A recent 'only in Africa experience' at a certain African airfield, possibly of interest.
We are waiting to line-up with a ZS Cessna Citation ahead of us.
- ZS: tower, ZS, there is a large rock on the runway adjacent to taxiway B. Could someone remove it please?
- tower: standby
- time passing......growing line of a/c...nothing happens...
- ZS: errr, tower, ZS, standing by
- tower: ZS, line-up and wait
- ZS: line-up and wait....but there is still a rock on the runway.....
- silence
- tower: ZS clear for take-off
- ZS: we are waiting for someone to move the rock.
- ...standy...
- ...and so on..for 10 minutes at least, no apparent action or understanding from tower
- .....
- Finally, from tower: ...... ZS. Caution rocks on runway adjacent to taxiway B. clear for take-off. !!!
- ZS, sigh, clear for take off.
The density altitude at the time was over 8,000' and I am sure they were reluctant to abandon several 100 feet of runway by maneuvering past the freaking big rock before staring their run. But hey, TIA!