You are a Non-Brit...your contract (Letter of Appointment) is with BIAGLE (a Jersey, Channel Islands shell corporation)...seconded to Bristow Helicopters Ltd (Nigeria)...live outside the UK...work in Nigeria...contract terms clearly state the work schedule can be changed at will by the company...also...in the fine print...a two year contract period only counts the time "in Nigeria" towards completion of the contract...thus it takes three years to complete a two year contract.

Just how much chance do you have at winning some sort of legal action?


Get real!

If you don't like the setup....pack yer trash...and go find another job....saves you a lot of expense in the long run.

Now tell me we don't need an International Union of some kind?

One man's opinion.:(

Bristow really sounds like a bad company to work for these days, Faceless suits treat staff like crap, moral is low and its business is going down the tubes.
Would that be a fair assesment?

SASless you are straight to the point as usual :ok: - and I've no doubt you are right. What a shame though.

Interesting thread for sure. A Helicopter Pilot who believes a company will honor a contract and is willing to seek legal assisstance to resolve matters.
I think SASless said it all. If you dont like the situation, dont let the door hit you on the way out. Many jobs out there for experienced Helicopter Pilots, very few are Careers.

SASLess.... An International Pilots Union.......Excellent Idea!
But, unfortunately our biz is a 'Dog Eat Dog' World.:cool:

How do you get 100,000 Helipilots to 'down tools' collectively?

A thought from one at the bottom of the pile. BHL management never increased the staff to cater for a 7/5 schedule anyway. Just ask the Warri Chief- Pilot how many times he did night standby with the duty engineer as his appointed P2. (Whoops but we mustn't talk about that must we in case the NCAA are looking at this site). Coupled with Exxon-Mobil's decision to clear out all the 57+ "crumblies" from Eket and 8/4 in the ever present cost cutting mania was inevitable. Still with the imminent arrival of 10 East European states within the EU it won't be long before even the Malaysians/Indonesians/South Africans etc will be replaced with East Europeans once their licences are validated. Byeoh, ambi.

International Pilot Union
 

You guys and gals should check out this website
PHPA

This is a union that oprates from USA and they're goal is to help all helicopter pilots all over the world to get equal salary and benefits from their operators. We are here couple of pilots in Iceland that are members in this union and I believe that they will do good things for this profession.

Also I know of some members in Spain and Norway.

Work in Africa
 

Just wondering if there is any work available in Africa at the moment, and what companies are good/bad to fly with.

I hear Nigeria is a bit of a mess at the moment, but am open to almost location. Thanks in advance,

AR

Bristow's Africa
 

Do any of you out there have a postal address for the Bristow Helicopters Operation in Mauritania, Africa?

Trying to get hold of someone!!!!!!

Cheers,

Blind.

Last time I needed to get hold of a friend working for Bristow’s in Nigeria, I mailed it to Redhill and they forwarded it.
See no reason why this should not work for Mauritania as well, hope this helps.

YOUR MATE'S NAME,
Mauritania operation,
c/o Bristow Helicopters Limited,
Redhill Aerodrome,
Redhill,
Surrey
RH1 5JZ

Simple as that. hope it helps !!

Thanking you both kindly!!!!!!1

helicopter jobs in Iv. Coast
 

It seems that an helicopter company in Ivory Coast ( IAS based in ABJ ? ) is urgently looking for helicopter pilots qualified on SA 365 ( C model) with a curent IR rating and offshore experience.
Any other news on this ?

.....and a very small brain would help.

Just turned down a job in that neck of the woods - as the other fellow said, turn on the TV and see what's happening, very sad indeed.

AR

Doesn't sound too good, to say the least!!!

But since I don't really have thousands of hours but am qualified on the 365 and hold FATPL (JAA) and a valid IR(JAA) (and need a job), has someone got some details on this???

Tried to look it up, but doesn't seem to be too much info regarding Ivory coast on the web.

Cheers,

trim string

Hello Tim String....

Maybe could you try to call directly to ABJ at these numbers
++225 21278381
or
++225 07075254
or
++225 07305561

I am considering to join myself ( no worries, I have watched TV, read papers, and I am very familiar with Africa....)

Good luck.

Hi Cpt,

Thanx a lot for the contact numbers!!! Will give them a ring tomorow.

Can you send me a PM with your email, tried to PM you but it is switched off, or just send me an email if u want through my profile. If it is ok, I would like to ask you a few things.

Cheers,

Trim string

Hello Trim String...

Despite all my trials, I have never managed to activate mail and private messages facilities with pprune (maybe because of the very small brain SASless is suggesting in a former post:rolleyes: )
Did you manage to call at the indicated numbers ?

The legendary Allain Tyrbas-de-Champs-de-Grace is supposed to be running the Mauertanian operation for Bristow.......plenty of potential for turnover there..always has been anyhere he ran things for BHL. Get those CV's in....

Sacre Bleu! Break! Check Six! Check Six! Merde!

SAS less,

No need to duck - there are just too many people who no longer work for Bristow as a direct result of the legendary 'Tyreburst'! Maybe they'd have less problems with pilot numbers in Nigeria right now if he weren't still with the company - but they never learn.

trim string

I hear Caverton may be looking for a 365 pilot and they don't need as many hours as ACN. Try an e-mail to their Ops manager, [email protected]

Hi Tokunbo,

Thanx, will give it a try!

Cheers,

Trim String

Age Limits
 

Does anyone know if Bristow or CHC enforce any age limits on pilots working in Africa?

Ask the over 57 years old Bristow pilots that got the heave-ho at their Eket Mobil operation.....along with the North Sea guys that got dumped by age and seniority....the older and more senior got the pink slips. Ask the Bristow pilots that had to retire and find themselves doing the same job as contractors at Warri and Port Harcourt.

Nope....just the normal limitations imposed by the authorities.....yeah right!

Also...remember the conversion training selection process...especially when the 155 came along.....sorry mate...but you are too old was a common refrain to many.

Decent wage flying EMS in Africa
 

Hi ppruners!

What do you think would be a fair salary for flying EMS in a light twin out in safe West Africa ?
Contract would be 2 months on / 1 off or 3 months on / 1 off.

Depends if you are talking the Western part of South Africa ie: Namibia way, or the real Western Africa up in the north.

"Safe" West Africa? 3 and 1....nope...uh uh....unless the money is really...really good.

Think 6 weeks and 6 weeks....like CHC does in Nigeria....or 4 weeks and 4 weeks like Chevron does in Angola....or Nigeria. Even Bristow is doing 7 weeks and 5 weeks in Nigeria.

3 pigs a goat and 2 pygmies....per month, of course.

How about USD 52000 plus health insurance and pension, free housing and in-house food.
Free roundtrip tickets home.

Cheers

Goodgrief

That is absolute peanuts compared to
the big two in West Africa- return airfares
are the norm, not a package incentive.

Maybe you should contact CHC or
Bristow if you are considering a career
in West Africa, as you may be quite
suprised over the pay difference.

Just a thought- good luck.

M

Been there, done it .. I will not go back for less than $100k , free all ... with "food allowances" (booze) of $30 per day.

Make sure payment is in advance.

If it has anything to do with ANY goverment - do not waist your time mate.

Payment in advance -they slip once - leave !

Never stay longer than 60 days - will drive you nuts - believe me ..

All the best and good luck.

If you want to mention more - more help can come (country etc ..)

Cheers,

Gunsss

"Decent wage flying EMS in Africa "

Look up 'Oxymoron' in the dictionary!

Now, 'Offshore' is a different story, as Makila hints at......

Gunss has the basics right and you really should take his advice, the other contributers are right, basically CHC or Bristows otherwise be ready for some real fun and no that is not a descent wage.

Now which company is offering that kind of roster?

I think I have a good idea, do yourself a favour, DON'T DO IT.

Go on give us a hint to who you might be playing with or which country.

Hi Goodgrief,

If not on rotation, I should be looking for something at not less than 7000 usd /month + car,+housing,+health insurance, or allowances for it ( try also, to get something for communicatios) and one air ticket (with family if applicable) for yearly leave
It's about what I had in this area of operation a short while ago, was living well with this.

Starlite Aviation
 

Any voortrekkers using this forum working for Starlite Aviation in Sudan?. If so would appreciate an intelligence update by PM.
Cheers, airspeed alive

BO105 Position in Africa
 

We are currently looking for an Experienced Bolkow 105 pilot, preferably with NVG experience, to work on a short term contract in Southern Sudan. The position may become permanent after the initial period. The contract starts in May and would initially run for two months.
It is most likely that this contract will be extended indefinitely, and even if it is not, the helicopter would return to it’s previous duties working in the HEMS role out of Uganda. (We have a permanent base at the main hospital in Kampala). We would want you to take over the running of this operation in that case.
The head office of the company is based in Nairobi and we operate BO 105LS, AS355N, AS350B2, and Enstrom 280 and 480T.

If you are interested in the position, PM me or email [email protected]
Salary is not yet fixed and would to some extent depend on the experience of the candidate, but it should be in the order of US$6,000 per month for a full time employee of the company. It is anticipated that the Sudan Rota would be based on a 6 weeks on / 2weeks off schedule.

A few suggestions here. Could you advise on the role of the machine in the Sudan operation? How do you plan to use it?

Also, better wages and a better (equal time) schedule would probably get you some decent replies for the position. Permanent job in Kenya sounds interesting, though.

Later,

not the same Jay Chandler whose MQ at Shawbury was full of fish?

Gidday Jay
 

Hope all is well with you guys.

Cheers Shane

Remuneration now likely to be $300 per day with flights in and out.
Main work will be medevac plus general pax charter around Southern Sudan. Aircraft is being operated on behalf of Unity Resources Group who will provide all the flight bookings etc.