The landscape may change. Reincarnated OAS, Genesis with the ex Shell 155s and Omni Blu must all be looking for business.

NEO

The winds of change are blowing...!

Any idea who it is working for ?

NEO

Thread rename?
 

Neo - maybe it should be "Is there anyone left in West Africa"?

Or at least anyone on prune.

Some news apparently: New Training Manager for BRS AFR - George S. Departed - Matt Newman new incumbent!

Trog

AFR?
 

its now EAMEA

Slash & Burn
 

Massive expansion in Nigerian Helicopter operators.

How Aviation Companies In Nigeria Obtain Air Operators? Certificates With Borrowed Helicopters | Sahara Reporters

How Aviation Companies In Nigeria Obtain Air Operators’ Certificates With Borrowed Helicopters

Nigerian airline operators, SaharaReporters can exclusively reveal, borrow helicopters from one another to dupe the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) into issuing them Air Operators’ Certificates (AOCs). The AOC, which authorizes an operator to carry out specific commercial air transport operations, is issued once the NCAA is satisfied that the operator has the required personnel, assets, and systems to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public.

BY SAHARA REPORTERS, NEW YORK MAY 31, 2017

Nigerian airline operators, SaharaReporters can exclusively reveal, borrow helicopters from one another to dupe the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) into issuing them Air Operators’ Certificates (AOCs).

The AOC, which authorizes an operator to carry out specific commercial air transport operations, is issued once the NCAA is satisfied that the operator has the required personnel, assets, and systems to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public.

An operator applying for AOC is required to have an air transport license (ATL) from the NCAA, which permits it to operate scheduled passenger or cargo air services in the country.

A document exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters showed that no fewer than 27 intending operators have applied for the all-important certification. Seven of these, the document showed, are currently dormant, while 11 of the applications are being scrutinized at the fact-finding stage.

Nine others are at different phases.

A source close to one of the AOC applicants told SaharaReporters that some of the operators use the same helicopters previously presented by others to obtain AOCs from the NCAA.

The source disclosed that Omni-Blue Aviation Services, a helicopter charter company, which obtained AOC in 2016, used a borrowed helicopter, Bell 206 ( Registration Number 5N-BQW to obtain AOC from the NCAA.

The same helicopter, he added, is now being used by another company, Quorum Aviation, which is seeking to get its AOC from the NCAA.

The helicopter in question, this website gathered, is currently not airworthy and has been flown to the United States for repairs, a reason the AOC process is stalled.


“Bell 206 with the number 5N-BQW that is being used for AOC acquisition is faulty. Most of the equipment on board have expired and they have had to send it abroad for an overhaul. The NCAAinsisted that the aircraft must be in order before OAC processes could continue.

“The company had to send the aircraft to the US for maintenance, which has further slowed down our processes. The same helicopter was used by Ombi-Blue Aviation Services used to get its AOC from NCAA. After it got the certificate, it returned it to the rightful owner. Now, the company doesn’t have any helicopter in its fleet, but it has an AOC from NCAA,” revealed the source.

He added that nothing is currently happening in the company he works with and the sponsors have told staff that they won’t pay salaries until the AOC is obtained and flight operations commence. When will this be? “We don’t know when it will be,” replied the source.

Bristow Helicopters and OAS Helicopters are two of the major operators using Bell 206 for charter service operations.

Also, most of the companies use one aircraft instead of the two required from AOC applicants by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

A source close to a company operating helicopter services told our correspondent that most of the companies borrow aircraft and return them to the owners, effectively duping the NCAA into issuing them AOCs.

In addition, many operators are also said not to be paying their staff the salaries stated in their letters of appointment. They are said to cook up pay slips indicating appropriate salary payments in order to obtain AOCs. There are those who do not pay at all.

A company currently undergoing the AOC process, it was revealed, has not paid its workers for five months, but presented to the NCAA documents indicating that the staff had been paid up to date.

Those that are not owing salaries, SaharaReporters gathered, pay a monthly stipend of N50,000 to their technical staff.

It was also gathered that among the 27 operators that have applied for AOCs is New Okada Airlines owned by Benin businessman, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. New Okada is among the 11 that are at the fact-finding phase of the process.
Others at the same stage are Manyatta Engineering Services, Air Stream Aviation, Baltic Airlines, Meridian Airlines, Millennium Travels and Tours, Onedot Aviation, Oriental Airlines, Prime Air
Services, Private Airlines Service And Trebet Aviation Aerospace Nigeria
Limited.

Also, seven of the applicants for AOCs are dormant, having been abandoned by promoters. They are Air Taraba, Air First (abandoned Since 2015), Dominion Air Limited, Glory Airlines, Mounthill Aviation Resources Limited, Revilo and Xejet.
Only nine of the applicants are active and are at different stages of completion. These are Air Jupiter (Stage 3), Continental Aerospace Limited (Stage 3), Fye Air Shuttle (No Stage), Jet
Leasing Support (Phase 3), Quorum Aviation (Phase 3), Toucan Airlines (Phase 4), Tropical Arctic (Phase 3), 1060 Airways (No Stage) And Jet
Support Services (Phase 2).


Helicopter

LIST OF PROSPECTIVE AIR OPERATORS UNDERGOING AOC CERTIFICATION PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NIG. CARs 2015

EXPLORATORY STAGE

Manyatta Engineering Services

Air Stream Aviation

Baltic Airlines

Meridian Airlines

Millenium Travels and Tours

Onedot Aviation

Oriental AIRLINES

Prime Air Services

Private Airlines Service

Trebet Aviation

Aeropsace Nigeria Limited

New Okada

DORMANT STAGE

Air Taraba (Stage 3-Dormant)

Air First (abandoned since 2015)
Dominion Air Limited (Phase 1-Dormant)

Glory Airlines (Phase 1-Dormant)
Mounthill Aviation Resources Limited (Phase 1-Dormant)

Revilo (Phase 4-Dormant)

Xejet (Stage 3-On hold).

ACTIVE STAGE

Air Jupiter (Stage 3)

Continental Aerospace Limited (Stage 3)

Fye Air Shuttle (No stage)

Jet Leasing Support (Phase 3)

Quorum Aviation (Phase 3)

Toucan Airlines (Phase 4)

Tropical Arctie (Phase 3)

1060 Airways (No stage)

Jet Support Services (Phase 2)

No surprise. Same thing has been happening in F/W for ages.

NEO

NEO, indeed no surprise, I have been approached by three of the mentioned named, needless to say I didn't take up their offers, they didn't like my terms and conditions ! ! !

bluesafari,

Good call. It's not an easy road and the well established operators are struggling. There have been so many fixed wing operators who have tried and failed, despite having well connected big money people backing them.

NEO

I got to thinking....bad thing for me to do.....I was considering the Thread Title and it struck me as it really is poorly chosen.

There is nothing new in W. Africa.....different day.....same old sad situation.

It does not get better....just different.

One just cannot make a Silk Purse out of a Sow's Ear.

The tragedy is what could be a prosperous nation is doomed to failure and it is its own doing.

Good folks there just don't have a chance.

Sasless,

During my 23 years in Nigeria I had the good fortune to work with and meet socially many good people. Some were better off than others, but whatever their backgrounds they were good hearted, well intentioned people who simply aspired to build a better life for themselves and their families. Exactly the same as good people all over the world.

However as you alluded, they are hamstrung by a broken system. Starting a business anywhere else is a matter of finding a niche then capitalising your business to fill it. In Nigeria that applies; however in addition one is compelled to add paying off the local youth, community, Local Government officials etc. Then source a generator and pay for diesel to run it, sort out supply chain issues through corrupt ports/airports and on and on et al.

Countless failed endeavours and broken dreams with no end in sight.

NEO

I am hearing a story that Glory Airlines (a reference in #5489) has access to 2 helicopters and a contract with an oil company to be operated out of PH. Aircraft types and oil company not known. The operation to include rescue and emergency duties. Anybody else know more about this? NEO, you have your ear to the ground, do you know anything?
Bluesafari

Nigerian Air Force crash landing
 

https://m.guardian.ng/news/naf-helicopter-crashes-into-water-in-borno-aib-set-to-probe-suntais-plane-mishap-of-2012/

Movers & Shakers
 

bluesafari,

Maybe an indigenous (not a real word by the way !) oil company ? I haven't heard of any multinationals changing loyalties apart from a possible move by Chevron. Glory are definitely new to the game, along with Genesis.

The OAS/ADA AW139 is doing ad hoc work and some bits and bobs for indigenous companies. As I recall Total don't like their eggs in one basket and always spread the love (or hassle, stress and unreasonable demands) between companies; maybe they're using it when their other resources are stretched/unserviceable etc ?

Possible changes in the pipeline at a very senior level in BHNL; can't confirm.

All this is why I miss Nigeria; anything and everything is possible, even the improbable and implausible ! ;)

Cheers,

NEO

From Oz to Africa.

How many reorganisations can this company stand? It might appear to some that this is full flight panic and meltdown mode. Chapter 11 anyone?

I guess the recent Global restructure caused his return to the Motherland. That could provide an escape plan for the incumbent who has been rushed back in every time there's a problem, poor guy.

What's happening with PAAN ? I hear there are serious issues with the government push to hand CNL to Caverton ?

NEO

Just in time for the Earnings Report and conference call. Been a bit quiet from that part of the World for a while.

https://guardian.ng/news/bristow-pil...atriate-quota/

Oh dear. That old chestnut. I thought National pilots and engineers had parity ages ago ?

NEO