15-Aug-2024Source: BALPA
It follows over a year of negotiations and extensive industrial action that showed the strength of feeling and solidarity amongst the oil and gas and search and rescue crew. BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said: “This result is a significant achievement for our pilots and technical crews who reluctantly undertook industrial action. Thanks to their... Read more
20-May-2024Source: BALPA
In response to the oral question to the Aviation Minister Anthony Browne in Parliament today, and his commitment to meet with Bristow (available below), BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said: “We welcome the support from politicians for our striking members. “When Government meets with Bristow we expect Ministers to outline that companies and management with... Read more
21-Feb-2024Source: BALPA
The British Airline Pilots’ Association has given notice to Bristow Helicopters that it will call on its members to strike in March. BALPA has been in negotiation with the company for months, but Bristow has failed to put forward any offer that its pilots and tech crew could support. Following a strong ballot result of... Read more
12-Feb-2024Source: BALPA
Helicopter crews at Bristow Helicopters have overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay. The ballot conducted among members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) closed on Wednesday 7th February 2024 and returned a 96.31% YES vote on a 92.74% turnout BALPA General Secretary, Amy Leversidge said: “This ballot is... Read more
11-Dec-2017Source: BALPA
It’s been an extremely tough few years for offshore helicopter firms in the North Sea. The downturn in the oil and gas industry has hit the local economy hard and the knock-on effect has been redundancies at both CHC Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters. For those facing the news that their jobs are on the line... Read more
16-Oct-2017Source: BALPA
Reacting to the news Bristow Helicopters is to make 12 pilots redundant, BALPA National Officer Mick Brade said: “The UK helicopter community has had to endure round after round of redundancies in the last few years. “This latest announcement by Bristow Helicopters of the loss of eight pilots in Shetland and four in Norwich is... Read more
19-May-2016Source: BALPA
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has welcomed the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Government will introduce new regulations on drones in a forthcoming Modern Transport Bill. Jim McAuslan, BALPA General Secretary, said: “We are pleased that the Government is planning to bring forward drone legislation in a new bill. The number of... Read more
18-Aug-2015Source: Balpa
Over a third of helicopter pilots operating in the North Sea met last night in Aberdeen at a meeting convened by BALPA to hear an update on the negotiations over planned redundancies. The meeting was appalled to hear the employers’ approach to the redundancies, at the ruthless exploitation of the weak market by the oil... Read more
15-May-2015Source: BALPA
A majority of British people think there should be stricter rules on the qualifications needed to fly a drone in urban areas, and half think there should be prison sentences for those flying drones in a way that endangers an aircraft, according to a new survey that will be presented at a Drone Safety Summit... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: BALPA
Pilots will call for an independent judicial inquiry into North Sea helicopter safety in evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee this afternoon. Captain Colin Milne, the Chairman of BALPA’s Helicopter Affairs Committee, will give evidence to the Committee’s inquiry into helicopter safety at 1500 today, Monday, 27 January 2014 at the Committee’s... Read more
13-Dec-2013Source: BALPA
In response to Bond Air Services decision to ground its fleet of EC 135s, BALPA said: “Pilots are looking to the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to take charge and provide the industry with the information that has informed the decision to ground the Bond EC-135 fleet. Flight safety... Read more
1-Jun-2012Source: BALPA
Commenting on the decision by Shell to withdraw from a contract with Bond helicopters following three incidents in three years, Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, said: ‘People are used to contracts changing; it is part of commercial life in the North Sea. What is of concern in this instance is... Read more
18-Sep-2009Source: BALPA
The TUC, meeting in Liverpool threw its weight behind a call from the pilots’ union BALPA (British Airline Pilots’ Association) for a North Sea oil and gas Safety Summit.... Read more