What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jankara
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There are none of Cavertons two 139 flying out of Lagos right now, due to different technical problems etc
The $85m loan almost sounds like one of those Nigerian Scams. I wonder how much will be pocketed and how much will really be for the aircraft?
Meanwhile outgoing CVs from Bristow pilots are even more plentiful than empty promises from Caverton managers as pilots lose faith in the ability of senior management to put safety before commercial gain
. Morale is at a new low in Port Harcourt as the company now seems to be run at the whim of hostile clients. Early indications are that only people with holes pre-drilled for control strings will be acceptable for new management positions and candidates must submit to a medical examination to confirm that all vestiges of a backbone have been removed. The management seem to have completely lost the plot and is alienating both national and expatriate pilots. The winners will be Aero and Caverton. I foresee that within two years Bristow, not Aero will be the company in decline and playing an increasingly marginalised role in the Nigerian helicopter aviation sector. As for the phoney split of the company into Bristow and PAN, does anybody really think the companies are separate and commercial competitors 
. There's also the question mark over whether CHC will actually return to Nigeria.
The old guard is dying, the new future is all Nigerian and companies like Caverton and Aero have the advantage of being completely Nigerian owned and willing to do business the 'Nigerian way'.
What's behind all the rolling heads at BHL.....it cannot be incompetence as that never trapped anyone in the past? Granted a record was set by a Warri Shell CP who managed to last all of about three days was it....until he compared the local staff to more original members of the human ancestry. Perhaps riding copilot in the 234 shook loose what marbles he had?
Join Date: Dec 2003
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SASless,
It's a total (sic) sell out to pressure from a client
. Souls have been sold to the devil and consequences will be suffered .
The totally independent Nigerian company, Pan African will have 2 safer heads (and a token Nigerian in Q&S) and the same will probably be the case in Bristow. I have my shorts ready to eat if I'm wrong
. Apparently, despite all the yada yada about promoting Nigerians, not one is deemed suitable to be the boss, only saffers can do the job and Nigerians will always be consigned to a supporting position - until they've all left for management jobs in Caverton, Aero and new CHC.I've been away from this site for a couple of years because I now have other interests, but it angers and saddens me to see what's going on in Nigeria now where the bad guys are becoming the good guys and the good guys are becoming the bad guys.
It's a total (sic) sell out to pressure from a client
. Souls have been sold to the devil and consequences will be suffered . The totally independent Nigerian company, Pan African will have 2 safer heads (and a token Nigerian in Q&S) and the same will probably be the case in Bristow. I have my shorts ready to eat if I'm wrong
. Apparently, despite all the yada yada about promoting Nigerians, not one is deemed suitable to be the boss, only saffers can do the job and Nigerians will always be consigned to a supporting position - until they've all left for management jobs in Caverton, Aero and new CHC.I've been away from this site for a couple of years because I now have other interests, but it angers and saddens me to see what's going on in Nigeria now where the bad guys are becoming the good guys and the good guys are becoming the bad guys.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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So much speculation, so little real news! Bristow has to operate globally, not just in Nigeria. They' be taking time to make sure that the present vacancies will be filled by people who will help that they at least maintain their share of the Nigerian market during a period of commercial expansion, but political uncertainty with both the Boko Haram problem and militant resurgence in the Niger Delta.
It's probably disappointing that the new positions aren't being advertised internally but there are quite a number if Nigerians who are ex Bristow who could probably do the job. Maybe we'll actually see one of them going back to the company in one of these posts? I' sure that they're aware that the clock is ticking, but Akin will want to take time to make sure the right people get into the vacant positions rather than being rushed into putting the wrong people in just for the sake of expediency. Eventually we'll all hear and that'll be the time for informed comment, not hysterical speculation,
It's probably disappointing that the new positions aren't being advertised internally but there are quite a number if Nigerians who are ex Bristow who could probably do the job. Maybe we'll actually see one of them going back to the company in one of these posts? I' sure that they're aware that the clock is ticking, but Akin will want to take time to make sure the right people get into the vacant positions rather than being rushed into putting the wrong people in just for the sake of expediency. Eventually we'll all hear and that'll be the time for informed comment, not hysterical speculation,
What was this "sell out" all about? Did one of the customers see an opportunity to drive a hard bargain on prices or something? Is the competition for work and contracts to the point now where the Customers can set the Terms and Conditions much better/different than they have in the past when it was just Aero/BHL/Pan African?
Are the "Old Hands" losing their grip on things and seeing a new generation taking over and that is the true basis for all the angst?
Are we going to see Nigerians moved into positions of authority based upon Nationality or on ability? Is the complaint that Pan African caters to South Africans accurate....and if so why? Is it that they do good work but do so cheaply....or is it some sort of "Good Ol' Boy" set up that ignores commercial reality in the Nigerian Helicopter Industry?
I get the impression a lot of the complaints being heard generally stem from an undercurrent that believes all Management Positions in Nigeria should be Nigerian. If Nigerian pilots are restricted to Nigeria only operations....then that might be a proper attitude. On the other hand.....if Nigerian pilots working for International Companies are allowed to work in other countries on other contracts then keeping Nigerian Operations open to outsiders would be fair.
The problem for International Operators is to be truly "international"....something none of them really do. There is always a glass ceiling to the management structure that outsiders will never break.....shy of marriage to the Boss's Daughter.
Are the "Old Hands" losing their grip on things and seeing a new generation taking over and that is the true basis for all the angst?
Are we going to see Nigerians moved into positions of authority based upon Nationality or on ability? Is the complaint that Pan African caters to South Africans accurate....and if so why? Is it that they do good work but do so cheaply....or is it some sort of "Good Ol' Boy" set up that ignores commercial reality in the Nigerian Helicopter Industry?
I get the impression a lot of the complaints being heard generally stem from an undercurrent that believes all Management Positions in Nigeria should be Nigerian. If Nigerian pilots are restricted to Nigeria only operations....then that might be a proper attitude. On the other hand.....if Nigerian pilots working for International Companies are allowed to work in other countries on other contracts then keeping Nigerian Operations open to outsiders would be fair.
The problem for International Operators is to be truly "international"....something none of them really do. There is always a glass ceiling to the management structure that outsiders will never break.....shy of marriage to the Boss's Daughter.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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New HoFO for Bristow Nigeria
Bristow has announced a number of management changes in Nigeria:
The new Head of Flight Operations is Captain David Dwyer. He is a retired South African Air Force pilot who has previously been Managing Pilot of Pan African Airlines Nigeria's Escravos and Warri operations and until this week was Head of Flight OPerations PAAN.
They have also transferred Captain Howard Wood to be the Agip Base Manager and Captain Gudu Bains to be one of the NAF Base Managers.
Interesting choices - let's see if anything changes.
The new Head of Flight Operations is Captain David Dwyer. He is a retired South African Air Force pilot who has previously been Managing Pilot of Pan African Airlines Nigeria's Escravos and Warri operations and until this week was Head of Flight OPerations PAAN.
They have also transferred Captain Howard Wood to be the Agip Base Manager and Captain Gudu Bains to be one of the NAF Base Managers.
Interesting choices - let's see if anything changes.
I thought Pan African and BHL were two separate companies again....very friendly relationship there. Also...makes one wonder how Pan African can hold the Escravos contract ever since the late 60's....early 70's without it switching hands even once.
Is there some fix installed to secure that situation?
All the other contracts seem to be moving from one Operator to another to some degree.
Is there some fix installed to secure that situation?
All the other contracts seem to be moving from one Operator to another to some degree.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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As expected teh good people are migrating to where the Shell contract is
When PAAN was under Air Logistics control several senior US people were fired for their inappropriate behaviour (what is the norm in Louisiana is not acceptable in even Nigeria).
The operations under Bristow control however are run like Eliott Ness is there business integrity advisor.
When PAAN was under Air Logistics control several senior US people were fired for their inappropriate behaviour (what is the norm in Louisiana is not acceptable in even Nigeria).
The operations under Bristow control however are run like Eliott Ness is there business integrity advisor.
Was that after the house cleaning due to all the bribery issues at BHL then SM?
Sarbanes-Oxley throws a crimp in Nigerian business ethics doesn't it?
Sarbanes-Oxley throws a crimp in Nigerian business ethics doesn't it?
Join Date: Jul 2006
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As expected teh good people are migrating to where the Shell contract is
The operations under Bristow control however are run like Eliott Ness is there
. At least Bristow, unlike Shell's partner, has a defined code of business integrity 
. And yes, SAS, Sarbanes-Oxley does throw a crimp in the way of doing business in Nigeria, but at least it stops funds being siphoned off into the hands of so many kleptocrats .Now I wonder if SM would like to comment on why the helicopter of his dreams, supposedly the ultimate machine for Nigeria, despite having been in Nigeria for some months now, is still not yet operating for Shell? After all, it's being operated for them by the Nigerian centre of technical and operating excellence isn't it? Never mind, with more on the way they may even manage to get at least one flying soon. I think the 212s would have done better even with their old technology
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Well Mama, you are right about the Caverton 139er, but they will have them up and running eventually. Not by themselves but with the help of others, which means that another company will do the job for Caverton. Who that will be, I dont know, but Shell will in the long run not accept the present standstill. A less technical advanced helicopter as the 212, would have been better off for Caverton, cause their skills do not go beyond this, but Shell decided the helicopter type, not Caverton.
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Reuters is reporting a helicopter plane crash in Niger.
Helicopter crash kills 6 foreigners in Niger desert | Reuters
Helicopter crash kills 6 foreigners in Niger desert | Reuters
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Gents, can any one provide me with the advisory frequency for the Offshore in the Port Harcourt area, basically as soon as one leaves Malabo. I know 121 is used on the Cameroon side. Thanks!
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Many thanks Pst, didn't get them on time though! Apologies if any of you folks saw us on TCAS following the shore line, we heard some green deck clearances on 123.45 and therefore made some traffic advisory reports on that frequency.
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The Shell AW139 Success
Everything seems to be going very smoothly in the Caverton management of the Shell contract and so far not a single AW139 has started flying for them. That's doubtless very good for the safety statistics . The Caverton Director of Operations, Sunny has just quit and been replaced by Frenchman Charles De Mannoury, formerly of Aero (many years ago) who was brought in by Dave Allen (who was his boss in Aero). Dave is very sick at the moment which may be why George Santos who joined Caverton from a Line Training Captain and CRM Instructor job with CHC in Aberdeen last year is now Director of Training. If it's true that Caverton's partner, DanCopter has just won the Bristow contract for Shell in the Southern North Sea, it will be interesting to see if they are allowed to start moving some of their EC155B2s out of Nigeria before the 139s are fully operational. NN has now taken over responsibility for running the Shell project within Caverton. Shell Management seems to have been rather quiet lately and is not trumpeting about the superbly efficient management of change to Caverton and the introduction of the AW139 to Nigeria. It looks as if it's going to be a repeat of the success of the introduction of the EC155, and the introduction of the Dornier 328 and the 328 jet just before the company went down the tubes and was sold to Fairchild Aircraft. Actually, it seems that Shell aircraft getting involved with a new type is a guarantee of its future (lack of) success
. The Caverton Director of Operations, Sunny has just quit and been replaced by Frenchman Charles De Mannoury, formerly of Aero (many years ago) who was brought in by Dave Allen (who was his boss in Aero). Dave is very sick at the moment which may be why George Santos who joined Caverton from a Line Training Captain and CRM Instructor job with CHC in Aberdeen last year is now Director of Training. If it's true that Caverton's partner, DanCopter has just won the Bristow contract for Shell in the Southern North Sea, it will be interesting to see if they are allowed to start moving some of their EC155B2s out of Nigeria before the 139s are fully operational. NN has now taken over responsibility for running the Shell project within Caverton. Shell Management seems to have been rather quiet lately and is not trumpeting about the superbly efficient management of change to Caverton and the introduction of the AW139 to Nigeria. It looks as if it's going to be a repeat of the success of the introduction of the EC155, and the introduction of the Dornier 328 and the 328 jet just before the company went down the tubes and was sold to Fairchild Aircraft. Actually, it seems that Shell aircraft getting involved with a new type is a guarantee of its future (lack of) success
George Santos....two thumbs up guy!