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ATTN: WORLD, Gemini, or ATLAS Pilots, I need Angola info

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dakotaHC8

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2002
Posts
113
I hate to ask, but there is lack of decent info on Luanda Angola. We just got tossed onto a short term contract flying into LAD, and I was hoping that some of you guys might have some good advice about operating into that place. I know World flies in there on a steady basis, I was told Gemini used to, and I've seen Atlas there too.

What hotel do you guys use, what transportation do you ride with to get to/from it. Do you usually have to get a Visa upon arrival (and how much is that). Do they want Dollars, Euros, or the local currency...?

Right now they have us at the Tropico for our overnight.

Any other heads up info on the place would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
world flies there 2 or 3 times weekly from Houston... trips go quite senior as they are worth about 90 hours in 10 days work. I have been there about half dozen times myself but probably not the most informed.
1) transportation....we started flying there about 8 years ago and there was still a little civil war going on so the transport was not your ordinary crew van....we still have the same today although I am sure it is somewhat of an overkill! Anyways we have an armed guard on our bus with 2 pickups with armed guards in front and back of bus. I guess they are worried about more than your average pickpocket. That being said I have taked to lots of americans working for companies like chevron or whoever who are in country and have went around freely with no problems.

2) Have heard of Tropico but am not familiar.
We used to stay at Le Meridian but t is not close to airport.
Currently we stay at Alvalade Hotel. It is close to airport, new, and I believe best in town.
011-244-222-327-470

3.we have never had to get a visa for short layovers.
They seem to take US dollars. Again we are there minimum time and we get 40 dollars credit to eat in hotel, so have neve had to pay for much. But at least in hotel / airport enviroment dollars or Eros seem to do job.

Other than 14 hour turns have never spent any time in country so cant tell you much, sorry.

The airport has a pretty long runway served by ILS...all non radar but it is fairly smooth going in and out.
sorry I dont know anymore!
 
As I'm sitting in LAD now, it is a complete F-ing madhouse. There is an election going on which is supposed to be over on 9/2. First time we came in processing through customs was a simple scan of the passport and off you go. Transport was two dudes in a van, no weapons that I could see. Drove 2+ hrs in heavy traffic to some gawd-awflu "Resort"......Captain was smart by bringing "OFF" and some bug-bombs. They take both dollars and euros, dollars seem to be preferred. Second stay was at the Avalade?sp. Good place, 15 min. from airport, and no Customs this time, just out the cargo side of the airport. Internet is free but bkfst. is reported at $66....... Tropico is 20 min drive in no traffic, seems nice, business center, restaurant, etc. Runways are 12, 0000 ft. long with two large turnarounds at the end and midway, you might be waiting there for departing traffic. Careful with the thrust on any inboard engines if you are bringing a 74- FOD all over the ramp in the form of gravel. Butch.
 
well things havent changed since i flew there in the early 90's, btw do you still get tracer rounds on final?
 
Heck DAL uses armed escorts in that part of the country too.
Fact is that if it hits the fan I am sure that all of the boys with the heavy metal will be long gone.
 
we would turn off all the lights and watch as the light to medium AA would fly. I had a new first officer and he actually pissed himself on his first approach to LAN, I forgot to tell him about the gun fire
 
DAL uses armed escorts in that part of which country?

DAL has never flown to Angola.
 
Remember the B-727 that was stolen form Luanda a few years ago? That's the one six of us took over to fly deisel fuel to the diamond mines. The first thing that happened when we arrived in Luanda they grounded the aircraft, took our passports then held us hostage in the top floor of an abandoned apartment deep in the city, for 15 days. It was close to hell but we eventualy got out of there.The guy that hired us "Keith Irwin" from South Africa was a F%ing THIEF and never paid us for the 2 months we were on the project which began in MIA. His conections were with the Angolan Military who he also screwed. Make sure of who you are going to work for over there because you may not get paid and it could get real bad real fast.
 

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