It sure describes how effective the Nigerian Navy is........NOT!
SASless
Nigerian Navy
Main recruits?
Hausas who wouldn't know a boat if it ran over them?
Shepherds from Kano?
Shopkeepers from Ibadan?
Etc Etc?
Try
Ijaws from Bayelsa and other parts of the Delta who were born on boats, could drive boats from the age of 3, had their first legover on a boat, will get married on a boat and who will be buried with boats transferring their final remains?
Hence quote from Billy Connelly song - why fight your relatives?
The 75Nm journey to Bonga in a small boat may look unlikely to Messrs. Shell/Chevron etc. but is probably only slight further than these boys normally go to catch fish. During Big Wahallah coinciding with start of second Gulf War a couple of years ago, you could only admire the sheer tenacity and fearlessness of these guys (admittedly probably helped by large quantities of ganja)
They didn't skulk around or set roadside bombs but met the GSF face to face and came out on top on far too many occasions to give the average expat any sense of security at all being protected by "The Government"
We all know M emancipation N D is a load of bollocks and M one Y is the only thing that matters and that politicians are involved on both sides
Has anyone heard whether the the American Skipper of the Tidex Boat reportedly kidnapped by the same militants on their way home from Bonga by the Funiwa is still being held?
Caverton despite being a complete joke, now have 3 412s on their way coming, and OAS are looking at 2 412s. CHC are in total disarray but taking all of the discontented Nigerian Bristow pilots and the old colonial masters in Bristow are still running everything, no matter what BS is coming from Houston about Target Zero and sacking people for COBI. THe only thing that has changed is that CHC is self-destructing as mentioned by numerous posters, Aero is transitioning to an African company having seen that incompetent foreign management is worse than competent locally-sourced management and with the new government even incompetent companies like Calverton are the future in Nigeria.
The CHC EC225 crews have been sent home and despite sending everyone on S92 courses, Bristow will not bring any helicopters in without a signed contract. If they do they'll have a problem because they have a lot of national pilots leaving (many for Aero), a lot of expatriate pilots thinking of leaving because of lousy conditions for which they are not compensated, coupled with unchanged dinosaur management skills. When will any of these people realise we are now in the 21st century, there are many other jobs available and that when there is nothing else to tempt people, many $$$$$ are normally acceptable?
So, the cat has escaped from its bag. Is true, we are having plenty, plenty of Mr Lapoos 412 en-route to the centre of excellence. Daddy and I are realising that a fresh wind is sweeping across Africa, so realpolittikk is set in and to be competititive we have to change our contract. We are the free company; no more lockdown, freedom to go and come as you glide silently into the night on your Fang Jenn super-electric glider personal Okada. New contracts to reflect that even though most people would wish to experience the delight of Nigeria for 9 month a year, some malcontent want more times off, so new rosters of 12/4 or even 13/3 will been offered (with suitably reduced salary just like international toppest companys like Bristow). To compete with the best, you have to offer the best and we now offer lost of licence insurance. If your licence is lost, personnels from the West African finding comopany will immediately be at hand to help finding it, or even to advice on a suitable insurance. We have settted up an industry-leading pension scheme, available to both expatriate and national pilot on the same basis. Each month $1,000 will be deducted from salary and in the event of sickness or death benefit, $1,000 will be paid to your dependendents for each month of service.
Money will now be paid almost promptly practically every month and to ensure the super-glider Fang Jenn electric bike is always ready for the go, the watch night will now be given up to N5,000 per night to make the generator running for some 3 or 4 hours. Now is this a good deal or not? Remember, daddy and I are economist trained in the toppest of UK university and are so well advised by Sola on the intricacies of pleasuring staffs. Why nowt visit our website and apply on line today?
Stand by for more revelations of the wonders to be unleashed on the Nigerian aviation scene.
Management Skills and Bristow seem to be independent concepts. But what the heck, they have been successful at their jobs or they would not still be around would they. Perhaps they will seek a waiver for the dinosaurs in their management staff just to be able to continue their good work as in the past.
I am informed that NEO is no longer posting on this thread, which I started some years back, because of unfair censorship by our new moderator, so maybe it's time to wind up the thread and if someone else wants to start something similar they can do so. What's the feeling, NEO or heavy-handed moderating?
NEO binned? Tell me it ain't so! He seemed to be a role model for propriety which is all the more surprising having known him in his younger days as a newbie to Nigeria. Shame as he is in a position to confirm/deny most rumours brought forth here.
Location: 1 deg south, avoiding Malaria P Falciparium
Posts: 235
Well I am suprised it took this long. and I am glad I wasnt the first one to mention it. The other night I was just think about how much this fourm has changed.
I have been posting on this board for a few years and in the last 6 + months I have been rather turned off by the moderation. PPRuNe and rotor heads has always (IMO) been a loose place to post topics of general interest ( either directly helicopter or some how assoicated to our lives. I persoanlly dont like how the new moderator chooses what he thinks is best and what is relevant. If it is not relevant, dont click on the the thread, dont move it, dont read it or just move on. It seem to me if it is just a little out of the norm post and thread bet binned or moved.
I agree moderation can be a good thing, when post get vulagr or way out of wack, but this is a loose public fourm and rumor network. One person shoudnt decided what goes or stays. Espically since many frequent posters have been around a lot longer than the moderator .
The power trip just gets to some people. It is what it is.
I have been follwoing this thread closely for he last couple of months as Africa looks like it is in my future. It would be a shame for it to be closed, but I can appreciate the point.
Who knows maybe Ill get binned after my little rant.
Mr Moderator, relax a bit, have a stiff drink and take a valium. There is no need to be wrapped so tight around the axel.
Interesting: where did you get your rumour from, MM? I haven't moderated any of NEO's posts, nor "censored" him in any way. He last posted here at the end of May, and he removed that post plus a few others of his own accord in response to my general request:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Senior Pilot
Do you girls want to take your handbags out the back of the bike sheds and leave this as a Rotorheads thread, please?
I hadn't realised that we had such sensitive souls that such a post would be offensive
I'm not the only Moderator here, and sometimes we have Higher Authority moderate in areas that I (and others) miss, but the PPRuNe rules are fairly clear: you all signed up to them when you registered!
After 10 years on PPRuNe, plus too long in Warri/Pt Harcourt in a previous life, I have no desire to close this thread
__________________ Senior Pilot
Rotorheads Moderator
I was mildly chastised having disagreed with another post for what the Moderator appeared to think was a criticism of the poster's command of English.
I removed that post and advised that I was waiting for all other argumentative posts to be removed from the forum. This post was arbitrarily removed with no explanation.
I feel this type of moderation is high handed and far too restrictive. Other threads have far more freedom of expression without interference. Indeed this thread used to enjoy the same latitude.
Mama, thank you for bringing this issue out into the open. It seems I am not the only one who has noticed (and been a victim of) a change in the manner of moderation of the thread.
However I believe it would be a great shame if it was closed. It has been an excellent source of rumour and information for those having an interest in this part of the world and should coninue to be.
Perhaps a more gentle approach to moderation is called for ? I hope Senior Pilot views my observations in the spirit of PPRuNe. This is not a personal slight in any way.
It remind me how the other half live and how fortunate I was to escape (after the second go). It is also particularly good for lurkers like myself to keep an eye on the trials and tribulations of friends and ex colleages in West Africa.
I was mildly chastised having disagreed with another post for what the Moderator appeared to think was a criticism of the poster's command of English.
I removed that post and advised that I was waiting for all other argumentative posts to be removed from the forum. This post was arbitrarily removed with no explanation.
Now you're being silly, and overly sensitive. My reply, which I quoted in my last post, was to a number of posters who went off topic. After you (NEO and two others) took the hint and deleted the OT posts, your final post (NEO) became orphaned, and irrelevant, hence its deletion by me.
NEO, your comments are noted, but please don't try to make out that I've censured you or your posts. They're all still there, and can be read by moderators: they tell a slightly different story to that being implied here by MM and NEO. I read all the posts here with interest and amusement: let's get back on thread, and enjoy the input of those at the coal face
__________________ Senior Pilot
Rotorheads Moderator
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