What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Certainly several Bristow staff will remember their old work mate Graham Walker who now seems to be the Quality and Safety Director of Caverscam and I'm sure this will give them a sense of reassurance .
"The Crown rests its case Mi'Lord!"
Hopefully he will be able to find his way to his office better than he did his cockpit seat while he was at Eket,?
Can anyone make a sentence using "useless", "Wayne Kerr", and "Graham Walker"?
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SAS,
He's a close friend of yours then is he?
And I thought it was only the Count without an 'O' who was a special friend of yours? I heard a rumour the other day that the count is still somewhere in West Africa working for a Belgian company.
Graham seems to be spending a lot of his time at NAF Base - something to do with that Caverscam 412 in the hangar and not flying for Total perhaps
There are also rumours that his old mate from Schreiner, dave Allen may be coming out to help ConDoctor out of the rather embarrassing situation of being in the second week of the largest contract they've ever had but still without having mobilised an aircraft. Smell have really picked a winner here 
He's a close friend of yours then is he?
Can anyone make a sentence using "useless", "Wayne Kerr", and "Graham Walker"?
Graham seems to be spending a lot of his time at NAF Base - something to do with that Caverscam 412 in the hangar and not flying for Total perhaps
There are also rumours that his old mate from Schreiner, dave Allen may be coming out to help ConDoctor out of the rather embarrassing situation of being in the second week of the largest contract they've ever had but still without having mobilised an aircraft. Smell have really picked a winner here 
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Just one big happy family...
Many of us had many, many friends, some more special than others, from our time in Africa.
I just never cared enough to present one with anything really special except a carefully-crafted wind-up or a thrashing at darts (if I could manage that) but SASless seemed to care more about that sort of thing that I did when it came to ze French.
My best one was gifting a British helo pilot colleague a really close look at our Dornier 328 when he decided, one sleepy afternoon with nothing much going on, to just ease across the departure track from PH NAF Base on his way from Eket to DNPO. Why bother making an extra call? We spotted a rather gaudy B212 at 1,500 feet in good time and then just held something less on our altimeter to cross from his 7 to his 5 o'clock with 250 knots on the clock. Of course I checked the next day with House One to find out if this had the desired effect or not, when they told me that yes it did! So that was okay then.
I just never cared enough to present one with anything really special except a carefully-crafted wind-up or a thrashing at darts (if I could manage that) but SASless seemed to care more about that sort of thing that I did when it came to ze French.
My best one was gifting a British helo pilot colleague a really close look at our Dornier 328 when he decided, one sleepy afternoon with nothing much going on, to just ease across the departure track from PH NAF Base on his way from Eket to DNPO. Why bother making an extra call? We spotted a rather gaudy B212 at 1,500 feet in good time and then just held something less on our altimeter to cross from his 7 to his 5 o'clock with 250 knots on the clock. Of course I checked the next day with House One to find out if this had the desired effect or not, when they told me that yes it did! So that was okay then.
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Any truth that Shell has done a panic last minute deal with Bristow Group management in the US to outwit their local partners?
The story, if you believe it, is that if Bristow can keep 90% plus of their crew, then they can get the work back with the 139s they have on order as soon as Caverton fail.
Would Shell do an underhand deal?
The story, if you believe it, is that if Bristow can keep 90% plus of their crew, then they can get the work back with the 139s they have on order as soon as Caverton fail.
Would Shell do an underhand deal?
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What Price Loyalty?
Squabb,
Why would we in Humane Resources not keep all our Fine men?
We carry out the deepest scrutinies of all Pilots and Engineer Mens to make sure they are not too stupid before they join our fine Company. This in the border lane cases includes an interview with the Majah who has the better record than Paul the German Octopussy in predicting the future of the career progressing of our pilots.
Even the border lane cases can work out for their very selves that if our Brothers at CavDan are not paying their Nigerian taxes for them or contributing to their very own pensions scheme then the extra Nairas in their late Monthly Brown Envelopes will be less than they make at the finest Company that they already work for even if CavDan accountants have not taken any small deductions for themselves.
Better the Devils that you work for than the Devils that you do not
FC
Why would we in Humane Resources not keep all our Fine men?
We carry out the deepest scrutinies of all Pilots and Engineer Mens to make sure they are not too stupid before they join our fine Company. This in the border lane cases includes an interview with the Majah who has the better record than Paul the German Octopussy in predicting the future of the career progressing of our pilots.
Even the border lane cases can work out for their very selves that if our Brothers at CavDan are not paying their Nigerian taxes for them or contributing to their very own pensions scheme then the extra Nairas in their late Monthly Brown Envelopes will be less than they make at the finest Company that they already work for even if CavDan accountants have not taken any small deductions for themselves.
Better the Devils that you work for than the Devils that you do not
FC
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Caverton will be certainly pushed to find EC155 type rated crew with any offshore experience if they canīt entice Bristow crews.
Where are the sources?
ACN - possibly
Bristow Nigeria - maybe (provided they are not on a Shell blacklist!)
Bristow North Sea - very unlikely
CHC NL - no!
COHC - unlikely to satify NCAA
Dancopter - very unlilely if they think Den Helder has to be a rotational posting!
ERA GOM - unlikely to take the leap to Africa
Shell Brunei ex Bristow - perhaps with a bit of pressure!
Where are the sources?
ACN - possibly
Bristow Nigeria - maybe (provided they are not on a Shell blacklist!)
Bristow North Sea - very unlikely
CHC NL - no!
COHC - unlikely to satify NCAA
Dancopter - very unlilely if they think Den Helder has to be a rotational posting!
ERA GOM - unlikely to take the leap to Africa
Shell Brunei ex Bristow - perhaps with a bit of pressure!
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Dancopter - very unlilely if they think Den Helder has to be a rotational posting!
When they got the Den Helder contract in 2005/06 they were looking at contractors to man it and have been pretty much rotational since.
Last edited by nodrama; 11th Jul 2010 at 07:14.
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No definite news of anybody leaving Bristow for Caverscam yet then? Everyone who wants to stay has now been offered continued employment (and that means continued pension scheme and tax payments). Rumour is that they may get 8 or 10, but they're waiting to find out about minor matters like pension schemes, health care and whether Caverscam are going to pay their tax. Of course, Caverscam will say it's all in hand- but would you believe a promise from a back street second-hand car salesman that the rather dodgy vehicle you're looking at has no rust
Reputable companies like CHC and Bristow have always found it difficult to get enough suitably qualified people out here, so Caverscum are likely to find it even more difficult unless they try and persuade Smell to accept unqualified people - highly likely the way Smell are behaving these days
Sox,
ACN - possibly They may have 1 or 2 at most
Bristow Nigeria - maybe (provided they are not on a Shell blacklist!) See above
Bristow North Sea - very unlikely
CHC NL - no!
COHC - unlikely to satify NCAA Not a problem with Caverscam - there is always a brown envelope large enough to fix the problem
Dancopter - very unlilely if they think Den Helder has to be a rotational posting! It's ConDoctor they actually have the JV contract with and they surely wouldn't have bid on it unless they'd started doing some serious investigating to make sure they'd be able to get the numbers would they Not with 2 former Aero Operations Managers amongs]t their consultants
ERA GOM - unlikely to take the leap to Africa
Shell Brunei ex Bristow - perhaps with a bit of pressure! You don't honestly imagine the only person there who could go would do you
Bristow Nigeria - maybe (provided they are not on a Shell blacklist!) See above
Bristow North Sea - very unlikely
CHC NL - no!
COHC - unlikely to satify NCAA Not a problem with Caverscam - there is always a brown envelope large enough to fix the problem
Dancopter - very unlilely if they think Den Helder has to be a rotational posting! It's ConDoctor they actually have the JV contract with and they surely wouldn't have bid on it unless they'd started doing some serious investigating to make sure they'd be able to get the numbers would they
Not with 2 former Aero Operations Managers amongs]t their consultants ERA GOM - unlikely to take the leap to Africa
Shell Brunei ex Bristow - perhaps with a bit of pressure! You don't honestly imagine the only person there who could go would do you
Grac,
Did not this newest bunch hire the toppest in expert aviation consultants as staff to launch this latest grand entrance into Nigerian Offshore Oil Income enhancment and wealth redistribution scheme? If one is out to make a quick buck by takiing advantage of a situation.....would one not retain an independent relationship and not take the Caverscam Schilling as staff?
Two rules of being a consultant....get the fee up front and be able to read faster than the client!
Did not this newest bunch hire the toppest in expert aviation consultants as staff to launch this latest grand entrance into Nigerian Offshore Oil Income enhancment and wealth redistribution scheme? If one is out to make a quick buck by takiing advantage of a situation.....would one not retain an independent relationship and not take the Caverscam Schilling as staff?
Two rules of being a consultant....get the fee up front and be able to read faster than the client!
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Any suggestion that Shell now wants the Caverton-DanCopter plan to fail due to lack of personnel is just mischief-making.
Shell would never do anykind of deal with a mere contractor like Bristow and certainly not anykind of underhand deal. Though clearly if Bristow crews do not sign for C-D there chances of ever flying for an OGP member again will be in doubt as Shell control the entire OGP. There is no point being a contractor if you donīt do what the customer wants.
Of course Shell is committed to making C-D the new force in Nigerian helicopter operations. Many reputations at Shell Aircraft hang on the success of this venture which is not in doubt.
Both Caverton and Dancopter are small operators, and Shell Aircraftīs MD and his world recognised team of safety experts has been working very hard through the International Helicopter Safety Team to form more small helicopter operators as everyone knows that small operators have fewer accidents. These companies will again be represented at Shell Aircraftīs unique and renowned bi-annual aviation safety seminar in October where slecet operators who want to lerarn the Shell Way flock to learn from the experts.
Both DanCopter and Caverton are both accident free - unlike Bristow and CHC. Small operators, with the help of Shell Aircraft, write far better safety cases than the fat-cat operators who are only interested in being paid to introduce the latest safety standards and fixing problems that are not an issue locally. For example Bristow and TCAS (there has never been a helicopter lost in a midair in Nigeria so why waste money there). The smaller operators are far better at showing in their safety cases that what they have is good enougth and that Shellīs standards will keep them safe.
This demonstrates the value of using small, local, customer friendly operators instead of the large, international operators.
One must always be mindful of ensuring that select representatives of the local populus need to benefit from the economic boon and general force for good that the oil industry brings to developing nationa. Smaller, local operators mean more direct local benefit and also means more contracts with the OEMs and that means more opportunity for unique financial solutions that can gain local cooperation and influence.
Shell would never do anykind of deal with a mere contractor like Bristow and certainly not anykind of underhand deal. Though clearly if Bristow crews do not sign for C-D there chances of ever flying for an OGP member again will be in doubt as Shell control the entire OGP. There is no point being a contractor if you donīt do what the customer wants.
Of course Shell is committed to making C-D the new force in Nigerian helicopter operations. Many reputations at Shell Aircraft hang on the success of this venture which is not in doubt.
Both Caverton and Dancopter are small operators, and Shell Aircraftīs MD and his world recognised team of safety experts has been working very hard through the International Helicopter Safety Team to form more small helicopter operators as everyone knows that small operators have fewer accidents. These companies will again be represented at Shell Aircraftīs unique and renowned bi-annual aviation safety seminar in October where slecet operators who want to lerarn the Shell Way flock to learn from the experts.
Both DanCopter and Caverton are both accident free - unlike Bristow and CHC. Small operators, with the help of Shell Aircraft, write far better safety cases than the fat-cat operators who are only interested in being paid to introduce the latest safety standards and fixing problems that are not an issue locally. For example Bristow and TCAS (there has never been a helicopter lost in a midair in Nigeria so why waste money there). The smaller operators are far better at showing in their safety cases that what they have is good enougth and that Shellīs standards will keep them safe.
This demonstrates the value of using small, local, customer friendly operators instead of the large, international operators.
One must always be mindful of ensuring that select representatives of the local populus need to benefit from the economic boon and general force for good that the oil industry brings to developing nationa. Smaller, local operators mean more direct local benefit and also means more contracts with the OEMs and that means more opportunity for unique financial solutions that can gain local cooperation and influence.
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What colour then?
Would" unique financial solutions" simply mean brown envelopes? Why not just come right out and say so then?
Also, shouldn't that be "Safety Helicopter International Team"? "Shell Helping Indigenous Team-players," that one might work...
Shell Management, you are really Harry the Headache and I claim my five pounds!
Also, shouldn't that be "Safety Helicopter International Team"? "Shell Helping Indigenous Team-players," that one might work...
Shell Management, you are really Harry the Headache and I claim my five pounds!
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Chuks - you clearly do not understand how to create a local postive environment through long-term proactive community engagement. A brown envelope simply does not create the long term business relationship needed.
The Shell Aircraft International team could be called: "Safety Helicopter International Team" because of their reputation world wide for knowing more than the simple operators like CHC and Bristow but donīt confuse with the IHST which Shell leads.
The Shell Aircraft International team could be called: "Safety Helicopter International Team" because of their reputation world wide for knowing more than the simple operators like CHC and Bristow but donīt confuse with the IHST which Shell leads.
I guess Bristow's Smithy hammered Shell's **** to forge a real deal! Ironclad is it?
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Where's my 5 quid?
I think the verb Shell Management is looking for is "to forge" rather than "to create." They mean almost the same thing except that "to forge" has that little bit extra in it that somehow just makes you think of Nigeria and SPDC. Or is that just me? Anyway, Harry, start with my 5 quid and then we can talk.
With enough brown envelopes (419 should be just about enough) I can forge any sort of relationship you want. Short-time, long-time, all-nighter, sort out the trouble with the houseboy... I think I learned enough working for Shell in Nigeria to forge just about anything you might need.
To climb into bed with Caverscam sort of boggles the mind, in between bursts of laughter and not a few tears but I guess that just goes to show why it must have been a mistake of mine ever to overestimate Shell.
With enough brown envelopes (419 should be just about enough) I can forge any sort of relationship you want. Short-time, long-time, all-nighter, sort out the trouble with the houseboy... I think I learned enough working for Shell in Nigeria to forge just about anything you might need.
To climb into bed with Caverscam sort of boggles the mind, in between bursts of laughter and not a few tears but I guess that just goes to show why it must have been a mistake of mine ever to overestimate Shell.
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Can't argue with that one...
I had a former FO who had managed merely to frighten me during our time together. Once he had advanced to command he then wrote off one airliner completely and upon then returning to GA he actually bent a PT-6 engine, this feat being somewhat akin to breaking an anvil. Later I asked him to review his career since our parting of the ways, when he simply told me that "No one else flies the way I do!" I could only murmur agreement to that one.
Here too, should I argue with you, SM? I think you have rather neatly summed up what we have been wasting so many words trying to tell everyone. Yeah, it is sort of unbelievable, what Shell manage to achieve.
So, about the 5 quid... is the cheque in the mail?
Here too, should I argue with you, SM? I think you have rather neatly summed up what we have been wasting so many words trying to tell everyone. Yeah, it is sort of unbelievable, what Shell manage to achieve.
So, about the 5 quid... is the cheque in the mail?
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Both DanCopter and Caverton are both accident free - unlike Bristow and CHC. Small operators, with the help of Shell Aircraft, write far better safety cases than the fat-cat operators who are only interested in being paid to introduce the latest safety standards and fixing problems that are not an issue locally.
There is, of course, Nigeria's smallest helicopter operator, OAS, whose decapitated Squirrel on the Eastern outskirts of Warri is a testament to the superior safety records of smaller operators.
Any suggestion that Shell now wants the Caverton-DanCopter plan to fail due to lack of personnel is just mischief-making.
. Shell don't mind paying millions of dollars to shut the poor natives up, but they'll never admit to their alleged murderous deeds.
Many reputations at Shell Aircraft hang on the success of this venture which is not in doubt.
ensuring that select representatives of the local populus need to benefit from the economic boon
). boon A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request, such as 'Oyibo, what have you for me? Or possibly, 'Is that a brown envelope or are you just pleased to see me'? Mae West (aka RFD Beaufort MK28WB Passenger Lifejacket).
Beautiful weather it is too for the time of year innitt?.....
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As you rightly point out the Dorniers, Osubi, EC155 and also the whole concept of owning aircraft and using a contractor to do the mundane work were all great successes, introduced by great men at the time.
Circumstances change and so does Shell to ensure optimum operations.
It is important to move with the times.
Thats why 10 years ago Shell used Nigeria as the incubator for new aviation technology (Dorniers and EC155s) at a time that other oil companies thought that 212s and Twin Otter 200s were satisfactory.
Now Sherll are leading the way again!
I for one look forward to the great success of the Shell engineered Dancopter / Caverton teaming. The Danes will bring the precision & flexibilty to what will be a world-class operation and a credit to Shell Aircraft!
Circumstances change and so does Shell to ensure optimum operations.
It is important to move with the times.
Thats why 10 years ago Shell used Nigeria as the incubator for new aviation technology (Dorniers and EC155s) at a time that other oil companies thought that 212s and Twin Otter 200s were satisfactory.
Now Sherll are leading the way again!
I for one look forward to the great success of the Shell engineered Dancopter / Caverton teaming. The Danes will bring the precision & flexibilty to what will be a world-class operation and a credit to Shell Aircraft!
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Sherlly Some Shell Mistake
So it appears that not one single Bristow pilot will be asked to take redundancy because the group can find work for them somewhere in the world AND they are getting a modest payrise too. That level of flexibility does not bode well SM. I bet that wasnīt in the Shell master plan.
DanCopter have precisely failed to import their first EC155 (lucky that ACN is so flexible).
The NCAA is also VERY attentive because they are under close scrutiny with the expected US decision on Arik flights to the US. One false move on safety regulation and that approval could be withdrawn. Not a good time to be trying to make major changes.
SM are you part of the revisionist Welsh mafia?
I think you are confusing having an incubator with providing fertiliser.
DanCopter have precisely failed to import their first EC155 (lucky that ACN is so flexible).
The NCAA is also VERY attentive because they are under close scrutiny with the expected US decision on Arik flights to the US. One false move on safety regulation and that approval could be withdrawn. Not a good time to be trying to make major changes.
incubator for new aviation technology
I think you are confusing having an incubator with providing fertiliser.
