Nigeria Aviation services firm, Caverton Helicopters has refuted online reports that the company is going through financial challenges, which could undermine the safety of its operation.
According to a report also carried by atqnews.com, it was alleged that Carverton Helicopters could be in financial straits as the company was said to be finding it difficult to meet its obligations to pilots and staff.
It was also alleged that there were strong indications that its financial troubles was leading to mass exodus of its pilots over months of unpaid salary and other operational issues.
This was refuted in a statement by Caverton. It said the company remains committed to safety in all facets of its operations.
“Though it is not in our character to blow our own trumpets, we make bold to say that Caverton Helicopters’ commitment to safety in all facets of its operations is impeccable and unimpeachable. Also, the company remains financially stable despite the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the national and global operating environment.
“The online report falsely alleges that the chairman of our company is a politician or a politically exposed person. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The report also claims that some pilots left the company for another. While this is true, the motive adduced is far-fetched. The country and the industry operate a free-market economy whose cardinal principle is free entry and exit, including of labour.
“It is within the constitutionally guaranteed rights of those who left the company to do so, as it is within the rights of others to come on board.
“As a matter of fact, the experienced hires by Caverton always come from other companies too, both within and outside the country. Creating a sensation out of some staff leaving one organisation for another organisation amounts to making a mountain out of a molehill. The relevant point is that Caverton always has the required number of well-trained, type-rated, and professional crew (pilots and engineers) from virtually all continents of the globe to meet the complex needs of its premium clients.
“It is also worth stating that regular audit review is not alien in a highly regulated sector like the oil and gas industry. The suspension of flights with one of our esteemed clients is to ensure such a review. It is a partial our contract with the company. We are positive that we will return to normal operations once the audit is concluded.
“It is not deniable that the global pandemic negatively impacted the operations of countries and companies in the last two years. The oil and gas sector, Caverton Helicopters’ primary market, was particularly hit due to low demand occasioned by lockdowns across the globe. This affected the company’s operations as clients reduced flights, dropped contracted aircraft, and reduced rates.
“But despite this, the company always met its obligations to its staff and suppliers. As the world returns to normalcy, the negative impact of the pandemic is wearing off, and our business outlook is more positive than before, reinforced by our strategic decision to diversify our revenue streams.
“To underscore our commitment to safety, capacity building and financial buoyancy, Caverton has built a 40,000 sqm training and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility. With spare parts from original equipment manufacturers, operating within an export free zone, and fitted with an EU regulator certified flight simulator, the facility is the first of its kind not just in Nigeria but in Africa.
“Caverton Helicopters Limited is a subsidiary of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, a company that is quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. We are therefore subject to well-regulated and high ethical corporate governance standards on a continuous basis. We remain unwavering in our commitment to these standards and to delivering best-in-class service to our esteemed clients and lasting value to our other stakeholders.”
