What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
I fear 212man sees a future for himself in management evidenced by his observations!
Perhaps he has an eye on the big office overlooking the ramp at Lagos?
Pity no one has seen fit to discuss the VIP transport provided which only partially matches the quality of the accomdation.
Perhaps he has an eye on the big office overlooking the ramp at Lagos?
Pity no one has seen fit to discuss the VIP transport provided which only partially matches the quality of the accomdation.
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Shooting Bonny Island
Late on Saturday night militants carried out an attack on a Nigerian Navy houseboat on Bonny Island. They later went into Bonny Town and in a large gunfight several civilians, including a pregnant woman, were murdered. It has been reported that one of the navy men was beheaded by the terrorists.
The area around Bonny, especially in the waterways is getting more dangerous. The international Maritime Organisation now classes it as one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Be very careful when flying around there.
The area around Bonny, especially in the waterways is getting more dangerous. The international Maritime Organisation now classes it as one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Be very careful when flying around there.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Bristow Strike at Eket
No need of being careful at Eket today. Nearly all the Bristow staff on strike so plenty of time to enjoy all the wonderful facilities of Darrels and spend all our wonderful CLA on the delights available to us in our luxuriess rooms. A wonderful day to celebrate our new pay rise which will surely stop all pilots moving to CHC or thinking of the new offers from Calverton for there fleet of Bell 412 arriving soon. Then we can become Star King Slops - at least there is a swimming pool there.
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Great Things in the Pipeline
Apparently one of my junior minions has been talking out of turn and the cat's out of the bag. It's pretty much an open secret around here that we have Agbami in that same bag and this is going to lead on to a bag of treats you guys just won't believe. We're talking huge rises here and those foolish few traitors who have deserted us for the opposition are going to be kicking their collective buts when they see what they've passed up on. Darrels Dregs, a pool is the responsibility of the hotel management as you're well aware. However, we're looking at sourcing a real good quality above ground pool with decking which will fit right by the volleyball court. This should arrive very soon, courtesy of our new upgraded, supercharged supply chain (we do have a vacancy for a supply chain manager for anyone who's interested). There'll be a nice bar on the decking and the 10% increase in CLA will allow you to buy another Star as you relax on your day off.
Of course once you've served your time at Eket you'll be just itching for a transfer to the new BRC hotel complex in Lagos. The new 22 story mini scraper being built to house the expansion with the S92 coming, will feature individual, architect designed apartments and reliable builders like the guys who turned out the great new terminal at NAF base. Completion is due by the end of the year.
Randy Organ, the HR Manager will be over soon to give you guys all the good news in person and answer all your questions about where the money you paid into your pension scheme has disappeared to.
Bristow, the caring company which always communicates - eventually.
Of course once you've served your time at Eket you'll be just itching for a transfer to the new BRC hotel complex in Lagos. The new 22 story mini scraper being built to house the expansion with the S92 coming, will feature individual, architect designed apartments and reliable builders like the guys who turned out the great new terminal at NAF base. Completion is due by the end of the year.
Randy Organ, the HR Manager will be over soon to give you guys all the good news in person and answer all your questions about where the money you paid into your pension scheme has disappeared to.
Bristow, the caring company which always communicates - eventually.
However, we're looking at sourcing a real good quality above ground pool with decking
Brooksy is still there, MA with Alice until he retires next year. I assume Spotson is still there too (though not MA!) though I've not had contact for 6 months or so. He's bought a place in Dubai and I think aims to retire there.
What of Feldwebel Gunter....he still hanging in there?
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Well, there was flying from QIT today today, but the cowardly HRM of Bristow has not come to sort the problems he has made. There are now threats of all junior staff to be sacked - that will certainly calm matters down 
Soon in the swamp there will be heard the sound of the Bell again when a native company, Calverton flys the Bell 412 for Shell
Eket will not be able to keep any expatriate soon unless Bristow realise the many problems, much of which is of its making, and does something. I have just today seen on our comopany website something posted by Richard Burman. I have never met this gentleman and I am sure that I will not because from the nonsence he talks he has no idea what happens outside UK or Houston. He talks all sort of mumbo jumbo about cultural initiative and tightening of the belts with asking for "constraint in salary and compensation expectations especially in those parts of the world where we know our terms of employment and overall compensation packages are at the very top of the competitive range". For this yoh can read just to expect the usual 2.5% on basic in Nigeria where people are being killed and kidnapped almost every day and there is always trubbel. Forget the pilots on the North Sea who are also work on equal time for only $150,000+ per annum. Here we will just continue in our prison surrounded by barb wire and bush, 13 hour days, convoys of gunmen to escort us to our work, no facilitys and the management will think we should be pathetically grateful that for this we should recieve an extra $17 per day. Well, I am sure that all this senior managers such as the one who have just left for GOM will take there profit bonuses, and think nothing more of this place they have left after a few short years. The managers who follow will be managing a declining empire as more people leave and nobody will arrive to remplace them. It is only a matter of time as more opportunitys open up outside of this hell hole and our managers will have to finally use up all of the piles of applications they claim to have on there desk because we are over staff allready.
Soon in the swamp there will be heard the sound of the Bell again when a native company, Calverton flys the Bell 412 for Shell
Eket will not be able to keep any expatriate soon unless Bristow realise the many problems, much of which is of its making, and does something. I have just today seen on our comopany website something posted by Richard Burman. I have never met this gentleman and I am sure that I will not because from the nonsence he talks he has no idea what happens outside UK or Houston. He talks all sort of mumbo jumbo about cultural initiative and tightening of the belts with asking for "constraint in salary and compensation expectations especially in those parts of the world where we know our terms of employment and overall compensation packages are at the very top of the competitive range". For this yoh can read just to expect the usual 2.5% on basic in Nigeria where people are being killed and kidnapped almost every day and there is always trubbel. Forget the pilots on the North Sea who are also work on equal time for only $150,000+ per annum. Here we will just continue in our prison surrounded by barb wire and bush, 13 hour days, convoys of gunmen to escort us to our work, no facilitys and the management will think we should be pathetically grateful that for this we should recieve an extra $17 per day. Well, I am sure that all this senior managers such as the one who have just left for GOM will take there profit bonuses, and think nothing more of this place they have left after a few short years. The managers who follow will be managing a declining empire as more people leave and nobody will arrive to remplace them. It is only a matter of time as more opportunitys open up outside of this hell hole and our managers will have to finally use up all of the piles of applications they claim to have on there desk because we are over staff allready.
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Well, there was flying from QIT today today, but the cowardly HRM of Bristow has not come to sort the problems he has made. There are now threats of all junior staff to be sacked - that will certainly calm matters down
Soon in the swamp there will be heard the sound of the Bell again when a native company, Calverton flys the Bell 412 for Shell
Eket will not be able to keep any expatriate soon unless Bristow realise the many problems, much of which is of its making, and does something. I have just today seen on our comopany website something posted by Richard Burman. I have never met this gentleman and I am sure that I will not because from the nonsence he talks he has no idea what happens outside UK or Houston. He talks all sort of mumbo jumbo about cultural initiative and tightening of the belts with asking for "constraint in salary and compensation expectations especially in those parts of the world where we know our terms of employment and overall compensation packages are at the very top of the competitive range". For this yoh can read just to expect the usual 2.5% on basic in Nigeria where people are being killed and kidnapped almost every day and there is always trubbel. Forget the pilots on the North Sea who are also work on equal time for only $150,000+ per annum. Here we will just continue in our prison surrounded by barb wire and bush, 13 hour days, convoys of gunmen to escort us to our work, no facilitys and the management will think we should be pathetically grateful that for this we should recieve an extra $17 per day. Well, I am sure that all this senior managers such as the one who have just left for GOM will take there profit bonuses, and think nothing more of this place they have left after a few short years. The managers who follow will be managing a declining empire as more people leave and nobody will arrive to remplace them. It is only a matter of time as more opportunitys open up outside of this hell hole and our managers will have to finally use up all of the piles of applications they claim to have on there desk because we are over staff allready.
Soon in the swamp there will be heard the sound of the Bell again when a native company, Calverton flys the Bell 412 for Shell
Eket will not be able to keep any expatriate soon unless Bristow realise the many problems, much of which is of its making, and does something. I have just today seen on our comopany website something posted by Richard Burman. I have never met this gentleman and I am sure that I will not because from the nonsence he talks he has no idea what happens outside UK or Houston. He talks all sort of mumbo jumbo about cultural initiative and tightening of the belts with asking for "constraint in salary and compensation expectations especially in those parts of the world where we know our terms of employment and overall compensation packages are at the very top of the competitive range". For this yoh can read just to expect the usual 2.5% on basic in Nigeria where people are being killed and kidnapped almost every day and there is always trubbel. Forget the pilots on the North Sea who are also work on equal time for only $150,000+ per annum. Here we will just continue in our prison surrounded by barb wire and bush, 13 hour days, convoys of gunmen to escort us to our work, no facilitys and the management will think we should be pathetically grateful that for this we should recieve an extra $17 per day. Well, I am sure that all this senior managers such as the one who have just left for GOM will take there profit bonuses, and think nothing more of this place they have left after a few short years. The managers who follow will be managing a declining empire as more people leave and nobody will arrive to remplace them. It is only a matter of time as more opportunitys open up outside of this hell hole and our managers will have to finally use up all of the piles of applications they claim to have on there desk because we are over staff allready.
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Flungdung
I'm probably not the only experienced offshore captain (EU citizen, by the way) out there wondering about the reality of that statement. Sure, the top pay is probably what you describe, but the union structure must mean that even an experienced pilot trying to break into North Sea market will be on a much lower income for many years as a FO.
Also, it's not really all that good an income compared with some other places if you have to pay UK/Norway taxes.
I'm probably not the only experienced offshore captain (EU citizen, by the way) out there wondering about the reality of that statement. Sure, the top pay is probably what you describe, but the union structure must mean that even an experienced pilot trying to break into North Sea market will be on a much lower income for many years as a FO.
Also, it's not really all that good an income compared with some other places if you have to pay UK/Norway taxes.
So its either:-
1 Earn the tax free dollars in Nigeria and put up with the crime/instability/long tours/crap accomodation etc.
or
2 Earn about the same living and working where you can enjoy the fruits of a country in which the tax dollars pay for a civilized standard of living?
What am I missing here?
P1
1 Earn the tax free dollars in Nigeria and put up with the crime/instability/long tours/crap accomodation etc.
or
2 Earn about the same living and working where you can enjoy the fruits of a country in which the tax dollars pay for a civilized standard of living?
What am I missing here?
P1
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Pohm 1,
I happen to agree with what, I think, you are implying. That number, $150,000, is often brought up as the Holy Grail of this industry, when ..in purely financial terms .. there are better deals out there. Please don't start another Quality of Life vs Income argument, that wasn't what I intended.
Besides, the main point in my post was to question Flungdung's assertion that someone already established in the offshore industry in another part of the world could walk into a North Sea position on that kind of income. I doubt that.
I happen to agree with what, I think, you are implying. That number, $150,000, is often brought up as the Holy Grail of this industry, when ..in purely financial terms .. there are better deals out there. Please don't start another Quality of Life vs Income argument, that wasn't what I intended.
Besides, the main point in my post was to question Flungdung's assertion that someone already established in the offshore industry in another part of the world could walk into a North Sea position on that kind of income. I doubt that.
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Thanks Flungdung,
I think the reasons people are staying in Nigeria are that the options aren't quite as easy as you imply, which is why I was pushing you on your post.
The frenzied Canadian budgie has been reasonably good to me, a couple of interesting places in Africa and now in Thailand with training captain's pay that isn't too far off the figure you quote for the North Sea. But like most pilots, my thoughts have sometimes wandered elsewhere and the reality is this:
1. Return to the GOM - about $75,000 optimistically
2. Maybe an EMS position - ditto
3. Lucky me, I am a UK citizen with a CAA ATPL, but even the North Sea would probably only start about $90,000 with high UK tax, as you admit above.
For my Canadian brethren, any return home would mean a 30 - 40% tax loss and a lower paying job.
Thing is, I'm personally in an OK position at the minute and I'm just using my options as an example. But if I was in Nigeria and couldn't get a better position in the company, I sure as heck couldn't jump ship, unless I was willing to take a huge cut in income (which I'd have to admit might be worth it, that's a personal qol decision). I suspect that's why the guys are so frustrated, they know conditions are bad but they can't just pick up and leave as you say. Instead of leaving and spending the next 10 years regaining their financial position, wouldn't it be nice if companies would give them the respect, better conditions and pay that they deserve in their situation now.
I think the reasons people are staying in Nigeria are that the options aren't quite as easy as you imply, which is why I was pushing you on your post.
The frenzied Canadian budgie has been reasonably good to me, a couple of interesting places in Africa and now in Thailand with training captain's pay that isn't too far off the figure you quote for the North Sea. But like most pilots, my thoughts have sometimes wandered elsewhere and the reality is this:
1. Return to the GOM - about $75,000 optimistically
2. Maybe an EMS position - ditto
3. Lucky me, I am a UK citizen with a CAA ATPL, but even the North Sea would probably only start about $90,000 with high UK tax, as you admit above.
For my Canadian brethren, any return home would mean a 30 - 40% tax loss and a lower paying job.
Thing is, I'm personally in an OK position at the minute and I'm just using my options as an example. But if I was in Nigeria and couldn't get a better position in the company, I sure as heck couldn't jump ship, unless I was willing to take a huge cut in income (which I'd have to admit might be worth it, that's a personal qol decision). I suspect that's why the guys are so frustrated, they know conditions are bad but they can't just pick up and leave as you say. Instead of leaving and spending the next 10 years regaining their financial position, wouldn't it be nice if companies would give them the respect, better conditions and pay that they deserve in their situation now.
Last edited by inputshaft; 3rd Jul 2008 at 10:22. Reason: content
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Aero On the Upward Path
flungdung and inputshaft,
I think you both have it right. Remember that many pilots in Nigeria don't hold JAA licences, so the North Sea option is not there for them. However a number of Brit pilots in Bristow have managed to transfer back to the North Sea to command positions and a number of Australian pilots are now doing the same things and getting almost as much money even after tax deduction, but with a much better quality of life. Pilots are even returning to the much maligned Abu Dhabi Aviation, reversing the trend of recent years. The companies anyway, only have to pay the money, the tax is entirely the responsibility of the pilot, so why should the same company pay a much lower salary to pilots in one place than another for doing the same job? In Nigeria now, companies have to pay income tax for pilots, but in the North Sea they also have to pay the social security insurance (sorry I don't know the real name). What people out here are sick of is that they are not given any respect and as there are no recognised salary negotiation bodies, we just have to accept what we are told we are going to get. Bristow still has the same old management bunch at the top who are renowned for lack of communication with their pilots and threatening attitudes if they feel any of their unilateral decisions are questioned. The new team at the top has made no difference to this and statements like that quoted yesterday by Darrelsdregs from their senior directors don't inspire any confidence that things will improve. Aero has had huge problems recently, but now that all senior management of the company in Nigeria are Aero, not CHC matters rapidly seem to be improving. Their salaries are good and I expect many more national pilots to abandon Bristow for Aero as vacancies come up. With Nabil in charge in Port Harcourt things are being turned around. Fair play has been restored and we have a listening manager who is there listening to and talking to the staff most days after work. My guess is that most Bristow managers stay as far away as they possibly can from their staff. Well, they'll soon reap the seed they've sown.
I think you both have it right. Remember that many pilots in Nigeria don't hold JAA licences, so the North Sea option is not there for them. However a number of Brit pilots in Bristow have managed to transfer back to the North Sea to command positions and a number of Australian pilots are now doing the same things and getting almost as much money even after tax deduction, but with a much better quality of life. Pilots are even returning to the much maligned Abu Dhabi Aviation, reversing the trend of recent years. The companies anyway, only have to pay the money, the tax is entirely the responsibility of the pilot, so why should the same company pay a much lower salary to pilots in one place than another for doing the same job? In Nigeria now, companies have to pay income tax for pilots, but in the North Sea they also have to pay the social security insurance (sorry I don't know the real name). What people out here are sick of is that they are not given any respect and as there are no recognised salary negotiation bodies, we just have to accept what we are told we are going to get. Bristow still has the same old management bunch at the top who are renowned for lack of communication with their pilots and threatening attitudes if they feel any of their unilateral decisions are questioned. The new team at the top has made no difference to this and statements like that quoted yesterday by Darrelsdregs from their senior directors don't inspire any confidence that things will improve. Aero has had huge problems recently, but now that all senior management of the company in Nigeria are Aero, not CHC matters rapidly seem to be improving. Their salaries are good and I expect many more national pilots to abandon Bristow for Aero as vacancies come up. With Nabil in charge in Port Harcourt things are being turned around. Fair play has been restored and we have a listening manager who is there listening to and talking to the staff most days after work. My guess is that most Bristow managers stay as far away as they possibly can from their staff. Well, they'll soon reap the seed they've sown.
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Pension Funds
I wonder what has happened to the pension funds of those transferring from CHC to Aero? Does Aero have a pensions scheme? Bristow does, but it seems that there are many irregularities in its administration which are making people to question whether the money is being invested or stolen 
. Questions are being asked, but answers are not being given. The HRM has no idea and meanwhile money is still not being invested as it should be. Maybe it is part of the profitability bonus for senior managers, maybe litigation is the only way any answers will be made to be given?
. Questions are being asked, but answers are not being given. The HRM has no idea and meanwhile money is still not being invested as it should be. Maybe it is part of the profitability bonus for senior managers, maybe litigation is the only way any answers will be made to be given?
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Caverton looking for 412 drivers
Word going round is that Caverton is looking for 412 drivers for their '3' 412's, of which the 1st one is expected to be delivered in sep or oct. ANYONE OUT THERE WITH FACTS on this?