Unable to contact ATC over Africa

[Chris Scott]

Sounds like little has changed in 40 years, other than the introduction of 126.9 and SSB. In the Africa Corps, getting climb "clearance" was always a nightmare, particularly if dawn was on the way (with or without the horn), particularly in HF-AM (pre-USB) days. It was a case of listening for the next point-to-point ATC transmission ("Adees, Adees, Adees; Azmurra on eight-nine...") and hoping they might relay your request to Tripoli or Khartoum. They never did, though.

Then there is the basic problem of various semi-Anglophone pilots, of divers levels of ability and experience –
ATC: "Beadvize the veeseeten now in your three o'clock, call when you hev it in sight."
Military jet pilot: "Iz thet localtime, or GMT?"

Happy days...