Rotorcraft
French helo EMS pilots demand new contract
Pilots flying helicopters for the French hospitals’ emergency medical services went on strike twice recently to protest low wages and long hours.

Pilots flying helicopters for the French hospitals’ emergency medical services went on strike twice recently to protest low wages and long hours. In response, the operators’ trade association, SNEH, said that it has already addressed the pilots’ highest-priority grievances. Early last month the pilots expressed confidence that negotiations were nearing completion.

SNPL, the pilots’ union, said that during the second action, between September 5 and 8, “more than 30” of 36 French helicopter EMS bases went on strike. During the first strike (August 14 and 15), pilots at 30 bases went on strike.