those platforms are in Thai waters.

He said Thai pilots should be given this right under the royal decree on occupations reserved for Thais and asked the Employment Department chief to look into the matter.

Mr Sumeth accepted the petition. He asked for the names of the companies and foreign pilots working in Thailand for further investigation.

[PeteC]

They've edited the story. This morning it read that his union only has 30 members, out of 150+ Thai helicopter pilots. Why have they declined joining? Pete


EDIT: My further recollection of the earlier version of the article is that this guy has submitted petitions like this more than once before....and they went in the drawer somewhere apparently. And...it said foreign pilots make 300,000 Baht approx per month, and Thai only 200,000.

[Nereus]

They've edited the story. This morning it read that his union only has 30 members, out of 150+ Thai helicopter pilots. Why have they declined joining? Pete

EDIT: My further recollection of the earlier version of the article is that this guy has submitted petitions like this more than once before....and they went in the drawer somewhere apparently. And...it said foreign pilots make 300,000 Baht approx per month, and Thai only 200,000.

Yes, it has been floated previously, Pete. I am well out of it now, but I would take those salary figures with a big dose of salt.

[Hobiecat]

How quickly these Thai pilots forget. Most, if not all Thai commercial helicopter pilot's are a spin off of (CHC) Canadian Helicopters Corp. who were all sent to Canada in the 80-90-2000's to do their flight training to work for CHC on their return in support of the Thai Nationalization program providing pilots in support of the off shore oil industry in Songkhla, Nakon Si Tammarat and Uda Pao. Upon joining the company most were given opportunities to gain further experience working on other international contracts that the Corp. attained in other parts of the world earning a competitive wage. In recent years Thai companies have been bidding on the contracts in Thailand and have been awarded almost all of them. These are the companies who are hiring Thai pilot's but due to the fact these Thai companies do not or cannot afford the purchase of the air craft the off shore oil company has requested the Thai companies such as United Off Shore of Thailand have had to sub contract the aircraft and bring in foreign companies recently such as West Star of Malaysia. West Star is in fact paying much more than what the Thai pilots are getting payed. Seems to me if these guys want more money they should pursue international employment just like the opportunity they were given with (CHC) Canada. Sounds like typical whinging pilot's to me and stinks of protectionism.

[Name Taken]

I would hate to be an offshore oil rig worker in Thailand. (afraid I would be killed in a helicopter crash)

[Lung Per]

This should come as a surprise to no-one. Protectionism prevails. But in the end it's a question of what the license stipulates regarding the use of national vs. foreign labor.