Port Sudan and Asmara
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Port Sudan and Asmara
Anyone got up to date info on conditions at Port Sudan and Asmara?
We are looking at these as possible fuel stops en route through Egypt to Kenya. Avgas preferably but can use mogas if necessary.......
We are looking at these as possible fuel stops en route through Egypt to Kenya. Avgas preferably but can use mogas if necessary.......
I flew over Port Sudan a few days ago, and it looked normal enough from above (9,000 feet), although I have no idea at all what the situation was on the ground. I heard some other aircraft on the tower frequency but did not see them.
I couldn't see Asmara due to cloud underneath, but heard a few aircraft coming and going to that airport on the center/tower frequency.
Have you considered going down the other side of the Red Sea (the Saudi side)? I was not very impressed with my one fuel stop in Egypt (Sharm el Sheik) - had a 100 passenger bus come out to meet me to transport me to the terminal 50 yards away, and was told that payment for the bus was "not optional" - that's a standard trick in Egypt. I don't know if Saudi would be better, but it's hard to imagine it would be worse.
Michael
Sharm el Sheik - Ya gotta pay for it, even if you didn't ask for it.
I couldn't see Asmara due to cloud underneath, but heard a few aircraft coming and going to that airport on the center/tower frequency.
Have you considered going down the other side of the Red Sea (the Saudi side)? I was not very impressed with my one fuel stop in Egypt (Sharm el Sheik) - had a 100 passenger bus come out to meet me to transport me to the terminal 50 yards away, and was told that payment for the bus was "not optional" - that's a standard trick in Egypt. I don't know if Saudi would be better, but it's hard to imagine it would be worse.
Michael
Sharm el Sheik - Ya gotta pay for it, even if you didn't ask for it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes we could go via Saudi, Jeddah-Asmara-Addis.
Or more directly Luxor-Port Sudan-Asmara-Addis
We are trying to get information about Port Sudan and Asmara; if this can't be sorted out it will have to be Khartoum.
Or more directly Luxor-Port Sudan-Asmara-Addis
We are trying to get information about Port Sudan and Asmara; if this can't be sorted out it will have to be Khartoum.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: In Transit
Age: 76
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Asmara - Addis
I don.t think the the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia is open so Asmara to Addis is out of the question unless you want a missile up your exhaust. We had to overfly Djibouti to get to Addis from Asmara.
Djibouti is actually not a bad place to stop. I was pretty impressed with the country when I landed there last week - the refuellers were fast and friendly, the staff at the hotel (Sheraton) were very nice - even though the hotel itself is quite old - and the food at the Sheraton was really excellent. When I mentioned that I was planning an early departure (6:00 AM from the hotel), the staff volunteered to open the breakfast restaurant half an hour early for me. Everything on the breakfast buffet was ready and piping hot when we showed up at 5:30 AM.
When I went to file the flight plan the next morning, the staff at the AIS office suggested a better route that saved me 100 miles. The controllers are easy to work with and know what they are doing.
My overall impression is that the people in Djibouti are both clever and very courteous. I would quite happily plan ferry flights through Djibouti again.
Michael
When I went to file the flight plan the next morning, the staff at the AIS office suggested a better route that saved me 100 miles. The controllers are easy to work with and know what they are doing.
My overall impression is that the people in Djibouti are both clever and very courteous. I would quite happily plan ferry flights through Djibouti again.
Michael
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK I dont want a missile! Though I thought that particular war is over.
So that would be Luxor Port Sudan Asmara Djibouti Addis.
Getting info about Port Sudan and Asmara is a bit challenging.
Agents are looking into it .................
So that would be Luxor Port Sudan Asmara Djibouti Addis.
Getting info about Port Sudan and Asmara is a bit challenging.
Agents are looking into it .................
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: N Yorkshire, UK
Age: 76
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Port Sudan
Have you seen this enlightening document?
Sudan AirportsInformation Directory 2007
I believe the 2 recommended fuel suppliers in Sudan are
Shell BUT sold in 2008 tp OilLibya???
and Petronas
PETRONAS
It's been a while since I was there (2004) but I would imagine the standard African rules still apply (though petty corruption is probably still low)
At that time the only decent Hotel was the Port Sudan Hilton now the Mercure Port Sudan??? but not listed by Mercure/Accor
I was at rhe Bashayer Marine Terminal near the airport - 100,000 Tonnes Nile b;end No Problem!!!
PZU Out of Africa - (Retired)
Sudan AirportsInformation Directory 2007
I believe the 2 recommended fuel suppliers in Sudan are
Shell BUT sold in 2008 tp OilLibya???
and Petronas
PETRONAS
It's been a while since I was there (2004) but I would imagine the standard African rules still apply (though petty corruption is probably still low)
At that time the only decent Hotel was the Port Sudan Hilton now the Mercure Port Sudan??? but not listed by Mercure/Accor
I was at rhe Bashayer Marine Terminal near the airport - 100,000 Tonnes Nile b;end No Problem!!!
PZU Out of Africa - (Retired)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sun, water, and lots of sand
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Solida Rust Twotter,
Quite right!. Capt Alan Lewis, a friend, was killed when his Lear Jet was shot down.
Correct. I think a Lear was shot down there a few years ago.
Quite right!. Capt Alan Lewis, a friend, was killed when his Lear Jet was shot down.
...OK I don't want a missile!
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt... (click here)
All that notwithstanding, I still think you might be better off to investigate going down the Saudi side of the Red Sea. Compare the gross costs of the flight on the Saudi side (e.g. overflight fees, handling charges, impositions the handlers make such as 100 passenger buses, etc.) to the gross costs of going down the Egyptian - Eritrean - Ethiopian side, and you will probably find it is cheaper on the East side.
Michael
(no disrespect meant to those who lost their lives in the Lear)
Angola 1991
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Africa
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Routing used in UN Ops
Hi
During the UN period in Eritrea, they had us cleared to fly from Asmara on the route UB526 towards intersection Tesot,(south of Massawa,) then turn onto W180 down the Eritrean coast via Assab, then on A451/UA451,seawards to intersection Parim , then on G667/UG667 to Djibouti. It will be prudent to have flotation-gear & a EPIB.
It seemed a good idea to keep well clear of Yemeni airspace on the east side of the Red Sea, as well as the 'hot' border between Eritrea & Ethiopia west of Assab.
Maybe you could obtain a clearance to fly from Djibouti via Dire Dawa to Nairobi?
That's shorter and avoids the weather & altitude of Addis Abeba.
I would NOT try to fly from Luxor to Addis for the reasons stated ( the Learjet as an example). Both Eritrean & Ethiopian Air Forces have missile equipped fighters able to tackle anything.
When landing at Asmara, only land on runway 07/25 as the other one is military-controlled & you'll be apprehended for using that one!
What is the range/speed of the plane you're flying?
Happy landings.
During the UN period in Eritrea, they had us cleared to fly from Asmara on the route UB526 towards intersection Tesot,(south of Massawa,) then turn onto W180 down the Eritrean coast via Assab, then on A451/UA451,seawards to intersection Parim , then on G667/UG667 to Djibouti. It will be prudent to have flotation-gear & a EPIB.
It seemed a good idea to keep well clear of Yemeni airspace on the east side of the Red Sea, as well as the 'hot' border between Eritrea & Ethiopia west of Assab.
Maybe you could obtain a clearance to fly from Djibouti via Dire Dawa to Nairobi?
That's shorter and avoids the weather & altitude of Addis Abeba.
I would NOT try to fly from Luxor to Addis for the reasons stated ( the Learjet as an example). Both Eritrean & Ethiopian Air Forces have missile equipped fighters able to tackle anything.
When landing at Asmara, only land on runway 07/25 as the other one is military-controlled & you'll be apprehended for using that one!
What is the range/speed of the plane you're flying?
Happy landings.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is the Eritrea/Ethiopian border really still closed to airways traffic these days, that Lear business was about fifteen years ago and nothing's been shot there since afaik. The military conrontation there is over, surely?
Very much doubt there is avgas in Dire Dawa, though there will be mogas at local petrol stations. DD is a thriving and pleasant town but the airport is surrounded by big terrain.
Echo the comments re Djibouti.
I assume a route through Sudan (Khartoum) is not feasible? Avgas may be possible at Lokichoggio - piston types probably still operate there from Wilson? Or is airspace closed between N and S Sudan?
Very much doubt there is avgas in Dire Dawa, though there will be mogas at local petrol stations. DD is a thriving and pleasant town but the airport is surrounded by big terrain.
Echo the comments re Djibouti.
I assume a route through Sudan (Khartoum) is not feasible? Avgas may be possible at Lokichoggio - piston types probably still operate there from Wilson? Or is airspace closed between N and S Sudan?
I heard last week from friends in Juba that Jet Fuel was in very short supply there, perhaps because the normal logistics and resupply routine has been overlooked a bit in all the excitement surrounding the recent referendum.
For that reason, I don't think that trying to route through South Sudan would be prudent, unless very firm confirmation can be obtained that the required fuel will be both present and reserved for the aircraft being ferried. Keep in mind that the PT6 crowd can use avgas in a pinch, and just might do that if there is no jet fuel around, but the avgas crowd cannot use Jet Fuel.
Michael
For that reason, I don't think that trying to route through South Sudan would be prudent, unless very firm confirmation can be obtained that the required fuel will be both present and reserved for the aircraft being ferried. Keep in mind that the PT6 crowd can use avgas in a pinch, and just might do that if there is no jet fuel around, but the avgas crowd cannot use Jet Fuel.
Michael
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are trying to keep the legs down to about 500 nm.
Hence my original question about Port Sudan and Asmara, as the legs Aswan-Khartoum-Addis are a bit on the long side. It would be better to go around by Port Sudan and Asmara, as long as avgas (preferably) or mogas is available. Then from Asmara we can go to Djibouti if necessary.
Hence my original question about Port Sudan and Asmara, as the legs Aswan-Khartoum-Addis are a bit on the long side. It would be better to go around by Port Sudan and Asmara, as long as avgas (preferably) or mogas is available. Then from Asmara we can go to Djibouti if necessary.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Motel 6, or the Super 8
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stinger ?
Michael - As a former Stinger guy and with a little knowledge of the availability of Stingers in the region you had this encounter - do you know if if it was a Stinger?
Sorry you had to go through something like that.
Mike
Sorry you had to go through something like that.
Mike
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nowhere nice
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Forget the stingers, lots of stuff about the place that can cause issues It just takes one idiot to get his hands on something nasty and stand near a threshold...
There are a lot of places though with honest handling companies so hunt around (in country and people there) and you should be set. My advice - stick with the ones used by the big companies, oil, dirt, shiney stuff etc.
There are a lot of places though with honest handling companies so hunt around (in country and people there) and you should be set. My advice - stick with the ones used by the big companies, oil, dirt, shiney stuff etc.
