CHC global - Pilots and Engineers
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CHC global - Pilots and Engineers
CHC/ACN is probably the start of things to come in the future.
- Nationals should get paid the same as their expat counterparts
- Should get the same 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off
- Should get the same Canadian benefits (medical, dental pension etc)
- and the CHC benefits book outlining all the benefits.
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Why the discrepency can anyone explain this !!!!
Cadetships. ACN has trained many, many Nigerians completely ab initio - should this be provided for expat employees too?
First Officers. ACN is by (Nigerian) law prohibited from employing expats as First Officers. Should this part of the playing field get levelled too, i.e. no Nigerian pilot employed with less than 3500 hours TT, 1500 hours multi and an ATPL?
Separation from family. Should ACN start locking Nigerian pilots and engineers in compounds, no family visits, for the duration of their work hitch, which should be 6 weeks like the expats?
Legal protection. At present, the Nigerian pilots are on a legally sanctioned strike. What, pray tell, will happen if the expatriate pilot corps decide to down tools en masse?
Stability. Expatriate employees can be transferred to another operation halfway around the world at the convenience of the company (CHC). Refuse to go and you're history. Local allowances at your new base could be less than before. Should CHC be free to transfer out any Nigerian pilot or engineer they want?
Etc., etc., etc.
Now, if ACN's Nigerian employees want all the conditions of expatriate employees, good and bad alike, and in effect become contractors, more power to them, but I suspect they are loth to give up the shelter provided them under Nigerian law. I also suspect that they know this very well - the ones I've met never struck me as unrealistic - and these demands are a negotiating move.
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CHC training pilots with Helijet airways
CHC Globaol are rotating their low time FO's through Helijet in Vancouver to give them some experience on the S76 and then putting them online offshore as FO's.
They were forced to take FO's in Angola, local boys from the fixed wing side and now they work as FO's on the SK76's. Some of the locals have been promoted to Captain but dont have the same pay as expats, I sure wouldn't want their living conditions. They wouldn't mind working in Thailand, Vietnam, Baku or Myanmar.
Same deal in Thailand where Expat Captains were doing 20 days on 10 days off. Local Thai's didn't get paid the same as the expat Captains for the same work done .... Explain that one. I believe that they hired the first Thai female FO who was trained from scratch
Same deal in Yangon and Kanbauk with the local FO they haven't been promoted to Captain status either
CHC have been training a couple of Equatorial Guineans from scratch in Canada and South Africa but haven't seen the flight line in EG. So why not Nigerians who actually know how to speak English !!!!
They were forced to take FO's in Angola, local boys from the fixed wing side and now they work as FO's on the SK76's. Some of the locals have been promoted to Captain but dont have the same pay as expats, I sure wouldn't want their living conditions. They wouldn't mind working in Thailand, Vietnam, Baku or Myanmar.
Same deal in Thailand where Expat Captains were doing 20 days on 10 days off. Local Thai's didn't get paid the same as the expat Captains for the same work done .... Explain that one. I believe that they hired the first Thai female FO who was trained from scratch
Same deal in Yangon and Kanbauk with the local FO they haven't been promoted to Captain status either
CHC have been training a couple of Equatorial Guineans from scratch in Canada and South Africa but haven't seen the flight line in EG. So why not Nigerians who actually know how to speak English !!!!
Last edited by Heli-Jet; 18th Jun 2007 at 20:18.
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ACN FO status
CHC could rotate Nigerians into Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Namibia, Angola or Sierre Leone to keep their expenses down and give the Nigerians a chance to build up their Offshore time. CHC Africa did take Angolan FO's to Nigeria back in 2000.
I believe the General Manager for CHC in Cape Town is a Nigerian ... so if there is a will there is a way!!!
This way if Nigerians were trained and could eventually be promoted to Captains. CHC wouldn't have the problem of trying to get expats to go to Nigeria.
I believe the General Manager for CHC in Cape Town is a Nigerian ... so if there is a will there is a way!!!
This way if Nigerians were trained and could eventually be promoted to Captains. CHC wouldn't have the problem of trying to get expats to go to Nigeria.
Last edited by Heli-Jet; 18th Jun 2007 at 20:20.
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ACN I take means Areocontractors Nigeria, a registered nigerian company that I think may have had offices in Cyprus
So does that means you would get which rate? Maybe even the good old Dutch Schreiner rates, how about Dutch tax too
Just a point.
So does that means you would get which rate? Maybe even the good old Dutch Schreiner rates, how about Dutch tax too
Just a point.
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Heli-jet:
Would it be a safe bet that you are on the "national's"(what ever country you are tasked to work in) pay scale and not on the "CHC Global Expat" pay scale?
Would it be a safe bet that you are on the "national's"(what ever country you are tasked to work in) pay scale and not on the "CHC Global Expat" pay scale?
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quickmech,
ACN is Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited, a Nigerian company, with principally Nigerian directors, mostly from the Ibru family, who have many other interests such as banking (Oceanic Bank), fishing, hotels. With one or two notable exceptions such as the NLNG where the level of investment was such that the foreign investors demanded a 50% stake, Nigerian joint venture companies are at least 60% Nigerian owned. The Cyprus offices to which you referred are those of Aviation Personnel Recruitment and Management (APRAM). This was set up by Schreiner Airways, the former foreign partner in ACN, and was the vehicle for employment of expatriate pilots and engineers. There are only a few expats still employed on APRAM contracts. Since Schreiner was taken over by CHC, all new expat hires are now employed by CHC Global on very different contracts from the old APRAM ones and are paid in $CAD. The Ibru family, by and large leave the operational running of the company to CHC and the Managing Director is a Belgian. CHC have invested considerably more in terms of new equipment, than Schreiner did in its latter years, and they have turned the loss-making fixed wing division round into an expanding, successful and popular airline which was voted Nigerian Airline of the Year in 2005.
The GM for CHC Global in SA is indeed a Nigerian, as is the Bristow GM in the Northern North Sea. But then the Deputy MDs of both ACN abd Bristow are both Nigerian, and it seems like a good bet that the next MD of Bristow Nigeria could well be a Nigerian.
Both CHC and Bristow are sending Nigerian pilots overseas for ab-initio flight training (mostly to School 43 in SA at present, though that may change with Bristow having recently bought HAI - depending on visa issues in the USA for Nigerians).
ACN is Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited, a Nigerian company, with principally Nigerian directors, mostly from the Ibru family, who have many other interests such as banking (Oceanic Bank), fishing, hotels. With one or two notable exceptions such as the NLNG where the level of investment was such that the foreign investors demanded a 50% stake, Nigerian joint venture companies are at least 60% Nigerian owned. The Cyprus offices to which you referred are those of Aviation Personnel Recruitment and Management (APRAM). This was set up by Schreiner Airways, the former foreign partner in ACN, and was the vehicle for employment of expatriate pilots and engineers. There are only a few expats still employed on APRAM contracts. Since Schreiner was taken over by CHC, all new expat hires are now employed by CHC Global on very different contracts from the old APRAM ones and are paid in $CAD. The Ibru family, by and large leave the operational running of the company to CHC and the Managing Director is a Belgian. CHC have invested considerably more in terms of new equipment, than Schreiner did in its latter years, and they have turned the loss-making fixed wing division round into an expanding, successful and popular airline which was voted Nigerian Airline of the Year in 2005.
The GM for CHC Global in SA is indeed a Nigerian, as is the Bristow GM in the Northern North Sea. But then the Deputy MDs of both ACN abd Bristow are both Nigerian, and it seems like a good bet that the next MD of Bristow Nigeria could well be a Nigerian.
Both CHC and Bristow are sending Nigerian pilots overseas for ab-initio flight training (mostly to School 43 in SA at present, though that may change with Bristow having recently bought HAI - depending on visa issues in the USA for Nigerians).
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If a Nigerian, Angolan, Equatorial Guinean, Thai or little green man from Mars wants to go on the international circuit with CHC, Bristow, Heli Union etc etc there is NOTHING stopping them from applying to those companies for a job. These days even licensing is not as much of an issue as previously with local registered aircraft in lots of countries.
Before anyone jumps up and down and screams foul at that statement, YES, they do already work for the companies in question, but they applied for and got those jobs under terms THEY AGREED TO, so they can also apply for a job with Global Ops, Bristow International or whoever.
I worked for a member of the CHC group and when I asked to go onto the then International division I was told that I had to resign my current post and re-apply for International and go through the same selection as anyone else would.
Then they can earn the big bucks and also enjoy the luxury of being stuck in Bumfcuk, Thirdworld with sporadic internet and $15 per minute phone calls home, often looking over their shoulders all the time as they are foreigners and a target for mugging or kidnapping (funnily eneough because they are earning the big bucks).
Then the 12 hour day sometime becomes a reality where YOU get to decide for yourself on a single ship operation and you live by the decision, and the previously boring shift of 8 hours in PH or wherever where you got told to do this inspection on that machine before going home to mommy and the kids is a distant memory.
Then they can also eat camp food with the nationals from whichever country they are in knowing that their presence is resented and they are despised because of what they are, FOREIGNERS!
All that is holding them back is their own lack of will to improve their lot in life. The international circuit does NOT have a union to support you, and mommy and kiddies are FAR AWAY and often you need to rapidly learn a new language just so you can eat a halfway decent meal.
Take control of your own destinies, guys and if you think a strike is the way to go, then go on the international circuit and see where it gets you when you strike there. You will be lucky to get fired, lots of countries would chuck you in jail first just to make you realise there are no hard feelings.
Before anyone jumps up and down and screams foul at that statement, YES, they do already work for the companies in question, but they applied for and got those jobs under terms THEY AGREED TO, so they can also apply for a job with Global Ops, Bristow International or whoever.
I worked for a member of the CHC group and when I asked to go onto the then International division I was told that I had to resign my current post and re-apply for International and go through the same selection as anyone else would.
Then they can earn the big bucks and also enjoy the luxury of being stuck in Bumfcuk, Thirdworld with sporadic internet and $15 per minute phone calls home, often looking over their shoulders all the time as they are foreigners and a target for mugging or kidnapping (funnily eneough because they are earning the big bucks).
Then the 12 hour day sometime becomes a reality where YOU get to decide for yourself on a single ship operation and you live by the decision, and the previously boring shift of 8 hours in PH or wherever where you got told to do this inspection on that machine before going home to mommy and the kids is a distant memory.
Then they can also eat camp food with the nationals from whichever country they are in knowing that their presence is resented and they are despised because of what they are, FOREIGNERS!
All that is holding them back is their own lack of will to improve their lot in life. The international circuit does NOT have a union to support you, and mommy and kiddies are FAR AWAY and often you need to rapidly learn a new language just so you can eat a halfway decent meal.
Take control of your own destinies, guys and if you think a strike is the way to go, then go on the international circuit and see where it gets you when you strike there. You will be lucky to get fired, lots of countries would chuck you in jail first just to make you realise there are no hard feelings.
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Aero is a Nigerian company and CHC is not a majority shareholder. CHC does not dictate Aero's local benefits but helps local demands endlessly with 
loads of cash. Everybody knows that since CHC took over Schreiner, most of the local salaries tripled in a short time...
Leave CHC alone and ask Ibru family to review your status and benefits. If they can afford it, that is fine. If they can not afford it but still agree on all demands and eventually run our of business that is also fine.
The same would be if, for example, Kenya Airways ask one of the foreign shareholders (KLM, has 20 something %) to provide some crew on the common type due to shortage of pilots and local, Kenyan pilots ask for the same and nothing else but the same benefits as KLM pilots.
There are quite a few companies in the world where foreign airlines have shares and help run local airlines. Would Air Madagascar pilots ask for same salaries and benefits as AF just because Air France has 3% in the company??
Or would Air Tunga Lunga Captain ask his Tunga Lunga boss for the same salary as BA because when he went to London he had to land in the same fog as his British colleague on the same type?
Of course they can ask but they might not get it. This is capitalism and no space for social issues and emotions.
loads of cash. Everybody knows that since CHC took over Schreiner, most of the local salaries tripled in a short time... Leave CHC alone and ask Ibru family to review your status and benefits. If they can afford it, that is fine. If they can not afford it but still agree on all demands and eventually run our of business that is also fine.
The same would be if, for example, Kenya Airways ask one of the foreign shareholders (KLM, has 20 something %) to provide some crew on the common type due to shortage of pilots and local, Kenyan pilots ask for the same and nothing else but the same benefits as KLM pilots.
There are quite a few companies in the world where foreign airlines have shares and help run local airlines. Would Air Madagascar pilots ask for same salaries and benefits as AF just because Air France has 3% in the company??
Or would Air Tunga Lunga Captain ask his Tunga Lunga boss for the same salary as BA because when he went to London he had to land in the same fog as his British colleague on the same type?
Of course they can ask but they might not get it. This is capitalism and no space for social issues and emotions.
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I will have to start by saying that from Heli-Jet's inital posts, he/she had a little information, not intimate knowledge, and wanted to s4!t disturb.
Thankfully, others with better facts have piped up.
Any nation that has the resources locally to fill posiitons, will refuse to allow companies (especially in aviation) to use expats on any but very short terms.
Touring isn't an easy life and those that do will always need to be compensated for that.
The option always exists for the national pilots/engineers to leave the position they have and apply to fly elsewhere as a touring pilot/engineer.
I've had the fortunate (or unfortunate) experience to be both a national and an expat pilot, and have friends from other nations who have had similar experiences.
The grass isn't always greener.
You have to decide what is important to you and choose, noone in their right mind will just give you everything.
BTW: the pilots at HeliJet are not low-timers, they are generally high time but with limited S76 or offshore time and need to tick a couple boxes for the often ridiculous min captaincy requirements for customers like BP, and ExxonMobil.
Thankfully, others with better facts have piped up.
Any nation that has the resources locally to fill posiitons, will refuse to allow companies (especially in aviation) to use expats on any but very short terms.
Touring isn't an easy life and those that do will always need to be compensated for that.
The option always exists for the national pilots/engineers to leave the position they have and apply to fly elsewhere as a touring pilot/engineer.
I've had the fortunate (or unfortunate) experience to be both a national and an expat pilot, and have friends from other nations who have had similar experiences.
The grass isn't always greener.
You have to decide what is important to you and choose, noone in their right mind will just give you everything.
BTW: the pilots at HeliJet are not low-timers, they are generally high time but with limited S76 or offshore time and need to tick a couple boxes for the often ridiculous min captaincy requirements for customers like BP, and ExxonMobil.
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How many National Captains
Curious to know how many National Captains there are employed by CHC Global at their various bases worldwide. (third world) exclude Australia, UK, USA and Europe????
Thailand as you know is TAS so employes their own nationals, however after KS left they had replaced him with a local to run the show. However that was TAS not CHC.
Sonair in Angola also promoted their locals as CHC wouldn't so they promoted their own and supplied FO for CHC
Maybe the Nigerians should speak to TAS and Sonair. I believe Sonair are now looking at getting into Equatorial Guinea to startup Helicopter operations offshore
Thailand as you know is TAS so employes their own nationals, however after KS left they had replaced him with a local to run the show. However that was TAS not CHC.
Sonair in Angola also promoted their locals as CHC wouldn't so they promoted their own and supplied FO for CHC
Maybe the Nigerians should speak to TAS and Sonair. I believe Sonair are now looking at getting into Equatorial Guinea to startup Helicopter operations offshore
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HeliJet,
I'm not certain you are listening.
TAS and ACN are roughly equivalent entities. SonAir is a crown corp and all foreigners must partner with them but essentially the same thing again. This was all written about above.
Nigeria: 15-20 copilots, 25-30 captains
CP, D/CP, D/OpsO all Nigerian
Eq.Guinea: no local pilots, the president's son/nephew? ya, right.
gotta go.
I'm not certain you are listening.
TAS and ACN are roughly equivalent entities. SonAir is a crown corp and all foreigners must partner with them but essentially the same thing again. This was all written about above.
Nigeria: 15-20 copilots, 25-30 captains
CP, D/CP, D/OpsO all Nigerian
Eq.Guinea: no local pilots, the president's son/nephew? ya, right.
gotta go.
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Some Learn - some know it all already
Swamp,
You're right - but you're obviously a fast learner and H-J has a bit of excess ear wax (a trait I've found with a couple of guys from that background
). Ah well, some people arrive in Nigeria knowing they can change everything - some arrive and find that instead of changing Africa, it has changed them - they're the ones who last 
You're right - but you're obviously a fast learner and H-J has a bit of excess ear wax (a trait I've found with a couple of guys from that background
). Ah well, some people arrive in Nigeria knowing they can change everything - some arrive and find that instead of changing Africa, it has changed them - they're the ones who last
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Thai Pilots
Interesting topic ... well guys you should ask CB what she did when the Thai Captains wanted work outside of Thailand. Some guys got jobs with Malaysian helicopters. She went after them and approached the company to get them released so she could have them back with TAS. However they didn't get the Expat salary, as did the expats who live in Thailand married to Thai girls.... go ahead boys explain that one!!!!
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So how come there's a Thai pilot with CHC Global in Nigeria, being paid standard expat salary and a Nigerian pilot with CHC in Equatorial Guinea, also employed by CHC Global on a normal expat deal, not to mention the Filipino Captains.