Lagos, Nigeria
04-19-2009, 05:54 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
The past few months have been exceptionally busy for me around the house and the community. That plus the fact that I've grown weary of some of the stuff seen here, has forced me to spend time elsewhere. But I come back every now and then to monitor the goings on at both FedEx as well as UPS. After all, it's tough to quit "cold turkey." And speaking of "turkey", how's MM?
JJ
JJ
04-19-2009, 06:09 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,872
The past few months have been exceptionally busy for me around the house and the community. That plus the fact that I've grown weary of some of the stuff seen here, has forced me to spend time elsewhere. But I come back every now and then to monitor the goings on at both FedEx as well as UPS. After all, it's tough to quit "cold turkey." And speaking of "turkey", how's MM?
JJ
JJ
04-19-2009, 06:36 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: Relaxing
Posts: 235
If your on the airway from porto novo to the lagos vor don't fly direct. Since its non-radar lagos usually sends people outbound on that route... I think its the 250 degree radial. UNOFFICIALLY Lagos controllers want you to cross porto novo and turn 050 in intercept the 270 radial inbound to the lagos vor. Apparently its SOP but no chart exists. Bug those bonehead controllers to commit to what they want you to do. Even with two security vehicles and lots of guys with guns one of our crewmembers had their cell phone stolen out of the crew van. She left it on the seat. When she got her suitcase and came back to pick it up and it "vanished". Of course everyone around the vehicle forgot how to speak english and I'm sure the phone was on ebay 10 minutes later. Wear your DEET. That part of Africa is bad with Malaria and its the start of the rainy season. If you overnight you will get random calls from the lobby asking you for a "date." Even after dousing myself with Deet and checking the sheets for critters I still woke up with a nasty bite on my back from my last trip. My buddies said it was from a flight attendant, then I had to remind them that our FA's don't have their teeth anymore. Guess it could've come from a knitting needle though. Good luck....or better yet avoid it.
MBB
04-23-2009, 05:19 PM
#16
A moment please...
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: Just passin' thru
Posts: 769
This was posted on another forum:
"I lived and flew a widebody in Africa to a lesser known destinations for a few years, and as was said above, have a good sense of humor. Everything has it's own time, some might take days or never happen at all.
Get all your shots updated, drink bottle water or beer. No ice or salad (washed in tap water).
As far as flying, unless VMC, stick to the airways and fly the full approach. Many ATCs have no radar so position report is a must when entering TMAs (radial, alt, DME etc.). TCAS only works if the other guy has it on or even has one. In West Africa, most ATC comm to locals are in French. Use GPS as a back up and don't rely too much for non-precision approaches, Their (beacons) actual location and the GPS coordinates sometimes don't jive.
Stay up with the local, regional current events. Making sure that your alternate hasn't fallen into the rebel's control the night before is very very important.
Hide away some extra cash in case you need to get out of somewhere fast (yes, bribe money). Money talks. Make sure you have singles, great for tips here and there and no, they don't take coins, even the two euro ones. Greenbacks still rule down there.
Again, important, have a sense of humor. Laugh it off since there's nothing you can do about it, not in a hundred years. Many have tried and failed.
People are generally good but of different cultures and backgrounds so have an open mind. To them you are wealthy and perhaps "can help them out". Politely ignore, they will pester but get use to it. I've never seen any overt aggressiveness even in the contested areas.
As far as personal hygines go, if you must, never ever ride bareback (the highway connecting Kinshasa and Mombasa is known as "the AIDS Highway" for a reason. Bring mosquito repellent, number one killer in Africa is malaria. You won't die from it but it'll make you very very sick and will become a recurring sickness. The gift that keeps on giving.
Enjoy the experience and have a good time. Go climb the Kilimanjaro before all the ice melts. Go to Arusha and experience the Serengeti, unforgettable.
Keep your wits about you like anywhere else and have a great time.
Oh yeah, once the pay stops or if they promise that it will be there in two weeks and "please, we need you to do one more trip". The fun is over and stop flying until you're paid in full. The more you fly the deeper the hole you are digging for yourself. So, make sure you get paid!"
"I lived and flew a widebody in Africa to a lesser known destinations for a few years, and as was said above, have a good sense of humor. Everything has it's own time, some might take days or never happen at all.
Get all your shots updated, drink bottle water or beer. No ice or salad (washed in tap water).
As far as flying, unless VMC, stick to the airways and fly the full approach. Many ATCs have no radar so position report is a must when entering TMAs (radial, alt, DME etc.). TCAS only works if the other guy has it on or even has one. In West Africa, most ATC comm to locals are in French. Use GPS as a back up and don't rely too much for non-precision approaches, Their (beacons) actual location and the GPS coordinates sometimes don't jive.
Stay up with the local, regional current events. Making sure that your alternate hasn't fallen into the rebel's control the night before is very very important.
Hide away some extra cash in case you need to get out of somewhere fast (yes, bribe money). Money talks. Make sure you have singles, great for tips here and there and no, they don't take coins, even the two euro ones. Greenbacks still rule down there.
Again, important, have a sense of humor. Laugh it off since there's nothing you can do about it, not in a hundred years. Many have tried and failed.
People are generally good but of different cultures and backgrounds so have an open mind. To them you are wealthy and perhaps "can help them out". Politely ignore, they will pester but get use to it. I've never seen any overt aggressiveness even in the contested areas.
As far as personal hygines go, if you must, never ever ride bareback (the highway connecting Kinshasa and Mombasa is known as "the AIDS Highway" for a reason. Bring mosquito repellent, number one killer in Africa is malaria. You won't die from it but it'll make you very very sick and will become a recurring sickness. The gift that keeps on giving.
Enjoy the experience and have a good time. Go climb the Kilimanjaro before all the ice melts. Go to Arusha and experience the Serengeti, unforgettable.
Keep your wits about you like anywhere else and have a great time.
Oh yeah, once the pay stops or if they promise that it will be there in two weeks and "please, we need you to do one more trip". The fun is over and stop flying until you're paid in full. The more you fly the deeper the hole you are digging for yourself. So, make sure you get paid!"
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