Bristow Helicopters’ Boss Condemns Overseas Aviation Training

By Chuks Okoh
The Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni has attributed inadequate flying hours, inability to pass competence tests, and low quality training from overseas training institutions as part of the reasons why many indigenous pilots are unable to secure employment in the aviation sector.
Oni said the rising employment among young Nigerian pilots may be unchecked, because many young pilots do not have the mandatory 150 hours required of them to demonstrate command on any aircraft.
The managing director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni disclosed that the airline will invest over $ 500m on the training of 20 cadets inspectors.
He disclosed that the 20 cadet helicopter pilots will be sent to the United States by Bristow Helicopters for a one year training at the academy run by the Bristow Group in America.
Oni said the 20 cadet helicopter pilots trainees would cost the airline over $ 500 million.
He said it costs about $250,000 to train one cadet pilot for the one year an initio training in the United States, even as Bristow Helicopters has trained over 300 helicopter pilots in the paast thirty years, as part of its capacity building programme to enhance indigenous capacity in the aviation sector.
Oni said Bristow Helicopters continues to invest in the training of indigenous pilots , as part of its contributions to improve indigenous competence and competitiveness.
He said the airline would continue to train more helicopter pilots to reduce the number of expatriate pilots in its employment
He said the airline is carrying out the manpower development programme in compliance with the local content policy of government to create opportunities for qualified Nigerians to run critical sectors of the economy .
He said it cost the airline more money to engage expatriate pilots, who are not necessarily more competent.
Oni said airlines bear more costs to engage foreign pilots, for which they pay more to secure their security in view of kidnapping, huge costs of accommodations, travel expenses, salaries and other incidentals associated with foreign employees .
The Bristow Helicopter boss said some of the 20 cadets would spend some time at the Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State and the International Aviation College , Ilorin for ground studies and basic flying rules , before they travel to the United States.
He said the airline would continue to invest in the training of helicopter pilots to reduce the number of expatriates in its employ, even as it would give opportunity for Nigerians to grow their career in a global group .
“Pilots remain unemployed because they do not pass the Bristow Helicopter tests, and they also do not have the requirement for flying hours. It is because of these reasons that we employ expatriate pilots, it is expensive to keep expatriate pilots.” Oni said.