Pay offer for strike threat pilots

Helicopter pilots have called for parity

Aberdeen-based helicopter pilots who threatened strike action over pay have been offered an £18,000 salary increase.

Their employers, CHC Scotia, and the British Pilots Association (Balpa) agreed on Thursday to a revised deal under which pilots will receive the increase over two years - with a further 2.5% in the third year.

The helicopter pilots had threatened to walk out unless the pay gap between them and aeroplane pilots was narrowed.

Staff will be balloted on the deal by Balpa, with the results expected next month.

Balpa say the pay gap will be closed

CHC Scotia is the North Sea's biggest helicopter firm, operating about 45 flights a day for oil companies including BP, Mobil, Talisman, Exxon and TotalFinaElf.

Balpa general secretary Christopher Darke said: "The gap will be closed over two years, not three-and-a-half which the company had earlier insisted on, and the agreement will mean a pay increase for pilots of up to £18,500 over the two years."

The pilots threatened strike action if their pay was not brought into line with that of jet pilots.

The 200 pilots involved in the dispute are employed in Aberdeen, Norwich, Humberside and Blackpool.

CHC Scotia admitted at the time it was disappointed by the ballot in favour of industrial action which, it said, would have "a destructive impact on our operations and the service we provide to our clients".