What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
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OK anjouan I'm with you if it means Nabil's buying if we go visit the Aero bar in Lagos 
It's not just the oil companies which are greedy, the helicopter operators don't seem too anxious to give away any of their rate increases to the people out on the front line who are now actually getting shot at to bring the bacon home for them
It's not just the oil companies which are greedy, the helicopter operators don't seem too anxious to give away any of their rate increases to the people out on the front line who are now actually getting shot at to bring the bacon home for them
Nigerian In Law
Out Of The Frying Pan.....
Into the fire ?? Word is the Mobil staff strike is over so they'll be opening the taps and making money again. But the contract staff still have a beef and are not going back until it's sorted out. If the oil is flowing I don't suppose there will be the same urgency in getting a resolution. Or am I being a touch cynical ? 
NEO
NEO
Chevron is hurting.....their profits rose a mere 9.6% this quarter.
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NEO,
I'm sure you're right, but in more ways than one. The Pengassan demands were that Exxon had to improve pensions and pipeline safety, and reduce the expatriate and casual labour it employs. They agreed to go back to work because XOM agreed to all of those demands. That sets a good precedent for the next industrial action Pengassan decide to take as well. Far from having shown that they have the heart for winning a fight with the Nigerian labour unions XOM have shown how weak they really are.
But I'm sure that with all the major oil companies having announced new record profits this quarter, and the example shown by XOM, your MD will be rehiring all the nationals he's just had made redundant and improving the delightful international standard luxury hotel in which you're lucky enough to reside . Have any more Legionnaires joined your ranks lately ? Several friend have told me that the new redundancy policy is paying off in that it increases the level of fun and interest in Lagos, wondering where the new drivers will end up taking them . It must give a lot of confidence knowing that if you're ambushed on the way into work you can totally rely on the new drivers to look after your interests and try to drive you out of trouble, not just run away and abandon you to your fate . Never mind, I'm sure that you have every confidence in the MOPOL looking after you eh?
At least in Bristow you know who your managers will be next month (well, apart from the new MD of course ) while CHC don't even know if they'll have any managers in Nigeria next month . Word is that all will be revealed next week - and of course that Nigeria is now the world's least corrupt country and the last elections were totally free and fair
I'm sure you're right, but in more ways than one. The Pengassan demands were that Exxon had to improve pensions and pipeline safety, and reduce the expatriate and casual labour it employs. They agreed to go back to work because XOM agreed to all of those demands. That sets a good precedent for the next industrial action Pengassan decide to take as well. Far from having shown that they have the heart for winning a fight with the Nigerian labour unions XOM have shown how weak they really are.
But I'm sure that with all the major oil companies having announced new record profits this quarter, and the example shown by XOM, your MD will be rehiring all the nationals he's just had made redundant and improving the delightful international standard luxury hotel in which you're lucky enough to reside . Have any more Legionnaires joined your ranks lately ? Several friend have told me that the new redundancy policy is paying off in that it increases the level of fun and interest in Lagos, wondering where the new drivers will end up taking them . It must give a lot of confidence knowing that if you're ambushed on the way into work you can totally rely on the new drivers to look after your interests and try to drive you out of trouble, not just run away and abandon you to your fate . Never mind, I'm sure that you have every confidence in the MOPOL looking after you eh?
At least in Bristow you know who your managers will be next month (well, apart from the new MD of course ) while CHC don't even know if they'll have any managers in Nigeria next month . Word is that all will be revealed next week - and of course that Nigeria is now the world's least corrupt country and the last elections were totally free and fair
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For the guys who work in the dark continent...
Is there a moratorium on Pan/Bristow on hiring from the GOMEX?
I know of a few recent new hires heading down there with very little experience; however guys with already working offshore in singles and twins in the GOMEX are getting the run around – “Not hiring international at the moment.”
Any ideas???
Is there a moratorium on Pan/Bristow on hiring from the GOMEX?
I know of a few recent new hires heading down there with very little experience; however guys with already working offshore in singles and twins in the GOMEX are getting the run around – “Not hiring international at the moment.”
Any ideas???
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TGZ,
Don't know why that would be. There are quite a few ex GOM Air Log guys in Escravos or on the S76 in Lagos/Port Harcourt. Must be more to do with internal Bristow politics than anything else, though out here quota positions often have a temporary affect on who can be hired, when.
Don't know why that would be. There are quite a few ex GOM Air Log guys in Escravos or on the S76 in Lagos/Port Harcourt. Must be more to do with internal Bristow politics than anything else, though out here quota positions often have a temporary affect on who can be hired, when.
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It's good to read that Nabil (and Mani?) are back with Aero and nothing to do with the maple leaf crowd. Schreiner may not have been the most successful company, but it did fairly well in its long association with Aero and Africa, particularly as many of the managers had a very long association with Africa, understood it and empathised with it. Nabil and Mani are part of that long association and can only improve matters. When CHC arrived in Nigeria you could see the open contempt on their faces and hear it in their voices when they talked of the past and how they were going to be the new broom which swept everything clean 
. Nigel was just given a few weeks to quit his desk and be replaced by the Squirrel, all his experience counting for nothing. They couldn't wait to get rid of Mani and how many times has he already been back to sort out the mess the idiots who replaced him made? If not for him they'd have lost several contracts a long time ago 
. If only they're able to bring back some of the others who managed to operate helicopters there successfully for over 40 years. It certainly hasn't taken CHC long to make a mess of Nigeria, though I'm actually surprised they haven't come to this stage long before now. Has anyone heard what has been decided about the future of CHC in Nigeria? I guess it doesn't matter too much as with all the problems in that country, the major oil companies are shifting the focus of their big investments in Africa to Angola as evidenced by the opening day of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston:
OTC Opening Day
It's surprising that a company as large as Bristow has nothing in Angola, but CHC, Chevron and the French seem to have that sewn up. Bristow is not without its problems in Nigeria from what friends tell me. Is SAGS staying on beyond 65? If not their problems will get much worse as they don't seem to have put anyone in training to replace him and Akin's successor isn't nearly the man Akin is. Many friends there would not like to join CHC (but if they go and someone else takes over Aero, a few could be persuaded), but they're not happy with the way Bristow is going. In all fairness, that could be due just as much to the security situation causing them all to be imprisoned as anything. However, they complain of being kept more in the dark than ever, lousy housing and food (especially in Lagos and Eket), pathetic allowances and flying old, clapped-out rattletraps (especially the old 412s and A++s). Nobody seems to have been told who their new MD will be, though it's widely rumoured he'll be another accountant with no previous knowledge of aviation. Doubtless he'll be another new blade making a thousand small cuts to improve his profitability bonus
.
. Nigel was just given a few weeks to quit his desk and be replaced by the Squirrel, all his experience counting for nothing. They couldn't wait to get rid of Mani and how many times has he already been back to sort out the mess the idiots who replaced him made? If not for him they'd have lost several contracts a long time ago . If only they're able to bring back some of the others who managed to operate helicopters there successfully for over 40 years. It certainly hasn't taken CHC long to make a mess of Nigeria, though I'm actually surprised they haven't come to this stage long before now. Has anyone heard what has been decided about the future of CHC in Nigeria? I guess it doesn't matter too much as with all the problems in that country, the major oil companies are shifting the focus of their big investments in Africa to Angola as evidenced by the opening day of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston:OTC Opening Day
It's surprising that a company as large as Bristow has nothing in Angola, but CHC, Chevron and the French seem to have that sewn up. Bristow is not without its problems in Nigeria from what friends tell me. Is SAGS staying on beyond 65? If not their problems will get much worse as they don't seem to have put anyone in training to replace him and Akin's successor isn't nearly the man Akin is. Many friends there would not like to join CHC (but if they go and someone else takes over Aero, a few could be persuaded), but they're not happy with the way Bristow is going. In all fairness, that could be due just as much to the security situation causing them all to be imprisoned as anything. However, they complain of being kept more in the dark than ever, lousy housing and food (especially in Lagos and Eket), pathetic allowances and flying old, clapped-out rattletraps (especially the old 412s and A++s). Nobody seems to have been told who their new MD will be, though it's widely rumoured he'll be another accountant with no previous knowledge of aviation. Doubtless he'll be another new blade making a thousand small cuts to improve his profitability bonus
.
I Try To Be Good !!
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Go For The Money
Mama,
The complete lack of forward planning by BHNL senior management to replace anyone anywhere fell by the wayside when the focus changed to pleasing the shareholders and boosting the board's performance bonuses. Not that there was much before then. If you upset someone in a "position" 10 years ago you will still be paying the price.
Now people are off to the ME as their wages match or exceed that paid in Nigeria, with all sorts of fringe benefits such as being able to leave your apartment (yes, apartment) without an armed escort.
The amount of talent which is wasted or goes elsewhere beggars belief. But if you pays peanuts you get the proverbial..........
The complete lack of forward planning by BHNL senior management to replace anyone anywhere fell by the wayside when the focus changed to pleasing the shareholders and boosting the board's performance bonuses. Not that there was much before then. If you upset someone in a "position" 10 years ago you will still be paying the price.
Now people are off to the ME as their wages match or exceed that paid in Nigeria, with all sorts of fringe benefits such as being able to leave your apartment (yes, apartment) without an armed escort.
The amount of talent which is wasted or goes elsewhere beggars belief. But if you pays peanuts you get the proverbial..........
Perhaps Bristow shall finally see the light.....and bring in their organic expert on staff retention. He has been under utilized for too long himself.
Count Tyreburst is just the man for the job!
His track record of finding and keeping qualified staff can not be surpassed.
Wasted talent I say!
Promote the Count!
Count Tyreburst is just the man for the job!
His track record of finding and keeping qualified staff can not be surpassed.
Wasted talent I say!
Promote the Count!
Promote the Count!
Nigerian In Law
Sas,
Bringing back the Count is not an option sadly. Mobile phones have replaced hand held radioes and they are much easier to aim so the potential for a law suit against Bristow in the event someone scored a hit on the Count is too great.
Being an American yourself I'm sure you understand the ramifications. Mogadishu was a long time ago. That was the British stiff upper lip and get on with it company. Now it's the Target Zero (apparently known as Ground Zero in Eket) and COBI Bristow; no comparison.
So people will start to move on to greener pastures (plenty of them and more appearing weekly) and the Count will continue to run a happy contented operation in Mauritania.
NEO
Bringing back the Count is not an option sadly. Mobile phones have replaced hand held radioes and they are much easier to aim so the potential for a law suit against Bristow in the event someone scored a hit on the Count is too great.
Being an American yourself I'm sure you understand the ramifications. Mogadishu was a long time ago. That was the British stiff upper lip and get on with it company. Now it's the Target Zero (apparently known as Ground Zero in Eket) and COBI Bristow; no comparison.
So people will start to move on to greener pastures (plenty of them and more appearing weekly) and the Count will continue to run a happy contented operation in Mauritania.
NEO
and the Count will continue to run a happy contented operation in Mauritania.
Rumour has it that he's retiring (again), in the not too distant future, and that a SVN is already on noticeboards worldwide.
Perhaps we should have a Whip Round for the retirement party.....shouldn't take much to cater for the tumultous crowd that will attend. (However I bet a few pints get raised at the news of his leaving!)
I do hope someone tells him of how Girth snookered him in Somalia.....ol' Girth went from being put on the rail as the c nt was preparing the tar and feathers to being a made man that could do no wrong.
Seems Girth (knowing the c nt was reading private mail) sent himself a nice formal looking letter on BHL Letterhead which indicated Mike N wanted Girth to privately report on a continuing basis how things were going there.
Tyreburst fell over himself looking after Girth from that day on.
That was a secret Girth carried to his grave.....save a few of us he knew would appreciate the beauty of what he did.
I do hope someone tells him of how Girth snookered him in Somalia.....ol' Girth went from being put on the rail as the c nt was preparing the tar and feathers to being a made man that could do no wrong.
Seems Girth (knowing the c nt was reading private mail) sent himself a nice formal looking letter on BHL Letterhead which indicated Mike N wanted Girth to privately report on a continuing basis how things were going there.
Tyreburst fell over himself looking after Girth from that day on.
That was a secret Girth carried to his grave.....save a few of us he knew would appreciate the beauty of what he did.
Nigerian In Law
ADA and Aerogulf are now paying pilots and engineers more then BHNL or CHC/ACN. 8/4 or 6/6 roster and Aerogulf provide a free sole use apartment in Dubai on a back to back basis.
Won't be long............ anyone want to buy a brand new second hand generator ?? Genuine Tokunbo item
NEO
Won't be long............ anyone want to buy a brand new second hand generator ?? Genuine Tokunbo item
NEO
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Keep your generator NEO! Not sure where you are getting your information Sherlock. ADA, Aerogulf and many other Gulf Operators ..... do not pay any better than Bristow or CHC. They are still about 25% behind in salary alone. On top of that, they do not provide any benefits such as medical/dental, pension plan, loss of license insurance, disability insurance, per diem and so on. The Dirham is tied to the USD which has lost about 40% + in less than 2 years. Inflation is running at 11%(officially) but realistically more like 20%. Everything is very expensive and salaries do not keep up with inflation. The UAE is experiencing an exodus of expats to the point were the government is extremely concerned. When the Indian expat is returning home because they are getting more money back in India.....tells the whole story doesn't it!!!!. On a 6/6 rotation you will spend about $2,000+ a month just for expenses. Do the math Einstein....now go buy some gas for your generator!
Nigerian In Law
Ah, the downfall of many a secret agent; bad intel. I was told about the pay by three pilots who have either returned there or gone to see what it's like. In that case I guess prison life is still more lucrative. Thanks Rayban.
Why do people leave Nigeria to go to the ME if the package is less ? Quality of life perhaps ? My cell is quite comfy, the warders aren't too strict with us lifers. Just got to watch your back for the smiling knives, but that's prison life I suppose...........
NEO
I was told about the pay by three pilots who have either returned there or gone to see what it's like. In that case I guess prison life is still more lucrative. Thanks Rayban.Why do people leave Nigeria to go to the ME if the package is less ? Quality of life perhaps ? My cell is quite comfy, the warders aren't too strict with us lifers. Just got to watch your back for the smiling knives, but that's prison life I suppose...........
NEO
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Africa doesn't look so bad,
somehow?
I was exploring a chance of scenery when reality intervened in the form of U.S. dollars.
Last time around the British pound made up the golden handcuffs. This time it is the euro, so much stronger than the dollar that it just isn't funny. It is as if Someone is playing a big joke but at least Mother Africa is keeping me fast to her sandy bosom with cold, hard cash!
Neo, you are just an inmate? I wouldn't want to call you a warder but perhaps you are at least a trusty by now, hmm?
I was exploring a chance of scenery when reality intervened in the form of U.S. dollars.
Last time around the British pound made up the golden handcuffs. This time it is the euro, so much stronger than the dollar that it just isn't funny. It is as if Someone is playing a big joke but at least Mother Africa is keeping me fast to her sandy bosom with cold, hard cash!
Neo, you are just an inmate? I wouldn't want to call you a warder but perhaps you are at least a trusty by now, hmm?