What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Join Date: Aug 2002
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loav8r,
If you fly S76 I think Bristow have most of them in Lagos. They had a couple in Escravos, but I think that may have changed now they have the Agbami contract. They also have a couple in Port Harcourt. From what you read here, it's obvious morale is low at all of them. CHC has a lot of S76 in Port Harcourt, but morale is also low because nobody knows what's going to happen between them and Aero and what happens now Bristow has the Agbami contract.
There are quite a lot of S76s in Angola now, the pay is good and most people seem to enjoy it there because there is a life after work and not the constant worry of a militant attack. It was a much more dangerous country than Nigeria but in the areas where helicopters support the offshore industry there is now a measure of stability, unlike Nigeria.
Actually Nigeria labour law says you can only employ a person on a casual contract for 3 months. What most companies in Nigeria do is to employ someone as a casual, then terminate his employment and re-employ him/her
. The other favourite trick is to offer work to contracting companies for casual (usually junior) staff, many of whom they employed themselves before and who are now in much lower paid employment with no job security 
. How any company can expect someone to work 7 days a week and do a safe job in the conditions here is beyond me. Sadly, I'm not surprised they get away with it as our NCAA is poor at enforcing most regulations. Most foreign companies here claim to follow regulations as part of their business ethos, but in reality that's just hogwash 
You takes their money, you makes your choice.
If you fly S76 I think Bristow have most of them in Lagos. They had a couple in Escravos, but I think that may have changed now they have the Agbami contract. They also have a couple in Port Harcourt. From what you read here, it's obvious morale is low at all of them. CHC has a lot of S76 in Port Harcourt, but morale is also low because nobody knows what's going to happen between them and Aero and what happens now Bristow has the Agbami contract.
There are quite a lot of S76s in Angola now, the pay is good and most people seem to enjoy it there because there is a life after work and not the constant worry of a militant attack. It was a much more dangerous country than Nigeria but in the areas where helicopters support the offshore industry there is now a measure of stability, unlike Nigeria.
Actually Nigeria labour law says you can only employ a person on a casual contract for 3 months. What most companies in Nigeria do is to employ someone as a casual, then terminate his employment and re-employ him/her
. The other favourite trick is to offer work to contracting companies for casual (usually junior) staff, many of whom they employed themselves before and who are now in much lower paid employment with no job security . How any company can expect someone to work 7 days a week and do a safe job in the conditions here is beyond me. Sadly, I'm not surprised they get away with it as our NCAA is poor at enforcing most regulations. Most foreign companies here claim to follow regulations as part of their business ethos, but in reality that's just hogwash You takes their money, you makes your choice.
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Quote:"There are other places which pay almost as well now and where you can still have a life outside of work, or go to work in Kandahar and really make the big $$$$$."
Bristowburnout, could you name a few of those companies that pay almost equal and have a decent medical and pension scheme? (not including european ops of course).
Just trying to get an idea where the grass might be greener.
Cheers
Bristowburnout, could you name a few of those companies that pay almost equal and have a decent medical and pension scheme? (not including european ops of course).
Just trying to get an idea where the grass might be greener.
Cheers
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Try CHC Angola, Heli Malongo for starters. Since when was the Bristow pension scheme or medical insurance any great news? They now have a pension scheme which is distinctly shaky and the medical insurance doesn't cover your family or problems in the USA (unless you're American and employed from there).
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BHNL pension scheme...
Oh yeah, the oh so great pension scheme. We were told that we have to be with the scheme for at least three years before we are able to get the money out, When I contacted the bank I was told that I have to wait until I am fifty. Meanwhile the banker wankers play with my money on the stockmarket...nice scam
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"and the medical insurance doesn't cover your family or problems in the USA"
Of course this is a rumour mill but the statment is getting a bit too far from the truth and might mislead some who use this forum to become better informed and make decisions
The scheme may not be perfect but it does provide healthcare other than preventative treatment for employee and their families including direct settlement of bills, if they are named on the policy....and without the restrictions suggested. Check the package for the inevitable exclusions, I don't think any refer to the USA or any country in fact. It has worked for me before in the US without any problems at all.
Of course this is a rumour mill but the statment is getting a bit too far from the truth and might mislead some who use this forum to become better informed and make decisions
The scheme may not be perfect but it does provide healthcare other than preventative treatment for employee and their families including direct settlement of bills, if they are named on the policy....and without the restrictions suggested. Check the package for the inevitable exclusions, I don't think any refer to the USA or any country in fact. It has worked for me before in the US without any problems at all.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Bristow Package
Since when was the Bristow pension scheme or medical insurance any great news? They now have a pension scheme which is distinctly shaky and the medical insurance doesn't cover your family or problems in the USA (unless you're American and employed from there).
In case you are a resident of the Planet Zob it may have escaped your attention that just about every pension scheme on Earth is
distinctly shaky
the medical insurance doesn't cover your family
or problems in the USA
I have made 1 claim on my policy and was extremely impressed by the efficiency and speed of refund!
The package is a damn sight better than the crap Airlog was offering International Staff and I would imagine compares reasonably well with other independent helicopter operators.
Trog
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NO-ID
NO-ID,
Try following contact for HeliMalongo:
email to: [email protected]
Lou D'Elia, Aviation Manager
Good luck!
Try following contact for HeliMalongo:
email to: [email protected]
Lou D'Elia, Aviation Manager
Good luck!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Nostalgia again!
Anjouan,
Including me too but unfortunately the World has changed as I am sure we are both painfully aware.
My only point is that we have to compare the available options today and I still believe that compared to the likes of Aerogulf/ADA/Gulf etc. we are still on a better deal with Bristow/OLOG or CHC/Aero and if I was in the position of Loav8r - I know where I would apply.
Trog
Real Bristow used to have a final salary pension scheme which many of us are now beneficiaries of.
My only point is that we have to compare the available options today and I still believe that compared to the likes of Aerogulf/ADA/Gulf etc. we are still on a better deal with Bristow/OLOG or CHC/Aero and if I was in the position of Loav8r - I know where I would apply.
Trog
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pension scheme...just a thought
If I would have been smarter and not agreed to that scheme, I would have deducted a certain amount of my salary per month, and would have transferred the monies onto an account of my choice with perhaps the proper information. But anyway, with them banks it is what it is
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Total Lack of Proper SAR in Nigeria
Many of you still in Nigeria flying helicopters have to carry out night standby duties and most of those require that you have to retain night currency every 90 days. However, as we all know, there is no such thing as a night rescue organisation in Nigeria. Not just no night SAR equipped helicopters (not to mention day 
), just nothing, nada, nil. How do you feel about this when you launch yourself off into a black night, just to satisfy an arbitrary recency requirement, knowing that if you have any major malfunction, even if you survive, your chances of survival are then dependent on being able to remain alive until the next day? Is the training risk really worth it? Why can't this be practised in the simulator in total safety? Are the oil companies playing with your life in insisting on this or should they come to grips with the reality of life (and death)in Nigeria and either reduce the frequency of flights required to maintain night recency or be prepared to pay the extra for crews to practice more frequently in the simulator? Are the helicopter operators totally disregarding your safety by agreeing to allow this to happen, knowing that this is true, rather than standing up to the oil companies and insisting that they will only provide the service if they (the clients) pay for you to carry out training with a reasonable (rather than unreasonable or non-existent) degree of safety? Why is Bristow with its stated commitment to a totally safe operation not leading the way in this? Do people like Mike Armlick put profit above all, even life? I'm sure there is not a single one of us who would not be prepared to go out to an offshore location at night for a genuine life or death situation, but is the risk involved in all the training flights in Nigeria really worth it when their are simulators available for all the twin engine helicopter types now operated there? Just a thought, not a rant against anyone in particular, but I'd welcome your constructive thoughts on the matter - who knows, they may just save your life one day?
), just nothing, nada, nil. How do you feel about this when you launch yourself off into a black night, just to satisfy an arbitrary recency requirement, knowing that if you have any major malfunction, even if you survive, your chances of survival are then dependent on being able to remain alive until the next day? Is the training risk really worth it? Why can't this be practised in the simulator in total safety? Are the oil companies playing with your life in insisting on this or should they come to grips with the reality of life (and death)in Nigeria and either reduce the frequency of flights required to maintain night recency or be prepared to pay the extra for crews to practice more frequently in the simulator? Are the helicopter operators totally disregarding your safety by agreeing to allow this to happen, knowing that this is true, rather than standing up to the oil companies and insisting that they will only provide the service if they (the clients) pay for you to carry out training with a reasonable (rather than unreasonable or non-existent) degree of safety? Why is Bristow with its stated commitment to a totally safe operation not leading the way in this? Do people like Mike Armlick put profit above all, even life? I'm sure there is not a single one of us who would not be prepared to go out to an offshore location at night for a genuine life or death situation, but is the risk involved in all the training flights in Nigeria really worth it when their are simulators available for all the twin engine helicopter types now operated there? Just a thought, not a rant against anyone in particular, but I'd welcome your constructive thoughts on the matter - who knows, they may just save your life one day?
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Night recency
Why can't this be practised in the simulator in total safety?
I really don't think there is a viable substitute for 90 day recency for Crews being rostered for Night Medical Emergency cover.
(The 90 day recency requirement is not actually legally necessary for flying at night if the Crew have a valid instrument rating but I personally believe it is absolutely essential to maintain adequate skill levels for night deck operations)
To minimise exposure during training due to the lack of real airborne SAR capabilities, we operate only to platforms or rigs close to shore with rescue coverage provided by surface vessels present in the offshore field.
Actual night call outs are now thankfully few and far between (with CNL at least) following the BDZ accident and we no longer see Crews dispatched to pick up "Medevacs" who have "Lost their appetite" (not made up - it actually used to happen
)You make lots of valid points - I look forward to other replies.
Trog
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S76,
Harmattan is not the same as night - after all it's still day and there is some light so another winch-fitted aircraft (are there any still in Nigeria) could, in theory rescue you, or find you visually if you have a homer signal.
Troglodita,
I see you say that you operate only to rigs close to shore for CNL, so I guess you're based at Escravos where your points are valid. However in Port Harcourt most of our rigs are much further out and are reached after extensive flights over Ijaw lands, in some of the most militant part of the Delta. I have to admit that it's always something in the back of my mind when I have to do night recency. How do the guys in Lagos manage? The closest rig there must be a really long way offshore with long distances where it's not practicable to provide rescue coverage. I'd feel pretty uncomfortable about that too.
I had heard that part of the Agbami contract was to provide day/night helicopter SAR coverage and it looks like Bristow has got that contract. Is the S92 going to be a full SAR-capable machine with autohover and will the crews be trained in day/night SAR? I think that it's obvious the oil companies are not going to stop having a requirement for night SAR and that the Nigerian government is incapable of providing one in a million years. If the oil companies want night emergency cover, all those that want it should club together and fund adequate night SAR coverage, including provision of suitably equipped helicopters and trained specialist crews. If they're not prepared to do that, they should be told that night coverage is not available in Nigeria. Night flying in helicopters in Nigeria is illegal except emergency training and life or death medevac flights, so maybe the government should step in and make the oil companies pay for adequate coverage (since we all know the Nigerian won't do so itself and even if it did, how many of us would feel safe and sound in the knowledge that NEMA would really 'be there' for us ina couple of Mil 8s or whatever
)
I agree with your comments about simulators being very limited for any offshore training by day or by night, but again, if enough $$$$ were thrown at that problem, in the 21st century it shouldn't be insoluble. Aero has a very good little simulator in PH now (albeit with no movement) but the visuals for rig approaches are far superior to most of the expensive level D full-motion simulators on the market, so it should be possible to upgrade a level D.
Interesting topic BBO. Does this mean the blood pressure pills have started working or just that you're happy with your new job
?
Harmattan is not the same as night - after all it's still day and there is some light so another winch-fitted aircraft (are there any still in Nigeria) could, in theory rescue you, or find you visually if you have a homer signal.
Troglodita,
I see you say that you operate only to rigs close to shore for CNL, so I guess you're based at Escravos where your points are valid. However in Port Harcourt most of our rigs are much further out and are reached after extensive flights over Ijaw lands, in some of the most militant part of the Delta. I have to admit that it's always something in the back of my mind when I have to do night recency. How do the guys in Lagos manage? The closest rig there must be a really long way offshore with long distances where it's not practicable to provide rescue coverage. I'd feel pretty uncomfortable about that too.
I had heard that part of the Agbami contract was to provide day/night helicopter SAR coverage and it looks like Bristow has got that contract. Is the S92 going to be a full SAR-capable machine with autohover and will the crews be trained in day/night SAR? I think that it's obvious the oil companies are not going to stop having a requirement for night SAR and that the Nigerian government is incapable of providing one in a million years. If the oil companies want night emergency cover, all those that want it should club together and fund adequate night SAR coverage, including provision of suitably equipped helicopters and trained specialist crews. If they're not prepared to do that, they should be told that night coverage is not available in Nigeria. Night flying in helicopters in Nigeria is illegal except emergency training and life or death medevac flights, so maybe the government should step in and make the oil companies pay for adequate coverage (since we all know the Nigerian won't do so itself and even if it did, how many of us would feel safe and sound in the knowledge that NEMA would really 'be there' for us ina couple of Mil 8s or whatever
)I agree with your comments about simulators being very limited for any offshore training by day or by night, but again, if enough $$$$ were thrown at that problem, in the 21st century it shouldn't be insoluble. Aero has a very good little simulator in PH now (albeit with no movement) but the visuals for rig approaches are far superior to most of the expensive level D full-motion simulators on the market, so it should be possible to upgrade a level D.
Interesting topic BBO. Does this mean the blood pressure pills have started working or just that you're happy with your new job
?
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I had heard that part of the Agbami contract was to provide day/night helicopter SAR coverage and it looks like Bristow has got that contract. Is the S92 going to be a full SAR-capable machine with autohover and will the crews be trained in day/night SAR?
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If there is SAR going into Nigeria will it be real SAR as we all know and love it or some mickey mouse version that will tick a few boxes and cover any legal requirements that the oil companies have?
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If there is SAR going into Nigeria will it be real SAR as we all know and love it or some mickey mouse version that will tick a few boxes and cover any legal requirements that the oil companies have?
Silly question, SIT!
Probably the latter. After all, it would be silly to spend some of those record profits on something useful, now wouldn't it?
90 day rule..
Trog,
You are quite correct about the rules.... What's frightening about that is that Aerogulf do it every night 365. Do you really think what you lot do is safe???
You are quite correct about the rules.... What's frightening about that is that Aerogulf do it every night 365. Do you really think what you lot do is safe???