What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Bang on 212man....a true gentleman that one! 
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Well I guess it's only a matter of time now until either Bristow or CHC have aircraft standing on the flightline unable to fulfil contractual requirements because of lack of crew.
Consider that Bristow are reportedly looking for crew for Kenya, but are they offering priority to crews who want to leave Nigeria - yeah, right
. I'm told that their reported pay rise of 4% actually works out slightly more overall because of the increase in location allowance, but the continuing 7/5 means that CHC have quite a number of extra applications to chose from now. I guess the mixture of anally retentive southern Baptists and old colonial 'Uncle knows best' management will never allow things to change. Until they wake up to some of the new and national talent they have in Nigeria and start lsitening to people it will continue the decline from the company started by Alan Bristow - I wonder what he thinks of it all now?
As for CHC, their pay rise actaully works out at less than 4% because they haven't increased incentive pay. All this for a country where people get shot at, killed and hijacked on a regular basis. With the pay rise a year 14 captain gets around US$93,000 per annum - probably not much different than a senior first officer earns on the North Sea. Methinks that as the company gets bigger the management are getting more and more out of touch with reality. They're so desperate that I hear stories of a pilot returning from leave, being picked up from the airport after a 14 hour flight and being asked to fly straight away (well, they had taken a uniform shirt in for him so he could go straight to work!); pilots now being regularly asked to be flexible with the rules about the time the last flight lands (despite the likelihood of a night rescue in Nigeria being no better than ever - just look at what happened to the Pan African 412) and pilots now exceeding the maximum daily allowable flight time. The fresh attitude of CHC when they took over of safety first and obey the rules now seems to have been replaced by 'do whatever you need to get the job done'. Right, with CHC, safety always comes first - except in Nigeria it seems.
As for Caverton................
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
So, if you're not yet desperate, hang on for a while because once those aircraft are sitting there with no crew these companies are going to have to pay the money which they should be paying now. It's about time they woke and started taking the situation seriously. I hear that within CHC operations overseas there are moves to start a pilots' association and a pathetic pay rise like this will surely increase the number of people who want to join that (which is probably the last thing the company wants). But just look and see what pay and conditions are like on the North sea now if you want to see what an association or union can achieve.
Consider that Bristow are reportedly looking for crew for Kenya, but are they offering priority to crews who want to leave Nigeria - yeah, right
. I'm told that their reported pay rise of 4% actually works out slightly more overall because of the increase in location allowance, but the continuing 7/5 means that CHC have quite a number of extra applications to chose from now. I guess the mixture of anally retentive southern Baptists and old colonial 'Uncle knows best' management will never allow things to change. Until they wake up to some of the new and national talent they have in Nigeria and start lsitening to people it will continue the decline from the company started by Alan Bristow - I wonder what he thinks of it all now?As for CHC, their pay rise actaully works out at less than 4% because they haven't increased incentive pay. All this for a country where people get shot at, killed and hijacked on a regular basis. With the pay rise a year 14 captain gets around US$93,000 per annum - probably not much different than a senior first officer earns on the North Sea. Methinks that as the company gets bigger the management are getting more and more out of touch with reality. They're so desperate that I hear stories of a pilot returning from leave, being picked up from the airport after a 14 hour flight and being asked to fly straight away (well, they had taken a uniform shirt in for him so he could go straight to work!); pilots now being regularly asked to be flexible with the rules about the time the last flight lands (despite the likelihood of a night rescue in Nigeria being no better than ever - just look at what happened to the Pan African 412) and pilots now exceeding the maximum daily allowable flight time. The fresh attitude of CHC when they took over of safety first and obey the rules now seems to have been replaced by 'do whatever you need to get the job done'. Right, with CHC, safety always comes first - except in Nigeria it seems.
As for Caverton................
hahahahahahahahahahahahaSo, if you're not yet desperate, hang on for a while because once those aircraft are sitting there with no crew these companies are going to have to pay the money which they should be paying now. It's about time they woke and started taking the situation seriously. I hear that within CHC operations overseas there are moves to start a pilots' association and a pathetic pay rise like this will surely increase the number of people who want to join that (which is probably the last thing the company wants). But just look and see what pay and conditions are like on the North sea now if you want to see what an association or union can achieve.
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Mama's right. CHC Global Pilots Association is but a few members from becoming a reality. A fantastic effort by a few key individuals. CHC GO pilots out there who are still on the fence, now would be a good time to consider signing up. www.ghpa.com
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Foggy Bottom - send me a mail to [email protected] and I can get you in touch with caveman.
He works for us at PAAN (Bristow) in Escravos Nigeria.
No prob.
He works for us at PAAN (Bristow) in Escravos Nigeria.
No prob.
Now that would be a Kodak moment...."Caveman Working"!
Say "Howdy!" for me.
Say "Howdy!" for me.
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MM,
You're right about the CHC rise actually being less than 4%, when a lot of staff in Nigeria were hoping for 10-15%, but realistically expecting 5-7%. They're already short despite anything they may say about having a lot of new guys on the way to Nigeria. There are also a lot of guys looking for transfers, other jobs or due to retire soon. This rise won't even plug the hole in the dam - soon I expect it to be a breach. There are those who foolishly thin there will be an increase in the incentive pay to make the payrise worthwhile, but CHC don't give a damn about their people in Nigeria or anywhere else - the bottom line these days, as with all companies is $$$
. As you say, why should pilots working in the North Sea be getting paid more for doing the same job? The only difference is that in Europe many pilots are unionised. Super 61 has it right - CHC have woken a sleeping Tiger and they may soon wish they'd been more reasonable with a group of people who are now at boiling point. Yet, they actually look good by comparison with Bristow 
. Caverton only seem to be able to recruit expat pilots from the third world where the standard of living is little different from Nigeria. Has anybody noticed the number of pilots now arriving in Bristow and CHC from many of the world's poorer nations? Supposedly foreign pilots are only allowed to work in Nigeria because they have a level of expertise higher than that which can be found here until enough national pilots are trained to replace them. I wonder what the average Nigerian pilot in Bristow and CHC thinks of some of these new 'experts' many of who can barely speak English? Any comments from Zazoo, TomBola etc?
You're right about the CHC rise actually being less than 4%, when a lot of staff in Nigeria were hoping for 10-15%, but realistically expecting 5-7%. They're already short despite anything they may say about having a lot of new guys on the way to Nigeria. There are also a lot of guys looking for transfers, other jobs or due to retire soon. This rise won't even plug the hole in the dam - soon I expect it to be a breach. There are those who foolishly thin there will be an increase in the incentive pay to make the payrise worthwhile, but CHC don't give a damn about their people in Nigeria or anywhere else - the bottom line these days, as with all companies is $$$
. As you say, why should pilots working in the North Sea be getting paid more for doing the same job? The only difference is that in Europe many pilots are unionised. Super 61 has it right - CHC have woken a sleeping Tiger and they may soon wish they'd been more reasonable with a group of people who are now at boiling point. Yet, they actually look good by comparison with Bristow . Caverton only seem to be able to recruit expat pilots from the third world where the standard of living is little different from Nigeria. Has anybody noticed the number of pilots now arriving in Bristow and CHC from many of the world's poorer nations? Supposedly foreign pilots are only allowed to work in Nigeria because they have a level of expertise higher than that which can be found here until enough national pilots are trained to replace them. I wonder what the average Nigerian pilot in Bristow and CHC thinks of some of these new 'experts' many of who can barely speak English? Any comments from Zazoo, TomBola etc?
My how times change!
During a conversation with an old Bristow chum, he reminded me of how BHL's pay structure used to be.
He was quite correct when he reminded me the North Sea pilots had a long going fight to acheive pay parity with the Nigeria based pilots. Pilots leaving the Northsea received additional money when working in Nigeria as compared to the Northsea wages.
That was long before the hijackings, armed robberies, woundings, and kidnappings that are going on in Nigeria today.
He was quite correct when he reminded me the North Sea pilots had a long going fight to acheive pay parity with the Nigeria based pilots. Pilots leaving the Northsea received additional money when working in Nigeria as compared to the Northsea wages.
That was long before the hijackings, armed robberies, woundings, and kidnappings that are going on in Nigeria today.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Mama's right. CHC Global Pilots Association is but a few members from becoming a reality. A fantastic effort by a few key individuals. CHC GO pilots out there who are still on the fence, now would be a good time to consider signing up. www.ghpa.com
Correction to Super 61's post the address is www.ghpa.ca not com.
get on board guys....we are very close but still need a few more to make it happen. This is our only chance.....we will not get another.
Correction to Super 61's post the address is www.ghpa.ca not com.
get on board guys....we are very close but still need a few more to make it happen. This is our only chance.....we will not get another.
Nigerian In Law
DB
Sas/212man,
A true gentleman indeed, but he wouldn't allow local ladies to even cross the threshold of any house he occupied which was a bit strange.
Foggy,
Try [email protected]
If some of these posts turn out to be true my job security has rocketed in the past week !!
Cheers,
NEO
A true gentleman indeed, but he wouldn't allow local ladies to even cross the threshold of any house he occupied which was a bit strange.
Foggy,
Try [email protected]
If some of these posts turn out to be true my job security has rocketed in the past week !!
Cheers,
NEO
Last edited by Nigerian Expat Outlaw; 12th Jul 2006 at 12:19.
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NEO,
I guess by that you mean one of the old style Bristow school of racist backpassage-orifice merchants who would smile in the face of everybody, be extreeeeeeemly polite, but never, ever dream of having an interpersonal relationship with a local person . What's gentlemanly about that? It's 'gentlemen' such as this which have brought Bristow to where it is now with some of the most able nationals being kept in 'their proper place'. Bristow - a modern, enlightened company - yeah right............ or do you as an enlightened person know something different?
A true gentleman indeed, but he wouldn't allow local ladies to even cross the threshold of any house he occupied which was a bit strange.
. What's gentlemanly about that? It's 'gentlemen' such as this which have brought Bristow to where it is now with some of the most able nationals being kept in 'their proper place'. Bristow - a modern, enlightened company - yeah right............ or do you as an enlightened person know something different?
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You will find no such problems in our company with my highly enlightened views on the genteel gender, any of whom may cross my threshold provided they don't trip over my pointy shoes due to an overabundance of mammary tissue causing a natural top-heavy imbalance. Such lady, with their delightful costume and colorful hair-tie are indeed one of the true blessing of this our country.
Indeed we especially welcome those whose principal modes of oral communication are Yoruba, Texan, Filipino or Tagalog, who have no previous management experience or command time, as daddy has noticed that they are less likely to question any of my sound and wise decisions, based on my excellent schooling in a university with such thing as computer and book, in UK, proven leadership skill and wide-ranging experience in the aviation industry which make us such a world centre of excellence.
Come and join the wonderful experience and be one of the first in Africa to participate in proven helicopter shuttle with S92 (or maybe Bell 412, or perhaps AS350, or R44).
Indeed we especially welcome those whose principal modes of oral communication are Yoruba, Texan, Filipino or Tagalog, who have no previous management experience or command time, as daddy has noticed that they are less likely to question any of my sound and wise decisions, based on my excellent schooling in a university with such thing as computer and book, in UK, proven leadership skill and wide-ranging experience in the aviation industry which make us such a world centre of excellence.
Come and join the wonderful experience and be one of the first in Africa to participate in proven helicopter shuttle with S92 (or maybe Bell 412, or perhaps AS350, or R44).
TB,
There were and apparantly still are those kinds of folks you describe. One or two particularly fit that description, like the one fellow who ran off many good guys with his attitude about "others" playing with the ladies all the while fathering an illegitmate child that I am sure he could not find a way to diplomatically tell his wife about. The other birk held the same attitude unti he got to tangling with the office help and had to endure a battle royal in the main office (all the while looking down his nose at others).
To have been a bug on the wall of the Lagos office when that domestic squabble occurred would have been a treat.
There were and apparantly still are those kinds of folks you describe. One or two particularly fit that description, like the one fellow who ran off many good guys with his attitude about "others" playing with the ladies all the while fathering an illegitmate child that I am sure he could not find a way to diplomatically tell his wife about. The other birk held the same attitude unti he got to tangling with the office help and had to endure a battle royal in the main office (all the while looking down his nose at others).
To have been a bug on the wall of the Lagos office when that domestic squabble occurred would have been a treat.
I heard the Caveman had expanded into a new line of business!
Check out the TV commercials!
I still don't know how that glass eating is done, but it is entertaining!
Check out the TV commercials!
I still don't know how that glass eating is done, but it is entertaining!
I'm sure Soggyboxers could give him a good run for his money in the glass eating stakes!! Once upon a time, certainly
PS, Cavertonmanagement; please, I bego, let me know when I can join your illustrious company. I have brand new pointy shoes made from Florida Alligator skins, and new S-92 rating from FSI with certificate number 419419. If you cannot fly me Virgin Upper Class, I am happy with Bellview, or in your Daddy's jet, for my rotations (can you call them that?)
PS, Cavertonmanagement; please, I bego, let me know when I can join your illustrious company. I have brand new pointy shoes made from Florida Alligator skins, and new S-92 rating from FSI with certificate number 419419. If you cannot fly me Virgin Upper Class, I am happy with Bellview, or in your Daddy's jet, for my rotations (can you call them that?)
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Thank You
I'd like to thank all those who have contributed to this small thread I started a year or two back. At the time, I was just hoping that we helicopter pilots living and/or working in Africa could keep in touch with what's happening. It seems incredible that the thread has now had over 100,000 people viewing it and close to 900 replies.
I'm still disappointed we don't hear more from helicopter pilots working outside Nigeria. It's not supposed to be just about Bristow and CHC, or about the problems in Nigeria. I'd love to see some photos posted here from pilots working in different countries, reflecting local life. We had a few a couple of years back from the guys working on the pipeline contract in Cameroun, and I'm sure some of the CHC pilots in Cote D"Ivoire on the UN contract should have some interesting pictures.
Please keep the news coming in, and if you're thinking of contributing, let us have some photos and news of what daily life is like in the African country in which you're working. Africa is not just a bland hot, flat, swampy, tropical land; it's a whole diverse continent with everything from snow covered mountains, to tropical forest. Share some of her diversity with us, your fellow PPRuNers.
I'm still disappointed we don't hear more from helicopter pilots working outside Nigeria. It's not supposed to be just about Bristow and CHC, or about the problems in Nigeria. I'd love to see some photos posted here from pilots working in different countries, reflecting local life. We had a few a couple of years back from the guys working on the pipeline contract in Cameroun, and I'm sure some of the CHC pilots in Cote D"Ivoire on the UN contract should have some interesting pictures.
Please keep the news coming in, and if you're thinking of contributing, let us have some photos and news of what daily life is like in the African country in which you're working. Africa is not just a bland hot, flat, swampy, tropical land; it's a whole diverse continent with everything from snow covered mountains, to tropical forest. Share some of her diversity with us, your fellow PPRuNers.
Nigerian In Law
TB,
There has been a distinct general mellowing of the attitude you mention over the past few years. But there are some people who make me wonder why they choose to work in a continent for six or seven months a year surrounded by people they obviously dislike/look down upon/are scared of. Nowt so strange as folk !!
The Nigerian managers have dispelled a lot of the myths, not by shouting it from the rooftops but by their actions. They have shown they are every bit as good (in some cases better) than "lighter" people.
Sas,
Aah, that old chestnut. I was there when the person in question claimed to the police that he had used "preservative" so the kid couldn't be his. Didn't know Monosodium Glutamate did that too
Cheers,
NEO
There has been a distinct general mellowing of the attitude you mention over the past few years. But there are some people who make me wonder why they choose to work in a continent for six or seven months a year surrounded by people they obviously dislike/look down upon/are scared of. Nowt so strange as folk !!
The Nigerian managers have dispelled a lot of the myths, not by shouting it from the rooftops but by their actions. They have shown they are every bit as good (in some cases better) than "lighter" people.Sas,
Aah, that old chestnut. I was there when the person in question claimed to the police that he had used "preservative" so the kid couldn't be his. Didn't know Monosodium Glutamate did that too
Cheers,
NEO
Sacre Bleu! Merde!