Nigeria Begins Training Helicopter Pilots for Offshore Operations

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), working alongside Chevron Nigeria Limited and Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, has kicked off an 18-month pilot training programme specifically designed to grow a pool of Nigerian helicopter pilots for the country's oil and gas industry.

Ten Nigerians have been selected to begin training immediately. They will travel to Henley Air in South Africa, where they will undergo full ab-initio training, meaning they are starting from zero flying experience. Upon completion, each trainee will hold a Private Pilot Licence, a Commercial Pilot Licence, and additional qualifications covering night flying and instrument-based navigation.

Helicopter pilots occupy a critical role in offshore oil operations. Because oil platforms sit far out at sea, helicopters are often the only practical way to move crew members, engineers, and emergency responders between land and the rigs.

A shortage of locally trained pilots in this role has long meant that oil companies operating in Nigeria have had to look abroad to fill the gap.

Chevron's representative at the launch, khuoria Aimienwanu, confirmed that addressing this shortage was the direct motivation behind the programme, describing it as the first initiative of its kind in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

He said Chevron's involvement goes beyond providing funding, representing a deliberate commitment to building people who can sustain the industry from within.

The NCDMB is considering the programme within a much larger national agenda. Its Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, said helicopter piloting was identified as one of the top ten high-demand skills in the sector, as fresh investment and new offshore projects create urgent demand for qualified local professionals. The board is targeting the training of over 10,000 young Nigerians across these critical skill areas.

Bristow Helicopters, which has trained more than 500 pilots globally over 60 years, will play a central role in delivering the programme. Its Managing Director, Captain Oladapo Oyeleke, warned the trainees that offshore helicopter operations are among the most technically demanding in aviation, requiring exceptional discipline and precision.

It is believed that this first cohort of ten is only the beginning, with more similar programmes expected to follow as Nigeria pushes to staff its growing energy industry with homegrown talent.