Well, they sure got their own back, last time I went to Tari. For those not familiar with the place, there's a road that traverses around the airport, basically from the western side to the eastern side, with a big "U" around the south-east end of the strip. Naturally enuf, this adds considerable distance to a journey from one side of the airport to the other - and back again.
It's even more of a problem locally coz the great majority of the population use shanks ponies to get around. Being slightly more intelligent than most, these folks had figured that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (to bastardise the expression!). So they don't follow the road all the way, they just cut across the strip and pick up the road again on the other side.
Now, Tari airport ain't one of the busiest places in the country, but it can be a right bahstard in sh!tty weather.
Anyway, I've been picking me way toward the place, on a basic northerly track and planning a straight-in on 32. Everything going well, strip in sight, wheels down and 3 greens, props now at full increase and flaps travelling from 40% to 100% with speed right where it ought to be.
This is pretty usual for me but I figured that everyone is entitled to at least one good day, right?
Then I see it ... part of the airstrip is shifting sideways! As vis improves I realise that it's the standard migratory pattern of the indiginous community. Just then, they spot the Kingair - probably my landing light caught there eye. Anyway, for whatever reason, they all decided to exercise their natural curiosity streak.
So they all stopped, right in the middle of the strip to watch the "liklik balus" land! I can only imagine their disappointment when said "liklik balus" went around, very reluctantly, from extremely low level! For my part, I was a bit busy flying the GA and looking for a clear space to turn for a close downwind ... a very close downwind, given the weather at the time!
By the time I was on final approach, my "audience" was on the sidelines. As I later learned, the local PX Port Manager had seen the problem and told the people to get off the strip. Incredibly, they had obeyed him! None of that made me feel much better but I was certainly grateful for the initiative and intervention of the PX Port Manager.
[ 07 December 2001: Message edited by: OzExpat ]