Corporate flights into Iraq

[avbug]

Personally, I have an idealogical problem with SFAR 77. I can't see where the FAA feels it has the right to tell us where we can or cannot go outside of the US. To me, it's just another "Nanny" Law. The government's way of protecting me from my stupid self.

You don't understand how the organization that grants you your flying privileges can regulate them? Really?

You have no flying rights. You have privileges, and you have them only insofar as the organization that grants them shall allow.

Private aircraft are operating in and out of Bagdad every day these days. Besides, the safest place in that country is probably right there on that airport. Sure there's risk involved, but no more than when we fly into places like Jakarta or Angola.

Spoken like someone who has no experience operating in Iraq.

I operated in and out of Baghdad and a number of other locations throughout Iraq last year. I enjoyed numerous mortar and rocket attacks, and other events, to say nothing of frequent encounters with unmanned traffic.

I saw no private aircraft operating. I saw contract aircraft operating which had authorization based on specific operational needs.

I flew into Baghdad as a commercial passenger, and flew in and out operationally. I've been stuck due to rocket attacks shutting down runways, including craters that prevented takeoff. Safest place in the country, you say? Compared to what? What other places in the country have you been, flying, or living?

Iraq is a fairly civil place today compared to what it was a few years ago, but it's not a safe place by any stretch of the imagination.

As for flying in and out of Afghanistan, which I do, it's hardly an easy place to arrange or operate either...and is most definitely not safe. Upon landing at a particular location there a month ago, my first notification upon coming to rest was of holes in the back of the airplane, that weren't there when we took off.

I have been associated with operations in Iraq, including recently, in which we would have loved to operate our own equipment in and out of the country to move parts, people, and equipment. Even for an organization with authorization to be there and an operational need, obtaining authorization to use our own aircraft in and out held obstacles, and often the most simple, economic solution was to commercial people in, and ship equipment.

You're far better off taking your people to Frankfurt or where ever else you find convenient, and having them commercial to their destination. Good luck moving around the country when they arrive.

 

[Sandhawk]

Soooo Avbug, what have you NOT done in aviation in the past year???

You don't understand how the organization that grants you your flying privileges can regulate them? Really?

You have no flying rights. You have privileges, and you have them only insofar as the organization that grants them shall allow.

Spoken like someone who has no experience operating in Iraq.

I operated in and out of Baghdad and a number of other locations throughout Iraq last year. I enjoyed numerous mortar and rocket attacks, and other events, to say nothing of frequent encounters with unmanned traffic.

I saw no private aircraft operating. I saw contract aircraft operating which had authorization based on specific operational needs.

I flew into Baghdad as a commercial passenger, and flew in and out operationally. I've been stuck due to rocket attacks shutting down runways, including craters that prevented takeoff. Safest place in the country, you say? Compared to what? What other places in the country have you been, flying, or living?

Iraq is a fairly civil place today compared to what it was a few years ago, but it's not a safe place by any stretch of the imagination.

As for flying in and out of Afghanistan, which I do, it's hardly an easy place to arrange or operate either...and is most definitely not safe. Upon landing at a particular location there a month ago, my first notification upon coming to rest was of holes in the back of the airplane, that weren't there when we took off.

I have been associated with operations in Iraq, including recently, in which we would have loved to operate our own equipment in and out of the country to move parts, people, and equipment. Even for an organization with authorization to be there and an operational need, obtaining authorization to use our own aircraft in and out held obstacles, and often the most simple, economic solution was to commercial people in, and ship equipment.

You're far better off taking your people to Frankfurt or where ever else you find convenient, and having them commercial to their destination. Good luck moving around the country when they arrive.

 

[avbug]

Soooo Avbug, what have you NOT done in aviation in the past year???

Several things, actually. Is there something you have in mind?

 

[NCherches]

I'd still try www.gotomeeting.com for this one.

 

[Jetdriver69]

We are working through the State Dept to try to get some relief with SFAR 77. Either a 12 month blanket waiver or a complete repeal of the reg. I had to write a quite long justification of why we wanted to fly there, how this trip would benefit the Iraqi people, how it was in the public interest of the United States and what security measures we were taking to deal with MANPADS, anti aircraft fire and diverts. I didn't have to prepare this much when I flew in actually combat in the USAF. In the end, the feds claimed they needed 120 days notice to consider our request. Our original plan was to quickly drop off in Iraq and reposition to Amman, maybe 20 minutes on the ground. The flight to Iraq doesn't bother me as much as the Feds telling us what to do in a foreign country when the leaders of said country invited us and approved our visit. This SFAR only causes inconvenience for US companies, the trip and the business was completed anyway. Euro companies don't have to deal with this BS reg and can fly there to do business as needed.

 

[gret]

If the mission was at the request of the foreign government, why didn't they help? Also, you could of had your company contact their congressional representative and have them cut thru the red tape on your behalf.