What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sunny Niger
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To Roque basse,
I work for money other wise i wouldnt been here, what would you say if they double your salary and in a better place????? NOOO??? Sorry but not so intelligent.
About the operation i dont know details.
About GUANTANAMO as you call it, Have you been there???? the food is good "not excellent" and nice new rooms "not 5 stars", also Internet, Flat screens, DSTV, Ive never been to Guantanamo but if its like this i volunteer :-) , in my opnion is the best place that ACN is offering now.
Cheerssss
I work for money other wise i wouldnt been here, what would you say if they double your salary and in a better place????? NOOO??? Sorry but not so intelligent.
About the operation i dont know details.
About GUANTANAMO as you call it, Have you been there???? the food is good "not excellent" and nice new rooms "not 5 stars", also Internet, Flat screens, DSTV, Ive never been to Guantanamo but if its like this i volunteer :-) , in my opnion is the best place that ACN is offering now.
Cheerssss
Join Date: Jul 2006
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u l
That's exactly what I'm saying. IR came here before and he, like too many CHC managers behaving like arrogant a$$holes, was part of the problem. If CHC are serious about sending him here again, then things will only continue to get worse
. I hope Angola is still expanding or Bristow is still hiring when more people are forced to make a decision.
That's exactly what I'm saying. IR came here before and he, like too many CHC managers behaving like arrogant a$$holes, was part of the problem. If CHC are serious about sending him here again, then things will only continue to get worse
. I hope Angola is still expanding or Bristow is still hiring when more people are forced to make a decision.
Bristow Lagos
A friend of a friend has been offered a job flying 76's for Bristow in Lagos, and I've been asked to post on here to see if I can get a few details.
What they specifically want to know about is the acommodation and how safe is the travel to and from the airport. (it will be their first time in Africa).
I've done a search and found plenty of posts about the BRC, but I was just wondering if there have been any recent changes, and if possible, would like a bit of input from any current residents.
Anything to do with the BRC, including the food, amienities, leisure facilities etc would be welcome.
What they specifically want to know about is the acommodation and how safe is the travel to and from the airport. (it will be their first time in Africa).
I've done a search and found plenty of posts about the BRC, but I was just wondering if there have been any recent changes, and if possible, would like a bit of input from any current residents.
Anything to do with the BRC, including the food, amienities, leisure facilities etc would be welcome.
None of that matters.....what kind of money is he going to get paid is the deciding issue.
You can stand on yer noggin for six weeks if the money is right.
The place must not be the same without ol' Chuks being perched at the corner of the bar in the BRC regaling all and sundry with the woes of his life serving German bosses at both work and hearth.
You can stand on yer noggin for six weeks if the money is right.
The place must not be the same without ol' Chuks being perched at the corner of the bar in the BRC regaling all and sundry with the woes of his life serving German bosses at both work and hearth.
I've no idea about the money. (I didn't ask). I'm assuming that he's happy with what has been offered or he wouldn't be considering going.
Does everyone do 6/6 now. I know that in some other Bristow bases 4/4 is on offer and was wondering if Nigeria is the same.
The lad in question is quite sporty, so he wants a few after work facilities apart from the usual Nigerian activities.
Does everyone do 6/6 now. I know that in some other Bristow bases 4/4 is on offer and was wondering if Nigeria is the same.
The lad in question is quite sporty, so he wants a few after work facilities apart from the usual Nigerian activities.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Manze's Eel & Pie House
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The infamous BRC 
. Many of the pilots who catch malaria in Nigeria do so at the BRC so he better take mosquito repellant, take his anti-malarials every day and get a supply of Coartem. The food is now supplied by a local hotel, so every meal has to be paid for in cash at the time and you have to pay for a 3 course meal even if you only want the main. The food is very expensive, mostly crap and the service makes snail-racing look quick 
.
If he goes to the bar he's likely to be insulted and harassed by a clique of Brit engineers, but he won't stay long anyway as there's a 12 hour bottle to throttle rule. One new guy was so badly insulted by them recently that he went straight to the Taj Mahal to complain.
Nobody's been attacked on the way to work lately and although the compound is in a rubbish area its pretty secure. The best place to have a drink anyway is outside as he's less likely to be insulted there.
If he's sporty there's a gym of sorts, tennis, squash and a swimming pool. On a day off it's sometimes possible to get to the Sheraton for a change of scene. If he gets a permanent closet (sorry, room) he's best off getting his own food and cooking for himself. It's worth taking a secure box for any money or valuables as quite a few people have had cash and valuables stolen from there rooms
They have satellite TV in the lounge and there's slow wireless internet. They keep a library of books. UK newspapers were cancelled by management as part of an ongoing reduction in anything which may make life more pleasant here
Actually the only good thing is the pay.
. Many of the pilots who catch malaria in Nigeria do so at the BRC so he better take mosquito repellant, take his anti-malarials every day and get a supply of Coartem. The food is now supplied by a local hotel, so every meal has to be paid for in cash at the time and you have to pay for a 3 course meal even if you only want the main. The food is very expensive, mostly crap and the service makes snail-racing look quick .If he goes to the bar he's likely to be insulted and harassed by a clique of Brit engineers, but he won't stay long anyway as there's a 12 hour bottle to throttle rule. One new guy was so badly insulted by them recently that he went straight to the Taj Mahal to complain.
Nobody's been attacked on the way to work lately and although the compound is in a rubbish area its pretty secure. The best place to have a drink anyway is outside as he's less likely to be insulted there.
If he's sporty there's a gym of sorts, tennis, squash and a swimming pool. On a day off it's sometimes possible to get to the Sheraton for a change of scene. If he gets a permanent closet (sorry, room) he's best off getting his own food and cooking for himself. It's worth taking a secure box for any money or valuables as quite a few people have had cash and valuables stolen from there rooms
They have satellite TV in the lounge and there's slow wireless internet. They keep a library of books. UK newspapers were cancelled by management as part of an ongoing reduction in anything which may make life more pleasant here
Actually the only good thing is the pay.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Here
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Lagos security
"Nobody's been attacked on the way to work lately."
Quite true, the last bullet that hit a Bristow transport (in Lagos) was about 3 years ago (not talking about QIT...)
Two nationals pilots for Aero\CHC have been attacked by armed robbers very recently in Lagos (early morning on their way to work)
Now if you work for Bristow Lagos, you can end in Port Harcourt or QIT ...
Quite true, the last bullet that hit a Bristow transport (in Lagos) was about 3 years ago (not talking about QIT...)
Two nationals pilots for Aero\CHC have been attacked by armed robbers very recently in Lagos (early morning on their way to work)
Now if you work for Bristow Lagos, you can end in Port Harcourt or QIT ...
I hope the money is really....really....really good in that case!
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Pay sucks!
The money is not good! CHC's pay is way behind other operators and they are still paying in CDN dollars. CHC is up to it's eye balls in **** with AERO who owes them over 100 million USD. CHC actually thinks it will get paid...wrong. The Nigerian pilots and engineers are fat, arrogant, lazy people who get paid twice as much as expats etc....absolute garbage. Stay home or go work elsewhere!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Live in Oz - grew up in Southern Africa
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Nuh, uhh!!!
Ray Ban, (I should have said "JABAG" - Sorry Ray Ban)
Gonna have to call you on that one sonny! CHC blokes working in Nigeria have their pay based on the Canadian $. It doesn't matter if it ends up in US $'s or in Euro's once it hits the individual's bank account, the salary is still origionally based on the Canadian $.
That little gem was "B.S", but the very next statement of your's is a classic, and I'm gonna have to call "B.S." on that one too.
Regardless of what schedule a Nigerian works at ACN compared to an Expat, he still gets paid a whole lot more. Not just talking base pay here either, which is a whole lot more as it is, but there are a whole bunch of allowances a Nigerian Pilot is paid.
There is the "night standby" allowance for 365 pilots. If you're a Nigerian, you get paid this, if you're an Expat, you don't.
If you [are Nigerian and] get deployed away from your usual base of operations there is an "away from base" allowance.
For example: an S-76 goes from the usual base in Port Harcourt for a 1 week deployment in Lagos. The crew in this example are made up of an Expat Captain and a Nigerian Co-Jo. The Captain will get his usual pay, not a dime more, the Nigerian Co-Jo will get a nice juicy and pretty large "away from Base" allowance.
The Nigerian pilots get many other allowances too, but let's not let that get in the way of a "politically correct" "B.S" session trying to make out the Nigerians get paid exactly the same as an Expat for doing the same work.
Just gonna have to call "B.S." on that dude...
Gonna have to call you on that one sonny! CHC blokes working in Nigeria have their pay based on the Canadian $. It doesn't matter if it ends up in US $'s or in Euro's once it hits the individual's bank account, the salary is still origionally based on the Canadian $.
That little gem was "B.S", but the very next statement of your's is a classic, and I'm gonna have to call "B.S." on that one too.
Regardless of what schedule a Nigerian works at ACN compared to an Expat, he still gets paid a whole lot more. Not just talking base pay here either, which is a whole lot more as it is, but there are a whole bunch of allowances a Nigerian Pilot is paid.
There is the "night standby" allowance for 365 pilots. If you're a Nigerian, you get paid this, if you're an Expat, you don't.
If you [are Nigerian and] get deployed away from your usual base of operations there is an "away from base" allowance.
For example: an S-76 goes from the usual base in Port Harcourt for a 1 week deployment in Lagos. The crew in this example are made up of an Expat Captain and a Nigerian Co-Jo. The Captain will get his usual pay, not a dime more, the Nigerian Co-Jo will get a nice juicy and pretty large "away from Base" allowance.
The Nigerian pilots get many other allowances too, but let's not let that get in the way of a "politically correct" "B.S" session trying to make out the Nigerians get paid exactly the same as an Expat for doing the same work.
Just gonna have to call "B.S." on that dude...
Last edited by Makiwa; 22nd Feb 2009 at 10:35.
Makiwa, I think you replied to the wrong person. Rayban and you agree, JABAG was the person that you don't agree with.
And, as someone who has worked for CHC in Nigeria, I can confirm that the local staff earn a hell of a lot more than the expat staff. Of course, they do work 5 days a week and only get 12 weeks vacation a year (I did hear that this was going to be cut back to 10 weeks). The allowances paid to local staff are enormous, and are the main reason why they keep sending expats to Lagos with the 76, to save money.
And, as someone who has worked for CHC in Nigeria, I can confirm that the local staff earn a hell of a lot more than the expat staff. Of course, they do work 5 days a week and only get 12 weeks vacation a year (I did hear that this was going to be cut back to 10 weeks). The allowances paid to local staff are enormous, and are the main reason why they keep sending expats to Lagos with the 76, to save money.
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Get with the program!
Well Noooby, glad that you’re on the right page and understand the Nigerian disaster. Sounds like Jabag(Nigerian) and Makiwa(South African) are living in La La Land and reality escapes them. Every expat working for CHC Nigeria(or elsewhere) gets paid in accordance with the Canadian CHC pay scale. If a Canadian makes $1CDN than the American gets $0.80 USD and the European gets 0.60 EUR after the exchange. Ask the American, French and others that have left to go elsewhere. Bristow Nigeria pays in USD and Sonair Angola in EUR (to fly the 225) regardless of their nationality. CHC doesn`t have enough pilots to run their Nigerian operations, Bristow and Sonair are thanking them for the professional well trained pilots they have hired from them.
Your accounting practices are as good as your common sense.....oh ya, not common on that continent.
Nigerian pay is not on par with the expats, they get more, work less and their salary based on the USD. Helicopters Pilots are paid as follows:
CHC=$125,000.00 CDN
Aero=$200,000.00+ USD(Nigerian Captain with perks)converted to naira
Bristow=$120,000.00 USD
Sonair=100,000.00 EUR
Do the math boys and keep your head out of the clouds!
Your accounting practices are as good as your common sense.....oh ya, not common on that continent.
Nigerian pay is not on par with the expats, they get more, work less and their salary based on the USD. Helicopters Pilots are paid as follows:
CHC=$125,000.00 CDN
Aero=$200,000.00+ USD(Nigerian Captain with perks)converted to naira
Bristow=$120,000.00 USD
Sonair=100,000.00 EUR
Do the math boys and keep your head out of the clouds!
Rayban, while I agree with you with regard to the differences in pay between expat and national employees in Nigeria, I don't necessarily agree with people complaining about being paid in Canadian $.
As someone from below the equator, I have worked a good many years stuck with whatever home currrency my US$/Euro salary got me. Sometimes it was good, sometimes not so good. People tend to forget the good times and only focus on when they perceive themselves to be "losing" money.
Personally, I look at the big picture. Medical/dental/benefits as well as pay. For pilots perhaps Bristows is a better deal at the moment, but for us engineers, CHC is far better. Pay wise and treatment wise. So I'll happily stay with the company I am with just now (CHC). I enjoyed my time in Nigeria, but I thrive on new challenges. In other words, I move around a lot.
CHC do need to either get out of Nigeria, or improve things there. The accommodation and food need to be worked on. The internet is patchy, but at least it is there. Unfortunately, while Aero call the shots, CHC's hands are pretty much tied. Take it how it is. Move on if you can't handle it, make the most out of it if you can.
No wahalla
As someone from below the equator, I have worked a good many years stuck with whatever home currrency my US$/Euro salary got me. Sometimes it was good, sometimes not so good. People tend to forget the good times and only focus on when they perceive themselves to be "losing" money.
Personally, I look at the big picture. Medical/dental/benefits as well as pay. For pilots perhaps Bristows is a better deal at the moment, but for us engineers, CHC is far better. Pay wise and treatment wise. So I'll happily stay with the company I am with just now (CHC). I enjoyed my time in Nigeria, but I thrive on new challenges. In other words, I move around a lot.
CHC do need to either get out of Nigeria, or improve things there. The accommodation and food need to be worked on. The internet is patchy, but at least it is there. Unfortunately, while Aero call the shots, CHC's hands are pretty much tied. Take it how it is. Move on if you can't handle it, make the most out of it if you can.
No wahalla
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Live in Oz - grew up in Southern Africa
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Thanks for pointing out my Typo, Noooby, glad to be set straight on that. As you made note of, Ray Ban and I agree on the point that there is a major disparity in the salaries earned by Expats and locals in Nigeria.
As for living in La La Land and having my head in the clouds with reality escaping me, hmmm - I don't friggin' think so.
I made exactly the same point you did, Ray Ban, without putting it into figures. Let's be nice, eh?
As for living in La La Land and having my head in the clouds with reality escaping me, hmmm - I don't friggin' think so.
I made exactly the same point you did, Ray Ban, without putting it into figures. Let's be nice, eh?