What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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Hoi vay, anyone see the new piece of Lego hanging off a crane in front of Bristow's new hangar in PH NAF Base? Looking at all the new (and old) machinery now parked in front of it, looks like too little, too late. Tiny hangar, tiny ramp, lots of land, little concrete, little hangar. Think any hands will get slapped? All will be swept under the carpet as part of the new re-organisation. Plus ca change, c'est toujours la meme chose. 
Nigerian In Law
Anyone hear anything about Bristow ? Are they going 6/6 ? Maybe they are waiting for CHC to announce their pay deal then top it ?!!
NEO
NEO
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NEO,
Rumors of the Bristow 6/6 deal are probably about as rife, varied and nebulous as those of the CHC pay deal!! One rumor has it that Bristow will get no pay rise as such, but get 6/6, giving them a rise in the daily rate, 7/5 must be a nightmare to administer anyway, in terms of constant numbers on site, and even things like the number of roolms you need for expat staff. As I hear, CHC pay review is from May 1, but probably nothing will be heard until well after that, then it'll be backdated - gives them a couple of months extra interest on the money as usual. They've been talking about a major change to the way they pay salaries to the touring staff in CHC Global (formerly CHC International - bit like Bristow becomes OLOG, becomes Bristow I guess
). Rumors vary from 2% to 18% - who knows. One thing's for sure is that, just like Bristow if there's n o change, numbers will continue to fall, especially in Nigeria, where all the companies are expanding and bringing in new equipment, but without enough people to fly or maintain them.
Rumors of the Bristow 6/6 deal are probably about as rife, varied and nebulous as those of the CHC pay deal!! One rumor has it that Bristow will get no pay rise as such, but get 6/6, giving them a rise in the daily rate, 7/5 must be a nightmare to administer anyway, in terms of constant numbers on site, and even things like the number of roolms you need for expat staff. As I hear, CHC pay review is from May 1, but probably nothing will be heard until well after that, then it'll be backdated - gives them a couple of months extra interest on the money as usual. They've been talking about a major change to the way they pay salaries to the touring staff in CHC Global (formerly CHC International - bit like Bristow becomes OLOG, becomes Bristow I guess
). Rumors vary from 2% to 18% - who knows. One thing's for sure is that, just like Bristow if there's n o change, numbers will continue to fall, especially in Nigeria, where all the companies are expanding and bringing in new equipment, but without enough people to fly or maintain them.
Anyone have actual numbers of pilots/engineers as compared to authorized manning at CHC and Bristow? What is the real turnover rate at each place?
Lots of conjecture lately but does anyone have any specific information that would fairly describe the real situation?
Just how many aircraft are at each operator and where are they located...any fleet details by types and location?
We ought to add in Pan African since it is now a subsidiary of Bristow.
Lots of conjecture lately but does anyone have any specific information that would fairly describe the real situation?
Just how many aircraft are at each operator and where are they located...any fleet details by types and location?
We ought to add in Pan African since it is now a subsidiary of Bristow.
Car Bombings by Insurgents?
My morning paper carried a news account of two car bombings in Nigeria's oil production centers. The insurgents claimed responsibility for the detonation of a car bomb in Port Harcourt that killed two people, and one near the refinery in Warri that caused no casualties.
It begs the question....are they getting outside assistance and mentoring from sources connected to Terrorist groups?
It begs the question....are they getting outside assistance and mentoring from sources connected to Terrorist groups?
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Second Iraq?
It seems it might take both the CHC and Bristow companies much more than just the average payrise and equal time to keep the guys (pilots and engineers) in Nigeria, not to mention their inability to recruiting new staff.
Apparently the shortages of pilots have helicopters grounded in Nigeria, with oil companies grumbling.
Oil prices are up due to this instability and if Nigeria goes the same way as Iraq, with car bombs starting to go off all over the place, it will take a whole lot more effort, at a much faster rate to keep the current helicopter crews and to bring the new guys into the war zone.
Apparently life in Iraq is hell and extremely dangerous and I understand the pilots in Iraq are paid exceptionally well. They are prepared to risk it, facing IED's and small arms fire on a daily basis.
But life is worth much more than dying for oil and ideologies and both the helicopter and oil companies will have to realise, hopefully sooner than later, that for the pilots and engineers to go out there to Nigeria and risk their lives they will have to come to the party and make it worthwhile to operate in the danger zone.
Do I want to fly in such an high risk environment? I think I will be doing some serious mulling myself!
Apparently the shortages of pilots have helicopters grounded in Nigeria, with oil companies grumbling.
Oil prices are up due to this instability and if Nigeria goes the same way as Iraq, with car bombs starting to go off all over the place, it will take a whole lot more effort, at a much faster rate to keep the current helicopter crews and to bring the new guys into the war zone.
Apparently life in Iraq is hell and extremely dangerous and I understand the pilots in Iraq are paid exceptionally well. They are prepared to risk it, facing IED's and small arms fire on a daily basis.
But life is worth much more than dying for oil and ideologies and both the helicopter and oil companies will have to realise, hopefully sooner than later, that for the pilots and engineers to go out there to Nigeria and risk their lives they will have to come to the party and make it worthwhile to operate in the danger zone.
Do I want to fly in such an high risk environment? I think I will be doing some serious mulling myself!
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What of Nigeria Pay?
The helicopter industry in Nigeria is at a turning point. The terms and conditions that were imposed when jobs were hard to come by still stand. As things have changed in our favour world wide it is time to more than compensate the workforce in Nigeria, it is time to reward us for being here. Why should anyone stay when the reward for working in one of the most challenging environments in the world is less than most other places? Most pilots including nationals who have the abillity to travel are looking very hard at the alternatives.
People need to feel valued. That is missing.
The rotation has to be favourable, the pay has to be attractive and an individual needs to feel cared for. None of this is the case at the moment. The bean counters who make decisions about our lives here need us to do the work so they can have some beans to count!
Nigeria is an experience, but one I can no longer afford.
People need to feel valued. That is missing.
The rotation has to be favourable, the pay has to be attractive and an individual needs to feel cared for. None of this is the case at the moment. The bean counters who make decisions about our lives here need us to do the work so they can have some beans to count!
Nigeria is an experience, but one I can no longer afford.
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Re Nigeria pay
I think Swampqueen is quite correct If this review is not good I'm off. Actually even if it is the trust (if it ever existed) is erroded to such a point that very strong positive signals from management would be required.
People need to feel valued. That is missing.
Maybe lightning will strike and the Mandarins will wake up and smell the coffee. It is not the bean counters....it is all those wonderful helicopter pilot managers that forget where they came from as they climbed that greasy pole of management.
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re greasy pole
SASLESS.
The truth of the matter is that all the people who make the real decisions that affect our lives from a financial point of view are the bean counters. The peolple you refer to are on a local ,middle and upper management level. Most of them would reap any benefits us grunts would receive and do the same rotations etc.
The truth of the matter is that all the people who make the real decisions that affect our lives from a financial point of view are the bean counters. The peolple you refer to are on a local ,middle and upper management level. Most of them would reap any benefits us grunts would receive and do the same rotations etc.
Swampy,
If the Mandarins were looking out for the folks that put their butts on the line everyday instead of currying favor....things would be much different. If you peck on the computer keyboard and peer out the window from the Third floor while pretending to listen to some lesser being report morale/staffing problems (as a former Bootneck did)...and paid attention....and stood up for the minions....maybe things would not be the way they are. The old ways...of Dinosaurs peering down from the Ivory Towers muttering something about Cake....just does not get it.
The simple fact is they still do not get it. Rather than embrace the concept they will still insist upon throwing pails of water on a raging inferno and think they are fighting a fire.
Step one to solving a problem is accepting the concept a problem exists and rationally seeking a workable cure for the problem.
You reckon that is what is going to happen?
Loosely quoting Nick Lappos....the more effort you put into denying a problem exists....describes the magnitude of the problem you have.
If the Mandarins were looking out for the folks that put their butts on the line everyday instead of currying favor....things would be much different. If you peck on the computer keyboard and peer out the window from the Third floor while pretending to listen to some lesser being report morale/staffing problems (as a former Bootneck did)...and paid attention....and stood up for the minions....maybe things would not be the way they are. The old ways...of Dinosaurs peering down from the Ivory Towers muttering something about Cake....just does not get it.
The simple fact is they still do not get it. Rather than embrace the concept they will still insist upon throwing pails of water on a raging inferno and think they are fighting a fire.
Step one to solving a problem is accepting the concept a problem exists and rationally seeking a workable cure for the problem.
You reckon that is what is going to happen?
Loosely quoting Nick Lappos....the more effort you put into denying a problem exists....describes the magnitude of the problem you have.
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Valued, right. Work for CHC, arrive Lagos, check-in with your own people, get treated like the lowest lump of dog turd someone just scraped off their shoe, then feel valued 
Arrive in Port Harcourt and find that yet again there's nobody to meet your flight. Work for Bristow and get told that you're really valued, which is why you get paid more than CHC, but there's no chance of getting 6/6 - which is why you get more. Work for Caverton and just plain get seen off.
There's only one thing that counts out there any more - the feelthy yanqui dollare. Pilot's and engineers in Nigeria right now are about as common as an honest policeman. There are plenty leaving and many of the new ones who turn up just don't stay. If neither Bristow nor CHC are willing to pay what it takes to get and keep people, both will discover that it doesn't matter what fancy new model of the 412/S76/332 or A139 you have, they don't fly unless someone have his nyash on a seat in the front row
Arrive in Port Harcourt and find that yet again there's nobody to meet your flight. Work for Bristow and get told that you're really valued, which is why you get paid more than CHC, but there's no chance of getting 6/6 - which is why you get more. Work for Caverton and just plain get seen off.There's only one thing that counts out there any more - the feelthy yanqui dollare. Pilot's and engineers in Nigeria right now are about as common as an honest policeman. There are plenty leaving and many of the new ones who turn up just don't stay. If neither Bristow nor CHC are willing to pay what it takes to get and keep people, both will discover that it doesn't matter what fancy new model of the 412/S76/332 or A139 you have, they don't fly unless someone have his nyash on a seat in the front row
Last edited by alghaita ganga; 2nd May 2006 at 11:20.
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Well we were going to buy chc as you know if you read these pages. However, Mr Craig L Carthorse decided not to sell - can't believe he didn't want us to rename his company OLOG 
. We're not going to change anything in Nigeria, just continue with our successful strategy of do nothing and in the end all will be well. Our proven management neddies in Lagos will lead us on to greater things and we're not going to be influenced into letting any locals make any real decisions or we'll have even more staff leaving. Our beautiful new housing in Woji road will continue to attract expatriates to our popular NAF Base posting in Port Harcourt, and the huge amount extra we offer for our continuingly successful and popular 7/5 touring roster. In Eket, some improvements, such as painting the windows and recovering the furniture will ensure that the superb housing facilities at Akpan will be in use for many years to come. Redhill continues to offer valuable support to all overseas operations as all the visitors to our beautiful facility there continue to testify. With the money saved by not purchasing chc we will now look at acquiring holyportugal soon after they bankrupt themselves as a result of their continuing attempts to take over that would-be giant of the Nigerian scene and their hugely successful shuttle operation, Claversham.
. We're not going to change anything in Nigeria, just continue with our successful strategy of do nothing and in the end all will be well. Our proven management neddies in Lagos will lead us on to greater things and we're not going to be influenced into letting any locals make any real decisions or we'll have even more staff leaving. Our beautiful new housing in Woji road will continue to attract expatriates to our popular NAF Base posting in Port Harcourt, and the huge amount extra we offer for our continuingly successful and popular 7/5 touring roster. In Eket, some improvements, such as painting the windows and recovering the furniture will ensure that the superb housing facilities at Akpan will be in use for many years to come. Redhill continues to offer valuable support to all overseas operations as all the visitors to our beautiful facility there continue to testify. With the money saved by not purchasing chc we will now look at acquiring holyportugal soon after they bankrupt themselves as a result of their continuing attempts to take over that would-be giant of the Nigerian scene and their hugely successful shuttle operation, Claversham.
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And How is Caverton Helicopters (International)? Any truth to the rumour that they are negotiating all the Heli contracts for Nigeria now that the Nigerian World Bank Debt is nearly all paid up? Will CHC, Pan African be able to cope with the competition? Where's the ebullient one Mama Mangrove?
C'mon, update requested!
C'mon, update requested!
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Eket's turn
A message from Eket:
There is currently community problems in Eket at the Mobil terminal (QIT). Apparently they breached the main gate and attacked the helipad taking one expat hostage. That hostage either escaped or was released and is currently safe with us. We are locked down, likely for the night. There has been automatic gun fire at least once. Situation seems to be getting worse at the moment.
The Nigerian experience...don't be told - be there! I hear there are plenty of vacancies for anyone just holding a plain CPL/H.
There is currently community problems in Eket at the Mobil terminal (QIT). Apparently they breached the main gate and attacked the helipad taking one expat hostage. That hostage either escaped or was released and is currently safe with us. We are locked down, likely for the night. There has been automatic gun fire at least once. Situation seems to be getting worse at the moment.
The Nigerian experience...don't be told - be there! I hear there are plenty of vacancies for anyone just holding a plain CPL/H.
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If you havn't submitted your applications by now...
"Youths Invade Mobil Terminal"
A bloody protest by Ibeno youths in Akwa Ibom State yesterday left one dead, two others shot, two expatriates kidnapped and several wounded at the Qua Iboe terminal of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited MPN,a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
The youths who were outside the terminal gates however overpowered the spy policemen guarding the QIT gates and gained entrance into the facility and in the process an expatriate employee and a spy policeman were said to have been stabbed while the youths kidnapped two other expatriate staff whom they have taken to an unknown destination
"Youths Invade Mobil Terminal"
A bloody protest by Ibeno youths in Akwa Ibom State yesterday left one dead, two others shot, two expatriates kidnapped and several wounded at the Qua Iboe terminal of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited MPN,a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
The youths who were outside the terminal gates however overpowered the spy policemen guarding the QIT gates and gained entrance into the facility and in the process an expatriate employee and a spy policeman were said to have been stabbed while the youths kidnapped two other expatriate staff whom they have taken to an unknown destination
Now...Now! That was yesterday....today is a new day. Besides one must remember....the Mandarins are with you in spirit if not body. Helicopter flying is not about money and lifestyle but rather the adventure. Right?
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Nobody is going to take over the world centre of helicopter excellence. You see the trouble with all these other companies is that they are run by people not qualified for the job. Pilots know of wiggling around those levers and knobs, but they are not bright or financially astute. Mechanics just have dirty fingers, torn nails and only know about changing oil and wielding spanners. Here we have me, sent by daddy to a real school with all sorts of things like books where one learnt of all things to do with money, like spending it on boats, fast cars, motorcycles and long pointy shoes. Our fantastically successful shuttle operations nationwide are just the first stage in our introduction of the S92 to the Nigerian market. Our centre of engineering excellence will soon be an approved service centre for every sort of helicopter. Our company is run by dedicated professionals who have been head-hunted and recruited from the top branches of their respective fields. We have top accountants (many with pointy shoes and suits), we have top marketing people who know how to use such market-leading helicopters as the A109 hundreds of miles with 6, 7 or even 8 passengers, we have regional sales directors, we have area human resource managers in very smart suits from top companies like Ozwald Boateng. We have rescruitment and sales consultants to keep us at the top of the tree. Soon we hope to have some pilots and mechanics, but they must wear very nice suits and pointy shoes or they will make our centre of excellence look dirty and untidy.
So Mr Helipolarbear, you see that Caverton is rapidly becoming a world force to be reckoned with. The Agusta 109 is typical of our flair for business. Truly a helicopter that looks like every Italian car - sleek, fast, and designed to be driven by fast, well-groomed Italians. At last, with the S92 available we now have a helicopter capable of meeting up with the volume of passengers we will very soon be shuttling from airports in all major Nigerian city.
So Mr Helipolarbear, you see that Caverton is rapidly becoming a world force to be reckoned with. The Agusta 109 is typical of our flair for business. Truly a helicopter that looks like every Italian car - sleek, fast, and designed to be driven by fast, well-groomed Italians. At last, with the S92 available we now have a helicopter capable of meeting up with the volume of passengers we will very soon be shuttling from airports in all major Nigerian city.