The British Airline Pilots’ Association is holding a ballot amid concerns over job cuts among helicopter pilots

Pilots flying helicopters in the North Sea are threatening to go on strike after two companies announced job losses in the wake of the oil price collapse.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) said that it there had been an “overwhelming call” for the union to ballot its members for industrial action at a meeting in Aberdeen on Thursday evening, which it said was attended by more than a third of the helicopters pilots that work in the North Sea.

Bristow Helicopters is to cut 130 jobs - of which as many as 66 will be pilots - and CHC Scotia plans to shed 50 jobs. Half of the roles lost at CHC will be among pilots.

Jim McAuslan, BALPA’s out-going general secretary, warned that job losses could affect safety.

“For pilots safety is our number one priority and there is a fear that these redundancies may lead to corners being cut and pilots flying when their focus is not 100% on task,” he said.

“Overall the redundancies are bad for employees, bad for business, bad for the UK economy and bad for safety.

“We will now hold an indicative ballot to ask members if they are willing to take strike action. This will close on Tuesday 18 August.”

The price of a barrel of brent crude has tumbled from $115 in June last year to about $49 on Friday amid a global supply glut.

The plunge has forced companies operating in the oil and gas industry to scale back on spending and cut costs, including jobs.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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