What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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Aviation in the Atlantic Sub Region
A certain helicopter company of Canadian origin which previously got kicked out of Nigeria is in the midst of relaunching itself under a double vowelled name in the country. Massive recruitment, 12 candidate cadet scheme, all the bells and whistles. Information reaching me indicates that said cadet scheme which attracted 6000+ applications after 5 intensive rounds of selection including a WOMBAT test, several interviews, psychometric testing and an NCAA medical was suddenly chopped in half and 6 of the final 12 cadets were dropped for no reason.
This obviously is in no way connected to the financial trouble which the Canadian parent company is experiencing. No connection at all, no sir.
Not that the Nigerian authorities are able to do anything even if the entire cadet scheme was binned. Local content...
This obviously is in no way connected to the financial trouble which the Canadian parent company is experiencing. No connection at all, no sir.
Not that the Nigerian authorities are able to do anything even if the entire cadet scheme was binned. Local content...
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West Africa
Was looking for an update as to the state of PAAN particularly like to learn what is going on with flight crew regarding hiring. Have all the contacts just like to know if there are any big changes with there 407 work.
Any info appreciated look forward to the PM
spk001
Any info appreciated look forward to the PM
spk001
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As far as I know PAAN/ Bristow is having some misunderstandings with chevron, Bristow wants to sell all bell 412 fleet and replace it for S76. Chevron wants Bell 412Ep or in case of replacement Bell 412EPI...
Chevron was auditing Caverton a couple of months ago because Caverton has promised to them Bell 412 with less than 5 years...
Let see what will happen...
Chevron was auditing Caverton a couple of months ago because Caverton has promised to them Bell 412 with less than 5 years...
Let see what will happen...
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A certain helicopter company of Canadian origin which previously got kicked out of Nigeria is in the midst of relaunching itself under a double vowelled name in the country. Massive recruitment, 12 candidate cadet scheme, all the bells and whistles. Information reaching me indicates that said cadet scheme which attracted 6000+ applications after 5 intensive rounds of selection including a WOMBAT test, several interviews, psychometric testing and an NCAA medical was suddenly chopped in half and 6 of the final 12 cadets were dropped for no reason.
This obviously is in no way connected to the financial trouble which the Canadian parent company is experiencing. No connection at all, no sir.
Not that the Nigerian authorities are able to do anything even if the entire cadet scheme was binned. Local content...
This obviously is in no way connected to the financial trouble which the Canadian parent company is experiencing. No connection at all, no sir.
Not that the Nigerian authorities are able to do anything even if the entire cadet scheme was binned. Local content...
They kinda need local contracts to pay for the [subsidized] local content.
And finally, all operators here are cutting costs and at full triage.
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"Rumor has it that the 407s will be phased out since all oil ops have to be in twins.
Anyone want to confirm ? "
That was the rumor when I started with PAAN in '07, and even then people were laughing at it, since they had heard it when they started years before I did. So the rumor is at least 10 years old. Off and on during my almost 5 years with PAAN the rumor would resurface, every time it was stronger and more plausible. Nothing ever happened.
What it boils down to is the contracts. PAAN/Bristow is not willing to spend the money on bringing in light twins on a contract that is rolled over yearly. They want 5 years or so to be sure to get their money back on the investment. Chevron being chevron, they can't plan further ahead than next monday, so there the matter rests.
And don't forget about the 206L4s. But the machines are in dwindling numbers, as the years of hard work are catching up with them in the form of cracks etc. Soon there will be no aircraft left to fly...
Anyone want to confirm ? "
That was the rumor when I started with PAAN in '07, and even then people were laughing at it, since they had heard it when they started years before I did. So the rumor is at least 10 years old. Off and on during my almost 5 years with PAAN the rumor would resurface, every time it was stronger and more plausible. Nothing ever happened.
What it boils down to is the contracts. PAAN/Bristow is not willing to spend the money on bringing in light twins on a contract that is rolled over yearly. They want 5 years or so to be sure to get their money back on the investment. Chevron being chevron, they can't plan further ahead than next monday, so there the matter rests.
And don't forget about the 206L4s. But the machines are in dwindling numbers, as the years of hard work are catching up with them in the form of cracks etc. Soon there will be no aircraft left to fly...
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There's been a rumour that Chevron would be forced to change to twins for nearly 25 years. That's why Bristow got rid of the Jet Rangers and replaced them with Twin Stars on the old Topcon contract in 1991 (that's when Texaco and Chevron were still separate companies). However, PAAN just continued with the 206s out of Escravos. The 412s are getting old now and Bristow is desperate to find someone willing to take the S76D. I doubt that will be Chevron.
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First thing, to correct, there is absolutely nothing Canadian about CHC any more. The 'Ops Center' in in Dallas, primary AOC in the Cayman's as well as tax residency, ownership south of the 49th.
They kinda need local contracts to pay for the [subsidized] local content.
And finally, all operators here are cutting costs and at full triage.
They kinda need local contracts to pay for the [subsidized] local content.
And finally, all operators here are cutting costs and at full triage.
And yes, CHC is no longer Canadian as such, but in my head it always will be. I'm not even sure why
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Ex SAAF Pilots Flying Hind Gunships to Fight Boko Haram
The South African Institute for Strategic Studies reports that a number of ex South African Defence Force soldiers have been hired by the Nigerian government to train the Nigerian Defence Force to fight Boko Haram (in addition to 'official' military contributions from USA, France and UK).
Intelligence sources also say that a number of former South African Air Force pilots have been hired under a separate contract to fly NAF Hinds for day and night operations against Boko Haram. This may be one of the reasons that the Nigerian military is claiming a number of successes in recent operations against Boko Haram.
South Africans Hired to Help Fight Boko Haram
Intelligence sources also say that a number of former South African Air Force pilots have been hired under a separate contract to fly NAF Hinds for day and night operations against Boko Haram. This may be one of the reasons that the Nigerian military is claiming a number of successes in recent operations against Boko Haram.
South Africans Hired to Help Fight Boko Haram
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And the South African Government has quite clearly run it's colours up the flagpole and shown where it stands on BH....
Arrest SA ?mercenaries?, says defence boss - Africa | IOL News
Arrest SA ?mercenaries?, says defence boss - Africa | IOL News
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Redundancies on the horizon in Bristow
I hear that although Bristow has not lost any contracts, the present low oil price is leading to all the oil majors cutting back on flights with possible redundancies for a number of our expatriate pilots. This is coupled with pressure from the Minister of Aviation, Osita Cidoka, to have all Nigerian crews in the cockpit of Nigerian registered aircraft.
Nigerian In Law
The Silence Is Deafening ?
What with redundancies, oil company cutbacks and the election it's surprising there haven't been any updates.
Anyone know or hear anything ?
NEO
Anyone know or hear anything ?
NEO
Nigerian In Law
Over Reaction
Bh412tt,
Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself and the pendulum doesn't swing too far. Cutbacks that bite too deep have a habit of coming back to haunt companies, so that when the oil price rises again (as we all know it will), there won't be enough people to handle the upswing.
A sad but repetitive trait in the industry. I feel for those who get bad news in such times and dread receiving it myself.
It's normally the long serving who suffer as a reward for their loyalty; the powers that be forget that you can't buy experience !
NEO.
Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself and the pendulum doesn't swing too far. Cutbacks that bite too deep have a habit of coming back to haunt companies, so that when the oil price rises again (as we all know it will), there won't be enough people to handle the upswing.
A sad but repetitive trait in the industry. I feel for those who get bad news in such times and dread receiving it myself.
It's normally the long serving who suffer as a reward for their loyalty; the powers that be forget that you can't buy experience !
NEO.
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VSP
Yes the buyout package is out, will hear on the 22nd of April who goes and who stays, cost cutting measures and all during these times of uncertainty with oil prices in the gutter, Ah but Bristow CEO announced they have one billion dollars,(yes I said billion) to acquire assets and other companies during these turbulent times. Sometimes I think I should have gotten my MBA (Masters in Business Administration) to even try to understand the ongoings of decisions to a company like this one. Only time will tell
Fly Safe everyone.
Fly Safe everyone.
eys running things here at Bristow's center of excellence
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Not really. Some guys got VSP and some got the VSP denied. Now the question is, why management last night talked about having to possibly let more people go, since they supposedly don't have enough VSP's in the bucket?