What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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Uncle Bob became too old to fly single pilot and went back to his old job with Aero. The weird thing is they seem to have replaced him with a clone, because the new guy bears an uncanny resemblance to Uncle Bob - maybe he actually is him but with a new passport 
As I recall....they broke the mold when they finished with that young cherubic Robert...thus it must be a clone.
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Eckat
Could someone let me in on the conditions in Eckat? Considering an offer with Bristow and understand that the need is in Eckat (sp?). Have heard that the conditions there border on the dire..any actual information available as to the real conditions and amenities..if any? Whats the flying like..all day VFR or any nights or IFR? Mostly offshore or onshore? Also, how do you get in and out?
TIA
Billy.Fair at Gmail dot com
TIA
Billy.Fair at Gmail dot com
It's spelled Eket. The operation is a split site: the accommodation is in a village (Eket itself) about a 25 minute drive from the base. The base is within a large MobilExxon oil storage (?) complex located right on the coast in the far SE corner of Nigeria. There is a large grass runway and a hangar complex with offices etc which is pretty reasonable. The work is all offshore, with occasional trips 'up the road' to Port Harcourt to pick up freight etc. Not sure what the current numbers are, but I think it's 4 a/c flying. The programme has been transformed since I was there; it used to be 5 a/c operating a totally shambolic programme which needed constant changes (my line training tip was "never write down where you are going to until you've landed, and never write down POB until you've taken off!") However, that has cahnegd and there is a rigid programme that is fixed week by week. I believe there will be 412s there by now, but could be wrong.
Similarly, I can't comment on current flying hours but we used to fly and log airborne time only. With 40 landings a day that caused quite a split from 'real' time! The limit is 100 hours a month and I guess they get close to that now.
Accommodation, well what can I say?! Like all things it depends on your expectations and imagination. It may seem reasonable to you or, on the other hand, it may seem cr*p. It comprises of a selection of bungalows and houses in a compound. There are 5 to a house and you may share your room with a work mate when your are out on leave. I think it would be polite to say the houses are 'a bit drab'. There is nothing in the compound to do. In the village there are some very basic bars but at the other end of 'town' is the main Exxon Mobil complex which has some nice facilities. At the main base there is one of the best golf courses in Nigeria, with one of the few real greens (normally browns elsewhere). It poses as a 'coastal erosion protection scheme' within the accounts (or so the story goes!).
I'm sure someone currently there could add more detail. Like all places, it's not so much the physical location, it's the people there and what you put into it that determines how you get on.
Similarly, I can't comment on current flying hours but we used to fly and log airborne time only. With 40 landings a day that caused quite a split from 'real' time! The limit is 100 hours a month and I guess they get close to that now.
Accommodation, well what can I say?! Like all things it depends on your expectations and imagination. It may seem reasonable to you or, on the other hand, it may seem cr*p. It comprises of a selection of bungalows and houses in a compound. There are 5 to a house and you may share your room with a work mate when your are out on leave. I think it would be polite to say the houses are 'a bit drab'. There is nothing in the compound to do. In the village there are some very basic bars but at the other end of 'town' is the main Exxon Mobil complex which has some nice facilities. At the main base there is one of the best golf courses in Nigeria, with one of the few real greens (normally browns elsewhere). It poses as a 'coastal erosion protection scheme' within the accounts (or so the story goes!).
I'm sure someone currently there could add more detail. Like all places, it's not so much the physical location, it's the people there and what you put into it that determines how you get on.
Nigerian In Law
Foggy,
Nigeria is an acquired taste. You either like it or not. Give it a try mate. At the worst you will have had an experience, at best you'll have a job.
Good Luck.
NEO
Nigeria is an acquired taste. You either like it or not. Give it a try mate. At the worst you will have had an experience, at best you'll have a job.
Good Luck.
NEO
What's the chance the Nigerian Guvmint and Shell will cough up the money?
Nigeria Militants Report Clash, Vow More Oil Worker Kidnappings
March 25 (Bloomberg) -- Militants whose attacks have shut down about a quarter of Nigeria's oil production said their forces killed three government soldiers two days ago and vowed to kidnap more foreign oil workers in the Niger River delta.
``Our units have been directed to capture more expatriates across the Niger delta,'' Jomo Gbomo, a spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, said today in an e-mailed statement.
The militants are holding hostage Cody Oswald and Russel Spell of the U.S. and Briton John Hudspith. They were abducted with six other oil workers on Feb. 18 from a Willbros Group Inc. boat near the Forcados export terminal, run by a venture of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The six others were released on March 1.
Kidnappings and attacks last month on a pipeline and an oil terminal forced Shell and other companies to halt output of about 556,000 barrels a day. Shell shut down all production in the western Niger River delta and hasn't resumed output. Eni SpA told clients on March 23 that it's delaying shipments from Nigeria after saboteurs damaged a pipeline that runs to its Brass terminal on March 17.
The MEND statement today said that the Nigerian soldiers were killed in the Soku area of Rivers State in the eastern Niger delta. Shell's venture in Nigeria pumps oil and gas from the Soku area.
A navy spokesman said the men died as a result of their patrol boat capsizing, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Captain Obiora Medani.
The militants, in their statement, said they captured the patrol boat and weapons.
``The attacks will resume in earnest and the three hostages in our custody as well as those we will capture in the next few days will not be released until our conditions are met,'' Gbomo said.
The militant group is demanding that the government release Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa state, who was impeached and arrested on money-laundering charges, and Mujahid Dokubo Asari, a militia leader jailed on treason charges.
The militants also want Shell to pay $1.5 billion to the Ijaw people, the biggest ethnic group in the Niger delta, as compensation for alleged environmental damage.
Nigeria produced 2.28 million barrels of oil a day in February, making it the sixth-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, according to Bloomberg data.
The fifth-biggest supplier to the U.S., Nigeria produces low sulfur, or sweet, crude oil, prized by refiners for the proportion of high-value gasoline it yields.
March 25 (Bloomberg) -- Militants whose attacks have shut down about a quarter of Nigeria's oil production said their forces killed three government soldiers two days ago and vowed to kidnap more foreign oil workers in the Niger River delta.
``Our units have been directed to capture more expatriates across the Niger delta,'' Jomo Gbomo, a spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, said today in an e-mailed statement.
The militants are holding hostage Cody Oswald and Russel Spell of the U.S. and Briton John Hudspith. They were abducted with six other oil workers on Feb. 18 from a Willbros Group Inc. boat near the Forcados export terminal, run by a venture of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The six others were released on March 1.
Kidnappings and attacks last month on a pipeline and an oil terminal forced Shell and other companies to halt output of about 556,000 barrels a day. Shell shut down all production in the western Niger River delta and hasn't resumed output. Eni SpA told clients on March 23 that it's delaying shipments from Nigeria after saboteurs damaged a pipeline that runs to its Brass terminal on March 17.
The MEND statement today said that the Nigerian soldiers were killed in the Soku area of Rivers State in the eastern Niger delta. Shell's venture in Nigeria pumps oil and gas from the Soku area.
A navy spokesman said the men died as a result of their patrol boat capsizing, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Captain Obiora Medani.
The militants, in their statement, said they captured the patrol boat and weapons.
``The attacks will resume in earnest and the three hostages in our custody as well as those we will capture in the next few days will not be released until our conditions are met,'' Gbomo said.
The militant group is demanding that the government release Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa state, who was impeached and arrested on money-laundering charges, and Mujahid Dokubo Asari, a militia leader jailed on treason charges.
The militants also want Shell to pay $1.5 billion to the Ijaw people, the biggest ethnic group in the Niger delta, as compensation for alleged environmental damage.
Nigeria produced 2.28 million barrels of oil a day in February, making it the sixth-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, according to Bloomberg data.
The fifth-biggest supplier to the U.S., Nigeria produces low sulfur, or sweet, crude oil, prized by refiners for the proportion of high-value gasoline it yields.
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Hostages released in Nigeria
Three foreign oil workers, two Americans and a Briton, have been freed after being held hostage by separatist militants in Nigeria.
The men, who are said to be in good health, were kidnapped last month.
State government spokesman Abel Oshevire said that US oilmen Cody Oswald and Russell Spell and British security expert John Hudspith had been handed over to officials in Warri after being held captive in the swamps of the Niger Delta.
"They're all here. They're all okay," the Delta State spokesman said by telephone from his government's local offices in Warri, an oil port 340 kilometres south-east of Lagos.
Mr Oshevire said that no deal had been offered to the hostage-takers but that the expatriates had been released unharmed and had met Governor James Ibori after being brought to Warri by boat.
An oil industry source confirmed the release and said that US and British diplomats had witnessed the safe arrival of the three former hostages.
The men were among a group of nine foreign workers who were kidnapped on February 18 by heavily-armed militants fighting for control of the delta's oil resources.
The other six men were released after just a week.
The men, who work for the US engineering firm Willbros under contract to the Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell, had been working on a pipelaying barge on a river opposite the large Forcados oil export terminal when they were captured.
Militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) - the latest in a series of armed ethnic Ijaw nationalist groups from the delta swamps - fought a gunbattle with navy troop during the snatch.
Despite Nigeria's vast oil revenues the majority of the country's 130-million-strong population lives in abject poverty on less than one dollar per day and resentment against government and the oil majors runs high.
Three foreign oil workers, two Americans and a Briton, have been freed after being held hostage by separatist militants in Nigeria.
The men, who are said to be in good health, were kidnapped last month.
State government spokesman Abel Oshevire said that US oilmen Cody Oswald and Russell Spell and British security expert John Hudspith had been handed over to officials in Warri after being held captive in the swamps of the Niger Delta.
"They're all here. They're all okay," the Delta State spokesman said by telephone from his government's local offices in Warri, an oil port 340 kilometres south-east of Lagos.
Mr Oshevire said that no deal had been offered to the hostage-takers but that the expatriates had been released unharmed and had met Governor James Ibori after being brought to Warri by boat.
An oil industry source confirmed the release and said that US and British diplomats had witnessed the safe arrival of the three former hostages.
The men were among a group of nine foreign workers who were kidnapped on February 18 by heavily-armed militants fighting for control of the delta's oil resources.
The other six men were released after just a week.
The men, who work for the US engineering firm Willbros under contract to the Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell, had been working on a pipelaying barge on a river opposite the large Forcados oil export terminal when they were captured.
Militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) - the latest in a series of armed ethnic Ijaw nationalist groups from the delta swamps - fought a gunbattle with navy troop during the snatch.
Despite Nigeria's vast oil revenues the majority of the country's 130-million-strong population lives in abject poverty on less than one dollar per day and resentment against government and the oil majors runs high.
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Great news that the hostages have been released physically unharmed. I hope that they will all quickly recover from the mental stress they undoubtedly suffered.
Their release seems to make a mockery of the statement from MEND that the hostages would not be released soon. However, these militants are undoubtedly well armed and more hostages will eventually be taken as the government has proven itself completely incapable of governing most of the Delta areas. Take care all you guys out there and fly safe.
Their release seems to make a mockery of the statement from MEND that the hostages would not be released soon. However, these militants are undoubtedly well armed and more hostages will eventually be taken as the government has proven itself completely incapable of governing most of the Delta areas. Take care all you guys out there and fly safe.
MEND must have a very good political advisor....they are playing the PR game extremely well it appears.
Glad to hear the guys are free!
Glad to hear the guys are free!
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Latest from Mend (after the release of the remaining hostages):
"This does not signify an end to our attacks. Hostage keeping is a distraction and ties down our units to this irrelevant enterprise," they said in an e-mail to Reuters. "We will concentrate our attacks now solely on oil facilities and workers found on these facilities."
...Irrelevant enterprise. Aviators of the Niger Delta! All is sound and safe now. No more high risk allowances for you any longer...get on with the job!
"This does not signify an end to our attacks. Hostage keeping is a distraction and ties down our units to this irrelevant enterprise," they said in an e-mail to Reuters. "We will concentrate our attacks now solely on oil facilities and workers found on these facilities."
...Irrelevant enterprise. Aviators of the Niger Delta! All is sound and safe now. No more high risk allowances for you any longer...get on with the job!
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archos,
Well, I see they've all been released now and I guess you work in Nigeria, so what's your take on what will happen next? Do you think they'll wait to attack oil facilities when the helicopters are on them and increase the publicity value of their attacks? We're told they have RPGs which they've used already, as well as GPMGs, so maybe the danger to the helicopter pilots in the Delta will actually increase now? I'd be interested in your views on what the future holds
Helo Wife,
I do go along with what you're saying. The other side of the coin is: As soon as those unfortunate guys are being released, the **** is going to hit the fan! They are the only reason why there was no retaliation by the Nigerian Army up to this day for having at least 14 of their men killed by the militants recently. The tragedy is yet to come. The Niger Delta is no childs playroom any longer.
I do go along with what you're saying. The other side of the coin is: As soon as those unfortunate guys are being released, the **** is going to hit the fan! They are the only reason why there was no retaliation by the Nigerian Army up to this day for having at least 14 of their men killed by the militants recently. The tragedy is yet to come. The Niger Delta is no childs playroom any longer.
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I think this could prove even more dangerous for helicopter pilots out there. To be taken hostage, with better security measures in place would be more difficult than it was back 6 or 7 years ago, but I think Phone Wind has a point when he says that now, rather than being taken hostage, you may be shot at with some fairly heavy duty weaponry. MEND is now talking about attacks on oil installations and in the recent attack on the AGIP base in Port Harcourt at least one Aero helicopter was damaged by a stray bullet. I think those of you who are there now deserve every kobo and more of any extra allowances you get paid for being there.
The census is over, the hostages are released - keep your eyes open, your heads down and exercise caution wherever you go. Fly safe gents (and ladies, where applicable
)
The census is over, the hostages are released - keep your eyes open, your heads down and exercise caution wherever you go. Fly safe gents (and ladies, where applicable
)
Shell Oil will tell the residents of the RA at Warri there is no risk of attack to the compound there I bet. They will suggest they have excellent Intelligence Sources and they know this to be a fact.
I wonder....are those the same Intelligence Sources that warned them of the kidnappings and assaults on the other facilities?
I wonder....are those the same Intelligence Sources that warned them of the kidnappings and assaults on the other facilities?
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integrity at its best
This got nothing to do with the aviation community in Nigeria, but...
The beloved ex-president of Liberia just mysteriously disappeared from the posh villa in Calabar. Headlines have it he was supposed to be tried in court, and the good nigerian president had the intention to hand this fella over to the authorities.
This Obasanje character is on its way to the U.S. to discuss possible opportunities to etablish democracy in Nigeria with George W. Bush
This is better than a "Marx Brother" routine
By the way Mama Mangrove: Thanks for the advice
The beloved ex-president of Liberia just mysteriously disappeared from the posh villa in Calabar. Headlines have it he was supposed to be tried in court, and the good nigerian president had the intention to hand this fella over to the authorities.
This Obasanje character is on its way to the U.S. to discuss possible opportunities to etablish democracy in Nigeria with George W. Bush This is better than a "Marx Brother" routine
By the way Mama Mangrove: Thanks for the advice
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NEO,
To which housing situiation are you referring? As I hear things, some pilots have taken exception to being told that they're not moving to a new Intels camp near Amadi Creek. The main reason they're upset is because the management told them that the majority of the pilots they consulted (in the bar one night, it seems!) said they preferred Areta because the new houses were in a poor location and would be like living in a hotel. The real reason, of course, is that the new Intels camp rooms would cost too much money (not as much as for the rooms at the other Intels camp where said management live, of course ). Having said that I'm told that CHC plan to build a brand new staff house on Areta, complete with restaurant, bar, gymnasium and swimming pool and all the current houses will be brought up to an acceptable standard. Which year this will actually happen, knowing how things are in Nigeria, remains to be seen. It seems there is still some heated discussion going on about internet in rooms. It seems that they are really trying to improve matters, but at an affordable cost and although Areta is not the greatest place in Port Harcourt, it's not as bad as some would try to make it out to be. What's happening with the new Bristow housing? I guess the area it's in can't be improved, but are the new houses in Woji now in good working order? I hear that they have a gymnasium and swimming pool there already?
To which housing situiation are you referring? As I hear things, some pilots have taken exception to being told that they're not moving to a new Intels camp near Amadi Creek. The main reason they're upset is because the management told them that the majority of the pilots they consulted (in the bar one night, it seems!) said they preferred Areta because the new houses were in a poor location and would be like living in a hotel. The real reason, of course, is that the new Intels camp rooms would cost too much money (not as much as for the rooms at the other Intels camp where said management live, of course
). Having said that I'm told that CHC plan to build a brand new staff house on Areta, complete with restaurant, bar, gymnasium and swimming pool and all the current houses will be brought up to an acceptable standard. Which year this will actually happen, knowing how things are in Nigeria, remains to be seen. It seems there is still some heated discussion going on about internet in rooms. It seems that they are really trying to improve matters, but at an affordable cost and although Areta is not the greatest place in Port Harcourt, it's not as bad as some would try to make it out to be. What's happening with the new Bristow housing? I guess the area it's in can't be improved, but are the new houses in Woji now in good working order? I hear that they have a gymnasium and swimming pool there already?
Nigerian In Law
Mama,
Thanks, that answered my question. As far as I know Woji has had the usual teething troubles one expects with such things but Bristow are taking the necessary measures to cure them. There is a swimming pool and gym too.
Cheers,
NEO
Thanks, that answered my question. As far as I know Woji has had the usual teething troubles one expects with such things but Bristow are taking the necessary measures to cure them. There is a swimming pool and gym too.
Cheers,
NEO
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Phone Wind,
The Delta won't be a safe place for some time to come. I was just echoing yet another "statement" from someone out there. Personally, I don't care much about announcements from either Mend, Bend or Government. Those who plan something sinister will do so without letting the world know in advance. That goes for both sides. I still feel the Army might be in for a bit of retaliation. Negotiations in a bid for a peaceful solution? Who do you negotiate with, when you are dealing with a bunch of young men, who are sponsored by some big guys jostling for power, to do what they are doing? It's difficult times. Let's hope the helicopters will not be affected.
The Delta won't be a safe place for some time to come. I was just echoing yet another "statement" from someone out there. Personally, I don't care much about announcements from either Mend, Bend or Government. Those who plan something sinister will do so without letting the world know in advance. That goes for both sides. I still feel the Army might be in for a bit of retaliation. Negotiations in a bid for a peaceful solution? Who do you negotiate with, when you are dealing with a bunch of young men, who are sponsored by some big guys jostling for power, to do what they are doing? It's difficult times. Let's hope the helicopters will not be affected.