What's New In W. Africa (Nigeria)
 

Opening post to preserve thread integrity.

PPRuNe Management

What's New In West Africa (Nigeria)
 

We don't seem to hear a lot of news from all the Rotorheads who work in West Africa, and I'm sure their are a lot out there as there's a lot of oil support flying going on there right now. Is this because of lousy comms from that part of the world or has the existence of PPRuNe not really gotten to there yet?
Well as this is a rumor network, here's a few I heard around the bazaars in the last few months:
In Equatorial Guinea CHC is having to bid to keep its contract. It's rumored to be looking for some Dauphin N3s to replace its present aircraft. Any news as to who the other bidders are?
In Nigeria, OLOG now seems to be operating as 2 separate companies. Is that because they're paying pilots in Escravos less than the rates Bristow is paying when operating under that name? It's also rumored that new operator Caverton Helicopters will be starting a shuttle service between Victoria Island and MM Airport with a couple of Agusta 109 Powers soon. It'll be interestin to see how the Power performs in Nigeria - and how good they are with spares back up. I guess they're not competing against Bristow or Aero yet, but I bet CHC must be looking on with interest after their failure to make any headway there as CHC Court a few years ago. I hope they have more luck in keeping going than Court, or the ill-starred venture of Okada some years back. Any rumors as to who's behind them? Talking of Bristow, has the EC155 performance been improved yet? Nobody else seems interested in it in that part of the world, most of the companies seem more interested in S76C+.
There are also rumors that CHC is now taking a look at buying Schreiner. Any PPRuNers heard more about that?
Bristow are also rumored to be sending a couple of 212s back into Mauritania again soon for an offshore exploration support contract.
Well PPRuNers out here in the Mangroves, how about you guys send us some information as to what's happening in this corner of the continent - Guns seems to be the only one who posts regularly;)

No answer yet!!!!
It's probably the "equatorial zero" syndrom...but, nevertheless a bunch of us is struggling hard to keep its blades spinning .
From the "heart of the darkness"
WAWA (West Africa Wins Again
:} )

Hi to all the other Chopper Drivers in WA (Not West Australia, but rather Africa!!)

Good time to get some rumours under control and get some facts on the table. All West Africa chopper drivers, please post your salary scales and benefits under this heading. It is time that I get some negotiating powers to secure a better deal.

I am also in WA keeping the NR at 293 and T5 within limits:ok:

Look forward to hear from all the other chopper boys.

Cheers,

Chopper Jog

For me it's about 280 usd per contract day + 40 "per diem" rotation schedule is normally 7weeks on-7weeks off ....nice life, sometimes a bit ashamed of my wages !:eek:

Chopper Jog, how about volunteering your own. One is always leery of one who asks without reciprocity. I have already posted a fair bit of wage rumour in the CHC info thread.

No sweat "Mate"

5 weeks on 5 weeks off, US$30000 basic salary with US$85/day whilst on tour. US$100000 Loss of licence insurance plus return airfaires.

That is it I am afraid!!

Cheers,

The Jog

Flying Southern Africa
 

I know its of the topic, but have done contract work in South Eastern Africa.Got paid US$250.00 per day with accomadation and food.
And this was all tax free:}
Was 4w on 2 w off.:hmm:

Cpt: presumably you're ashamed because they are so low!
When one takes into account lack of pensions, loss of licence, not earning when not working, etc etc it is a pittance.

Same goes with the other contributors, LOL of $100,000 isn't worth the paper it's written on really, is it? Especially with that sort of spending power these days.

It seems the WA arena is suffering like several other areas around the world.

Will the helo market ever sort its s*it out :sad:

Evergreen in Cote d´Ivoire and Togo paid from 20 years ago until about a year ago $2,500 dollars a month plus about $300 dollars that was kept in escrow until you finished your contract which had to be for at least for a year. You were also given something like 1,000 dollars for living expenses which was enough to live on. A couple of tickes home a year and that was it.

There was never a problem finding people from all over the world to go there since it was great experience.

Chopper Jog, I'm betting we know each other...

I'm making the equivalent of USD 54000 plus 40/day meals, 5/5 weeks, good benefits and pension.

PM me if you's like.

Well Thomas coupling, it's a bit provocative when I say I am ashame of my wages...no pension, no insurance when off-contract, nothing else than living expenses and believe it or not, it's not even (completly) free of taxes But still it's my choice, and I don't feel like a victim nor a slave, I'm just trying to imagine a nice way of dying when my retirement day will come, maybe is it just about time to start smoking:p One of the good thing is that we feel free this way ! ( sounds a bit dramatic this evening !):ok:

Just to help confirm a couple of Mama's rumours.
Caverton helicopters have just started an air taxi service in Lagos, flying from Murtala Muhammed Airport, to Victoria Island. They are flying AS355 helicopters.
Bristow Helicopters have started in Mauritania, flying 2 Bell 212's for Woodside Australia. This is expected to last for 4-5 months.

419

Caverton Helicopters
 

I was reading somewhere earlier this wk about Caverton and it said they had 4xEC135 on order for the taxi job and they already operated 2x109E on offshore security work for Nigerian Navy and/or the Petroleum Co. Doesn't quite tie up with the above though :confused:

CPT:

You obviously do not want to be contacted via the normal routes!

Would you mind putting an entry into the who's who thread and pictures thread, alongside the others.
It would be of interest to many of us to see who you are and what you boys do over there.

Many thanks, in advance,

TC

I'd just like to say thank you to all those guys who flew me around West Africa for the past 7 years - Bristows & ACN in Nigeria and CHC in Equatorial Guinea (on the Malabo-R F Bauer-Bata shuttle).

:ok: :O

Just in from the swamps.

If you visit MM airport, you'll see the new Caverton hangar being erected there - it's quite big. They haven't started operating yet, but have bought an A109E. They'll be starting a shuttle service from MM airport to a floating heliport at VI.

Who were the Bristow crew robbed on their way from Elelenwo to the IA in Port Harcourt recently? Anybody hurt or did the robbers just steal the laptops etc? Nigeria's not a healthy place to be at the moment from the look oif what's going on in Warri. Is it getting worse or better?

Any news on the rumored S76C+ for ACN in NIgeria?

What's happening with the CHC contract in Malabo - has it been renewed yet?

I've heard that Ed van Dam, the MD of ACN in Nigeria until a few months ago is now working for Bristow. Is he working for them in Nigeria or in some other part of the world?

What's up with all the west African Rotorheads? Just back from the swamps again and heard a few more rumours (it's PPRuNe yes?), though some more plank orientated.
No news on whether there will be a replacement for CHC on the Mobil contract in Malabo, though CHC are now building another heliport on the mainland of Equatorial Guinea because of the political difficulties of operating in Malabo.
Aero Contractors Nigeria rumoured to be replacing some of its Dash 8s with a Boeing 737 in a cost-cutting move. Some of the expat Dash 8 pilots will be laid off and the 737 will be operated by Jugoslavs. This is causing a lot of upset in ACN.

So Aero Contractors Boeing 737 arrived in Lagos yesterday. The Dash 8s were on a dry lease, but the 737 is on a wet lease - wonder if ACN will keep up their previously high standards?

Also a rumor that they're soon getting 2 new Dauphin N3s to add to their already large fleet of N, N1 and N2s.

One N3 is being configured in Schreiner's hangar in Holland. It was originally intended for marine pilot transfers but will probably head for Nigeria before Christmas.

This is too much like hard work if no other Rotorheads amongst the many, many who must be in W. Africa can be bothered to say anything - are you just uninterested or frightened your bosses may accuse you of such illegal acts as contributing to PPRuNe:confused:

Maybe the problem is that too many French pilots operating in Francophone countries in west Africa have not heard about PPRuNe or do not wih to reply in English. If that's what's bothering you, please post in French or even in very bad English - it surely can't be any worse than some of the efforts from supposed native English speakers on many of the threads. Contribute in English, French, Soanish or Portuguese - I'm sure there will be someone else who can translate it into English for those of us unfortunate enough (or lazy enough) to speak only one language.

Anybody heard about a Heli Union hard landing offshore Angola? What about rumors of a new contract on mainland Equatorial Guinea?

Maybe I'll just read Rotor and Wing if this is the level of rumors to which PP(Rumor)Ne has now fallen:eek:

Mama Mangrove

Keep your cool......don't get so upset!

But, you are on the money with the 365N incident....

The hard landing was on a barge offshore Angola. Barge was working for Exxon and helicopter was chartered by barge company not Exxon (365N not approved by Exxon)

Don't know whether it was Heli Union 365N sub leased to Sonair or whether it was Sonair's own 365N (or Emasa's) but had a tail strike on the barge apparently, nobody hurt but badly damaged. Happened sometime in early to mid October.

Also heard that Airlog/Pan/Bristow had a new Bell 412 damaged on ramp in Lagos while it was being delivered airfreight. Got hit by a speeding ground handling vehicle of some kind. Work team sent from UK/USA to fix it, it will take 8 weeks or so to fix.

LE

It was a Heli Union 365. Came in downwind I heard and banged the tail pretty hard, caved the bottom of the shroud in. Can happen to the best of us....

Dauphin was inspected the other day by Eurocopter reps but not sure what the outcome was... Think a fair bit more damage may have been discovered and being a straight N model , not sure about the economics of repair. From what I gather, the captain is looking for a new job.

Heh Coyote...

Hope you are ok. Your presence in Papa Romeo is missed!
:D

In recent days there was a report on the Nigerian politicos suggesting that their police should have '100 helicopters' to deal with a 'tide of robberies' etc.

From the prices quoted I guess we are talking about R22s or similar [please take some of the UK unwanted AS355s as well!] but the question raised is more whether there are enough pilots in being to support such a fleet.... this is an extract....




To stem the tide of armed robbery in the country early last month the House of Representatives passed a motion, asking the Federal Government to buy 100 helicopters for aerial patrols in the 36 states of the federation.
The cost of the helicopters, according to the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Datti Baba-Ahmed is approximately $100,000 each adding that about N1.4 billion would be needed to purchase the 100 helicopters.
Presenting the motion, Baba-Ahmed said the cost is affordable and not too much to keep Nigerians safe from the marauding men of the underworld.

Hello mama mangrove,

"pprune" is becoming popular and appreciated amongst french rotorheads around the gulf of Ginea and elsewhere.
But i have the feeling that for some reason,helicopter pilots in France are used to keep a low profile....there is an helicopter forum on the french site "www.radiocockpit.com" but not very active neither.
For your information don't worry for the AS365N captain who recently had this "hard landing" on an helideck in Angola....he is still flying on operation and not looking for another job as someones above believes.


:ok:

engineoff,

Coyote is AOK, largely because of my lack of presence in Papa Romeo!

Hello again MM,

CHC renewed in Malabo for ExxonMobil, 2 x SK76C+'s.

The new base construction on the mainland, I think your info is off?

Later...

Hi Helo Teacher,

Think you'll find that the new base on the mainland for Triton Oil, not Exxon/Mobil.

cpt - glad to hear that French rotorheads around the Gulf of Guinea read pprune. I hear that quite a few of them are now on the way to Nigeria for Schreiner. Hope they'll feel that they can contribute here without fear. A bientot.

MM

Yes, and more and more I am considering to join this part of the gulf myself....providing there is some room left! :hmm:
So see you sometimes then !

Mama,

You are correct in that Triton built a new facility, not for politics but for less transit time to their offshore facilities. I advised that your info was off because it was not built by CHC and had been completed for some time when your post was placed here.

Am I correct that you are operating in Nigeria? I am expecting to be going there shortly and was interested to know if I would be running into you??

HT,

Thanks for the updated information on the Triton base.

Interesting to hear that you're off to Nigeria. There's a lot a lot going on there, but we don't hear much about it on Prune. I don't operate there for an aviation company, but I have a lot of contacts there.

The 5 year CHI Malabo contract for Exxon (with 2 S76C+s) mentioned by HeloTeacher is to replace 2 212s currently in use wef March next year.

With their recent agreement , to provide 2 S76C+s to United Helicharter to support deepwater drilling offshore India, this appers to use up the 4 CHI S76C+ orders announced arround about the time of HeliTech: http://www.sikorsky.com/news_index/1...D5229,00.html.

Nigerian Hijacking - Ijaws again
 

Ijaw Youths in Fresh Protest, Seize Oil Flow Station

Vanguard (Lagos)

November 20, 2003
Posted to the web November 20, 2003

Kingsley Omonobi
Warri

ONE of the largest oil platforms in Bayelsa State, the Middleton oil flow station, located about 25 miles offshore, was yesterday over-run by Ijaw youths, with the Navy swiftly responding by deploying its fast attack craft to the platforms to recover the flow station. Middleton oil flow station is responsible for producing about 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day is operated by the Chevron/Texaco oil venture.

According to sources, the youths who seized the platform, used the creeks in the swampy waters leading to the flow station and were heavily armed with such weapons as grenades, submachine guns and AK-47 rifles.

Among many other things, the youths are demanding payment of N260 million to a security outfit made up of Bayelsans living in Foropa Bakolgo for the provision of security to the flow station in the past. They are also demanding compensation in respect of the recent oil spill to be paid to all the Chevron/Texaco host communities.

They want another N3 million paid to the territorial security outfit (Bini-Oru) and employment given to the Bini-Oru surveillance team and 1,000 persons employed at N150,000 as salary per person.

Also demanded is the provision of two speed boats with double seven-horse power Yamaha engine and the provision of a technical college to be sited at Foropa Kingdom, and construction of major roads in Foropa Kingdom, a town hall project as well as construction of a landing jetty at Foropa Kingdom.

Informed sources told Vanguard that following the seizure of the platform, Nigeria would be losing about $145 million in income daily.

The hijacking of the Middleton oil platform is coming barely two weeks after Ijaw youths issued an ultimatum to Chevron/Texaco operated Okan oil fields located between Warri and Bayelsa to either meet similar demands or risk the seizure of the platform.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that Naval warships stationed in Warri with responsibility for provision of off-shore security for the Niger Delta, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Ologbo had swung into action with a view to dislodging the youths. According to sources, the lives of expatriates workers in the platform as well as equipment are so important that the Navy would not want to take chances during the operation.

The two Naval warships (C-cat series) which recently apprehended seven ships engaged in bunkering have closed capabilities to engage close range and medium range aggressors as well as trained seamen for on-shore patrol confrontation.

allAfrica.com

and
Militants seize Nigerian oil platforms, hold 14 workers
An armed gang has stormed two US-owned oil platforms in the sea off southern Nigeria and is holding 14 workers captive, energy giant ChevronTexaco said.

Chevron Nigeria's public affairs manager Sola Omole said in a statement that 18 Nigerian workers were on the rigs when the assailants arrived, but four have already been released.

"So far, no one has been reported injured," he said.

The gang are members of a security outfit recruited from the local ethnic Ijaw community by ChevronTexaco to protect the rigs.

They are reported to be demanding a huge cash payout.

The rigs - the Pennington and the Middleton platforms - lie a short distance off the shore of Bayelsa State, part of the oil-rich but socially troubled Niger Delta region.

"Senior officials of the Bayelsa State Government are helping with the negotiations to ensure a safe and peaceful resolution of the incident," Omole said.

"The management of the Chevron Nigeria Ltd has reported the incident to federal security agencies," he added.

According to a report in the Nigerian daily The Vanguard, the gang is armed with assault rifles, and two Nigerian navy patrol boats have been sent to the area.

ABC online

Navy Rescues Chevron Hostages
 

A kidnapper was gunned down yesterday and 20 of his colleagues arrested when a Nigerian Navy ship on rescue mission swooped on them at the Pennington oil flowstation where the armed bandits have held hostage 18 workers of US oil major, Chevron Texaco, in the last two days.

The rescue operation was launched by the Joint Military Task Force on the Niger Delta, with the Naval warship NNS Kyanwa in the lead.

At least one of the hostages was seriously injured during the rescue operation.

THISDAY gathered that the rescue operation was made more difficult by the fact that the kidnappers wielded highly sophisticated arms and resisted being dislodged.

"One of the hostage-takers was killed and a Chervon staff seriously wounded in the course of the operation," a top official of the military task force told THISDAY on the phone.

The youths, our cheeks revealed, stormed the flowstation on Tuesday demanding the immediate payment of N260 million to an indigenous security company said to have worked for Chevron on the platform. They also demanded for compensation for oil spillages that allegedly occurred in the area in the recent past.

The workers were abducted on Wednesday when the youths of Bini-Oru Security from the Foropa Community stormed ChevronTexaco's Middleton and Pennington Oil Platforms off the coast of Bayelsa State.

The action has since led to loss of 300 barrels of oil per day (bpd) following the closure of the Middleton platform.

The international oil market reacted swiftly to the attack on the US oil firm, with crude prices rising sharply to $32 per barrel.

Chevron said in a press statement signed by the company's General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mr. Sola Omole, that following intense negotiations with the youths, four of the kidnapped workers was initially released.

"Fourteen persons are still being held by those who boarded the facilities. So far, no one has been reported injured," the company said.

Chevron said the incident has been reported to federal security agencies. It added that both the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Reso-urces (DPR) and other state agencies, had also been informed of the kidnap.

"Senior officials of the Bayelsa State Government were helping with the negotiations to ensure a safe and peaceful resolution of the incident," it stated.

Wednesday's abduction of Chevron workers, was the second of such attack on the company's personnel in two weeks. Early last week, 12 oil workers were kidnapped on the Escravos waters on their way to production facilities. The 12 were released later.

The latest issue almost disrupted participation of ChevronTe-xaco in the Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Exporationists (NAPE) in Abuja, as its representatives hurriedly evacuated their exhibition stand.

"This onslaught is getting too much, it seemed the youths have turned it into a big-time business," said a senior official of the company. Chevron said in the statement that it was prepared to take further actions deemed necessary to ensure the safety of its personnel and protect the NNPC/Chevron joint venture's assets.

It would be recalled that Chevron, Nigeria's third biggest oil producer, has been losing 140,000 bpd of its oil output since last July, after the company was forced to close all its swamp production facilities following rising ethnic violence in the Warri area of Delta State.

The Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), a body of gas producing and distribution companies, said yesterday it was worried by the incessant youth restiveness, which it said, was induced by the deep sense of marginalisation in the Niger Delta.

According to the spokesman of the group, Mr. Mike Owhoko, the body will hold a stakeholders' session next week to look at how host communities could be involved in the effective management of crisis to reduce threats.

NGA noted that the unrest in the Niger Delta has eaten deep into Federal Government revenue.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian kidnap saga, coupled with yesterday's multiple explosions in Istanbul, Turkey and reports of a possible decline in US crude oil stocks, sent oil prices to a high $32.92 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange .

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Alvaro Silva, said the group will produce more oil if prices remain outside its $22-$28 a barrel band.

OPEC has pledged to keep its basket price within the range by raising output by 500,000 barrels a day if the basket price holds above $28/bbl for 20 consecutive trading days, or lowering output by 500,000 b/d if the basket price stays below $22/bbl for 10 consecutive trading days.

OPEC will meet on December 4, to settle new target output ceilings. It cut production by 3.5 percent last September to defend the band after a sudden steep fall in prices triggered fears of a price collapse.

From THISDAY news

I know these two postings have not been directly relevant to rotorheads, but in the spirit of this thread "What's new in West Africa" I thought they are relevant. Anyone who's flown there knows the real and ongoing dangers of being hijacked, and the current situation whether or not it involves helicopters or pilots on this occasion, is relevant, I believe. Anyway, at least this particular event is over. It won't be the last time we see similar things with the Ijaws, or particularly the Ijaw youth, though.

If anyone wants some pic's of F-GFYU I got some when we took the EC boys up to FNSO.

and..... Coyote, you in @ the moment or is able seaman bubble eyes in town:E

see you next month

Coyote is out at the mo...

I see that Caverton Helicopters hangar at Lagos (which is really big and looks very well put together) is about finished and their office or terminal building seems to be doing well, but there´s no sign of any helicopters yet. Does anybody know what´s happening to them? I don´t know of any pilots they´ve hired. There was a lot about them in the local papers here some months ago, but now all has gone quiet.

I hear they have an Agusta 109 they're buying in Europe, but I don't know if they've hired any pilots or mechanics yet, except for one expat who seems to be working in Lagos now. There are rumors the Chief Pilot is a South African.
I hope they don't go the way of Okada, who hired in a couple of PZL Swidniks and Polish crews and got nowhere with them. There was also the Court S76 which was operating as Stillwater, but even with an oil company contract, they failed to break into the Nigerian market and pulled out after a couple of years (though I guess they'll be back again now in their new CHC guise after they take over ACN). Caverton sure seem to be spending money if they've paid for that big new hangar, so I guess they're serious.