Managing Director, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni told journalists in Lagos that the company is to spend over N500 million on the training of 20 Nigerians as cadet pilots in the United States for a one year training at the academy run by the Bristow Group in Florida.
Bristow Group has actively trained over 300 Nigerians as helicopter pilots over the past 30 years as part of its capacity building programme to enhance indigenous manpower in the aviation sector. Oni explained, “We have to train our own indigenous pilots to replace the expatriates in the sector. We will support them and they will work for us globally as we have branches everywhere all over the world where they can work.
According to him, Bristow is also partnering the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the International Aviation College, Ilorin on ground studies and basic flying rules, where Bristow will send these students to have a first experience in flying before sending them overseas for helicopter pilot training.
He worried that some indigenous pilots are unable to secure employment in the aviation sector because they do not have the expected number of flying hours, while some are unable to pass competence tests. He noted that due to the failure of Nigerian pilots to accumulate up to the mandatory 150 hours required of them to demonstrate command on any aircraft, it would be difficult to get them engaged.
He disclosed that the airline is carrying out the manpower development programme in compliance with the local content policy of the federal government to create opportunities for qualified Nigerians to run critical sectors of the economy, explaining that the airline spends more money to engage expatriate pilots, who are not necessarily more competent and it costs the company huge amount of money on security to protect them.
He 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 for helicopter pilot training.
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This article was first published on 7th June 2014
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Managing Director, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni told journalists in Lagos that the company is to spend over N500 million on the training of 20 Nigerians as cadet pilots in the United States for a one year training at the academy run by the Bristow Group in Florida.
Bristow Group has actively trained over 300 Nigerians as helicopter pilots over the past 30 years as part of its capacity building programme to enhance indigenous manpower in the aviation sector. Oni explained, “We have to train our own indigenous pilots to replace the expatriates in the sector. We will support them and they will work for us globally as we have branches everywhere all over the world where they can work.
According to him, Bristow is also partnering the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the International Aviation College, Ilorin on ground studies and basic flying rules, where Bristow will send these students to have a first experience in flying before sending them overseas for helicopter pilot training.
He worried that some indigenous pilots are unable to secure employment in the aviation sector because they do not have the expected number of flying hours, while some are unable to pass competence tests. He noted that due to the failure of Nigerian pilots to accumulate up to the mandatory 150 hours required of them to demonstrate command on any aircraft, it would be difficult to get them engaged.
He disclosed that the airline is carrying out the manpower development programme in compliance with the local content policy of the federal government to create opportunities for qualified Nigerians to run critical sectors of the economy, explaining that the airline spends more money to engage expatriate pilots, who are not necessarily more competent and it costs the company huge amount of money on security to protect them.
He 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 for helicopter pilot training.
my name is OGUNTIMEHIN SEGUN, I’m from kwara state of Nigeria, i’m working in SKYWAY AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY LIMITED (SAHCOL) in Lagos State, I have being dreaming of becoming a Pilot for years but there is no power for me to raise fund for the tuition fee, sir/ma I will be glad if i can be among of those you will select so that my dream and passion will not just die inside me, Thank you
once again here is my detail:
phone No:08137333133