Working in Nigeria
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Employment with Bristow Helicopters
I've provisionally accepted a job with Bristows, flying 212's and 412's in Africa. Any info / tips / advice, on what I can expect, would be very welcome before I sign on the dotted line.
Employment Nigeria Bristow Helicopter
Before responding to your question I have one for you.Are you Bristow UK transferring to BIAGL or are you a new hire from the "old world" or the "new world"? If you're Bristow UK then ask around, there's plenty of people in ABZ with experience of Nigeria, not all of it good! What's your motivation for coming to Nigeria, out of work or just bored? Generally speaking it's been my experience that the people working in W.Africa come under the three M's i.e.Missionaries,Mercenaries or Misfits!,which are you?
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I'm very new to Bristows. From the people I've been speaking to, I must be one of the only people around here who have never worked for them. I've spoken to a few "old timers", but they left Nigeria over 15 years ago, so they're not much help.
I think that I class as a Misfit.
I think that I class as a Misfit.
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SJ
There are lots of different stories (many of them apocryphal) and many opinions about Nigeria. 212/412 sounds like the Qua Ibo Terminal operation. Accommodation passable, food provided and sometimes passable, flying the usual routine offshore stuff (pretty boring).
Bristow management there not very good, but depends on the CP on the operation you go to.
The country and its people are what you make of them, as with most places. Don't get put off by lots of the 'anti' stories - go out there with an open mind and make your own decisions. The people can be a bit volatile, but anger can change to smiles in a moment if you make the effort to understand and to make people laugh. I've worked in Africa, including Nigeria, for many years and wouldn't be anywhere else. I know it's not for everyone, but most people very quickly find out whether it's their sort of place or not. If you've never worked in the Third world before, the initial culture shock can be rather off-putting, but if you stay and 'let the mosquito get in your blood' you'll never want to leave for long.
You'll have a bit of a wait whilst your licensing is sorted out and the BRC (Bristow Residential Compound) in Lagos is a fairly pleasant place with swimming pool, tennis court and squash courts. There's a pleasant bar for the evenings. In Eket you'll also find reasonable sporting facilities, including one of the few golf courses in Nigeria with 'greens' as opposed to 'browns', so if you're a golfer it may be worth taking some clubs (though you'll probably find someone willing to lend you sme on your first tour). If you're going out in the near future, it's the dry season, so the weather will be hot (around 32 degrees on the coast) with fairly low humidity (by Nigerian standards) and frequently the 'Harmattan' winds from the northeast reducing visibility to 1.5km or less.
So, come on out and join we African misfits - you may find you like it!
There are lots of different stories (many of them apocryphal) and many opinions about Nigeria. 212/412 sounds like the Qua Ibo Terminal operation. Accommodation passable, food provided and sometimes passable, flying the usual routine offshore stuff (pretty boring).
Bristow management there not very good, but depends on the CP on the operation you go to.
The country and its people are what you make of them, as with most places. Don't get put off by lots of the 'anti' stories - go out there with an open mind and make your own decisions. The people can be a bit volatile, but anger can change to smiles in a moment if you make the effort to understand and to make people laugh. I've worked in Africa, including Nigeria, for many years and wouldn't be anywhere else. I know it's not for everyone, but most people very quickly find out whether it's their sort of place or not. If you've never worked in the Third world before, the initial culture shock can be rather off-putting, but if you stay and 'let the mosquito get in your blood' you'll never want to leave for long.
You'll have a bit of a wait whilst your licensing is sorted out and the BRC (Bristow Residential Compound) in Lagos is a fairly pleasant place with swimming pool, tennis court and squash courts. There's a pleasant bar for the evenings. In Eket you'll also find reasonable sporting facilities, including one of the few golf courses in Nigeria with 'greens' as opposed to 'browns', so if you're a golfer it may be worth taking some clubs (though you'll probably find someone willing to lend you sme on your first tour). If you're going out in the near future, it's the dry season, so the weather will be hot (around 32 degrees on the coast) with fairly low humidity (by Nigerian standards) and frequently the 'Harmattan' winds from the northeast reducing visibility to 1.5km or less.
So, come on out and join we African misfits - you may find you like it!
There have been some changes in management at Lagos....pay is improved for the geriatric bunch doing post retirement contracts. Ferris at Eket is two thumbs up.....Washer at Shell is top shelf (for a Foster's addict!).....Port Harcourt is not the place to be unless there has been a change. Definitely go there with your eyes open....all is not what is promised....if they would go to 6 and 6....I would even consider it again. After my input on what changes needed to be made....probably do not have to worry about that however. I voted with my feet.....felt I might live longer in that 212 engineering and 76 engineerings issues were becoming downright threatening. Spares and committment to UK standards on engineering presented the most pressing concerns falled by quality of housing for bachelors, transport , and working enviroment. Seems from what I am hearing positive changes have been initiated....if they continue with a house cleaning then the place will turn itself around I hope. For a while, Bristow Nigeria had a higher turnover rate than did Evergreen Helicopters in the USA.....hell...guys left Bristow to go to Evergreen if that tells you anything!
Employment Nigeria Bristow Helicopter
SJ-So you're a misfit eh,well welcome to the fold.If you haven't yet signed on the dotted line read on for an insight into your soon to be not forgotten experience.Nigeria and it's peoples are a diverse bunch,outwardly friendly but inwardly volatile,things can change in an instant.For further info.look at the websites of the USA State Dept.and UK Foreign Office.Watch your back(and your front and sides)at all times,keep your hands on your wallet,passport etc.,never forget this is the home of the 419"scam"where corruption and kleptomania have been refined to perfection.Your first sight of the BRC will be a foretaste of things to come-high walls topped with razor wire,guards on the gate,barred shutters on the doors and windows.If you've done time in a penitentiary you should be well prepared physchologically.What about fire precautions did I hear you say,don't worry there are no smoke detectors and anyway DNA testing is an exact science these days, your family will be confident it's you that's being returned to them if you're that unlucky.Gravitating to the saloon/bar on arrival will quickly see you introduced to your fellow M's.,in the background you might just be able to hear the sound of gunfire as the 1st.wave of robbers open up.If you're really lucky you might just get your 1st.beer down your throat before the power fails and the standby generator kicks in pumping it's pollutants into a toxic sky.Not for nothing is NEPA known as the "no electric power authority".But I digress-back to your fellow M's.A more diverse bunch of normal de-generates you couldn't hope to meet.From sheepshaggers to kaffir bashers,pornographers to adulterers,fornicators to drunkards,they're all here.Before you get too depressed there are a few beacons of light present,vainly casting their pearls before the trampling herd in the stygian gloom.And what of the management,entrusted with the unenviable task of leading? this bunch of social misfits?The management appear to subscribe to the Shell school of control.i.e.leading from the "derriere" position and even if required the "soixante neuf" position for those familiar with French bedroom farces.A more loveable bunch of dinosaurs from the neolithic age you couldn't hope to meet,although there are signs of +ve change with the arrival of native/colonial "wannabees".A current example of management's thinking is to be found under the heading of allowances payable on "ad hoc"operations outside Nigeria.Nigerians are paid 30o/o more than expats.of whatever hue,truly a textbook example of "reverse discrimination".Perhaps any share-owning OLOG pilot reading this might care to raise this matter at the next AGM and enquire why this should be when the major shareholders in the USA and UK are required to both observe and be seen to implement their respective countries Equality and Racial Discrimination legislation.(Woodside,Kerr McGee,Bunker Hunt ethics committee please note) If you're still reading this SJ you've certainly got stamina,which you'll need in large quantities to get thru' a tour in Nigeria.On 2nd.thoughts perhaps you ought to stay at home,pay your taxes and sleep with your wife at night,or possibly somebody else's wife if you're really lucky and leave W.Africa to the three M's.
PS.And we didn't even get to discuss the operations,weather etc.,aw shucks,save it for another day.
(Thinks-does any OLOG pilot get paid enought to own shares)?
(Double thinks-Is there such an animal as an ethical oil company)?
PS.And we didn't even get to discuss the operations,weather etc.,aw shucks,save it for another day.
(Thinks-does any OLOG pilot get paid enought to own shares)?
(Double thinks-Is there such an animal as an ethical oil company)?
I have just received an e-mail from a most reliable source....it quotes BHL/Redhill as saying there are no vacancies for pilots in Nigeria. That is effective within the past 24 hours.
My reply was....that was yesterday.....today there will be. Reason why is the question?
But then....what price credibility under the OLOG regime? Ask any Air Log pilot about the management style that is being imported to the UK.....fits hand and glove with that in Lagos.
My reply was....that was yesterday.....today there will be. Reason why is the question?
But then....what price credibility under the OLOG regime? Ask any Air Log pilot about the management style that is being imported to the UK.....fits hand and glove with that in Lagos.
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Wow ambi - I guess you really like the place eh! 
. You don't seem to like your fellow pilots much either. Maybe it's to do with the fact that out in Nigeria you all live cheek-by-jowl, with more opportunities to really get to know the 'dark' side of your workmates than would be the case in UK, where many people just go back to their own homes after work and carry out their seedier activities in private?
However, let's just have a little balance here. Couldn't agree with you more about the management of OLOG/Bristow. However, there's probably little more actual gunfire than in the average large city in UK, and consideably less than in many cities in America. Once inside the wire-topped walls, it's nothing like a penitentiary, but I guess you guys need to have a serious dig at your inept management about the smoke detectors and fire-fighting arrangements - it can be done, as ACN improved a lot of those sorts of things when they adopted their Safety Management System (although a lot of that is still in the course of being implemented. NEPA (actually, Never Electrical Power Always) is renowned for its failures, but at least there are standby generators everywhere - though I do remember lots of problems at one Warri operation when a previous MD decided to get hold of some cheap Polish generator, rather than the more normal and reliable Caterpillar one!
I think your point about how much more Nigerian pilots are paid when on ad-hoc operations outside Nigeria is proably because they are paid a lot less than you are, for doing the same job when they are in Nigeria.
Two questions sabretooth does need to ask though, is why pilots with ACN are on 6/6 contracts when Bristow/OLOG are still on 7/5 and why he will be penalised if he stays on in Nigeria beyond the age of 58 with Bristow, when he can carry on receiving normal seniority increments up to age 65 with ACN.
At the end of the day, sabretooth, you'll either feel like Tom or like ambi, and that's just down to your personality and whether your first tour there goes well or not.
. You don't seem to like your fellow pilots much either. Maybe it's to do with the fact that out in Nigeria you all live cheek-by-jowl, with more opportunities to really get to know the 'dark' side of your workmates than would be the case in UK, where many people just go back to their own homes after work and carry out their seedier activities in private? However, let's just have a little balance here. Couldn't agree with you more about the management of OLOG/Bristow. However, there's probably little more actual gunfire than in the average large city in UK, and consideably less than in many cities in America. Once inside the wire-topped walls, it's nothing like a penitentiary, but I guess you guys need to have a serious dig at your inept management about the smoke detectors and fire-fighting arrangements - it can be done, as ACN improved a lot of those sorts of things when they adopted their Safety Management System (although a lot of that is still in the course of being implemented. NEPA (actually, Never Electrical Power Always) is renowned for its failures, but at least there are standby generators everywhere - though I do remember lots of problems at one Warri operation when a previous MD decided to get hold of some cheap Polish generator, rather than the more normal and reliable Caterpillar one!
I think your point about how much more Nigerian pilots are paid when on ad-hoc operations outside Nigeria is proably because they are paid a lot less than you are, for doing the same job when they are in Nigeria.
Two questions sabretooth does need to ask though, is why pilots with ACN are on 6/6 contracts when Bristow/OLOG are still on 7/5 and why he will be penalised if he stays on in Nigeria beyond the age of 58 with Bristow, when he can carry on receiving normal seniority increments up to age 65 with ACN.
At the end of the day, sabretooth, you'll either feel like Tom or like ambi, and that's just down to your personality and whether your first tour there goes well or not.
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And I thought Cote d'Ivoire was rough!
Holy Coow! some of the things I've read above make it sound like a rough place.
When I went for the interview with Evergreen to work in Africa the chief pilot asked, "are you sure you want to go to Africa? its rough there!" and I said "I've been to all of Mexico and Central America! Its also rough there!"
And let me tell you Mexico and Central America are probably the third world, but Cote d'Ivoire is more like the fifth world but I loved it and would have liked to stay there longer.
Nigeria sounds more like the 10th world!
Still I would like to go at least for a while just for the experience, a few months won't hurt, but just make sure you've got a backup plan just in case you don't like it.
For me one of the best things about going to Africa was that after I came back everything seemed easier, life became more enjoyable, and I appreciated everything I had soo much more.
When I went for the interview with Evergreen to work in Africa the chief pilot asked, "are you sure you want to go to Africa? its rough there!" and I said "I've been to all of Mexico and Central America! Its also rough there!"
And let me tell you Mexico and Central America are probably the third world, but Cote d'Ivoire is more like the fifth world but I loved it and would have liked to stay there longer.
Nigeria sounds more like the 10th world!
Still I would like to go at least for a while just for the experience, a few months won't hurt, but just make sure you've got a backup plan just in case you don't like it.
For me one of the best things about going to Africa was that after I came back everything seemed easier, life became more enjoyable, and I appreciated everything I had soo much more.
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Hi Blender,
Nigeria's not really like the 10th world, it's a bit like Cote D'Ivoire really. Generally I think the former French colonies seem to be rather better run and more friendly than the former British, Belgian, Spanish and Portuguese colonies (though the present events in Cote D'Ivoire may seem to make a mockery of that statement). One problem that Nigeria has is that it has so many people (about 17% of the entire population of the African continent I believe) and has been ruled by such corrupt leaders for so long that the corruption in society there is deep rooted at all levels. The country is wealthy, but most of that wealth has been stolen from the people by the leaders and sent to foreign banks to fund their extravagant lifestyles. Many of the people are very bright (maybe that's one reason for their success in scams like the '419' scam!) and very friendly. If you wanted to have a look for yourself Bristow and ACN often have vacancies for pilots even if they have none at the mo'. If you already have experience of flying in Africa, but have not been put off by it, I expect they would take your application seriously.
If you go, let us know what you think about the place in comparison to Cote D'Ivoire, Mexico and Central America.
Nigeria's not really like the 10th world, it's a bit like Cote D'Ivoire really. Generally I think the former French colonies seem to be rather better run and more friendly than the former British, Belgian, Spanish and Portuguese colonies (though the present events in Cote D'Ivoire may seem to make a mockery of that statement). One problem that Nigeria has is that it has so many people (about 17% of the entire population of the African continent I believe) and has been ruled by such corrupt leaders for so long that the corruption in society there is deep rooted at all levels. The country is wealthy, but most of that wealth has been stolen from the people by the leaders and sent to foreign banks to fund their extravagant lifestyles. Many of the people are very bright (maybe that's one reason for their success in scams like the '419' scam!) and very friendly. If you wanted to have a look for yourself Bristow and ACN often have vacancies for pilots even if they have none at the mo'. If you already have experience of flying in Africa, but have not been put off by it, I expect they would take your application seriously.
If you go, let us know what you think about the place in comparison to Cote D'Ivoire, Mexico and Central America.
Gunshots can be heard very close by to the BHL guesthouse....even closer in the early crew bus sometimes. Two pilots wounded a while back....both recovered. That led to the security improvements at the compound....and the addition of curtains to the "conventionally air-con'ed " bus. That incident proved the contingency plans were not very good for handling an emergency medical situation.
The house cleaning continues.....yet another BHL/Nigeria management level staff departs office ! Shame it happens after so many guys left because of the problems. Contact your sources there and find out the latest news !
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Sounds like my type of place and crew, what with me being a drunken adulterating misfit I ought to fit right in. where do I sign up
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I have been thinking about going to Nigeria as it's one of the places where there are jobs going in Africa. All the replies here refer to bad management, even if the writers have different opinions about whether Nigeria is good or bad. Is Aero Contractors any better, as I hear that they are looking for pilots at the moment and they have changed to equal time touring. Are the pay, conditions and management of the 2 companies much different?
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Standoff in Nigeria
(AP) - Nigerian navy ships sailed Wednesday toward offshore drilling rigs where 97 foreigners — including 17 Americans — were being held after talks to resolve the 11-day hostage standoff broke off in deadlock. About 100 disgruntled Nigerian oil workers have been holding the foreigners aboard four drilling rigs owned by Houston-based Transocean, about 20 miles off Nigeria's coast.
I have heard that the dispute centers around Nigerian workers' demands to use helicopters for crew changes. So who gets to ride the helicopter to the beach and who takes the boat? Are there different rules for locals and foreigners or are these just some quarrelsome roughnecks looking to squeeze Transocean for more perks?
Any observations/opinions from those with experience flying these waters?
I have heard that the dispute centers around Nigerian workers' demands to use helicopters for crew changes. So who gets to ride the helicopter to the beach and who takes the boat? Are there different rules for locals and foreigners or are these just some quarrelsome roughnecks looking to squeeze Transocean for more perks?
Any observations/opinions from those with experience flying these waters?
Last edited by rotorusa; 2nd May 2003 at 12:16.
I think you'll find it's support for 5 workers who were sacked for alleged theft. They have started letting some expat workers off one of the rigs. It's day 13 I think, so not much fun!
I remember reading a thread about helo ops to and from oil platforms in Nigeria about a year ago.
The place is a nightmare, who in their right mind would have anything to do with this God foresaken hell hole.
You must be desperate, on the run from a divorce case, ...or broke to fly over there.
Blow the bloody lot out of the water job done...move onto the next .
The place is a nightmare, who in their right mind would have anything to do with this God foresaken hell hole.
You must be desperate, on the run from a divorce case, ...or broke to fly over there.
Blow the bloody lot out of the water job done...move onto the next .
Now Thomas dear chap.....
Get 212Man to give you the straight "non-contractual" accounts of life in Nigeria.....it isn't all bad. Usually it is worse....but not bad.
Ask him to enumerate the hijackings....shootings of pilots....robberies...extortions....air crashes (airline and helicopter) that killed helicopter pilots and engineers.....deaths from disease......murders of wives by Chief Pilots....scandals...divorces....minor disasters and other interesting events that have occurred over the past dozen years or so. If you are lucky he will enlighten you about the risks to one's personal and professional standards that accrue with extended periods of duty in such environments. I am sure he has been witness to or has heard participant's accounts of such great fun. That doesn't mean good things do not happen nor that one could not actually enjoy working in Nigeria......but you do have to suffer some thorns to smell a rose there it seems.
Get 212Man to give you the straight "non-contractual" accounts of life in Nigeria.....it isn't all bad. Usually it is worse....but not bad.
Ask him to enumerate the hijackings....shootings of pilots....robberies...extortions....air crashes (airline and helicopter) that killed helicopter pilots and engineers.....deaths from disease......murders of wives by Chief Pilots....scandals...divorces....minor disasters and other interesting events that have occurred over the past dozen years or so. If you are lucky he will enlighten you about the risks to one's personal and professional standards that accrue with extended periods of duty in such environments. I am sure he has been witness to or has heard participant's accounts of such great fun. That doesn't mean good things do not happen nor that one could not actually enjoy working in Nigeria......but you do have to suffer some thorns to smell a rose there it seems.
I'd rather not be drawn into that SASless, not here anyway.
For info, the guys started coming off on Friday, yesterday was an election day so no movements, and the remainder should be off today.
All's well that ends well!
For info, the guys started coming off on Friday, yesterday was an election day so no movements, and the remainder should be off today.
All's well that ends well!
Oh dear.
