What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)

[unstable load]

AA is not across any runway in DNMM, nor is the Navy hangar adjacent the tower unless they moved it while I was taxing in minutes ago. They are across town in Snake Island... Does that ring a bell??

True enough, but in PH at the NAF Base it is.......

[xtremalsound]

These past days it has been a CHC AW139 on Executive jets at DNMM. This place is 50 meters of caverton ramp. It just the next hangar where there is another net oil AW139...

[Tango123]

Gettin a bit of Cavertons contract with snepco?

Helihub:

14 Feb, 14
Atlantic Aviation commences AW139 Commercial Helicopter Flights for Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company (SNEPCo)

New helicopter-services operator Atlantic Aviation, supported by one of the world's leading providers of high-quality transportation to offshore oil and gas producers, has begun commercial flights of Agusta Westland 139 (AW139) helicopters from Lagos.

Atlantic Aviation, a Nigerian company owned by Jagal Group with technical service support from CHC Helicopter, started crew-rotation flights for Shell from Murtala Muhammed International Airport to the Deepwater Discovery drill ship. On its maiden commercial flight, Atlantic Aviation transported nine Transocean employees to the waters around the Shell Bonga concession.

The Deepwater Discovery is a fast drilling ship that is boring some 80 holes in a relatively short amount of time in the Gulf of Guinea.

Shaf Syed, regional director Atlantic Aviation said the first flights were significant:

"These flights are only the first of what we expect will be many years of helping oil and gas operators to go further, do more and come home safely in Nigeria, one of the world's fastest growing regions for this industry."

"Today represents a culmination of several months of planning and hard work from many people, to establish and demonstrate Atlantic Aviation. In line with the Governments' strategic agenda on investment, job creation and Nigerian Content Development, Atlantic Aviation is investing in delivering to Nigeria world class standards through quality and excellence.

Mr Syed said that with technical service support from CHC for training, flight and engineering standards, Atlantic Aviation will become “the leading helicopter operator in this market."

"Customers will feel reassured by the depth of experience and expertise that we bring to this sector in Nigeria," he said.

The twin-engine, medium-sized AW139 helicopter is well suited to current and future requirements of Nigerian offshore drilling, having the range and capability to operate into the deep water and frontier drilling ultra-deep water fields. The AW139 aircraft is a new technology helicopter that meets all the latest offshore safety requirements whilst bringing enhanced customer comfort to the offshore traveller.

With all the regulatory approvals now in place, Atlantic Aviation intends to ramp-up its operations and introduce more helicopters into the under-served Nigeria market, with additional AW139 helicopters joining the fleet over the coming months.

Atlantic Aviation has established bases with efficient facilities and hangars in Lagos (able to operate out of both Snake Island and international airport) and Port Harcourt, where further investment is being made to develop a state-of-the-art operational hub. The company is able to serve customers on long-term contracts and for hourly charter work.

[onwings]

Bristow

Bristow Senior VP Commercial, Mark Duncan quits

[Phone Wind]

Mark Duncan has little to do with Nigeria, though he was one of the major figures in the negotiations for the JV in Tanzania with Everett Aviation. It will be interesting to see who replaces him, what impact this will have on the International Business Unit of Bristow and any future ventures with Everett. What is most interesting to me is that he is leaving at such short notice. Has anyone heard where he is going? He'll be gone before Bill Chiles. It's also interesting to see that his name has already been removed from the Bristow Group Inc.’s Senior Leadership Team page on the company website, though he is still listed as the director of the Other International Business Unit

4 Mar, 14
Bristow have filed the following statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission:- On March 3, 2014, Mark B. Duncan, Senior Vice President, Commercial of Bristow Group Inc. (the “ Company”), made his decision to leave the Company effective March 8, 2014 in order to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Duncan and the Company are in the process of negotiating a Separation Agreement and Release to specify the terms of his departure from the Company with the benefits and compensation provided in connection therewith anticipated to be substantially consistent with the termination without cause terms set forth in his Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated June 6, 2006, as amended March 10, 2008, and the Company’s Vesting of Awards Upon Involuntary Termination Without Cause Policy dated November 6, 2013.

Mr Duncan's profile on Bristow website reads:

Mark B. Duncan joined the company in January 2005 as vice president of global business development, and was promoted to senior vice president of global business development, in January 2006. In January 2008, Duncan became senior vice president, Western Hemisphere, and moved to his current position as senior vice president, Commercial, in December 2009. Prior to joining Bristow, he was commercial director in the deepwater floating production systems division of ABB based in Houston, Texas. Prior to this, he spent 18 years with the Halliburton/Brown & Root Group, mostly in the subsea sector where he filled various positions working in the North Sea, Brazil and several other international areas, ultimately holding the position of senior global vice president, commercial, for the Subsea 7 entity.

He's certainly done well out of Bristow:

Mark Duncan - Bristow Group Executive

Divisional Senior VP at Bristow Group

Age: 51
Reported Accumulated Compensation: $14,679,740
Total Annual Compensation: $1,724,114

2013 BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Duncan was promoted to Senior Vice President, Commercial in December 2009. He joined us in January 2005 as Vice President, Global Business Development. He was promoted to Senior Vice President, Global Business Development effective January 1, 2006 and to Senior Vice President, Western Hemisphere in April 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Duncan worked at ABB Lummus Global Inc. from 2002 to 2005. At ABB, Mr. Duncan served as Commercial Director in the Deepwater Floating Production Systems division, based in Houston, Texas. From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Duncan worked for the Halliburton/Brown & Root Group, mostly in the subsea sector where he filled various positions working in the North Sea, Brazil and several other international areas, ultimately holding the position of Senior Global Vice President Commercial for the Subsea 7 entity.

BRISTOW GROUP EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Position
Divisional Senior VP
Total Annual Compensation
$1,724,114
Percent Change in Compensation
19.6%
Tenure
2005 - Present
TOTAL COMPENSATION RANK
Total Annual Compensation
$1.72MILLION
Compensation Rank
#5,139
OUT OF 15,299 PUBLIC EXECUTIVES

OTHER EMPLOYERS
Company - Contango Oil & Gas Co. Position - Other Corporate Officer

Executive Tenure - 2005 - present. Total Annual Compensation $580,000
Total reported Compensation at Company - $4.76M

Compensation at Bristow Group

Compensation BreakdownCompensation Glossary
In 2013, Mark Duncan made $1,724,114 at Bristow Group as a Divisional Senior VP. His compensation changed 19.6% from the previous year. With this compensation, Mark Duncan made more than the average public executive and more than his executive colleagues at Bristow Group.

Mark Duncan's 2013 compensation is broken down as follows:

A $382,890 salary. This salary is slightly more than the average public executive's salary and more than the salary of other executives at Bristow Group.
$609,121 in restricted stock awards. This is more than the value of the average public executive's restricted stock awards and more than the value of the average Bristow Group executive's restricted stock awards.
$297,103 in option awards. This is more than the value of the average public executive's option awards and more than the value of the average Bristow Group executive's option awards.
$334,838 in non-equity incentive plan compensation. This is slightly more than the average public executive's non-equity incentive plan compensation and on par with the non-equity incentive plan compensation of other Bristow Group executives..
$100,162 in other compensation. This is more than the average public executive's other compensation and slightly more than the other compensation of other executives at Bristow Group.
COMPENSATION BREAKDOWN 2013
Salary $382,890
Restricted Stock Awards $609,121
Option Awards $297,103
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation $334,838
+Other Compensation $100,162
Total Compensation $1,724,114

Source Executives - Find the Company

I wonder how many non-managerial staff got a 19.6% increase in 'compensation' in 2013?

It's also interesting that Caverton is moving another AW139s into Nigeria and Bristow is ramping up for the introduction of the S76D and bringing in more S92s, while Atlantic is still talking about bringing in more AW139s. I wonder how the S76D will compare with the 139 in the real world? Personally, I don't particularly like either.

I know of a lot of unhappy employees in both Caverton and Bristow at the moment and there are a lot of AW139 opportunities outside of Nigeria. With what looks like a big commercial tussle coming up and both Bristow and Caverton having a big shake up in their middle/senior management teams in Nigeria it will be interesting to see how different things look at the end of 2014.

There will doubtless be many in the Nigerian helicopter community outside Aero/Atlantic Aviation/Jagal who have not heard of Shaf Syed. However, he is more than qualified to cause a lot of headaches to the other 'Nigerian' helicopter operators (as Aero, Pan African, Caverton, OAS, Nestoil and Atlantic are classed as indigenous companies, unlike Bristow whose Nigerian content and credentials are under increasing doubt). However, Shafiul Sayed has an impressive background in the airline industry and in Third and developing world countries. Here's his Linkedin profile before he joined Jagal as Regional Director:

CEO & Managing Director (Fixed Wing) Aero Contractors of Nigeria Ltd
Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Airlines/Aviation industry
July 2009 – December 2010 (1 year 6 months)

Accountable to the Board of Directors and shareholders, with overall strategic responsibility for the safety, direction, development and efficiency of the company.

Chief of Staff/Project Director BG Group
Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; BG.L; Oil & Energy industry
August 2006 – July 2009 (3 years)

General Manager role responsible for all business services that support the main gas operations for BG in Egypt - including HR, Policy & Corporate Affairs, HSE, Security, IT, Contracts & Purchasing, Administration and Properties Management.

Area Manager, West Africa British Airways

Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
April 2003 – July 2006 (3 years 4 months)

General Manager responsible for the airline's day-to-day and strategic management of its interests in West Africa.

Country Commercial Manager, Nigeria British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
May 2001 – March 2003 (1 year 11 months)

Responsible for all Commercial Activities related to British Airways' Operations in Nigeria.

UK&I Sales Account Manager British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
April 1998 – April 2001 (3 years 1 month)


Brands & Product Development Marketing Executive British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
October 1996 – March 1998 (1 year 6 months)

Responsible for the design and delivery of new product developments and brands’ initiatives, to enhance the customer experience on-board the aircraft. All initiatives required multi-disciplined teams to be set-up and success depended on the team effort.
Engineering Positions (Various)
British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
July 1992 – October 1996 (4 years 4 months)

Various roles covered including 747 Line Maintenance, Aircraft Support Workshops & Landing Gear Overhaul.
Sponsored Engineering Undergraduate
British Airways
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAY; Airlines/Aviation industry
September 1988 – July 1992 (3 years 11 months)

Thin-sandwich engineering degree programme, interspersed with training periods across British Airways Engineering.

[Keke Napep]

There's a lot happening in more than just the offshore helicopter industry at the moment.

The UNHCR is reporting increasing levels of atrocities in the there northeastern states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno where the Nigerian army and air force are losing their battle against Boko Haram who are receiving increasing amounts of weapons being smuggled in through northern Cameroon as a result of the civil war in Central African Republic. UNHCR estimates that nearly 60,000 people have fled from the Nigerian states into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Boko Haram don't care about the atrocities they commit against schoolchildren. It's all just more publicity for them, a way of ramping up the level of terror and a significant threat to the Presidential elections next year.

It's so bad that even the recently appointed Minister of Defence Aliyu Gusau has resigned after the newly appointed military top brass refused to meet with him.

Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass.

Several sources at the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a former senator.

Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs making excuses for their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.

“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision of military officers in the country.

One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.

Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan is increasingly being shown as just another corrupt kleptocrat continuing the shameful practices of his thieving predecessors as a recent article in our newspaper Business Day reported

Anti-corruption in Nigeria: A fickle fight without fists

One disturbing and regrettable fact of Nigeria’s history is that the nation’s fortunes in 53 years of nationhood have been adversely affected by an unhindered reign of public sector corruption. But what is more irritating and which spells a collapse of the ethos upon which proper governments are founded is the likelihood that this pervading and monumental menace is being condoned by the Nigerian government.

The 2013 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria prepared by the United States Department of State, recently made public, noted without equivocation that “although the law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity”. The report further declared that “the anticorruption efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remained largely ineffectual”.

The report went on to allege that the Nigerian government is targeting only public officials who were out of favour for corruption charges and leaving out those in their good books.

The findings of this report, though not novel, reaffirm the public perception about the anti-corruption fight of Jonathan’s administration.

Analysts and observers believe that the fight against public sector corruption under the current federal government lacks bite and fire, allowing free reign for kleptocracy.

Recently, a senior EFCC official cried out that the Commission had a lean treasury which points to its increasing inability to engage in active anti-corruption operations. Is this a deliberate ploy to tame the Commission and put it in check?

Nothing gives better credence to the lacklustre attitude to anti-corruption under Jonathan than the manner he gave a state pardon to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in March 2013, after he was convicted of embezzling state monies to the tune of $10 million; Alamieyeseigha is still wanted in the United Kingdom over money laundering charges. Add the President’s incredible

Centenary award to late military ruler, Sanni Abacha, whose stupendous loot is still at large across the globe. Indeed, it has been reported that the United States of America just froze $458m of Abacha’s loot held in the US.

Nigerians have raised their voices and pens against this move that appears to create models out of those whose conduct has been adjudged reprehensible.

We believe that in societies where leaders’ consciences are pricked, especially when issues are raised over their continued commitment to proper governance and conduct of state affairs, there would have been a quick response by government to the grave issues raised in the US report and the weighty allegation suggesting an insincere commitment by government to anti corruption fight.

The government of Jonathan has neither offered a convincing rebuttal nor even an acceptance of its limitations in this regard. That neither of these has happened confirms an unwholesome tradition that encourages our government to treat critical issues of governance with kid gloves. And it confirms that this government after all is not focused on fighting corruption.

When governments routinely shirk its responsibility of preserving the moral fibre that puts human society in order, rewarding good and sanctioning wrong, it loses its representative authority to direct the affairs of society, and thus become an imposition, a repressive institution that serves the interest of oppressors.

This attitude of government soils the reputation of the nation at home and abroad and ensures that the holder of the green passport is looked on with shame and odium around the world.

We urge the federal government to shed the disdainful toga of a government that encourages corruption by empowering all anti-corruption agencies to operate according to their mandates, and indeed step up the fight against an evil that threatens the future of our commonwealth.

Things are likely to get increasingly unstable and dangerous as the elections draw closer with political infighting translating into violence on the streets and Boko Haram seeking to capitalise on this to destabilise our country further.

[birdieinthesky]

Compensation Information for Jonathan E. Baliff , Sr. VP & CFO of BRISTOW GROUP INC | Salary.com

Bristow executives salary packages .. Now we know why the pilots are not paid deservingly

[helipiloto]

Bristow Nigeria Bonuses

It has become known that some Bristow Nigeria pilots received big bonuses last christmass. These bonuses were as big as an extra monthly salary. I wonder what criteria they used to give out these. In fact, most probably only Akin, I mean the person handing them out, knew the criteria used to determined who deserved a bonus.
In the mean time, the rest of us mediocre pilots, continue to put up with living conditions below the poverty threshold and picking up all the broken pieces left by our incompetent managers. Without our high capability to perform regardless of what is thrown at us daily and our expected "flexibility" and "team player" attitude, Bristow Nigeria would just be another african helicopter operator.....

[Ainippe]

"Bristow executives salary packages .. Now we know why the pilots are not paid deservingly"

I really dont see what the gripe is? He does a job you could not do, the company is in good shape in fact better than it has ever been and you have a job - enough said.

people will always whinge about pay and what they think they are worth, it is human nature - however what they think they are worth and what they are actually worth could be two different things.

[Phone Wind]

In the mean time, the rest of us mediocre pilots, continue to put up with living conditions below the poverty threshold and picking up all the broken pieces left by our incompetent managers. Without our high capability to perform regardless of what is thrown at us daily and our expected "flexibility" and "team player" attitude, Bristow Nigeria would just be another african helicopter operator.....

Hmmmm ..... living conditions below the poverty line . Even as a 'mediocre' pilot, I'm sure your salary is well in excess of $120,000 per annum, you get 6 months leave a year, a company pension scheme, personal accident insurance, private health insurance, loss of licence insurance a room with an en-suite bathroom, standby generator when you're in Nigeria in a compound with free internet (okay, maybe not great internet, but we're talking about Nigeria!), at least a swimming pool and quite likely gymnasium, and possibly tennis or squash available. Poverty line, don't make me . Get out and see what life is like for the majority of the Nigerian people - oh, ok, you're in a secure compound and can't . Well, most of them aren't .

Bristow Nigeria IS just be another African helicopter operator..... There was a time they were special, but that's long gone, now just another big corporation where mediocrity (not upsetting the boat) is well rewarded. Just see which Nigerian oil and gas operator has had the largest number of wrong deck landings in the last 3 years and tell me all about how superior Bristow is. Yes, they may have better integrity as a company than some of the 'indigenous' companies, but I don't think they can claim the high ground when it comes to operating standards any more.

Before, you get all upset, I totally agree that they're just like every other company these days and use employee 'flexibility' to cover up poor management's inability to run an effective roster.

[melmothtw]

On the subject of rotorheads and Nigeria...

Nigerian Navy considers surplus Sea Knight and Seasprite helos - IHS Jane's 360

[helipiloto]

"Bristow Nigeria IS just be another African helicopter operator...."

Exactly my point. Bristow's got people at the top who can't even write properly.

Let me explain what I meant when I wrote "living conditions below the poverty line." In a company where its top managers make 6 and 7 figure bonuses how do you explain to a plain pilot the following situations: You wake up in the middle of the night with a foot of water in your room because the pipes burst (pipes don't just burst, but if you use the cheapest possible pipes and cheapest possible plummer, they may do). Try sleeping through that one! What are you supposed to do when you find a rat bone in your food? What about when the ceiling in your room collapses on your bed because the guy in the room above you has had a flood in his room? Shall I continue? I know that this is Nigeria so what can you expect, right? Unfortunately for us bottom feeders that excuse gets used way too often and management just gets away with everything. It is not my fault and I'm sorry that poor nigerian people have to put up with such corruption that their polititians and VIPs take away their money in truck loads (I've seen it with my own eyes how private jets are loaded with bags of money from armoured vehicles) while they don't even have running water!!!

As for the other benefits you mention such as loss of licence insurance or health insurance, yes they look good when written on a contract don't they? I would not "put them to the test" however, you might get the "well this is Nigeria" excuse and find that there is nothing there after all.

If things were as wonderful as you describe them people would stay here for a long time. Why is time spent working in Nigeria meassured in "dog years" and someone who has been here 7 or 10 years can talk about it as if he were a Vietnam war veteran?

[SASless]

I generally lived better in Vietnam than I did in Nigeria. Port Harcourt and the infamous Colditz that sat adjacent to the CP and TC's luxury compound is a good example.

As to all the insurance and such.....does Bristow still use "BIAGLE"?

[GoodGrief]

Exactly my point. Bristow's got people at the top who can't even write properly.

'Equator' is spelt with a 'q'.

[soggyboxers]

Helipiloto,
Oh good grief, I have no particular love for Bristow and I worked for them, Schreiner, CHC and Caverton during my years in Nigeria.
I very much doubt that you woke up with a foot of water in your room as the doors are normally so badly fitting that floods quickly drain away. Burst pipes are scarcely Bristow's fault; there are shoddy standards all over Africa.
When I was with Schreiner/Aero I really did wake up with nearly a foot of water on the floor, but that was because our accommodation was on an estate which flooded every rainy season because of poor drainage in that part of Warri. We often used to give that house up for weeks at a time and had to walk to the staff house either wearing wellingtons or roll up our trousers because of the water depth.
When I moved into my brand new Caverton apartment in Lagos, a lot of electrical appliances burnt out on day 1 due to faulty wiring and I watched as water streamed out of the bathroom wall and all the plaster fall off because of a badly connected pipe behind it. Even a few months ago when I moved into my brand new Chinese-built apartment in Dar es Salaam (paid for by me, not my company), I returned from work on my first day to see water pouring onto the bedroom floor making a delightful scale model of Lake Tanganyika and the plaster peeling off bedroom wall because of a faulty pipe. The first week in my rand new apartment in the block built for the Shell Pension Fund trustees at Elelenwo, the central air conditioning stopped functioning. In my apartment in Woji the water was suddenly replaced by a foul green slime coming out of the taps. I've lived in some dreadful accommodation in different parts of Africa (and yes, the BRC, which should have been bulldozed and replaced years ago counts among the worst), but the best I live in during my time in Nigeria was the Bristow accommodation when we were still in Elelenwo (that was also the safest until the decision was made to move to far less secure accommodation, supposedly to cut journey time, but really as everyone knew, to save money).
I even had to move rooms in a hotel in West Palm Beach when I was there doing sim training with CHC as there was a flood in the room above mine and the water was coming through the ceiling! BTW, plumber is spelt with a 'b'.
It's just Africa and if you can't cope with a minor thing like that, you're probably working on the wrong continent.
When you find a bone you think is from a rat in your food, you keep it to make sure it's identified as a rat and make a complaint. Some of my best meals in Warri were in local restaurants (in the days when it was still safe to go out) and I found grass cutter (bush rat) to be tasty and nutritious .
I found the health insurance (when it was with AXA/PPP) to be excellent and easy to use on the several occasions I had need to use it. Local medical facilities in Nigeria are mostly well below western standards, but Bristow does have emergency medical repatriation insurance. I'm not sure if they still have a contract with SOS International in Port Harcourt, which is an excellent facility for immediate paramedical treatment and preparing people for medical evacuation flights. I don't know how well the loss of licence insurance works.
When I was made redundant by Bristow last year, all the money in the Bristow pension scheme was paid to me within 8 weeks of my departure. The company 7% contribution made it well worth while.
I mostly enjoyed my time in Nigeria, though it's not such fun now because of all the curfews due to MEND and Boko Haram activity mean that most people are effectively on a 24 hour curfew. I survived 3 attempted hijackings, 3 attempted kidnappings, but then again I was mugged on my first night in Douala too. The extra allowances paid in Nigeria are the recompense for the added hardship and danger. I'd quite happily go back.
SAS,
Yes BHNL does still use BIAGL, though at present new hires from USA are employed by another company.

[212man]

Soggy,
I think you have responed to Good Grief erroneously, but I agree with your sentiment about Helipiloto. Mind you, on another thread he suggested that 85,000 GBP for a new hire Bond Captain was a joke of a salary - depite being in the 95-97th percentile of UK salaries.....(and only working half the year too)

[birdieinthesky]

Fire at Bristows New Hangar in PHC .. Thank god no life lost .. Unfortunately one Super Puma burnt lost.

[onwings]

Bristow Hangar Fire Confirmed

[Phone Wind]

BRISTOW MAJOR FIRE PORT HARCOURT

The main thing is that nobody seems to have been hurt.

I don't know if damage has been done to the 2 new hangars, but I would have thought that cheap fabric hangars must be much more susceptible to fire damage than traditional metal ones.

Two Super Pumas lost I heard. Also heard that the fire started from one of the two which was on a check. Lots of stores lost to fire too. The big problem seems to have been that the Bristow staff present were incapable of dealing with the fire alone and things could have been much worse if they hadn't had a lot of help from their adjoining neighbours from Caverton and Aero.

Let's see if the 'just culture' prevails in view of the instruction from Akin Oni that nothing must be discussed or posted on the internet until the outcome of the internal inquiry . With Port Harcourt rumoured to be the 'whistleblower capital of Bristow, I wonder if the number of anonymous reports will increase?

Many people have said that the 2 Super Pumas were just a problem, possibly because they're only 332L2s in the Bristow inventory worldwide, but I'm sure most people wouldn't want to see this as being a solution to the problem. It's a shame, because they did sterling work in Norway.

Total are sure to start some kind of a witch hunt because that's their way . Strange, because they always give preference to French machines (or European machines if they can't get French). This won't be good for future Total contracts with Bristow.

[Keke Napep]

I bet many of the expats here wish the fire had hurt nobody, but been in the BRC . I don't understand why Akin's getting involved in telling us to keep quiet when I thought all buildings and engineering facilities supposedly come under BATS and are the responsibility of Tufty?