Return to Bristow bases

..........Bristow Base: Eket, Nigeria.

Bristow Helicopters has a wealth of experience
of operating helicopters and aeroplanes in Nigeria
with the Bristow Group's first ever oil industry
support related contract being awarded by the
Shell D'Arcy Company of Nigeria in the mid-1950's.
As of year 2000, helicopter sectors (flights) were
standing at over 1.5 million and passengers carried
7.5 million.
Most of the oil related work is based in the Delta region where numerous
flow stations, production wells and other facilities are scattered. They are
served by a number of bases, one of which is Eket. In recent years the
contract has been in support of Mobil but this base has origins dating
back to the Fifties and below are some excellent very early pictures of
how it came about. The captions beside the photos are as they were written
on the reverse sides.

Snr. Ing Lombardi looking pensive - having found
out that Mobil's planning for the hanger, if built to
plan, would mean building over the prison next door.
"Shorty" Gibbons says, "Hell, we will buy the place,
charge it to Mobil !"

Hangar foundations laid - awaiting roof and sides !





Lombardi again - Getting correct bearing on Mobil's
pipe yard to enable construction to continue.
Hangar was mainly built out of drill-pipe "borrowed"
when tool pusher wasn't looking.


Minor take-off obstructions being cleared - just so we
can see the road.




Another view of our up to date air conditioned facility.
Block and tackle in foreground is looking for a tree to
hang it on. "Shorty" is still bemoaning the lack of hours
being provided - 150hrs per a/c per month - having
provided all the luxurious maintenance facilities.

First Hangar/Workshop cost 25 Naira - extension cost
15 Naira. Had a problem collecting money from "Shorty"
Gibbons due to lack of receipt ! He must of thought I was
trying to defraud Mobil of N25 and thus cause them to
stop the Nigeria programme.

.....................................and finally...........

Now we are really established - fully air-con hangar and
scales. Writing on plank says, "Eket International. Daily
flights UK-USA-Idaho platform, round trip 10 USD.

Thanks to Nick Strange (and his mum for Pics).

................................................moving on...

This picture is dated at about 1984 and was
taken from the runway. It was a compact base
as can be seen from the proximity of the staff
accommodation behind the hanger.
I have no details of Wessex operating at Eket but as can be seen from above,
Whirlwinds were operational and of course the 212s have been Eket's trusty
work horses for the last 20 years.

The following two pictures were taken at Eket in 1977 and show the BN2A
Islander that was in use before the Twin Otters, and a Wessex giving a Bell
206 a helping hand presumably after suffering some misfortune.






The following pictures were taken at the Mobil Airstrip, after the fire station
and before Q.I.T. What was Q.I.T.? See Bottom of page.
The first three show general shots around the base:







And finally, the rescue of 5N-AJS, whose tail rotor struck a wind-sock offshore.
Replacement parts had to be robbed from a Check 2 aircraft and flown out to
the stricken aircraft.







Thanks to Paul Richardson for the following:

The QIT is the Qua Iboe Terminal, a major terminal with about 10,000 workers.
The BHL Eket helicopter base is now within this compound. If you ask anybody
about the QIT, the best thing to do is to ask them about the meals in the QIT mess!
Just outside the QIT is a accommodation block where most of the BHL guys are
located. This is similar to a school dormitory block, and has the local name of
'Club Med'.

I spent some time there Sept 2000 and I can remember the lovely rusty brown
water coming out of the showers, along with the evenings where each guy cooked
something in his room, and all would sit down to a meal served by walking around
between the various 'cooks'. Next door to the QIT is a golf course. So if you get
posted there, don't forget to take your golf bats!

About 20 mins driving from the QIT and Club Med is Esa Akpan. Esa Akpan is
where most of the BHL engineers had accommodation. Late one evening I was
introduced to House One (once a very grand place) and noted that quite a few
of the lights were blown/didn't work and the water was inop. This prompted a
quick reaction from a local electrician who set about the next day re-wiring the
main hall light to the fuse box. Much scratching of head, but just before nightfall
he finished. A wafting smell of 'warm' wiring sent me off to the BHL bar for
refreshments. A few hours passed (very thirsty) and on returning to House One,
bless me, the light was still working! Unfortunately, some cross-wiring must
have taken place as the bathroom fittings had all become live! It was still possible
to have a bath though, by standing on a rubber mat and getting in/out with some
care.
It's only by going there yourself that you can really experience the whole place!
End.