Cpt. says "No Fuel"
Some years ago I booked a scenic flight from PMV (Margareta Island) to
CAJ (Canaima) with views of the Angel Falls on the outbound. RUTACA
advised a pick-up at the Hilton at 06.30 for a departure from PMV at 07.30
At RUTACA check-in was told I had been rebooked on another of their flts,
as the 07.30 dep was for Germans." They had demanded an new twin a/c.
as we recently killed 20 tourists, when their DC3 flight crashed." (YV-224C)
"We have given them a Bandeirante. and put you with 8 Canadians on a
Cessna 208 Caravan with one engine."
I departed PMV at 08.00 with 8 employees of Canada 3000, which had just
gone bust o/b the Caravan. The Canadians were somewhat subdued, having
just learned of their employers failure. but that would be less important, as
what was to come. We approached the Angel Falls, but a low cloud base
made it impossible to see the falls. We then continued on to CAJ (Canaima)
for a walk through the rain forest, and lunch. The falls would be hopefully
viewed on the return to PMR. In early afternoon, the cloud had gone, and
3 orbits at the falls gave everyone a good photo opportunity.. After flying for
a short time, the Caravan was flying ca. 1000ft above the tree canopy.
I shouted to one of the Canadians, to ask the ex Venezuelan Air Force Cpt.
why we were flying so low. The Cpt. spoke very little English, but was able
to reply "No Fuel" . A conversation with the o/b guide, and Cpt. revealed that
we were diverting to CBL (Cuidad Bolivar) to search for fuel. Unfortunately
the man on the fuel truck said "Only cash Money", so after a hour at CBL
with the Cpt successful in raising funds in the CBL terminal, and I viewing
the Flamingo monoplane which Jimmie Angel damaged near the Angel Falls
on Oct 9th 1937. His a/c was brought to CBL, and is a static display outside
the terminal building. We arrived back at PMR somewhat tired, but happy that
fuel had been found.
Lance Shippey.