Nigeria – OAS to partner with Gulf Helicopters
Source: OAS Helicopters, 15-Mar-13
OAS Helicopters has entered into partnership agreement with Gulf Helicopter Company, Doha, Qatar in the Middle East for the provision of services to the upstream oil and gas sector in Nigeria. OAS and GHC agreed to work together in a technical relationship whereby GHC would provide technical expertise to OAS including provision of any helicopter [...]
Caverton Helicopters orders three more AW139s
Source: AgustaWestland, 07-Mar-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Caverton Helicopters has signed a contract for an additional three AW139 helicopters to support new clients in the West African sub-region. Caverton currently operates six AW139’s performing offshore transport missions in support of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and is the largest operator of [...]
Bell confirms HeliHub.com stories on Nigerian 429s
Source: Bell, 25-Feb-13
Four weeks ago, HeliHub.com ran two stories on Bell 429s being delivered into Nigeria Jan 23 -Nigerian Police receive a Bell 429 Jan 24 -First EMS Bell 429 arrives in Nigeria for NEMA And then on Friday February 22nd, Bell issued the following:- Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery [...]
Nigeria validates higher weight Bell 429
Source: Bell, 21-Feb-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has validated the Bell 429 for operation in Nigeria and endorsed the Bell 429 gross weight increase to 3402 kg (7,500 lbs.). Nigeria is the fifteenth country to approve the increased maximum gross weight for the Bell 429 [...]
Osun State Government lease AS355N for police work (or VIP?)
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Feb-13
Sources in Nigeria are saying that the Osun State Government has commenced a lease with OAS Helicopters for a Eurocopter AS355N – the one we reported here that they had recently bought from Sky Helicopters in Spain. In a statement, the state governor’s media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the helicopter is to support its [...]
Castle Air sells AW Grand to Nigeria
Source: HeliHub.com, 08-Feb-13
UK’s Castle Air has recently sold an AW109S Grand to Nigeria – and delivered it by air. Coverage on the company’s Facebook page indicates that the route followed the West Africa coast via Mauretania, Ivory Coast and Ghana before arriving at Lagos in Nigeria. The purchaser is Azikel Dredging, who started in the business supplying [...]
Bristow Nigeria working with local schools in CSR programne
Source: Daily Trust, 05-Feb-13
Bristow Helicopters has distributed school kits to 400 pupils from four community schools as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme (see full story)
First EMS Bell 429 arrives in Nigeria for NEMA
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-Jan-13
Yesterday we recorded a Bell 429 arriving in Nigeria last Thursday for the Nigerian Police – but actually it was one of a pair arriving on the same shipment. The second, in a striking orange and white scheme is for NEMA – the National Emergency Management Agency – and is in an EMS configuration. Still [...]
Nigerian Police receive a Bell 429
Source: HeliHub.com, 23-Jan-13
The first Bell 429 arrived in Nigeria last Thursday, marked up in the colours of the Nigerian Police. Still lacking blades, boom and with plenty of packaging still in place, the helicopter was photographed out in the open at Lagos Airport pending a short land trip to the Police hangar read for preparation and test [...]
Nigeria suspends import of private helicopters
Source: Punch, 22-Jan-13
The Nigerian Government has suspended the importation of all private airplanes, helicopters and other lighter aircraft into the country, pending a new policy being agreed and implemented (see full story)
Nigeria – OAS Helicopters add AS355N
Source: HeliHub.com, 17-Jan-13
Nigerian operator OAS Helicopters have recently bought a Eurocopter AS355N from Spain. The red and white aircraft is serial 5746 and previously registered EC-JXP with Sky Helicopters. This brings the OAS fleet to three helicopters and one jet – the others are as follows 5N-BLI AS350B2 (serial 3840) 5N-BPD AS355N (serial 5641) 5N-BOZ EMB145 jet [...]
Nigerian Air Force take delivery of first two R66s
Source: Mornington-Sanford Aviation, 21-Dec-12
The Nigerian Air Force Invites the World Famous “Pink Shirt” (Richard Mornington-Sanford) to their base in Enugu to conduct a Robinson R66 with RR300 engine Type training Course and assemble their first two R66 helicopters. 11 technicians (including two members of the Nigerian Aviation Authority) attended the theoretical element of the course, which was conducted [...]
Change at the top as Aerocontractors restructured
Source: Vanguard, 11-Dec-12
The Managing Director of Aero Contractors Airlines Captain Akin George has resigned, shortly after the announcement of a restructuring exercise of the operator carried out by its owners – the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (see full story)
Formation of Atlantic Aviation creates new force in Nigeria
Source: Jagal Group, 06-Nov-12
Jagal Group today announced the operational start-up of its subsidiary Atlantic Aviation, a helicopter-transportation company providing services to Nigeria’s oil-and-gas industry. Atlantic Aviation is supported by CHC Helicopter, a world leader in providing high-quality helicopter services to customers with offshore O&G platforms and vessels. Atlantic Aviation has been issued an air-operating certificate (AOC) and is [...]
First LongRanger L4 arrives for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Sep-12
First first of two Bell 206L4 LongRangers has arrived in Lagos for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology – serial 52421 and still carrying registration N449XB. This aircraft is currently registered to Africair Inc and is expected to be cancelled by the FAA shortly and will take up local registration 5N-BZB. A second L4 is [...]
Nigerian Police add two more Bell 412s
Source: HeliHub.com, 18-Sep-12
The Nigerian Police have recently added two more Bell 412EPs to bring their fleet of the type to six. Serials 36576 and 36577 – test flown as N455ZT and N4554L – arrived last week in Lagos after shipment across the Atlantic. Both aircraft are shown on the FAA register as 2011 builds and have yet [...]
Nigeria’s Caverton Helicopters appointed as an AW Authorized Service Centre
Source: AgustaWestland, 12-Jul-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Caverton Helicopters of Nigeria has been appointed an AgustaWestland Authorized Service Centre for the AW139 intermediate twin helicopter in Nigeria., Caverton’s Service Centre based in West Africa’s commercial hub, Lagos, will provide maintenance and repair services and an extensive a spare parts inventory for the type, [...]
Nigeria Air Force to inaugurate helicopter flying school in Enugu
Source: Vanguard, 18-Jun-12
The Nigeria Air Force has completed its International Helicopter Flying School in Enugu and may inaugurate it in July, an official has said – although they don[‘t go as far as naming what helicopter types they will use (see full story) See also Gearbox failures lead Nigerian Air Force to sell Mi-34 fleet
Nigerian military revamps A109 hangar at Lagos
26-Apr-12
The Nigeriam military have refurbished their A109 Maintenance Hangar in Lagos, in partnership with AgustaWestland (see full story)
Nigerian Air Force refurbishes two Super Pumas
Source: This Day, 19-Mar-12
The Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed while commissioning the two helicopter gunships Friday at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said it would boost current defence efforts in the country. (see full story)
Nigerian CAA commits to work towards approval of night flying
Source: HeliHub.com, 21-Feb-12
The Nigerian CAA have rejected a recent application from helicopter operators to commence night flying in the West African cuontry. Director-General, Dr Harold Demuren, confirmed the situation during a meeting with major oil companies and helicopter operators in his office in Lagos – including representatives from the Directorate of Petroleum Regulations, Total, Chevron Oil, ConOil, [...]
Caverton Helicopters takes delivery of three AW139s
Source: Caverton Helicopters, 30-Dec-11
Caverton Helicopters of Nigeria has recently taken delivery of three (3) medium twin Agusta Westland helicopters to be used for offshore transport duties in support of the Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria. The helicopters are to be ferried from the Agusta factory in Vergiate, Italy to Nigeria and expected to commence commercial operations in [...]
Bristow Nigeria signs technical agreement with Bristow Group
Source: Business Day, 21-Dec-11
Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited (BHNL) has entered into a new formal Technical Services Agreement (TSA) with its shareholder and world leading providers of helicopter services, the Bristow Group. (see full story)
DanCopter receives first AW139
Source: AgustaWestland, 13-Dec-11
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that DanCopter, a Blueway AS company, has taken delivery of the first of five AW139 medium twin helicopters. This aircraft will be used for offshore transport operations in Nigeria. An initial order for three AW139s was placed in 2010 which was followed by contracts for two additional [...]
Belarus to open Mi-24 maintenance facility in Nigeria
Source: DefenceWeb, 17-Oct-11
Belarusian company BVST currently maintains the Nigerian Air Force’s fleet of Mi-35 helicopters and Nigeria has sent pilots and engineers to train in Belarus. (see full story)
Bristow Nigeria appoints two Directors
Source: Bristow Nigeria, 10-Oct-11
Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd has announced the appointment of Lawrence Fubara-Anga and Andrew Magowan into its Board of Directors. A graduate of Yale University, Fubara-Anga is one of the founding partners at LEX, a full service law firm and one of the largest law firms in West Africa. Fubara-Anga heads the firm’s Transportation, Banking and [...]
Nigeria’s NCAT to start helicopter school
Source: AllAfrica, 29-Aug-11
The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, is to commence the training of rotor craft pilots in Q3. The organisation is purchasing two B206s from Canada. (see full story)
Nigeria’s AIB rules out outside help in fatal AS350 investigation
Source: Daily Independent, 10-Aug-11
Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau has ruled out the possibility of taking the analysis of the fatal OAS Eurocopter AS350B2 accident abroad (full story) See also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 29-Jul-11 5N-BKA Eurocopter AS350B2 Ife-Odan, Nigeria (3F)
Gearbox failures lead Nigerian Air Force to sell Mi-34 fleet
Source: HeliHub.com, 27-Jul-11
Ruslan Pukhov, Director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, has reported Nigeria’s Mi-34 fleet disposal, according to Russian press agency RIA Novosti. This is part of a wider disposal program which includes 25 MiG-21 jets, which were replaced by Chinese-built F-7Ns in 2010. While the fighter jets are being disposed due to [...]
BATS – new maintenance company created by Bristow Nigeria
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Jun-11
After our previous reports of Bristow divesting themselves of Pan African Airlines, HeliHub.com has now heard that their maintenance department has been hived off into a separate company. This will allow them to provide maintenance at arms-length to PAA, as well as their own operations – Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Ltd. The new organisation, BGI Aviation [...]
Caverton Helicopters signs for three AW139s
Source: AgustaWestland, 26-Jun-11
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Caverton Helicopters of Nigeria has recently signed a contract for three AW139 medium twin engine helicopters. The aircraft will be used for offshore transport duties in support of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. This order further strengthens the presence of AgustaWestland in Nigeria where [...]
Bristow sells stake in Pan African Airlines
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Jun-11
In compliance with the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act and the Air Operators Recertification Process of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, Bristow Group has announced the transfer of its shares in Pan African Airlines Nigeria (PAAN) Limited into Nigerian ownership. This opens the way for Pan African Airlines (Nigeria) Ltd to market [...]
Bristow Nigeria recruiting pilots
Source: Bristow Nigeria, 04-Mar-11
Bristow is one of the world’s largest providers of helicopter services. The first civil helicopter company to work in the oil and gas industry, Bristow has earned an international reputation for speed of response and quality of service.Bristow is a truly global organization, working together from facilities around the world to offer a wide-ranging array of services. [...]
Bristow Helicopters Nigeria completes $2m hangar
Source: The Nation, 16-Feb-11
The $2 million facility saves for the company about $1.5 million that would have been spent in overseas maintenance
Bristow Nigeria lost $1m to bird strikes
Source: Independent Online, 06-Feb-11
This was made known by the Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters, Capt Akin Oni, briefing journalists on efforts at repositioning the company and the aviation safety conference tagged, “Target Zero,” in Lagos recently.
Bristow Nigeria running safety seminar 8-9 February
Source: World Stage, 03-Feb-11
The forum with a theme “Fostering a safety Culture” is expected to bring stakeholders from aviation, oil and gas industry and government circles to discuss the latest trends in aviation safety.
Bristow Nigeria to lay-off expat pilots by 2015
02-Feb-11
Capt. Akin Oni, Managing Director of Bristow Nigeria, has said that the company had put a policy in place to replace all its existing expatriate pilots and engineers with Nigerians by 2015. Full story here
Nigeria deploys attack helicopters against Boko Haram Islamists
Source: Afrique en ligne, 20-Oct-10
A few days after troops were deployed to help check the rising killings in Nigeria’s northern Borno state by suspected Boko Haram Islamists, the military authorities have sent in helicopter gunships to back up the troops
UK’s 847 Naval Air Squadron helping to train Nigeria Armed Forces
Source: Royal Navy, 12-Oct-10
Lynx helicopters from 847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) have been helping to train Nigeria Armed Forces. As part of HMS Ocean’s embarked Squadrons they visited the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) in Lagos while the ship visited the country. While HMS Ocean was berthed alongside, conducting diplomatic work, military training and out-reach work in [...]
Dancopter orders three AW139s for Shell contract in Nigeria
Source: AgustaWestland, 10-Oct-10
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica Company, is pleased to announce that BlueWay AS of Norway has signed a contract for three AW139 medium twin engine helicopters. The helicopters will be operated by its subsidiary DanCopter to support Shell offshore oil & gas operations in Nigeria. The three aircraft, which will be delivered in late 2011, will be [...]
Aero Contractors unveils new website
Source: Aero Contractors, 08-Sep-10
Aero, West Africa’s leading e-airline has unveiled its new website at www.flyaero.com. The new website, brings a fresh new look and increased functionality for the user. On the website the user will find full details of Aero routes and schedules, contact details, products, services and a host of information about the company.The new version contains [...]
Aero Contractors loses offshore oil and gas operations to Caverton
Source: This Day, 06-Sep-10
Aero Contractors rotary wing, which carries out over 35 per cent of offshore shuttle services for oil and gas companies, has lost a major Shell contract to Caverton Helicopters and multibillion naira major services in the off-shore operations
Nigeria military expands, including unannounced AW109LUH order
Source: HeliHub.com, 06-Jun-10
Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan used the recent Air Expo 2010 at the Air Force’s base at Kaduna to announce the arrival of three new aircraft types to their order of battle. Alongside the Chinese built Chenghu FT-7NI supersonic all-weather fighter, and ATR42-500MP Surveyor maritime patrol aircraft from France, was the AgustaWestland AW109 LUH light utility/attack [...]
CHC has not severed ties with Aero Contractors
Source: CHC, 04-Jun-10
(Vancouver, British Columbia) – Media reports today incorrectly suggest that CHC Helicopter and Aero Contractors of Nigeria Company Limited (ACN) have severed their business relationship effective June 2, 2010. CHC Helicopter is committed to continue operating in Nigeria and has not severed its relationship with ACN. It is true that due to conditions imposed by [...]
CHC Nigeria ends partnership with Aero Contractors
Source: Vanguard, 04-Jun-10
Against the backdrop of mounting debt and continued service without payment, the management of CHC Helicopter, a novel business initiative in the country, yesterday terminated its partnership with Aero Contractors. (see full story)
DanCopter provides details of $630M Shell Nigeria contract
Source: DanCopter, 03-Jun-10
[HeliHub.com was the first aviation website to break this story two days ago. This press release merely confirms the fact and provides more details] The Norwegian based helicopter group Blueway has won its largest contract ever within the offshore sector. It has been awarded a five year contract, with an extension option of 2 x [...]
Shell Nigeria signs big contract with Caverton/Dancopter partnership
Source: Capital.gr, 01-Jun-10
The contract, which would last for five years and is renewable for another two years, is the biggest aviation contract between an international oil company and an indigenous one.
Guardian Mobility to supply aircraft tracking devices and mapping for Nigerian operators
Source: Guardian Mobility, 28-Apr-10
Guardian Mobility announced its role as primary subcontractor to Globaltouch (West Africa) Limited to provide Guardian mapping and aircraft tracking solutions to aircraft operators in Nigeria. Globaltouch (West Africa) is the sole supplier for aircraft tracking in Nigeria with a satellite ground station located on Nigerian soil. The company has been awarded a contract by [...]
Bristow puts $1 Million into Nigerian College of Aviation Technology
Source: All Africa, 25-Apr-10
According to the Deputy Rector of the school, Engineer Henry Toluhi, at the document signing ceremony, “Bristow has been very supportive to our institution.”
Nigerian Navy provides for families of pair killed in January AW109 crash
Source: This Day, 21-Apr-10
As part of the package provided, the Nigerian Navy is to train to the university level, the children of Lt. Commodore Ahmed Tijani Yusuf and Lt Commodore Mailafia Ibrahim, Pilot and Co-Pilot of Nigerian Navy Agusta reconnaissance helicopter
Lagos State Government launches pair of Bell 412s
Source: AllAfrica, 09-Dec-09
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State launched two Bell 412EP Helicopters with a promise to commit the state’s resources to securing the lives and property of residents.
Scam in Lagos State: Helicopters purchased for crime fighting are converted to commercial use
Source: Sahara Reporter, 22-Nov-09
Investigations by Saharareporters revealed that the revamping of Caverton was not the product of hard work on the part of its owners. Instead, it resulted from a questionable, and possibly fraudulent, attempt to convert helicopters belonging to the Lagos State government into private commercial use – and for private corporate profit.
“Missing” SAR helicopter causes uproar in Nigeria
Source: Nigeria Champion, 26-Oct-09
There was uproar and near confusion as audience at a stakeholders meeting with the management of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA could not accept claims by NIMASA management that their regional search and rescue helicopter was not missing as reported by some members of the audience.
