Story ID: 148BristowAINMay16EditedByAY_NM
Turbulence for Bristow in Nigeria
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Two accidents and claims of discriminatory practices pose challenges for the company.
Word Count: 744
Bristow Group’s Nigerian operations continue to attract attention. Since August 2015 it has lost two Sikorsky S-76s to crashes, one of them fatal for six people, and on March 31 the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers of Nigeria (Naapen), an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), temporarily shut down Bristow’s Port Harcourt operations to protest alleged discriminatory practices. According to Bristow, the job action was illegal and lasted only a few hours, at which time the Federal Ministry of Labor intervened and advised the union to stop its action. Bristow provides 60 percent of the lift for Nigeria’s offshore energy market.

Naapen president Isaac Balami charges that Bristow has engaged in discriminatory policies against its Nigerian employees for a decade. “They treat them like they are in a slave camp. You will see copilots from the UK, South Africa and Canada who have just 200 hours’ experience earning far more than their Nigerian counterparts who have been working for years,” Balami said. “Nigerian pilots and engineers are treated like slaves in their own country.” He maintains that Nigerians have been fired and replaced with non-Nigerians who earn more. “They have been sacking our copilots and then employing white men. We are even more competent than they are,” he said.

Balami said the goal of the job action is to get Bristow to treat its white and black flight crewmembers equally, with pay parity as provided for under Nigerian labor laws. He also expressed concern about the recent crashes.

Bristow said the job action is unjustified given that it was already in discussions with Naapen and had made proposals addressing its grievances. In a prepared statement, Bristow said, “This action is coming at a time when the global oil-and-gas industry is facing severe challenges and the Nigerian economy is undergoing serious disruptions, with a number of clients reducing their activities. Bristow continues to keep its obligations to clients and employees. Bristow is disappointed that despite our concerted efforts to keep our Nigerian operations running as smoothly and efficiently as possible, this action will temporarily impact flight schedules. We will continue to encourage dialogue and partnership with all stakeholders during this period. We restate our commitment to providing safe and efficient air services to our clients and to the development of the Nigerian aviation industry.” After the job action ended, Bristow said it looks “forward to continuing to meet with the union and seek to reach a fair agreement through open discussion and feedback.”
Accident Record
The labor unrest follows a pair of Bristow S-76 crashes in Nigeria. On August 12 last year a 2003 S-76C+ crashed into a lagoon on approach to the airport at Lagos, killing both crewmembers and four passengers. Six passengers survived. A report from Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) noted FDR data that showed that the helicopter was cruising at 1,000 feet and 120 knots when it experienced a sudden pitch up, left roll with varying attitude of yaw, roll and pitch for 12 seconds until striking the water. Examination of the wreckage found that the forward main servo input control pushrod assembly had failed; the control pushrod tube had separated from the control rod end with the bearing and the jam nut and the jam nut was loose and not seating against the control rod. NTSB analysis found the forward main rotor servo input control pushrod separated before impact. The No. 2 Turbomeca Arriel 2SI engine also showed damage consistent with an uncontained failure of internal components. 

On February 3 a 2007 Bristow S-76C++ made a controlled ditching inbound 70 nm off Lagos following an unspecified mechanical problem. All eleven people on board survived. Before departure a passenger had reported a burning smell in the cabin and the flight crew reported that the digital auto flight control system and trim fail lights illuminated twice and were reset on the outboard leg. Fifteen minutes after departure the captain reported repeated illumination of the DAFCS and trim fail lights. The collective became heavy and the power dropped when it was pulled up. Later the cyclic did not respond to lateral movement.

On February 4 the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority suspended revenue flights of all Bristow S-76s in the country for a month while it conducted a comprehensive operational audit, during which time Bristow completed detailed safety inspections and test flights of its Nigeria-based S-76s before they were returned to service.