What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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Just a couple more tidbits:
CHC's pay structure is a legacy item from their days as Canadian Helicopters. When they still had 2 domestic Canadian divisions they hired VFR guys right from school and the levels made sense. For a time promotion to IFR captain would jump you up to level 10, etc. As the International division became the focus they started offering entry at a level on par with "time licenced" or "in an equivalent job". If you had been flying or holding an AME licence for 14 years, you came into the company at level 14.
There was little pressure to compete directly with the big competitors (Bristows, Schreiner, HeliUnion, etc) in wages as they had a captive workforce: Canadians. Canadian tax law will not give a tax break for working overseas unless you work for a Canadian company. You had to get at least a $20K per annum raise just to break even (or lie to the government, which has its own risks).
Then Mr. Dobbin divested himself of the domestic divisions and CHC proper was born. Initially the acquisitions operated independantly once purchased, as Court and Schreiner did. This setup allowed each division (business unit) to continue to exploit their individual strengths:
Court and Canadian: captive workforce
Helikopter Service/Scotia: closed market
and others...
Then CHC was forced to streamline and align their operations. The old Canadian Intl payscale won out as it was lower, and the 'Incentive Pay' for the bases were used to up wages where necessary. The system is imperfect, we all know it, but it will not be an easy evolution as there are so many variables for each of us in the workforce to deal with. Management too.
I did like Schreiner, who like Bristows had a 25 level scale based on total flying time and YOS. The stability of the 12 equal payments each year was also nice. CHC is trying to go there.
Don't get the impression I am a fan of the CHC system, but enough has already been said about the Bristow's system.
In Nigeria:
A level 14 CHC captain is at CAD 119,562 / USD 114,010 / EUR 82,461 (equal time).
A level 14 AME is at CAD 108,642 / USD 103,597 / EUR 74,929.
A lot better than I am doing now.
CHC's pay structure is a legacy item from their days as Canadian Helicopters. When they still had 2 domestic Canadian divisions they hired VFR guys right from school and the levels made sense. For a time promotion to IFR captain would jump you up to level 10, etc. As the International division became the focus they started offering entry at a level on par with "time licenced" or "in an equivalent job". If you had been flying or holding an AME licence for 14 years, you came into the company at level 14.
There was little pressure to compete directly with the big competitors (Bristows, Schreiner, HeliUnion, etc) in wages as they had a captive workforce: Canadians. Canadian tax law will not give a tax break for working overseas unless you work for a Canadian company. You had to get at least a $20K per annum raise just to break even (or lie to the government, which has its own risks).
Then Mr. Dobbin divested himself of the domestic divisions and CHC proper was born. Initially the acquisitions operated independantly once purchased, as Court and Schreiner did. This setup allowed each division (business unit) to continue to exploit their individual strengths:
Court and Canadian: captive workforce
Helikopter Service/Scotia: closed market
and others...
Then CHC was forced to streamline and align their operations. The old Canadian Intl payscale won out as it was lower, and the 'Incentive Pay' for the bases were used to up wages where necessary. The system is imperfect, we all know it, but it will not be an easy evolution as there are so many variables for each of us in the workforce to deal with. Management too.
I did like Schreiner, who like Bristows had a 25 level scale based on total flying time and YOS. The stability of the 12 equal payments each year was also nice. CHC is trying to go there.
Don't get the impression I am a fan of the CHC system, but enough has already been said about the Bristow's system.
In Nigeria:
A level 14 CHC captain is at CAD 119,562 / USD 114,010 / EUR 82,461 (equal time).
A level 14 AME is at CAD 108,642 / USD 103,597 / EUR 74,929.
A lot better than I am doing now.
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Hi Gents,
Anyone know if Nigel Moretimer (ACN ?) is still in Lagos? I am visiting July 30th / 31st and would like to catch up. Perhaps anyone knowing of him could pass on my email, or advise his contact details here: [email protected]
Regards, Rupert Lawson
Anyone know if Nigel Moretimer (ACN ?) is still in Lagos? I am visiting July 30th / 31st and would like to catch up. Perhaps anyone knowing of him could pass on my email, or advise his contact details here: [email protected]
Regards, Rupert Lawson
etienne t boy, perhaps you should ask Capt T to verify that he was in fact shipped home in considerable pain from his spider bite, instead of speculating. From discussions I've had with him, the level of medical cae was adequate, but he wanted to get back home and get it sorted. Closer to family, and he wasn't exactly doing a heck of a lot while he was off work was he?? Areta can be a boring place to be when you're not working, trust me!!!!!
How does the Bristow medical/dental plan stack up against the CHC plan?
My wife used to work for the largest health insurer in our home market, and she was astonished at the level of cover provided to employee AND family by CHC.
Personally, I'll forgo the biggest bucks to ensure I don't have to worry about health issues with either myself, or my family.
To stereotype, I would say (tongue firmly in cheek) that pilots generally shift jobs for money, and engineers generally shift jobs when they are concerned about safety. Curious that no engineers are shifting from CHC to Bristow, but they are going the other way. Curioser and curisoer.
Don't know how CHC is going to manage the forecast fleet expansion though. They have just enough to operate with what they have. The extra machines on the way are going to cause their workers a not inconsiderable amount of stress!!
How does the Bristow medical/dental plan stack up against the CHC plan?
My wife used to work for the largest health insurer in our home market, and she was astonished at the level of cover provided to employee AND family by CHC.
Personally, I'll forgo the biggest bucks to ensure I don't have to worry about health issues with either myself, or my family.
To stereotype, I would say (tongue firmly in cheek) that pilots generally shift jobs for money, and engineers generally shift jobs when they are concerned about safety. Curious that no engineers are shifting from CHC to Bristow, but they are going the other way. Curioser and curisoer.
Don't know how CHC is going to manage the forecast fleet expansion though. They have just enough to operate with what they have. The extra machines on the way are going to cause their workers a not inconsiderable amount of stress!!
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nooby,
The Bristow health plan is pretty much on a par with the CHC plan and is provided by CIGMA? Don't know about Capt T but the Captain I know who was shipped back in considerable pain was booked a business class seat because he needed the room for the discomfort he was suffering. Areta's a pretty boring place period - as are most places now that there's a near-universal curfew. Nothing curious, the engineers I know who have shifted to CHC have all done so for the money as junior engineers in CHC earn more than junior engineers in Bristow. Pilots move the other way because Bristow pays more. What's curious about that?
The Bristow health plan is pretty much on a par with the CHC plan and is provided by CIGMA? Don't know about Capt T but the Captain I know who was shipped back in considerable pain was booked a business class seat because he needed the room for the discomfort he was suffering. Areta's a pretty boring place period - as are most places now that there's a near-universal curfew. Nothing curious, the engineers I know who have shifted to CHC have all done so for the money as junior engineers in CHC earn more than junior engineers in Bristow. Pilots move the other way because Bristow pays more. What's curious about that?
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40 years experience, but now employed as a day rate contractor, hence the big pay hike. In Bristow day rate contractors are poorly paid, nothing to do with experience. As NEO says I guess everyone will know by the end of the week - and I'm sure CHC will be poised to make a counter offer if need be 
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No Reason to Move
Some Bristow pilots received 'Brown Envelopes' today - no it wasn't another 'what I have for you" (definitely not allowed in Bristow unless you want to go to jail 
). It seems they haven't been quoted a percentage, but an increase in monthly basic. The guys I know have about 3% overall. I guess that with the US$ and the CAD moving closer to parity, Bristow themselves will have done enough to stop any further movement of pilots from CHC - maybe some will think about going the other way now?
). It seems they haven't been quoted a percentage, but an increase in monthly basic. The guys I know have about 3% overall. I guess that with the US$ and the CAD moving closer to parity, Bristow themselves will have done enough to stop any further movement of pilots from CHC - maybe some will think about going the other way now?
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CHC level 14
Gents, 119,562 surely includes the Nigeria danger pay!! Straight level 14 at CHC is high 80's CAD at 200 or so days on site. One must include travel which is not paid, other than expenses. Therefore 220 days away from home!
My buddy at CHL EMS Ontario will earn a projected 127,400 for 2007. Their yearly schedule is 15 shifts per month= 180 shifts per year MINUS vacation dependent on seniority. Their collective agreement allows 1.5 and 2.0 pay at workover their regular shifts per year as well as shift extension. TONS of overtime available due to nature of the work as well as pilot shortage like everywhere else! I flew ambulance and always had calls come in at change of shift.
Not privy to their union payscale actual numbers! Will keep digging!
DK
My buddy at CHL EMS Ontario will earn a projected 127,400 for 2007. Their yearly schedule is 15 shifts per month= 180 shifts per year MINUS vacation dependent on seniority. Their collective agreement allows 1.5 and 2.0 pay at workover their regular shifts per year as well as shift extension. TONS of overtime available due to nature of the work as well as pilot shortage like everywhere else! I flew ambulance and always had calls come in at change of shift.
Not privy to their union payscale actual numbers! Will keep digging!
DK
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Donut King:
Your math is off working a normal 6 and 6 rotation (not that this happens to often these days) you will only work 182 days per year. If you are going to 200 you have to include the 18 days of ET to your calculations.
If you are only in the high 80's obviously a location with no incentive add ons???
I am in agreement with the un paid travel days has been a issue with me for many years to get some compensation for those days to. Depending on work location can add up to as much as 20 days or more a year.
Took a long time to get paid training days so maybe will not take that much longer to get the paid travel days.
Your math is off working a normal 6 and 6 rotation (not that this happens to often these days) you will only work 182 days per year. If you are going to 200 you have to include the 18 days of ET to your calculations.
If you are only in the high 80's obviously a location with no incentive add ons???
I am in agreement with the un paid travel days has been a issue with me for many years to get some compensation for those days to. Depending on work location can add up to as much as 20 days or more a year.
Took a long time to get paid training days so maybe will not take that much longer to get the paid travel days.
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correction
Sorry Wrench! You are correct. My math is screwy. Ideally we are on 182 days on site per year...not the reality!
On top of on site days (operational base) we are actually on the job, including training at FSI (pilot here), well over 200 days per year plus travel plus ET if applicable.
I was only comparing us to an ambulance pilot on shift for XXX days per year.
IMHO they are on site/ on duty less days per year than us. In my example my friends gross pay is higher and he is on duty less than an offshore driver.
HOWEVER, we all know our incentive is the OETC and/or the non resident tax scenarios...(Canada tax rules).
DK
P.S. Just "comparison shopping" right now!!
On top of on site days (operational base) we are actually on the job, including training at FSI (pilot here), well over 200 days per year plus travel plus ET if applicable.
I was only comparing us to an ambulance pilot on shift for XXX days per year.
IMHO they are on site/ on duty less days per year than us. In my example my friends gross pay is higher and he is on duty less than an offshore driver.
HOWEVER, we all know our incentive is the OETC and/or the non resident tax scenarios...(Canada tax rules).
DK
P.S. Just "comparison shopping" right now!!
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Happy Workers as Violence Increases
In Port Harcourt, despite some people having expressed optimism that the security situation would improve after the election of a new president, the violence is continuing unabated. In the last 24 hours, an American-based British professor Michael Watts a Berkeley, California-based expert on oil-related violence in the delta who was in Port Harcourt to attend an awards ceremony at a local newspaper office was shot along with a security man. The attack carried out by unknown robbers who arrived on motorcycles and carrying handguns was probably motivated by straight robbery motives.
Many Nigerians are also now being targeted as with numbers of expatriates in the region falling and many of them having better protection:
Nobody has been arrested for any of these attacks or for the kidnapping of children in the area, as crime spirals out of control with thousands of illegal weapons in the hands of criminal gangs. Much of the new circle of violence is motivated by robbery to fuel the increasing drug trade in the delta, but politically motivated kidnappings also continue. The present government talks a lot but seems as incapable or unwilling of doing anything at all to remedy the situation as its corrupt predecessor.
I'm sure the employees of CHC and Bristow feel their recent amazingly generous increases of up to 5%
really do reward them for the joys of working in what is now classified as the second most dangerous place in the world for expatriates. At least it's quite plain how much their company managements value their services, as they sit back in their well-protected compounds in Intels camps or luxury residences in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, have a well-deserved gin and tonic after a hard day at the office and wonder why the internet is so slow this evening
Ibiba Donpedro, the journalist for whom the ceremony had been organized, said the gunmen arrived at the newspaper office on at least two motorcycles.
"The next thing, we heard shots all over. Young men came in, shot the (professor) on the hand, ransacked the offices, shot up the windows, shot the security guy on the leg, and left," she said.
"They were saying, 'Where's the white man? Where's the money from the bank?'" she says.
She could not say whether the attack, in which the office was destroyed and two laptops were stolen, was a simple armed robbery or linked to the paper's recent investigation of alleged links between local politicians and criminal gangs.
"The next thing, we heard shots all over. Young men came in, shot the (professor) on the hand, ransacked the offices, shot up the windows, shot the security guy on the leg, and left," she said.
"They were saying, 'Where's the white man? Where's the money from the bank?'" she says.
She could not say whether the attack, in which the office was destroyed and two laptops were stolen, was a simple armed robbery or linked to the paper's recent investigation of alleged links between local politicians and criminal gangs.
Gunmen who kidnapped the mother of the Bayelsa State local assembly speaker in Yenagoa arrived in two boats on Tuesday night, a local vigilante group leader said.
The kidnapping was the third attack on officials - or those close to them - this week in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta.
A politician from neighbouring Delta state was found dead on Monday.
On the same day, gunmen in Port Harcourt stormed the house of a newly appointed energy official and killed two family members.
More than 150 foreigners - mostly oil workers - and many Nigerians have been kidnapped in the region so far this year
The kidnapping was the third attack on officials - or those close to them - this week in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta.
A politician from neighbouring Delta state was found dead on Monday.
On the same day, gunmen in Port Harcourt stormed the house of a newly appointed energy official and killed two family members.
More than 150 foreigners - mostly oil workers - and many Nigerians have been kidnapped in the region so far this year
I'm sure the employees of CHC and Bristow feel their recent amazingly generous increases of up to 5%
really do reward them for the joys of working in what is now classified as the second most dangerous place in the world for expatriates. At least it's quite plain how much their company managements value their services, as they sit back in their well-protected compounds in Intels camps or luxury residences in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, have a well-deserved gin and tonic after a hard day at the office and wonder why the internet is so slow this evening
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I hear Caverton's Twinned OOtter was grounded last week - brown envelope obviously not thick enough . Is it flying again yet?
Both CHC and Bristow are talking about the EC225s and S92s which are soon coming in - I wonder who'll fly them? CHC is having enough difficulty crewing the 2 ex-Kish (Iran) Dauphin N2s which finally arrived last week. At least CHC are willing to get new, or fairly new helicopters, as a speculative venture and they can be assured of plenty of work for them. For passengers arriving in Port Harcourt the difference between the 2 companies is notable - CHC has a large hangar full of ground equipment and many engineers busy at work, with a huge new hangar and offices under construction. Bristow has a small hangar full of dust with a couple of engineers waiting for their ancient 76A++s and looking out onto a ramp area which is made less usable by a fuel installation in the middle of it and a muddy car park with a couple of Portakabins in it. Outside Lagos, all of Bristows other bases are owned by their client oil companies, whilst CHC also owns Warri airstrip and uses only one client base, that of Agip. It makes one wonder if Bristow is serious about staying in Nigeria? Maybe the Chevron deepwater contract will be the make-or-break for them. Rumour has it that the contract is actually likely to be split betwen the 2 companies. With most of the major oil companies planning large deepwater projects over the next 5 years there should be more than enough work for those with the staying power and the willingness to invest in large expensive new helicopters. Both companies pay good salaries, but whether they are enough to keep staff here remains to be seen as more older pilots are due to retire in the next 5 years and it's difficult to persuade younger pilots with the required experience to come to Nigeria. With their latest pay review Bristow has probably done just enough to stop any of their pilots joining CHC and not enough to recruit any more to cross over from CHC. The big disappointment is that they did nothing to redress the big difference in pay for those on 8/4 and those on 6/6 (those on 8/4 work 33% more but only get paid 20% more) and it's likely that more of their pilots will ask to go 6/6 over the next few months - which will mean they'll require more pilots or be paying out a lot more in workover pay. CHC pilots seem to be close to resolving their differences with Vancouver over whether they work 42/42 or 44/40. It will be a benefit to both sides as the pilots will be apid what they should and the management will lose less to Bristow or leaving altogether.
CHC pilots can also now enjoy a Gin and Tonic in something other than a gay bar - at least in Areta, it may be squalid, but there is a bit of social life and the new VSAT internet should improve morale.
Any comment from NEO?
. Is it flying again yet?Both CHC and Bristow are talking about the EC225s and S92s which are soon coming in - I wonder who'll fly them? CHC is having enough difficulty crewing the 2 ex-Kish (Iran) Dauphin N2s which finally arrived last week. At least CHC are willing to get new, or fairly new helicopters, as a speculative venture and they can be assured of plenty of work for them. For passengers arriving in Port Harcourt the difference between the 2 companies is notable - CHC has a large hangar full of ground equipment and many engineers busy at work, with a huge new hangar and offices under construction. Bristow has a small hangar full of dust with a couple of engineers waiting for their ancient 76A++s and looking out onto a ramp area which is made less usable by a fuel installation in the middle of it and a muddy car park with a couple of Portakabins in it. Outside Lagos, all of Bristows other bases are owned by their client oil companies, whilst CHC also owns Warri airstrip and uses only one client base, that of Agip. It makes one wonder if Bristow is serious about staying in Nigeria? Maybe the Chevron deepwater contract will be the make-or-break for them. Rumour has it that the contract is actually likely to be split betwen the 2 companies. With most of the major oil companies planning large deepwater projects over the next 5 years there should be more than enough work for those with the staying power and the willingness to invest in large expensive new helicopters. Both companies pay good salaries, but whether they are enough to keep staff here remains to be seen as more older pilots are due to retire in the next 5 years and it's difficult to persuade younger pilots with the required experience to come to Nigeria. With their latest pay review Bristow has probably done just enough to stop any of their pilots joining CHC and not enough to recruit any more to cross over from CHC. The big disappointment is that they did nothing to redress the big difference in pay for those on 8/4 and those on 6/6 (those on 8/4 work 33% more but only get paid 20% more) and it's likely that more of their pilots will ask to go 6/6 over the next few months - which will mean they'll require more pilots or be paying out a lot more in workover pay. CHC pilots seem to be close to resolving their differences with Vancouver over whether they work 42/42 or 44/40. It will be a benefit to both sides as the pilots will be apid what they should and the management will lose less to Bristow or leaving altogether.
CHC pilots can also now enjoy a Gin and Tonic in something other than a gay bar - at least in Areta, it may be squalid, but there is a bit of social life and the new VSAT internet should improve morale.
Any comment from NEO?
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The 2 ex-Kish N2s aren't exactly "fairly new". One of them was once 5N-BBR which left PHC for Sudan a couple of years back, and certainly wasn't missed! After Sudan it became a hangar queen in Kish for a while and now it's back to Nigeria.
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It's All Relative
WhoKnows??
BBR's not that old - compared with AQL, the NNPC 355s, the Bristow 76A++s and early 412s - and possibly the Super Pumas - or the Caverton 365N. It's main problem is that it was always terribly heavy after being loaded up with all the kit Maersk put on it in Esbjerg (plus the RNAV2 memory which was chock-full of old North Sea waypoints which nobody got around to getting removed by Racal - or their successors, Thales). It and BBS were the heaviest N2s around. It's had an interesting journey after being ferried here from Denmark, then ferried to Sudan. How did it get from there to Kish and from Kish to Alan Mann's? I know it came here as airfreight to Accra and then under its own steam again (OK - it's not old enough to be steam propelled )
BBR's not that old - compared with AQL, the NNPC 355s, the Bristow 76A++s and early 412s - and possibly the Super Pumas - or the Caverton 365N
. It's main problem is that it was always terribly heavy after being loaded up with all the kit Maersk put on it in Esbjerg (plus the RNAV2 memory which was chock-full of old North Sea waypoints which nobody got around to getting removed by Racal - or their successors, Thales). It and BBS were the heaviest N2s around. It's had an interesting journey after being ferried here from Denmark, then ferried to Sudan. How did it get from there to Kish and from Kish to Alan Mann's? I know it came here as airfreight to Accra and then under its own steam again (OK - it's not old enough to be steam propelled )
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Canadian Taxes
Gents,
Noticed comments referring to the tax advantages that apply to Canadians working for a Canadian Company overseas (i.e. CHC). I heard rumours that the tax rate is 5% of earnings under said circumstances. Is this correct?
Noticed comments referring to the tax advantages that apply to Canadians working for a Canadian Company overseas (i.e. CHC). I heard rumours that the tax rate is 5% of earnings under said circumstances. Is this correct?
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[Noticed comments referring to the tax advantages that apply to Canadians working for a Canadian Company overseas (i.e. CHC). I heard rumours that the tax rate is 5% of earnings under said circumstances. Is this correct?]
Smickey
You only pay tax on $20 000 of the first $100 000 so you"ll get back about 70% of your taxes at the end of the year. Hope it helps.
Smickey
You only pay tax on $20 000 of the first $100 000 so you"ll get back about 70% of your taxes at the end of the year. Hope it helps.