If things are that good for Bristow why are so many leaving? One expat and one national 412 trainers in the last few months. One Canadian already mentioned who had Legionnaire's disease (though he didn't catch it in Nigeria), one Caribbean pilot about to leave like the last one, a national about to go to Arik, one American back to the GOM.... the list goes on. Few people leave Snake Island or the Shell contracts in PH or Warri, but that's because they have a good work routine, more time off and good housing. More are leaving from Eket and Calabar and the S76 fleet because of reasons such as a crap work routine, poor housing, poor security. Many staff think the new local allowances are also crap and unfair, depending which operation they're on.
As for Oni coming back, I don't think so. He's only been in Aberdeen for a short time and he's doing a good job there. I think he'd more likely go to Houston for a spell before returning to Nigeria (if he returns). It's more than likely to be another bean counter with little or no knowledge of the helicopter industry, just like Danny. After all, he's got Dapo, Sags and PeeWee to give advice on the Ops side of things. Whoever it is will have a hard job negotiating with the oil companies next time around. As Phone Wind mentioned, oil companies don't like being threatened and they have very, very long memories (look at how Bristow never had any contracts in the North Sea after old man Bristow's row with Douglas Bader when he was with Shell). They'll be threatened themselves with losing contract renewals to CHC if they try it again and CHC would just love to be the only company in Nigeria (not that the oil companies will allow that - look to see Caverton pick up some scraps as a result of all this).
Too many Bristow pilots know what happens when they voice any opinions against management. It's still not an enlightened company in its treatment of employees who have issues with it. CHC have a few pilots in Nigeria who have had major problems with management (including problems with Bristow management - though cannibalism is pretty extreme
), but somehow they seem to be able to cope and still get along with them. Many in Bristow are waiting to see what, if any, changes will happen when Danny's replacement arrives and whether there will be any changes in the operations department. Despite some predictions as to what would happen with CHC when Alan Anderson was replaced and L4 was joined by even more managers, they seem to have fewer staffing issues at present (part of which may be due to a better pay and allowances deal than Bristow. Even the pension deal is likely to be improved as Bristow has a better deal on that. Have any Bristow pilots had a look to see how their company pension fund is doing at the moment? They may get a surprise if they do.