Bristow Photos

[Dave Ed]

TIGO in Brazil ...final part!

If any of you are still awake!

As I touched on earlier, the end of the contract was seemingly a never occurring event. Also relations between Aeroleo management and Bristows seemed to be souring, possibly because Aeroleo would rather have seen the operation as a 100% Aeroleo venture, not involving Bristows. This didn’t affect the working relationship down at our level though and things were ticking over nicely. The rainy season was over and the second hole being drilled by BP was closer to shore so flight legs were shorter resulting in a shorter working day.

.........and so it came for us to leave.

The first going away party was at a restaurant close to the airfield.
This is the one where we invited all the people from Amapa that had been good to us, helped us, and some friends we had made during our stay. We took a lot of them up for a flight in the Puma, with the cabin doors open locked open, and flew very low over the town and local countryside. Only one of them threw up which was a surprise – I was expecting more! No doubt it was the first time most of them had ever flown.






After the flight - yet more beer, food and dancing before heading back into town.



A few days later..........

The BP drilling contract came to an end approximately 12th July and five of us flew down, in three different aircraft, to the big town of Belem to attend a celebration party organized by Aeroleo.




The party turned a bit sour (Aeroleo managers!) and I ended up sitting in a small park outside the Hilton Hotel with someone else (I can't remember who) watching prostitutes going about their business and drinking a few beers. We were all a little surprised at the amount of notice we were given to pack up and leave. It was to be in two days time!! Not exactly a lot of time to wind up a six month operation L


The next day we flew back to Amapa in the Super Puma, taking 2hours 40 minutes, loaded it with all the spares and equipment in 3 hours and had one last night partying in town where we had to say a lot of short notice goodbyes!

............and the last night in Amapa ....

Just pretty much like any other really!! But tinged with a little sadness. Me, Kev and Grahame started at Sorayas with the usual mix of locals and then we all moved into the main square, sat around a big table, chatted about endless things, the last six months, the future, drank more beer - a really good night - I wish I had taken more pictures of all of us. Perhaps I was pictured out by then.



This picture got me in trouble with Jan L Sorry AGAIN. It was in a really busy square with loads of us around the table …..honest!
The guys back in the Bristow’s Redhill avionic workshop were impressedJ
But seriously, Franci was just another nice Amaponian that became part of our social group and another nice girl to practice our bad Portuguese on J

Then off to a backstreet bar we had never been to before, lots of locals, loud music and just about everyone we knew was there. (that is where the New engineer pic was taken). Just imagine a hundred more people and really loud music!! Oh, I forgot, the new Aeroleo engineer was soooo enthusiastic and flew up with us from Belem in the Tiger, again with the cabin doors open (I think Kev got claustrophobia if we closed them) and consequently made use of the sick bags most of the way.



Unfortunately, we had an early start the next day so we couldn't stay up all night, so before we all got "falling down drunk" we said a lot of goodbyes, shook lots of hands, lots of kisses and hugs (Brazilians do this a lot). and staggered back to the hotel with mixed emotions.
The next day, I went in early to prepare the helicopter for departure.

Again, lots of final hugs and kisses. Their crewing handovers were unbelievable …. All very touchy feely – not like us Brits, just a stern handshake will do J
We boarded TIGO for the last time and taxied out for take-off - lots of final waves - and personal feelings about a place and people I was leaving and that I would never see again.


We flew down to Belem which is where I saw the last of her - my dear friend G-TIGO – the only time I have ever worked on a Super Puma on the line!



Maintaining her in that environment was pretty difficult in the early months and by the time the six months were up she was definitely in need of a bit of TLC from Aberdeen Engineering.

Wonder were she is now?

Edmilson’s bar was the closest bar to work being only a short walk from the line office and many days we would wind down and have a couple of chilled beers before heading back to town.



It was a place where you could contemplate whether it would be possible to sell up everything in UK, take a roundabout journey up to northern Brazil and go missing in Amapa for the rest of your life. Slower, less complicated! Some days I still consider it now!!

When the first strip of concrete was laid in the “hangar” we made our mark! Hopefully it will be there for many years, just like the relics leftover from 1945 when those US navy guys were looking after those blimps. I am trying to get in touch with the guy who took the pics 56 years before I did.



I’ve also suggested that my son (18) one day plans a trip to find the imprint…….it would be a challenging trip to back-pack up to Amapa. At least I can recommend a good hotel to stay in….NOT!


So, finally I would like to thank all the people we worked and socialised with at Amapa - "Foi bom trabalhar com voce"

The End