What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Heck,
If that was grounds for dismissal....there would be a constant recruiting pitch by another company there.....that and nude pics...allegations of drug dealing...all sorts of things that appear when one does not treat a lady as she expects to be treated. One can even get into a similar thing in the main office and survive if you know the right people....or know enough about the right people.
If that was grounds for dismissal....there would be a constant recruiting pitch by another company there.....that and nude pics...allegations of drug dealing...all sorts of things that appear when one does not treat a lady as she expects to be treated. One can even get into a similar thing in the main office and survive if you know the right people....or know enough about the right people.
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Sounds like pretty slim grounds for dismissal to me. Maybe he should try suing them - right 
. One of the really good things about working for a wholly Nigeria company is that your chances of ever getting a fair deal from them or being able to take them to court about anything are about on a par with Bob Mugabe being the next Pope!! 
. Remember that there was a lot of stuff here about 'the Ebullient One' being kicked out under police escort when he upset one of the company managers. Maybe that's why they don't have many pilots (though in all fairness with only 2 helicopters and their people on 12 weeks on; 4 weeks off - except for the guys on the even better deal of 5 months on: 1 month off - on bachelor status!! 
) they probably don't need many people. I hear they only have 2 expat pilots working for them now anyway, plus a couple on loan from Heliportugal.
Moral of the story - think twice about working for a Nigeria company unless you're getting paid (a lot of money) in advance
. One of the really good things about working for a wholly Nigeria company is that your chances of ever getting a fair deal from them or being able to take them to court about anything are about on a par with Bob Mugabe being the next Pope!! . Remember that there was a lot of stuff here about 'the Ebullient One' being kicked out under police escort when he upset one of the company managers. Maybe that's why they don't have many pilots (though in all fairness with only 2 helicopters and their people on 12 weeks on; 4 weeks off - except for the guys on the even better deal of 5 months on: 1 month off - on bachelor status!! ) they probably don't need many people. I hear they only have 2 expat pilots working for them now anyway, plus a couple on loan from Heliportugal.Moral of the story - think twice about working for a Nigeria company unless you're getting paid (a lot of money) in advance
Nigerian In Law
Tokunbo,
You're dead right, however I wouldn't be surprised if people who tried suing the other two companies got the same result. They employ expats under letter box companies so my understanding is that they aren't subject to any employment laws in their home countries and as they aren't Nigerian they have no recourse there either.
Just a thought.
NEO
You're dead right, however I wouldn't be surprised if people who tried suing the other two companies got the same result. They employ expats under letter box companies so my understanding is that they aren't subject to any employment laws in their home countries and as they aren't Nigerian they have no recourse there either.
Just a thought.
NEO
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Many years ago, I was offered a job flying for a Nigerian company and I'm really glad I didn't take it because soon afterwards they went out of business, and I'd have probably ended up not getting paid, and maybe even stuck in Nigeria with n o ticket out (many of their machines can now be seen in the Benin 'aviation graveyard' 
). There are several companies which started with a lot of publicity and fanfares as the new great hopes for indigenous operations to succeed, but what is now to be seen of Okada, Southern Air, Stillwater and the various other operators which have come fleetingly and sunk with little trace over the years? There have also been cases of pilots and engineers being arrested and held in prison after disagreements with local directors. I think tokunbo's advice about thinking twice is pretty sound - despite Nigeria being a democracy these days, the rule of law and contracts are still nothing like they would be working for European or American companies (and yes, I accept that this is pretty common throughout the Third World)..
). There are several companies which started with a lot of publicity and fanfares as the new great hopes for indigenous operations to succeed, but what is now to be seen of Okada, Southern Air, Stillwater and the various other operators which have come fleetingly and sunk with little trace over the years? There have also been cases of pilots and engineers being arrested and held in prison after disagreements with local directors. I think tokunbo's advice about thinking twice is pretty sound - despite Nigeria being a democracy these days, the rule of law and contracts are still nothing like they would be working for European or American companies (and yes, I accept that this is pretty common throughout the Third World)..
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I thought that the last guy that left Caverton had already quit, so why would they fire him? Boys and girls are always fighting - it's the way of the world, so what would make it such a big deal that someone should be fired for it? I'm sure there's many a kitchen in many a house in Africa that's suffered damage as a result of plates, cooking pots and other far more lethal things being thrown 
It's not just Caverton. Bristow fired loads of guys in the past because of problems with local ladies. I'm sure that since they became part of OLOG nothing's changed -they were always a 'big daddy knows best' company - only overseas of course; they wouldn't have dared trying to fire someone for something like that at home. However, with Bristow, if a pilot had a non-native girlfriend - no problem. What a delightfully balanced view
It's not just Caverton. Bristow fired loads of guys in the past because of problems with local ladies. I'm sure that since they became part of OLOG nothing's changed -they were always a 'big daddy knows best' company - only overseas of course; they wouldn't have dared trying to fire someone for something like that at home. However, with Bristow, if a pilot had a non-native girlfriend - no problem. What a delightfully balanced view
Times changed a bit....one of those who had the "holier than thou" attitude got himself in a pickle (actually got his pickle in...would be more descriptive) in the main office....course that old rule did not apply his Nibs now did it.
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SASless,
There are too manywith attitude like you describe in Africa, many of them from your country and from UK - desolee but true. Please don't think I am saying you are one such - from your post it is obvious your not. I remember one who was a senior manager with Bristow who was seriously injured after his retirement, but many of his former employees were just happy that his retirement was now as disatrous as the life he had given them when he was the overseer of Nigeria. I think the one who is there now is a bit the same. Many Americans never leave their own country even though they are in Africa (try working for a company like Chevron - all Texas southern baptists, and see what the like of them is now doing to spread SIDA by telling all that condom are bad). Most of the Brits built there little bars with wood beam and fish, chips. Of course the French are no different, but we are at least great lovers of romance, great lovers and speak the world's only civilise language
There are too manywith attitude like you describe in Africa, many of them from your country and from UK - desolee but true. Please don't think I am saying you are one such - from your post it is obvious your not. I remember one who was a senior manager with Bristow who was seriously injured after his retirement, but many of his former employees were just happy that his retirement was now as disatrous as the life he had given them when he was the overseer of Nigeria. I think the one who is there now is a bit the same. Many Americans never leave their own country even though they are in Africa (try working for a company like Chevron - all Texas southern baptists, and see what the like of them is now doing to spread SIDA by telling all that condom are bad). Most of the Brits built there little bars with wood beam and fish, chips. Of course the French are no different, but we are at least great lovers of romance, great lovers and speak the world's only civilise language
One of the most remarkable moments of my overseas working life was observing the Wobbly Fit thrown by an English workmate when he had to actually go to the "Aliens" office for the purpose of regularizaton of his paperwork.
Ah, the British Army ruling class!
Monty Python or the Goons could not have come up with a funnier skit!
Ah, the British Army ruling class!
Monty Python or the Goons could not have come up with a funnier skit!
Nigerian In Law
You're right about the Victorian, "us and them" attitude, held by many Brits and some of our American bretheren, but it can sometimes be too easy to stereotype.
After the initial "She's an Ashawo, he'll be bankrupt in a few months" stage passed and we subsequently got married I didn't have a problem company wise with my Nigerian wife, now of many years.
Funnily enough the enduring prejudice often seemed to come from older generation Nigerians. They assumed we met in a bar, she must have been there for "business", (both wrong), and she got evil looks and sometimes insults from that quarter.
After the initial "She's an Ashawo, he'll be bankrupt in a few months" stage passed and we subsequently got married I didn't have a problem company wise with my Nigerian wife, now of many years.
Funnily enough the enduring prejudice often seemed to come from older generation Nigerians. They assumed we met in a bar, she must have been there for "business", (both wrong), and she got evil looks and sometimes insults from that quarter.
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Maybe this should be called 'What's Old in West Africa'. Expats have been fired from African countries for years for getting mixed up with local people, yet nobody would dream of trying on anything so against an individual's rights in his or her home country.
In many places people in a position of authority abuse their power and yet either their companies do nothing about it or actively encourage it. In Nigeria, there was a well known Chief Pilot who probably had more pilots fired or caused them to resign than was ever caused by their fears or dissatisfaction with Nigeria. He was so interfering that he even had his own duplicate set of keys to everybody's rooms and regularly looked through their personal possessions and read their personal mail. He's still a manager with the company. A senior manager for one of the world's largest helicopter corporations caused a large number of pilot losses to that company when he was in UK and now that he's left he's still responsible for a number of people leaving or wanting to, but for the company he's a good man - a troubleshooter (though he's sorting out troubles of his own making). Another manager who was promoting pilots for sexual favours still holds his position in an African country.
In the 21st century companies are getting slightly better at recognising the rights of the individual, but many companies still believe that becasue they provide accommodation for someone overseas it gives them the right to control their personal lives as well. American oil companies in Africa are probably the worst for this. So many of them are run bysouthern evangelical fundamentalists they think they can forcibly control the lives of others to their own quasi-religious moral ideals.
Many countries in Africa may be difficult and dengerous places in which to work, but the difficulties companies have in recruiting and retaining pilots there, are as often due to their own attitudes and those of their local managers, as those of actually living and working there
In many places people in a position of authority abuse their power and yet either their companies do nothing about it or actively encourage it. In Nigeria, there was a well known Chief Pilot who probably had more pilots fired or caused them to resign than was ever caused by their fears or dissatisfaction with Nigeria. He was so interfering that he even had his own duplicate set of keys to everybody's rooms and regularly looked through their personal possessions and read their personal mail. He's still a manager with the company. A senior manager for one of the world's largest helicopter corporations caused a large number of pilot losses to that company when he was in UK and now that he's left he's still responsible for a number of people leaving or wanting to, but for the company he's a good man - a troubleshooter (though he's sorting out troubles of his own making). Another manager who was promoting pilots for sexual favours still holds his position in an African country.
In the 21st century companies are getting slightly better at recognising the rights of the individual, but many companies still believe that becasue they provide accommodation for someone overseas it gives them the right to control their personal lives as well. American oil companies in Africa are probably the worst for this. So many of them are run bysouthern evangelical fundamentalists they think they can forcibly control the lives of others to their own quasi-religious moral ideals.
Many countries in Africa may be difficult and dengerous places in which to work, but the difficulties companies have in recruiting and retaining pilots there, are as often due to their own attitudes and those of their local managers, as those of actually living and working there
Sacre' Bleu....Merde! Tyre Burst uttered when he found his reputation just would not go away!
Nigerian In Law
Sas,
Still got on in his company though, didn't he ? Just goes to show, if someone has a "Daddy" watching over them all the half caste kids a person can produce, deny and then desert won't stop them.............
Still got on in his company though, didn't he ? Just goes to show, if someone has a "Daddy" watching over them all the half caste kids a person can produce, deny and then desert won't stop them.............
He probably attended some goat screws in his time....and had the foresight to keep the family photos for showing in private to those who also attended and have the ability to influence his advancement.....it sure wasn't done on merit I know.
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I hear that after a couple of months delay, Caverton will finally be taking delivery of the first AS350B2 in Nigeria in the next couple of weeks. It will be another lease from Heliportugal who are very keen to try and break in to the lucrative African market. Maybe this is the reason their website, after months of advertising non-existent shuttles and pleasure flights in the 350 has just changed to a world globe (mostly showing America for some reason!) with the message "Coming soon". There are also rumours of either a second 350 or another 365N. I'd have thought this may be difficult as many 365Ns are now getting close to the maximum age limit permitted by the NCAA for import. I wonder which type they'll be using for the shuttle service into the Lagos heliport which they've also been advertising for many months, despite the heliport not being finished. Still, it looks as if it too, may soon be starting to be operational. I'd have thought that the 350 would be out as it's single engined and I can't see most passengers being too happy with that. The A109E could do it, but with only a very low fuel load if it's carrying more than a couple of passengers (large Nigerian passengers all with 2 heavy suitcases on their way to or from their international flights). It would have to operate Category A as the Caverton machine doesn't appear to have floats and it's expensive to fit them. It's also quite a noisy machine, as was evident looking at another thread on this forum a month or two ago. The POwer is actually the noisiest of the Powers, unless the modified tail rotor is quieter and I'm pretty sure Caverton's is unmodified. If they use the Dauphin, they'll have to operate Category B as it wouldn't be able to carry more than a couple of passengers using Category A helipad performance. It's also quite noisy. Anybody know if they'll be operating single crew? I wonder what wealthy businessmen and maybe oil company passengers would make of single crew. It shouldn't be a problem and Pan African operate their machines single pilot, so it may not be an issue.
I hear that CHC are still very short of pilots and with a rumour of an increase in their fleet size I wonder where the'll find the crews for them. They seem to have stopped losing so many to Bristow now, but they still need to find more people somewhere. Bristow seem to have less problems so maybe they're the only company which has it right
I hear that CHC are still very short of pilots and with a rumour of an increase in their fleet size I wonder where the'll find the crews for them. They seem to have stopped losing so many to Bristow now, but they still need to find more people somewhere. Bristow seem to have less problems so maybe they're the only company which has it right
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I see that there's a Mi17 flying around on the Nigerian register now, with the callsign 5N-BGY. It's supposedly operated by or for NAMA but if you encounter it stay well clear as it seems the crew don't know anything about the standard operating procedures any of the operators use in Nigeria. It flies perfectly legally at whatever altitude it wants to in VMC, but it's not in accordance with what everyone else is doing. If anybody knows any of the crew of this machine, maybe they could suggest that the crews get a briefing from one of the operators around Port Harcourt as to what everybody else does.
Caverton were busy flying their Dauphin around Jigawa state last week. I wonder where they managed to find fuel? It was another gubernatorial trip. They sem to be picking up quite a bit of work for state governors. I see that their heliport and shuttle operation in Lagos have still not started. Maybe they're going to be doing it with their AS350 when it eventually arrives. I hear that it's all ready for them now in Portugal and the crew is there to collect it. I guess we'll hear it flying around in Lagos fairly shortly. It's supposed to be painted in MTN colors, but I don't know if it'll be operating for MTN.
Caverton were busy flying their Dauphin around Jigawa state last week. I wonder where they managed to find fuel? It was another gubernatorial trip. They sem to be picking up quite a bit of work for state governors. I see that their heliport and shuttle operation in Lagos have still not started. Maybe they're going to be doing it with their AS350 when it eventually arrives. I hear that it's all ready for them now in Portugal and the crew is there to collect it. I guess we'll hear it flying around in Lagos fairly shortly. It's supposed to be painted in MTN colors, but I don't know if it'll be operating for MTN.
Tok,
Why the worry about baggage....that can be sent in advance by ground transport....and pax and carry on baggage only in the helicopter.
Mind you that means a mere 500 pounds of hand baggage per person...but it is a step in the right direction.
I would have thought leasing a Columbia BV-107 or 234 would have been the right answer for the baggage issue.
Why the worry about baggage....that can be sent in advance by ground transport....and pax and carry on baggage only in the helicopter.
Mind you that means a mere 500 pounds of hand baggage per person...but it is a step in the right direction.
I would have thought leasing a Columbia BV-107 or 234 would have been the right answer for the baggage issue.
Nigerian In Law
Tokunbo,
Maybe they should include the Navy pilots in the briefing too. Those 109s do their own non standard thing too, and it just makes everyone work harder, in PH zone especially.
Cheers,
NEO
Maybe they should include the Navy pilots in the briefing too. Those 109s do their own non standard thing too, and it just makes everyone work harder, in PH zone especially.
Cheers,
NEO
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NEO,
"Maybe they should include the Navy pilots in the briefing too."
We had two Navy 109's screaming through our area off Escravos this am. First call was six minutes out at 500'. No regard for others working in the area.
"Maybe they should include the Navy pilots in the briefing too."
We had two Navy 109's screaming through our area off Escravos this am. First call was six minutes out at 500'. No regard for others working in the area.
Not to worry....Nigerian military aviation being what it is....they will be AOG or crashed in short order and the threat vanishes. Hopefully, they don't take any of us with them when they go.
Nigerian In Law
Speaking of military aviation, are any of the NAF PH gunships still flying ? I haven't heard their dulcet tones recently, and whenever I ask the training area is inactive.
NEO
NEO
