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What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)

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Old 7th Mar 2009, 16:16
  #3481 (permalink)  

Nigerian In Law
 
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Gunboats or Top Cover ?

Apart from ceasing the carriage of military personnel is anything else being done to minimise the risk of getting shot at ? After all, aircraft still have to land and take off low/slow.

Just a thought.

NEO
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Old 7th Mar 2009, 17:09
  #3482 (permalink)  
 
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NEO,

You still flying at 400/700/1000 feet heights on predictable routes?

That is one change you could make....get above 1500 feet....higher is better.

Do not track roads, railroads, rivers, beaches, or power lines...avoid large open areas and tree lines.

Forget the takeoff profiles and get up fast, turning constantly in a spiral.....and land the same way....autorotation to as close to the pad as you can stand it.

If things look normal before landing fine....but if there is anything even a bit odd.....go home without trying it.

If everyone is laying down and looking away from the pad......BAD SIGN!

If a .51 Cal gets after you.....adjust 1500 feet to 5800 feet.

Combat helicopter Flying 101 all that wuz...learned in a land far away years ago.

Beyond being as unpredictable as possible and minimizing the time you are exposed below 1500 feet is about all you can do.
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Old 7th Mar 2009, 17:50
  #3483 (permalink)  
 
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Halfway there already!

I never knew a more unpredictable crowd than the Nigeria-based helicopter pilots! Downright weird, even... So that is sorted then!

What was the other part? Most of the ones I knew, their fingernails turned blue if they went above fifteen hundred feet. Are they going to equip the ships with oxygen? Pressurisation, I suppose...
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Old 14th Mar 2009, 13:34
  #3484 (permalink)  
 
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Despite the best efforts of some managers, it seems that the Aero Lagos management are determined to try and do everything to scuttle the helicopter operation as well as the rest of the company . What on earth is getting rid of the Dash 8's going to do? I'm sure clients like Total, Agip and Chevron will be most impressed - not . With Evergreen poised in the wings ready to come in here this year and partnering with Virgin (if they last ) I can see them offering a turn key fixed wing and rotary service and Aero losing the Agip and Total contracts in the next year or two and what will they have left then?

What's happened to Caverton's Bell 412s? After all the hype about 5 brand new ones on the way, it all seems to have gone very quiet. Oh, wait, we're talking about Caverton here aren't we . I guess Neverpay are maybe finding it harder than they thought to get set up here too

Bristow still seem to be holding their own, but what will happen to the helicopters on Snake Island when Shell pull out of there? Maybe the old Super Pumas can go to Port Harcourt where Bristow has its newest and its oldest helicopters in the country?

I guess the world financial crisis is now having a visible effect in Nigeria too.
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Old 14th Mar 2009, 21:15
  #3485 (permalink)  
 
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Mama,
Maybe the Dash 8s are leased from CHC or Heli-none at rip-off rates . Are you sure Aero won't just get rid of them and lease in from a company with more reasonable rates like Arik do? CHC has been tearing the behind out of Aero ever since they took over and maybe Aero can do a damn sight better without 'help' from CHC in this respect?
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 00:20
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Yeah like I'm sure outfits will be lineing up to lease there Dashes to Aero. The belief outside of Nigeria was that CHC was ripped off and Aero is untrustworthy. It doesn't matter what the truth is. Nigeria is considered to be the ripoff capital of the world. Untill that perception is changed people will be reluctant to take sides with Aero and give them any support.
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 05:51
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CHC has been tearing the behind out of Aero ever since they took over and maybe Aero can do a damn sight better without 'help' from CHC in this respect?
Tokunbo,
H1 has been tearing the ring out of ALL the CHC divisions with regard to charges. We can ONLY get parts from them and we lease our fleet from them.
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 09:32
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It's funny how Aero managed to have a good, mutually beneficial relationship with Schreiner for over 40 years, but within 4 years of the arrogant, know-it-all new owners taking over the partnership, the company has been reduced to the shambles it is. So who's ripping off who? Don't confuse Nigeria's status with that of Aero as much of their senior management were expatriates for many years and the operational decisions taken were theirs. It's well known in the industry that Heli None gives better support to it other customers than it does to its own CHC bases, waits for spares can make Eurocopter support look good and it charges rip-off prices for lousy service. I'd trust ero over CHC any day
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 11:54
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I would have to also say that one of Aero's main problems is that old man Ibru is no longer in charge. I don't think that he would have ever stood for any of this 737 sched airline nonsence. In my opinion this was the end of AERO as we knew it. The Airline bizz is a loosers buisness and it doesnt matter who's involved CHC, Schreiner or whoever.
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 16:14
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"Don't confuse Nigeria's status with that of Aero as much of their senior management were expatriates for many years and the operational decisions taken were theirs".

Tombola,

Is it because much of the senior management were expatriates that ACN has survived thus far? I hope you are not insinuating that perhaps only expatriate senior managers are capable of making informed decisions that can keep ACN afloat?
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 17:32
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I think he was insinuating that the current expats are not as good as the previous expats, despite how much they may think/wish so, nothing more sinister than that.
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Old 15th Mar 2009, 19:52
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UL,

You've got it in one
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Old 21st Mar 2009, 13:13
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No more tea and coffee for ACN staff very soon

Only water will be provided . . .
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Old 21st Mar 2009, 16:33
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chc acn

whats the latest on chc and acn? have they kissed and made up or are they still breaking up? any word on more machines or contracts for them?
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 07:20
  #3495 (permalink)  

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Wrench,

I think, in marital terms, they are on a trial separation and deciding who gets custody of the kids.

NEO
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 08:43
  #3496 (permalink)  
 
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Anyone hear what ever happened to Caverton's 412s? Two were to show in Feb and the rest shortly after. Also anything lately about their new base in Malabo?

Heard they only have 1 pilot to fly them so far. Are they hiring? Sending people to courses? Or are they just slipping deeper into the abyss?

After the big announcement everything went strangely quiet. What's happening with the old "Center of Excellence"?
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 13:37
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As for Caverton...seeing is believing. As for the Center of Exellence...I would call it the Center of Exc&%#ent...
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 14:32
  #3498 (permalink)  
 
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Mr All you ate and Mr charmer of snakes, the Center of Excellence is alive and well and every days our Twinned Ooters are carrying on the good works and many passengers who rapidly becomes ambassadors spreading the news of the excellence service. Meanwhile, the Caverton Mega Stars super 350 is carrying many valuable cargoes to Aba the hub of weal,th and industry on a daily basis thanks to the skills of our highly trained crews.

The move forward to new standards of sophistication is no more immune to World financial factors than in any other company or country as daddy and I, trained as we were in university with both book and computer, knows all too well. One must smite while the iron is hot, but if it cools off a bit, one has sometimes to delay - after all a Watts Pott never Boyles was alway impressed upon us in science class in secondary school. History teaches us to learn from the mis-steak of the past.

There is also some attempts of flooding the makket in Nigeria as some disgruntled former employees of CHC are now thinking they have even more knowledge of financial matters like daddy and I, and are trying to muddy the waters of the swamps by also offering the Bell Extraordinary Performance. They are like yams to the slaughter and will be swept away before the brilliance of our presentations to the toppest oil companies, offering them the toppest deals and the toppest standards of excellence in all matter.

Naturally we are already having our residence expert on all matters of the Extraordinary Performance and he will ensure that daddy's money and mine are not flittered away on paying salary before the pawpaw is ripe and ready to be presented to our eagerly waiting customer

We welcome all application from toppest Captain such as Chuk who will be fated with industry topping deals and salary and a housing such as they have not imagined before. New rosters of only 16/4 have bin developed to reflex what will become the new standard for the industry here in Nigeria. Unlike such failing and ailing company as Aero and Bristow, tea and coffee will be free for all employees who brings in their own, excellent local allowance is paid so you can cook your own food just the way you wish or pop out for some of our delicious suya or get some take away from Mr Biggs or Chicken Repubic. Bar closures and your pesonal life will be entirely to you own discretion. After all, we provide all that you need and you are free to do anything you wish with it.

Not gone, not forgotten, the Center of Excellence is on the brink of yet another great break through which will startle and amaze everybody.
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 15:02
  #3499 (permalink)  
 
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peppersoup,

Looks as if Aero and Bristow will be doing the same then. I'm told that Bristow now have to pay for tea and coffee in Lagos - again - and that in PH it's still provided, but you have to make your own and do your won washing up. I wonder if all pilots and engineers will get a cooking and cleaning allowance .

More and more people are looking at Bristow, but they seem to have big problems with immigration service right now. Angola or anywhere else, her we come

NEO, even though we're kind of separated, maintenance is now being paid, but the marriage guidance counselling is ongoing and I don't think anyone knows even now what the final outcome will be. It's pretty worrying for we kids
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Old 23rd Mar 2009, 09:10
  #3500 (permalink)  
 
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T'anks CavMgmt

Is it true as you say only one squirrel is flying? You've gone from 6 helicopters to 1 in only 3 years?

I didn't go to the toppest of universities but from here it looks as you are growing in the wrong direction.
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