For the last two years I’ve enjoyed a FIFO (fly-in/fly-out) arrangement with my employer where I had two weeks of work at a remote but comfortable location (Broome) followed by two weeks of time off at a capital city of my choice (Adelaide.) Prior to this I was required to live permanently at the remote but comfortable location. The distance between the two places is about 2500 km or 1500 miles so the company has significant costs including airfares, allowances, and accommodation probably totaling around $30,000 - $40,000 per annum. There are only three employees doing what I’m doing, the rest live at the operational bases and are on a retention bonus scheme.
This was put in place at a time when there were few qualified pilots willing to work in such a remote place. Since then the GFC has hit, the pilot shortage has eased and the retention bonus scheme ends at the end of this year. As it is easier to recruit now the company is understandably evaluating whether it needs to continue with us “part-timers” or not. They are making a decision this week.
If they decide to end the FIFO then I gather the position will be made redundant at the end of the year and I’ll be offered a relocation back to an operational base, probably Broome. On the other hand the FIFO may continue for another year. It’s possible they may try and compromise with an extension of six months or something, I’m not sure.
The good thing is I won’t be out of a job, but I really don’t want to move back to Broome, my family have been moving every few years for the last decade and are a bit sick of it. Also we’ve bought a house in Adelaide and don’t want to have to sell or rent it for another year at least.
Something that will be giving the company pause is that a couple of the major airlines around here are on a recruiting drive that may last for at least another year. The airlines is the next logical step for us guys and all of us, First Officers to Captains, are very well placed to get into an airline if we want to. Already around 20% of our FOs have had interviews and been offered employment with an airline. The Captains (including me) stand to get a significant bonus at the end of the year but we don’t qualify if we’ve given notice, so none of the Captains will be making any moves until January 1st 2011.
If the company makes us FIFO chaps redundant and then get a swath of resignations on Jan 1st they’ll look pretty stupid. But then if they keep it going and there are few resignations they’re probably wasting money on an unnecessary scheme.
To complicate matters further, I’m in my mid thirties and if I’m going to fly for an airline (I don’t know that I even want to) I need to do it soon if I’m to make a decent career out of it. So there is a strong possibility that I will look for work elsewhere regardless of what the company’s decision is regarding my present position. There is also the fact that my wife doesn’t like me being away for two weeks at a time. It is no consolation to her that we spend more time together than many other families due to my solid two weeks of time off.
At the moment the family and I are in limbo. We’re waiting to hear from management and then we’ll be able to have a better idea of what we’ll be doing next year. We want to stay in Adelaide but there are few opportunities there and none pay as well as what we currently have. I like the work I’m doing at the moment, good people, good lifestyle, low stress, but I don’t want to be doing it forever.
Anyway, I’m in the process of getting my CV in order just in case I need it!
JTIS (Just Thought I’d Share.)
