Working in Nigeria

[SASless]

2:30 AM...from offshore to Port Harcourt....I had nightmares about that flight....but that was in Bristow's clapped out 212's. Prayers for those lost...and their families.

[Aviator609]

The Captain's name was Dave Ellis. I had the priviledge and honour of working with him in Nigeria. He worked the helicopter offshore market as a helicopter pilot in GOM and Nigeria.

Dave was a great pilot and a great human being, a big man with an even bigger heart. He was always friendly and helpful and I can't recall a single instance where he ever bad mouthed anyone or even had the inclination to do so.

My most sincere condolences to his wife and family with their great loss.

Rest in peace old friend.

[SASless]

Does anyone know the name of the Co-pilot that was killed in the crash....or any more details of the circumstances surrounding the flight?

[Time Out]

LAGOS — no fewer than six boats, one ship, five helicopters and scores of ocean divers are currently participating in the search for the bodies of victims of a helicopter that crashed last Monday, in which four persons were killed. One body has so far been recovered from the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean, while two others have also been reportedly sighted down the ocean, sources said.

The helicopter, which crashed in Escravos may have run out of fuel, according to indications yesterday. It was learnt that although the Bell 412 helicopter flight was meant for Port Harcourt, where it was conveying an injured Chevron-Texaco worker for treatment, it however, took off first for Ofinima for refuelling.

Sources told Vanguard that the helicopter, owned by Pan-African Airlines, lost radio contact less than ten minutes after take off to Ofinima for refuelling, fuelling speculation that it may have ran out of fuel.

It was learnt that the recovery of the bodies of the American pilot of the chopper, Capt. Davies Helis, and his Nigerian counterpart, Capt. B.A.S. Ojeme, was being hampered by ocean tide, just as the body of the fourth person in the helicopter was yet to be found.

According to sources, the fact that the helicopter crashed to a depth of over 4,000ft in the ocean was further making recovery of the bodies difficult.

Vanguard gathered that aside from the one body recovered so far, the main door, emergency door and two inflated rafts of the helicopter which took off from the airstrip of SEDCO Energy Company, an oil servicing company were recovered

source

[HeloTeacher]

Quoting from a nigerian newspaper, now there's faith!

I was reluctant to post anything, not everything is appropriate but here are a couple corrections to the last.

Pilots: David Ellis. Barnabas Ojeme.

Causes are all speculation at this point.

SEDCO Energy is the name of the vessel, not an airstrip.

[sandy helmet]

Our sincere condolences from the Bajan pilots.
Dave was lead pilot on the Conoco Barbados project in 2001, and was a great friendly guy with a good sense of humor.
We are shocked and saddened to hear the news.

[jcitzen]

Jobs in Nigeria

I was wondering what was happening on the Jobs front in Nigeria at present ( especially ACN )

I have sent them a number of E-mails but have got no replies.
I heard that they are looking for pilots but can't seem to be able to get in contact with them.

Has anyone out there had any contact with them recently.

[chevy 76]

Hoi, the add mentioned below is since April in Flight International job search. As far as I understood from a friend , this is for ACN in Nigeria, you may give a try...lots of rumours going around after CHC took over from Schreiner, about some new working condition package for the expats in ACN...nothing else heard but just rumours...
good luck

SA365 Captains
Region: Africa
Company: Wynnwith
Salary: Tax Free
Position type: Contract
Posted: Monday 12 April 2004
Job type(s): Flight crew
Description: SA365 Helicopter Captains with 300 hrs PIC on type. Must have an ATPLH with the SA365 Type Rating. 3 year renewable contracts. 6 Weeks on 6 weeks of leave schedule and excellent benefits.

[anjouan]

jcitizen
I think you'll find that, for now, they have no vacancies, but being a fairly large operator with a lot of pilots, people are always leaving so something may come up later. Have you sent a hard copy of your CV to their HR department in Hoofddorp?

[HeloTeacher]

You could spend months sending e-mails to Winnwyth and get nowhere.

Try this, if you have captaincy req's:

[email protected]
Capt. Dayo Awarun
D/Head of Flight Dept
Rotary

Hoofdoorp is probably another black hole right now with the CHC upheavals in Europe.

I don't have accurate Pan-African or Bristow's details, sorry.

[jcitzen]

Chevy 76, Anjouan and Helo Teacher,

Thank for your replies.

Have sent a E-mail to to Capt Awarun and will wait and see if I get a reply.

I have all the required "ticks in the box" for a Captains position on either the 76 or AS365 but as previously posted havn't gotten any replies.

[Bivar4]

The platform he was heading to is called FUNIWA, and apparently was going there to take fuel, as the Sedco Energy fuel system developed some kind of problem.

[SASless]

Have heard the Tail Rotor or parts of the tail rotor have been found while the search for the fuselage continues. Rumor has it that there are large blue streaks on the tail rotor which would suggest some sort of blade strike involving the tail rotor.....some short of inflight breakup maybe???

This is not first hand info....but was received from a source that can be trusted.....no attempt to make an assertation of fact...just passing on latest buzz from the network.

[goaround7]

Abidjan and/or Lagos openings ?

Better half considering (fixed wing) opportunity flying out of Abidjan (where I have been for 10 days) or Lagos (where I haven't at all).

Any suggestions or comments regarding rotor wing opportunities in either of these locations for ATP/IR, 2000 hours ?

[212man]

I think CHC Africa have a 61 contract in Cote d'Ivoire at the moment; any use?

Don't think many openings in Nigeria with 2000 hours; maybe Caverton helicopters who are recruiting in Lagos.

[goaround7]

Many thanks 212 man.

Best rating to get hold of ? 212 ? 412 ? 61 ?

(Got AS350, 206L, 407)

[rotorboy]

I'd fax the cv to air log international. They have a couple of operations (Bristow/ Pan African) in that next of the woods. I am pretty sure they are flying some 407's out of Nigeria.

rb

[Nigerian Expat Outlaw]

Jobs in Nigeria

goaround7, don't think Bristow will take you with 2,000 hrs and the ratings you mention, but Pan African might. They operate for ChevronTexaco out of Escravos and Port Harcourt and have 412s, 206s and 407s. You can get the OLOG address (they own Pan African) via the employment link on the OLOG website. Hope this helps.

[SASless]

For Pan African....call Air Log International in New Iberia....Ivan Culver or someone there will direct your call.

[go vertical]

FAA ATPL(H) in Africa?

Is it possible to work with the FAA ATPL(H) in any African Country or is there a License Conversion necessary? How is Nigeria in particular?

Thanks!!!