Congratulations Rory, well deserved. As an ex RAF pilot and recently retired off the A380, watching your enthusiasm takes me back to my early days in aviation, it’s infectious. There will be plenty of challenges ahead, you will never stop learning and always treat every flight with the same respect and suspicion as your first as there is never a flight that can’t bite you if you’re not prepared. Safe flying and a joyous career. Cheers.
Cheers for that extra insight Rory. I’m one of your regular passengers. The amazing feeling of walking up the stairs onto the heli deck to go home never gets old. Thanks for keeping us safe 👍🏻
Great to see that your commitment (and expenditure) have paid off. Have watched your videos since the early days of microlight flying and always found them well produced and presented. You have worked for this and it is great to see you get the job that you wanted and have earned.
Interesting video Rory. As an ex offshore worker I travelled a lot on all the heli operators out of Aberdeen and always appreciated the skills of the pilots flying us out in all sorts of weather. There was no better feeling when it came to "choppers eve" as we called it, the day before you were due to go home, knowing that you'd done your last shift and could get home for 2 weeks rest. Unless of course the dreaded fog came in and flights were cancelled. Fog is also known as "cash clouds" by many offshore workers as it meant having to do another days work in many cases and with that another days pay. There were also names for the helicopters as well like "paraffin budgie" and the "disco taxi" as it got you back onshore and into the pubs/nightclubs. I'll look forward to seeing more of your offshore videos for a bit of nostalgia.
Thank you for this fascinating insight into your side of the operation. It’s great to learn a bit more about what you guys offshore make of it all. I love the idea of choppers Eve - very evocative. Thanks for watching.
@@RoryOnAir No problem I've always loved flying and to get offshore in helicopters was an experience itself. I might even see you around Stonehaven as my son lives there and I visit as often as I can. I'm just down the road a bit in Montrose.
They fly us offshore in the Gulf of Mexico on S92s. I have a world of respect for offshore pilots everywhere. The responsibility of the safe transport of the crew and the helicopter has to weigh heavily on their minds, being the professionals that they are. Best of luck to you.
What an epic journey you have had. From your microlight training up to this incredibly complex helicopter. Its an inspiration to any aviator. Good luck with the rest of your career.
Used to work off shore and lived about 3 mile from Dyce heliport (Little Clinterty, just outside Bucksburn) as it was called then. Probably the scariest part of our training for off shore survival was being put in a mock up of a heli in a pool which was dunked and rotated, remember the instructors words even now, “wait for it to stop moving and then blow out a little air to see which way the bubbles go up, and head that way”
Wow! Amazing news and congratulations on landing a plum job. I really hope Bristows recognise to potential for good publicity and allow you to show more of what’s actually involved and the skill you pilots need to have landing on a small deck in challenging weather conditions. So glad you and your family are settled, I’ve been following you on you tube for many years since your fixed wing days, so was delighted when I got a notification you had put a new vlog up. Keep ‘ em coming and once again congratulations on all you’ve achieved.
Thank you Nick and especially for sticking with me all this time! Bristow have been very helpful in allowing me to make this video. I really hope to be able to show what the flying and offshore landings etc are like - it’s fascinating. Stay safe. 👍
So happy to see your career moving onwards. As a veteran of being flown to the rigs around the Northern North Sea (and all over the World) since 1985, I have nothing but admiration for you guys. In the early days, your arrival wasn't only about delivering new crew or taking us home but also gave us 'luxuries' such as a new box of videos to watch (pre satellite!) and even fresh milk. Safety regs were not quite as strict in the 'good old days' and I remember landing/taking off in some pretty crazy conditions. On one occasion (Sedco 704) , I remember the wind speed and heave was so high, that all luggage was left onboard the aircraft while 2 pax at a time were offloaded and immediately replaced by 2 inbound pax, in order to keep the weight. Only after all pax were onboard was the baggage gradually exchanged. It may be hard to believe but we actually had a rope strung between the handrail of the helideck access stairway to the step of the chooper ! (Sikorsky S-61) due to the wind strength and the hazard of pax being blown off the helideck/ or into the tail rotor ! Changed days indeed :-) Fortunately I only had one skidmark moment whilst flying....the rear tricycle wheel of the S-61 had managed to get snared in the helideck netting and upon lifting off we lurched violently and I remember looking out the window and facing a very bleak North Sea 🤔. Fortunately the pilot immediately regained control and set us down and shut down. On investigation it was found that a new helideck net had been installed but pre-wetting and stretching had not been done correctly, resulting in the net flapping and snagging the rear tricycle gear.
Wow, that’s an amazing story about the snagged wheel - I’d imagine that scared everyone. I have heard old stories of ropes to the door and people crawling across the deck in very high winds. I’m glad we have strict (sensible) limits these days. Thank you for watching. Rory
I, like many, have followed your journey for some time. I first came across your channel as I set out on my own adventure to learn how to fly a C42. Your videos then were an inspiration and helped push me on. I now have a (basic) pilot’s license. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share your experiences. I wish you and your young family every success and happiness.
Hi Shaun, thank you very much for watching and getting in touch. I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed watching my content and the fact you’ve got a licence yourself is ace. I hope to share more on here in the new year. Have a great time flying the C42.
No need to apologise Rory, you’ve been very busy and we know from your Facebook page what you’ve been up to. I bet you are so chuffed that all that hard work has paid off! It’s such a great success story, been following since your early microlight days. Well done mate 👍
As a regular passenger on various helicopter flights from Aberdeen to various platforms and rigs with all operators including yours, it was interesting seeing behind the scenes. The S92’s have always been my favourite to travel on. I remember when they were brand new
Brilliant video Rory - really hope you can make more of these videos. S92 is a wonderful aircraft - I have 3200 hours on them now and still enjoy it a much as when I started. Keep up the good work :)
Thank you Simon. I would certainly like to make more videos about my job. Watch this space. I’m a fair way off 3000 hours but racking them up quite quickly.
It's funny how I just commented "wish you a good career and a happy family" in the other video and now I see you are doing both. Proud of you, well done. Keep the focus in your job, colleagues and family. You have setup a nice life rather quickly, be proud and know that this "multitasking" you did now, you will be nostagic and grateful for it as years go buy. Our golden years, we don't understand they are golden at the time, only a tad bit later. Lucky you, wish you all the best.
Great job and respect to all chopper pilots. I am done with off-shore work did that for 25 years lots from Aberdeen. At 62 now i will not miss the awfull beds on all rigs and the fat food. Everywhere the same now.
Great video Rory, really glad Bristow are on board with this. Educational for something that's not talked about in too much detail in the office, although a vital part of O&G operations. Good luck.
Congratulations Rory. I was actually wondering this week what you were up to. Well done - continue to enjoy, stay safe and I look forward to more videos!
33 years I have been flying offshore and never knew what went on behind the scenes. Thanks for the very informal video and good luck with your new career
Love this update...always watch the helicopters over the North Sea on Flight Radar...very important work keeping oil and gasoline flowing...thank you for sharing and detailing the helicopter..
Very interesting vid Rory, congratulations on getting your job. As a longtime and regular collector of Bristows air miles, its always good to see what goes on in the front seats. Looking forward to seeing some day-to-day offshore stuff and being able to show friends and family how we get to work and what the North Sea is like to fly across.
Thanks very much Rob. I’m glad you found it interesting and I hope I am able to share more of what it’s like flying offshore as it’s a world so few people get to experience.
Super video young man, thanks for sharing and thanks to Bristow too. Becoming a helio pilot was my life long ambition but I never quite made it settling, at age (then) 56, to get my ppl for an MT-03 Autogyro; the nearest I'll ever get to a rotary aircraft. I love my gyro but it's not quite a helio, is it!!! Best wishes to you for a wonderful career, and to your family up in Scotland.
Brilliant video Rory. Look forward to more when you can. Been following you since the early days and great to see you living you’d dream! Best wishes to you, Lizzie, and little Jack.
Congratulations Rory on the new job ! As a PPL(A) I fly the 172 out of my local airport in Ireland where the coastguard SAR operate the S92. I've recently taken an interest in helicopters so very interested to see your videos going back to the G2 in Leicester. It's on my bucket list to drop over there for a few 'trial lessons' on the G2 and I spoke to them only last week about it. In the meantime I'm learning the G2 in Microsoft Simulator !
Congratulations mate! That is quite the bird. Getting valuable cargo (people) to their place of work and back home has to be rather fulfilling. Your attention to detail and focus on safety is letting others enjoy being with their families. That’s incredible!
Wow Rory. Absolutely facinating vlog. Its been a privilege to watch your career take off (see what i did there!) 😂. Your enthusiasm and very obvious passion for what you do has been at the forefront of every one of your vlogs. Bristow have gained a huge asset in you. But at the very foundation of all of this is wonderfully supportive family. Thank you for sharing. We appreciate your efforts.
Thanks Alan, I'm delighted you enjoyed it. Yes, I'm very fortunate to have had the support of my wife all along and the company for allowing me to make this video.
Hi Rory and thanks for the update. So super proud of what you've done achieving your dream career - just shows what you can do when you put your mind and focus to it! Great to see your lovely family, best to you Lizzie and your family.
Congrats on the job and thanks for the update! I used to work offshore out of Aberdeen so this is really interesting to me. Most of the time it was on the Super Pumas which were cramped as hell, but now and again we'd get on an S92 and it was luxury, so much space! You're right to describe it as a "visceral" experience, the noise is unbelievable even with double earpro on. I always loved flying offshore, it never lost its novelty. On a different subject, I'm sure I can see Deano from Kilmarnock at 02:00, I used to work with that muppet on the Montrose! I wonder what he's doing there hahaaha!
Rory great to see you have got the job with Bristow's yes i was someone how would check to see if you had posted, but i am aware of the amount of training you could be doing so glad you have made it into commercial side of aviation, well done great to see also you have a little one and a house, hope you and your wife have a great time in Scotland .
Thanks very much for checking in and I’m glad you enjoyed this long overdue update. As I said, I hope to share more. It’s great to be back in Scotland. 👍
I am so happy for you. You work harder than most and deserve the spoils. Keep taking the time to enjoy them. We'll all catch up as and when you can update us. Be good, play nice.
Brilliant Rory, I had wondered where you were, you've come a long way from Barton airfield a long time ago. I look forward to more updates when you have the time. Take care and safe flying
Your video’s timing is quite coincidental. Just two days ago I was discussing with a Scottish pilot friend of mine (who now lives in Australia as I do) how, back in 1990, I was instructing a young guy from Aberdeen. He told me how Bond and Bristow Helicopters would take cadets with a private fixed wing licence and get them through to where you are now. I thought about doing it for a while but ultimately, and 20,000+ hours later, I went down the airline path. Well done on your accomplishments. A part of me is still envious!
my father flew super pumas for Bond Helicopters at Dyce (Aberdeen), hes now retired coming from flying westland scouts in the army air corps and then Dollar Helicopters (was) based Coventry, congratulations on your new position.
Some of my very favorite folks in the oilfield were the pilots for Bristol, and Era and a few others… I worked many years offshore and was fortunate to build some relationships with various pilots… For a time, I was a safety rep and therefore was in daily communication with helicopter arrivals and departures… I built the passenger manifests, helped check for helipad security, (free from obstructions or items that could be blown about), communicated via radio with the pilots, delivered lunches and occasionally got to escort the flight crews during shut down operations to the rig galley and break areas… The S-92 is a beast, and my favorite seat was right front seat… Single row, lots of leg room… Does Bristol Aberdeen fly with a crew chief on the S-92…? Most of my work was in the Gulf of Mexico… Though I spent a couple years in Egypt, and then five plus years in Brazil… Nice Video, and Congratulations on the new career as well as the additional type ratings in the book…
Thank you for your comment. No, we don’t have a crew chief in ours - the pilots and HLO are responsible for the loading and security of passengers. I’m glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for looking after my colleagues.
Congratulations Rory!!! Brilliant job too! Love Stonehaven - I lived there in the early 1990's. My daughter is doing her line training with Loganair based in Inverness!
Ah! great to see your moving on with your career, congratulations on the job and getting through all the hoops on the way here, very busy times Rory , and on top of all that one of the most stressful things to do ( in my opinion) move house and home🙈 .. your doing something right , not all wives would have stood by their man on that journey so hats off to her..👍 it is really a bit of a fairy tale and I’m delighted with the outcome for you and the family, keep the sunny side up and look forward to seeing your progress as you master your new machine…👍
Found you after Auskerry ! Brilliant. Going to follow you and enjoy your . Also check out that lovely island life of Mum and Dad. Thank you. Phil, Suffolk. U.K.
Great to see what is going on nowadays. I was a passenger working offshore in the North Sea for 9 years in the late 70's and 80's (Piper Alpha and Claymore). My first trip was in a S58 Wessex !, then the indefatigable S61 (many times in Hotel Oscar that ditched off Cornwall) with the occasional trip back to the beach on a maintenance flight in our field chopper, the Bell 212 or Bo 109. I managed a few flights in a Chinook out to the Magnus, and one memorable trip back in a S76, before moving to the Norwegian Statfjiord fields and the super Pumas, flying out of Bergen. Never could sleep during the flight though. Just stay clear of the exhaust from the turbines on the platform!
Excellent video Rory, great to see how well you have progressed since flying at Mainair. It just goes to show what we’re capable of when we chase our dreams.
Ah excellent stuff. Hamish has done a super job of showing what life on Auskerry is like. I’ve got a few videos about the island on here too which you might enjoy. Cheers
Great to see you have made it, the S 92 has a superb panel, I remember the early days when the S61 had a moving map that rotated on two rolls as you moved along your track. One thing that hasn't changed is the healthy eating platter option from the rig! :-) P.S. I can remember when even the passengers did not wear survival suits, even in winter.
Well done! I’m really pleased to hear that you’ve made it. You really deserve it and I hope you have a long and successful career. Onwards and upwards….
What a great video and a memory for me as well. I worked as a Marine Engineer for 16 years and part of that was 18 months on a purpose built Safety Support vessel on the Magnus Field flying to and from the platform from Sumburgh (and a Dauphin ferry helicopter to and from the ship from the platform). Then for a few years I worked on Diving Support Vessels flying out of Aberdeen. The helicopter survival training course in Lowestoft was quite the experience.
Yes, it’s something that’s come up a few times in the comments - I forgot to mention ‘the dunker’. Not the most fun but very worthwhile. Thanks for watching.
Welcome to Aberdeen Rory! All the very best with your new career at Bristow. Hope you are enjoying the butteries?! Have you flown with my Irish chum Pat yet?
