Many of us could save ourselves, and a potential employer, a lot of time and hazzle, if we had some idea of what we really are applying for. (In short: the dough.)
Today, that piece of information seems not possible to obtain without your logging in with a full CV.
If you, somewhere along the way should feel, after all, that Nigeria, may not be your cup of tea, you may or may not have spilled your chance for work elsewhere.
So in short, what are the payscales. Would it be possible to see an example of recent and relevant payscales ? Before mailing that application ?
Anjouan,
Just for info: I've googled for Chc payscales "open for anyone to see", without much success.
As a ball park figure a CHC captain in Nigeria is on around C$110,000 annually (CHC pays local tax). You'll get $20-30,000 less per year at their other bases, depending on the location. I'm pretty sure the engineer pay scales are the same.
As I'm sure you realise few companies publish their pay scales in the public domain. I'm sure anjo is just referring to the fact that if you work for CHC rhe pay scales are freely available and when they are reviewed are circulated for all to see. As I understand it, Bristow pay rates are a secret known to very few, carefully guarded and if anything is ever put on paper it's as stated, an eat before reading issue.
One of my friends there has just told me about their local allowance, which was circulated by people being called into offices to read a memo. They've still got it all wrong though because everyone gets something different exactly as before. All that's happened is that now a different group of people is disaffected With CHC everyone gets the same. With the exception of a very few ex-Schreiner guys on 'grandfather rights' who get a food allowance, everyone is provided with 3 meals a day and all found. With Bristow it depends which base you're on a what special deal you've managed to negotiate (wearing a blue apron and having a funny handshake is still supposed to be a great help ).
Engineers pay with CHC is much the same as that of pilots and in general is much better (except for engineers who have been with Bristow a long time. The only problem at present is that CHC have a few too many engineers and if they fail to get Agbami or Akpo that is unlikely to change. If Bristow gets its S92s in Nigeria they will have a greater shortage of engineers than they do now. I'm told that they fly all the aircraft based in Port Harcourt to other bases because they can't get enough engineers to work there as it's so unpopular
The following only applies for the biggest heli company in Nigeria. I won't quote exact figures because I can't quote the legal aspects of doing so but I guess you are in the ball park for a first year new yet experiienced cojoe at approx 100kusd p/a and approx 110k for a Capt.
This includes all travel, transport, medical, pension and a further $3000 p/a for daily food allowance.
The rest depends on how long you stay (increase 2 times per year) and is of course for working 50% of the year.
Is there an age limit for working in Nigeria? Do either of the big operators make it a point not to hire over a certain age? Also, how do US pilots get around the whole "type rating" issue? I inquired a few years ago (before I hit age 60) and was asked if I had a type rating in the 412 even though I had about 3500 hours of 412 time. In the US we don't get type ratings for less then 17,500lbs. I didn't pursue it then as I decided I didnt want to go to Nigeria anyway...lol
The ballpark figures you've given is just fine for a start.
I've followed this line with great interest for a long time, so believe I've received fair waring as regards to the security in the aerea, ....if/when.
If someone could bear with me and also add an asessment of Nigerian taxes,- or is that maybe the responsibility of the operator?
..and confirm that the paperwork regarding licences etc takes at least couple of months, - again if?
And yes Mama, I suspected as much.
However, I've been amazed again and again as to the extent of information it is possible to comb out with just a few right search words. So I guess I tried.
Anyway thanks for sharing all that intricate and highly interesting background stuff with us all this time.
I just got a firm job offer from............... Bristow International Aviation (Guernsey) Ltd (BIA(G)L))..for $84,000.00 US dollars total for the year for an engineer job in ...WARRI..Nigeria.Dont know if I will accept...need information to make the decision. Is this Warri considered a good base as far as security and accomodation................what is your opinion on the wage offer...........is it considered....fair....good...........or below what the other guys are getting in this position. Would be very interested to get any kind of feedback.......hopefully from engineers at this particular location...........Canadian presently already in Africa.............
84k is about what i was getting when i was there last year, but i was a dirty connie so daily rate only and i wasnt in Warri. Sounds Ok if you like Nigeria.
If you're going to the Chevron base working on the 412, it's very good. Security is good, you live just over the road from the helicopter base and even for that there's a security convoy. Housing is excellent with a swimming pool, tennis courts and gymnasium. Good food and a bar. The rooms are very nice with satellite TV and cooking facilities and there's even a small supermarket on the base.
If you're going to Shell to work on the EC155, you'll live on a large secure camp which also has swimming pool and tennis courts, plus a golf course.
Overall, Warri with Bristow is one of the better places to work in Nigeria
All that Anjouan says is true but remember good Security is a double edged weapon.
Everything that Chevron and Shell do to keep you safe also means that you are effectively "locked in" for 6 weeks albeit in very pleasant surroundings.
p.s. the Prodeco supermarket is not exactly Tesco, Sainsburys or even Walmart - the heads that run it still haven't learned that it is better for them to sell 100 units with a 20% profit margin than 1 unit with a 500% margin!
Try a US$70.00 bottle of Italian Vino!
The Park & Rob - sorry O! Shop at Shell is a little better although still relying heavily on "Shellies" with more Naira allowances than a local politician to buy their high priced goods rather than poor Bristow Folk
These days all bases are locked in, it's just a type rating lottery as to whether you get one with facilities or one without. Escravos is 28/28 but all the others are 6/6.
Warri and Port Harcourt have reasonably bearable "open" prisons whereas Eket has one big maximum security death row cell block with no facilities at all. I hear pilots are leaving there almost monthly.
I am just there to work, get paid and then go home
A lot of us will remember the days when a morning shopping at Esco and the veg market, straight into a lunchtime session at "Aunties" followed by an afternoon sailing or windsurfing or waterskiing at the Bredero Price Beach then evening out at the Jade Garden eating excellent chinese food washed down with copious quantities of Gilbeys & freshly squoze OJ helped 8:4 seem much more bearable.
Even in much more recent history, the ability to visit other bases "Fish & Chip Nights" or Bridge or Poker evenings made for a much healthier attitude than the one expressed in the quote above.
Tell me I'm wrong!
p.s. For Reverend
Work visa is not really relevant to you.
Whichever Company you join has an Expatriate Visa Quota and they take care of all the paperwork for you - you work in the meantime. NCAA Licence formalities can be the real p.i.a. with you kicking your heels in lagos waiting for Air Law results etc.
How right you are! Doin Time and Zalt must be really cheerful people to be with eh . You didn't have to be too much into the Nigerian scene to enjoy a pleasant social life here. As you say, at warri there were Pork Nights and Fish and Chip Nights with Bristow, occasional barbecues at Aero, water ski-ing, lovely Sundays on the beach at Abraka diving and eating tilapia freshly grilled after with an ice cold beer, or the bush meat barbecues at Auntie's on a Sunday. In Port Harcourt there were opportunities for traditional Sunday lunch at the Toby Jug, great curries at 8 Tombia Street, good Chinese at the Eastern Gardens, delicious Steaks alongside the swimming pool at the Blue Elephant or a good pizza at the Pizza Royale. We also used to go swimming at Azumini or diving at Aguta Lake. On Sunday afternoons always a good friendly crowd and live music at The Blues cafe or listen to me, Etienne T Boy in ine of several bars in Rumuola. In Lagos there were great weekends at Lekki Beach where you could always hire a beach house for the day and have a seaside barbecue or take a boat to Tarkwa Bay and have a day on the beach eating all sorts of food brought by the beach vendors - fresh coconuts and pineapple, suya, plantains and bananas. Very happy days, now sadly gone.
GMIA,
I believe that only Escravos is now 4/4 with Bristow and all the other bases are either 6/6 or 8/4 (though with 8/4 only being paid 25% more than 6/6 I don't think it has many takers ).
With CHC everyone gets the same. With the exception of a very few ex-Schreiner guys on 'grandfather rights' who get a food allowance, everyone is provided with 3 meals a day and all found. With Bristow it depends which base you're on a what special deal you've managed to negotiate (wearing a blue apron and having a funny handshake is still supposed to be a great help 
).
Warri-Topcon
heads that run it still haven't learned that it is better for them to sell 100 units with a 20% profit margin than 1 unit with a 500% margin!
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