Cargo Flying in Africa

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Leaving for Nairobi in less than 24 hours, to fly DC-9-34Fs for a Belgian co. Another US guy I know is probably also coming out next month.

I have my own round trip ticket, so I can bail if it goes to he!!.

The op is supposed to be flying all over E. Africa, and some West. They were going to Dubai 2x/week, but I guess that was changed (know 2 guys in Dubai, so too bad!).

I am trying to figure out what to bring:
Cold weather stuff?
Footwear?
etc., etc.

Any suggestins/help/advice is GREATLY appreciated!

Oh, also: The aircraft are registered in Sao Taome, but they are changing to Kenyan registration. I will be working on the Kenyan Air Law Exam right away, as well as riding jumpseat to see what the operation is like.

Thanks!

cliff
KGRB

 

[2lowflaps]

When you get there and settled could you let us know what it's like? This is something I'm interested in doing.
Thanks

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Yes, I will keep everyone updated.

If U want photos, I'm "Cliff Lapp" on facebook.

cliff
KGRB

 

[embpic1]

I flew a trip to Africa a few years ago. My first impression was not a good one. Position call outs in the blind were getting old after a few hours. We lost comm with ATC (if you can call it that) about 100 miles from our destination. We ended up over the airport at FL350 and finally woke up the guy in the tower. He gave us a descent and wanted us to fly back out about 75 miles to do the arrival. We talked him out of that and descended in the hold for an ILS. When we taxied out I asked for our clearance and the guy just said cleared for takeoff. I asked him for a squawk code and he said he had none, just 'cleared for t/o'. We asked for the next controller freq and again he had no idea. It was something like 3AM and I was pretty sure he was quite drunk. We made it out of there finally.

Needless to say it didn't leave me with a good impression. I am not looking forward to my next visit.

 

[jafo20]

Different countries in Africa have greatly different qualities in their ATC structure. Pretend you're flying your DC-9 in 1965, and you'll be alright. Be proactive about getting what you want and try to see foul-ups coming before they develop into crises. Be careful at FIR boundaries. A lot of facilities don't communicate with each other, so separation at certain boundaries is almost non existent.

With regard to gear, you'll want to bring a jacket for cold weather. People laugh, but, in dry areas, you feel really cold waiting for pax/freight as temps drop from 40C to 15C.

Bring immodium, aspirin and routine household meds. Bug repellant and sunblock is really handy. You'll find most consumer goods are available at nicer hotels, but they'll be really expensive.

Don't bring camping gear, machetes or any of that stuff.

Be careful about what taxis you use (only ones that are recommended from a good hotel's travel desk). Avoid public transit.

Most importantly have enough cash on hand to get yourself out of the country if your boss stops paying your salary. This is a really common story. Good luck, and try to have some fun.

The Middle East is nice.

 

[jafo20]

A sense of humor is the most important thing you can have with you. Try not to get stressed in the sun and dust.

 

[dakotaHC8]

Rule of thumb: African ATC is meant to collect overflight and landing fees, not control air traffic.

Keep that in mind, and treat the entire continent as "uncontrolled", even when you are talking to ATC.

Do what you are told, but remember to do what you need to stay alive and out of trouble first and foremost.

English is kinda sketchy at times, so have a rough idea of what they are saying ahead of time, and that will help you understand them better (ie: name of upcoming reporting points ---> est time over "____") Back to the rule I said up top, when you enter a new country, they will want to know who you are ("station" = registration #), Souls, Endurance and estimated time over FIR's... The basic ICAO flight plan stuff.

Get real good at reading the Charts, especially the little notes all over the route, telling you whom you have to call, what not to do, what to do, and so on...

Make the "all stations" position reports. It will get repetitious, but this is just as important as making radio calls flying in/out of an uncontrolled airport. Many pilots use this to verify that ATC has not placed you head on with another aircraft or is climbing someone into you and so on... Again, the charts are your friend, so you can see where "upper Bravo 435" is...). Remember the rule of thumb at the beginning...

And most importantly, have some patience. As "this is Africa". Things are just done differently done there, and that is that. Might as well get used to that idea, and accept the inevitable.

Good luck, fly safe.

 

[embpic1]

Rule of thumb: African ATC is meant to collect overflight and landing fees, not control air traffic.

Keep that in mind, and treat the entire continent as "uncontrolled", even when you are talking to ATC.

Do what you are told, but remember to do what you need to stay alive and out of trouble first and foremost.

English is kinda sketchy at times, so have a rough idea of what they are saying ahead of time, and that will help you understand them better (ie: name of upcoming reporting points ---> est time over "____") Back to the rule I said up top, when you enter a new country, they will want to know who you are ("station" = registration #), Souls, Endurance and estimated time over FIR's... The basic ICAO flight plan stuff.

Get real good at reading the Charts, especially the little notes all over the route, telling you whom you have to call, what not to do, what to do, and so on...

Make the "all stations" position reports. It will get repetitious, but this is just as important as making radio calls flying in/out of an uncontrolled airport. Many pilots use this to verify that ATC has not placed you head on with another aircraft or is climbing someone into you and so on... Again, the charts are your friend, so you can see where "upper Bravo 435" is...). Remember the rule of thumb at the beginning...

And most importantly, have some patience. As "this is Africa". Things are just done differently done there, and that is that. Might as well get used to that idea, and accept the inevitable.

Good luck, fly safe.

All very good points. Especially the point of reading the charts. Lots of info on there to keep you out of trouble.

 

[jafo20]

Yeah, the little notes on the charts are pretty handy.

Talk to the local guys when you get a chance too. Lots of S. African and expat pilots can fill you in on the specifics of your local area.

 

[tjsatter]

Hey Cliff!

I am living/working in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which practically makes us neighbors! Stop in say Hi sometime; the fridge is well stocked with Belgian Beers.

Nix on the Cold Wx gear and ok to sleep thru winter ops and de-icing CBT sessions

I have flown the full length of Africa between Benghazi and Joe'Burg and Not talked to ANYbody.

tj

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Good Luck Cliff and keep up updated!

Fly Safe Amigo!

 

[b19]

Excellent points about African ATC, just one more point about 126.9 and making all station calls; I've always monitored it on both arrival's and departures even in supposed radar areas to make sure you are not being climbed or descended into traffic, also don't forget to make the calls prior to airways that intersect. And always expect to plan your own descents. Anyway be safe and have fun, and never expect anything to be on time and you won't be frustrated, it's Africa.

 

[GCD]

Good luck, Cliff.

Keep us updated. I hope things turn around so we can have you on the Atlas list. The rec. is still there.

 

[metrodriver]

Cliff, a light (rain)jacket will be ok for Nairobi. The place is 5000' in elevation. So it can cool of nicely, and when it rains, it pours. Sandals work fine during daytime, some closed shoes at night (many westerners wear hiking-boot style shoes, but that may just be safari-tourists or UN workers). Africa is dusty or muddy. White shoes/clothes don't stay white for long.
I carry sunscreen with mosquito repellent, it's waterproof so it doesn't sweat off as easy as the regular stuff. Make sure all your vaccinations are up to date, including yellow fever. Several countries require that. When leaving the plane for the hotel, always take a copy of the gen dec.
Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda have pretty good ATC, but 0300 over the congo is a different story.
You'll become familiar with the TIA (this is africa). Example: a 3 hour delay because the handlers office is downtown and he got stuck in traffic trying to get us a flightplan (a west african airport), "rampchecks" at another one and after complaints from the company some supervisor comes on board wondering how much there had been paid because nothing had been recorded. Offloading twenty-something pallets at same airport with 3 dollies. One guy to operate the loader, tug and forklift. Additional dollies are for rent for $50 a piece (per run).
Keep your cell phone well hidden. Those things are hot items in africa and they will try to snatch them out of your hands if the opportunity is there.

The area charts have the ICAO air-to-air call format, but the "text" book will tell you to make the call 5 minuts before a fix. This starts below 30N, txpdr at 2000, airway offset. With exeptions.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Great advice from the other posters. I'll reiterate to do WHATEVER you must in order to maintain uninterrupted respiration. When in IMC... ONLY descend via published airway and be sure your position is accurate. Make your calls in the blind, even if it's tedious. Occasionally there are aircraft flying around that intentionally do not broadcast their position... (you'll just have to take my word for it)... but are usually listening... they too, are not hoping for a collision.

If the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up... listen to them both in the air and on the ground. Discard any notion that your citizenship provides any "special" immunity to anything. Depending on where you fly into (or travel on personal time) your experience can be relatively pleasant and benign up to and including attempting to interrupt your continuous respiration <ng>. I recommend you err on the side of caution until you gain experience in theater.

Shocking as this may sound... ... some of the locals (to include well-armed soldiers/militias) do not share the same alcohol/drug use restraint while on duty that you're accustomed to in developed countries. Always best to keep a calm demeanor and de-escalate any potential confrontation... back to my philosophy of listening to the little hairs and keep breathing thing!

Africa presents some unique challenges, no doubt about it, but can be fun and even rewarding. If nothing else, you'll have some great stories to tell the grandkids! Enjoy your time... but be smart and cautious.

BBB