What's happening at Aero Contractors these days? Their AW139s both seem to be in the hangar as does their S76C+. There are also rumours that a new Managing Director will soon be arriving to take over from Obaro Ibru, the playboy son of disgraced banker Cecilia Ibru. They certainly don't seem to be doing much in Port Harcourt except some charter work in the few remaining elderly Dauphins they operate.
Despite many stories of 6AW139s on the way to be in Nigeria by the end of July, CHC/Atlantic Airlines also seem to have gone all quiet. They just have 1 AW139 at Nigerdock's Snake Island Integrated Free Zone base and an old S76C+ on the military side of the NAF Base in Port Harcourt (I wonder how wise a decision that is, given the number of times the NAF has expelled all civil operators from the NAF Base - maybe things are different now the country is supposedly a democracy?).
Indigenous Engineering Procurement and Construction company Nestoil, which currently operates a VIP S76C+ is expected to be getting 2 AW139s delivered soon as it takes over the onshore oill acreage it bought from Shell (Odidi, Egwa and Bataan fields) and also takes over the Shell IA in Warri.
Bristow seems to be continuing its expansion in Port Harcourt with the present fabric hangar being expanded, new passenger terminal just about finished and rumours of a fourth S92 due in the next few months. I wonder if this is linked to Total selling their stake in the offshore Usan field to the Chinese and Exxon Mobil taking over as the operator?
Caverton seems to be having some turbulence with rumours of feuding between the new deputy Director of Operatioons and his bosses and the expected departure of Nigel Mortimer as project manager of the Shell operation, possibly because of his less than cordial relationship with the Director of Employee development.
Last edited by Keke Napep; 14th Jun 2013 at 09:39.