SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
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SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
Sunday Times: 20/06/04
SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
Only South Africans are flying civilians into Baghdad
SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
Only South Africans are flying civilians into Baghdad
ROBERT Brands view of Baghdad is restricted to the citys heavily guarded airport but the 32-year-old South African pilot is uniquely placed to catch a glimpse of life in Iraq.
Brands insight comes from his passengers military pilots heading for duty in Baghdad, VIPs, businessmen, journalists, TV crews, soldiers, dog handlers and their dogs, and many South Africans; most of them security guards and construction workers.
Among these South Africans are university students. A pair from Pretoria University recently told Brand they would be paid 6000 a month for helping with reconstruction work.
All these passengers rely on Brands employer Airquarius Aviation, an air charter company based at Lanseria outside Johannesburg to get them into Baghdad. Airquarius, flying on behalf of Royal Jordanian, provides the only civilian flights into the Iraqi capital. Its also the only way to get there from the Jordanian capital, Amman, after the desert road became too dangerous.
For South Africans leaving Baghdad, the flight is a welcome surprise. Two friendly South African cabin attendants one white, one black welcome passengers on board, and the pilots accent makes the flight feel almost like a regular flight from Joburg to Cape Town, according to one passenger.
Occasionally Iraqis board the flight. But if you see children, its mostly with Iraqi families flying out, says Brand. The flight is too expensive for most Iraqis Royal Jordanian charges over 550 for a one-way flight .
At home in Pretoria this week, Brand spoke about the challenges of flying into Baghdad on behalf of a Jordanian airline whose own pilots were too afraid of the task.
Among the challenges the pilots face is to approach Baghdad International in a tight, downward spiral, staying within the airports perimeter from an altitude of 15000ft to avoid missiles and gunfire. Outward-bound flights spiral upwards before heading west on reaching the same altitude.
Airquarius has been flying Royal Jordanian s scheduled flights between Amman and Baghdad, up to four times a day, for six months.
Before the US invasion, and during a time of punitive UN sanctions, Royal Jordanian was one of only a few airlines that flew to the Iraqi capital, from Amman. After some form of stability returned to Baghdad last year, Royal Jordanian tried to resume its hour-long flights to Baghdad but its crews balked. Their pilots refused to fly the route as it was getting too dangerous for them, says Brand.
Stuck without planes or crews to service its two daily flights to Baghdad and back , the government-owned Royal Jordanian turned to Airquarius.
Gavin Branson, Airquariuss managing director, says his company has provided one aircraft, a Fokker F28, for the Baghdad-Amman service. Two crews each made up of two captains, two first officers and two cabin attendants man the flights, backed by two ground engineers and one operations person.
The F28 can take up to 70 passengers. For the Baghdad route, however, it has been reconfigured to fly only 60. Each flight has three Jordanian air marshals in case of any security threat . Airquariuss plane has been painted with Royal Jordanians slogan on the fuselage, but its registration ZS XGX is South African .
During their five-week tours of duty, the Airquarius crews fly to Baghdad once or twice a day, entering Iraqi airspace in daylight only at 22000ft . There they must remain under the instructions of US air traffic controllers.
Less than one hour after taking off from Queen Alia International Airport , Baghdad comes into view, a few minutes after flying over the Euphrates River at Fallujah. To Brand, the towns status as an important military base during the Baathist era is visible from the air. The giveaway is an airport with runways leading directly out of bunkers designed to protect fighter jets.
After the flight reaches 15000ft directly above Baghdad International , it comes under the control of the airports tower, currently manned by Australians.
The airport may now officially be known as Baghdad International Airport, but the name on the side of the building says only International Airport no one has got round to replacing Saddam with Baghdad .
Brand says he has been aware of some incidents involving mortars, machine-gun fire and missiles; but these have never been fired at Airquariuss Royal Jordanian flights. From far beyond the perimeter of the heavily guarded airport come the sounds of gunfire and exploding bombs, but never enough to cause much alarm on the runway.
SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
Only South Africans are flying civilians into Baghdad
SA pilots connect Iraq and the world
Only South Africans are flying civilians into Baghdad
ROBERT Brands view of Baghdad is restricted to the citys heavily guarded airport but the 32-year-old South African pilot is uniquely placed to catch a glimpse of life in Iraq.
Brands insight comes from his passengers military pilots heading for duty in Baghdad, VIPs, businessmen, journalists, TV crews, soldiers, dog handlers and their dogs, and many South Africans; most of them security guards and construction workers.
Among these South Africans are university students. A pair from Pretoria University recently told Brand they would be paid 6000 a month for helping with reconstruction work.
All these passengers rely on Brands employer Airquarius Aviation, an air charter company based at Lanseria outside Johannesburg to get them into Baghdad. Airquarius, flying on behalf of Royal Jordanian, provides the only civilian flights into the Iraqi capital. Its also the only way to get there from the Jordanian capital, Amman, after the desert road became too dangerous.
For South Africans leaving Baghdad, the flight is a welcome surprise. Two friendly South African cabin attendants one white, one black welcome passengers on board, and the pilots accent makes the flight feel almost like a regular flight from Joburg to Cape Town, according to one passenger.
Occasionally Iraqis board the flight. But if you see children, its mostly with Iraqi families flying out, says Brand. The flight is too expensive for most Iraqis Royal Jordanian charges over 550 for a one-way flight .
At home in Pretoria this week, Brand spoke about the challenges of flying into Baghdad on behalf of a Jordanian airline whose own pilots were too afraid of the task.
Among the challenges the pilots face is to approach Baghdad International in a tight, downward spiral, staying within the airports perimeter from an altitude of 15000ft to avoid missiles and gunfire. Outward-bound flights spiral upwards before heading west on reaching the same altitude.
Airquarius has been flying Royal Jordanian s scheduled flights between Amman and Baghdad, up to four times a day, for six months.
Before the US invasion, and during a time of punitive UN sanctions, Royal Jordanian was one of only a few airlines that flew to the Iraqi capital, from Amman. After some form of stability returned to Baghdad last year, Royal Jordanian tried to resume its hour-long flights to Baghdad but its crews balked. Their pilots refused to fly the route as it was getting too dangerous for them, says Brand.
Stuck without planes or crews to service its two daily flights to Baghdad and back , the government-owned Royal Jordanian turned to Airquarius.
Gavin Branson, Airquariuss managing director, says his company has provided one aircraft, a Fokker F28, for the Baghdad-Amman service. Two crews each made up of two captains, two first officers and two cabin attendants man the flights, backed by two ground engineers and one operations person.
The F28 can take up to 70 passengers. For the Baghdad route, however, it has been reconfigured to fly only 60. Each flight has three Jordanian air marshals in case of any security threat . Airquariuss plane has been painted with Royal Jordanians slogan on the fuselage, but its registration ZS XGX is South African .
During their five-week tours of duty, the Airquarius crews fly to Baghdad once or twice a day, entering Iraqi airspace in daylight only at 22000ft . There they must remain under the instructions of US air traffic controllers.
Less than one hour after taking off from Queen Alia International Airport , Baghdad comes into view, a few minutes after flying over the Euphrates River at Fallujah. To Brand, the towns status as an important military base during the Baathist era is visible from the air. The giveaway is an airport with runways leading directly out of bunkers designed to protect fighter jets.
After the flight reaches 15000ft directly above Baghdad International , it comes under the control of the airports tower, currently manned by Australians.
The airport may now officially be known as Baghdad International Airport, but the name on the side of the building says only International Airport no one has got round to replacing Saddam with Baghdad .
Brand says he has been aware of some incidents involving mortars, machine-gun fire and missiles; but these have never been fired at Airquariuss Royal Jordanian flights. From far beyond the perimeter of the heavily guarded airport come the sounds of gunfire and exploding bombs, but never enough to cause much alarm on the runway.
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Lots of Sefrican flying in and out of Jordan these days. Know a whole bunch of them. Risking their lives on a daily basis not even for the danger pay that does not exist.
Why you ask? Well they dont "qualify" for work in Sefrica. The higher level of skill, decision making and attentiveness required to fly in the worlds worst war zone obviously does not qualify them to fly around their home land. Strange!!!
Her majesty Zuma said just the otherday that Sefrican should think twice befor going to Iraq. Stupid fool does not realise that the jobs we want are being given to the PDI's (previously dissadvantaged individuals) not the other PDI's (presently disadvantaged individuals) and many cannot ply their trade at home, so whett must we dooo.
Would like to see a few Kaydetts take on the job. Wonder if they would or is it too far removed from the luxury of a silver spoon fed cockpit.
Good luck chaps. Enjoy it and fly safe. We all know that the experience you chaps are getting is the best and stands you above the rest.
Cheers
Why you ask? Well they dont "qualify" for work in Sefrica. The higher level of skill, decision making and attentiveness required to fly in the worlds worst war zone obviously does not qualify them to fly around their home land. Strange!!!
Her majesty Zuma said just the otherday that Sefrican should think twice befor going to Iraq. Stupid fool does not realise that the jobs we want are being given to the PDI's (previously dissadvantaged individuals) not the other PDI's (presently disadvantaged individuals) and many cannot ply their trade at home, so whett must we dooo.
Would like to see a few Kaydetts take on the job. Wonder if they would or is it too far removed from the luxury of a silver spoon fed cockpit.
Good luck chaps. Enjoy it and fly safe. We all know that the experience you chaps are getting is the best and stands you above the rest.
Cheers
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The boys , as always , hold the 'Sefrican' name on high. Been there , not to lekka I must confess. And yes , some of the Cadets from Rossair have been there. Seemed to do just fine.......
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Put it in perspective
Just for the record Ross Air was probably the first bunch of local lads to fly in there back when it was realy ****. Since then Naturelink has been opperating out of Amman for over a year now and the Danes (Aviation Assist) were flying out of Kuwait till they went bust. A Kenyan company had the UN contract there before the UN left after its head office was bombed. The F28 boy are the latest to join this little group of mad pilots and to be honest its just another contract job. Royal Wing did keep flying into Bagdad right up untill about the end of Feb this year. Its something we do by choice and there for is not realy such a big deal. Amman is actualy the best contract I have ever been on. Beats Africa hands down. Running water ect.
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SA pilots based in Amman.
Hi there,
I get there from time to time, based with an EU carrier.
Where do I find you guys?
What are good places to hang out at?
Regards
[email protected]
I get there from time to time, based with an EU carrier.
Where do I find you guys?
What are good places to hang out at?
Regards
[email protected]
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Baghdad Hard Rock(et) Cafe
The pay for Sefricans flying into Iraq is the same as on most of the other sa operator contracts, eg DRC and Algeria , I understand that Airquerius guys get slightly higher than usual.
I've met sefrican security guys on the ground in Iraq who are apparently pulling in between 500 and 1000 U$ per day.
Amman is awesome to work out of, people are awesome and really efficient. Jordan has an excellent aviation infrastructure, Marka Airport in Amman is probably only a little bigger than Grand Central airport yet includes 3 airforce squadrons and 2 big civvie flying schools plus a few scheduled carriers all with the luxury of radar vectored ILS approaches every arrival.
Jordan Rock's.
PS , a US Army C-130 took some hits comming out of Baghdad yesterday, killed some pax. Baghdad atis was reporting a "moderate threat" assesment at the time.
I've met sefrican security guys on the ground in Iraq who are apparently pulling in between 500 and 1000 U$ per day.
Amman is awesome to work out of, people are awesome and really efficient. Jordan has an excellent aviation infrastructure, Marka Airport in Amman is probably only a little bigger than Grand Central airport yet includes 3 airforce squadrons and 2 big civvie flying schools plus a few scheduled carriers all with the luxury of radar vectored ILS approaches every arrival.
Jordan Rock's.
PS , a US Army C-130 took some hits comming out of Baghdad yesterday, killed some pax. Baghdad atis was reporting a "moderate threat" assesment at the time.
Before the US invasion, and during a time of punitive UN sanctions, Royal Jordanian was one of only a few airlines that flew to the Iraqi capital, from Amman.
Nobody flew scheculed in or out of Iraq except the UNIKOM AN26B from Habiniyah.
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it looks like it was rather a RAAF C-130 that was hit by ground fire at approx 12 NM west of Baghdad yesterday. What the heck was it doing there low enough to be hit by ground fire ???
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What was he doing that low ?
Probably trying hard not to fly high enough to get a SAM locked onto him.
There's 2 way's in and out of Baghdad at the moment, either go in tactical at roof top height or a tight spiral from 15000' above the field staying between the 2 parellel runways all the time.
There's 2 way's in and out of Baghdad at the moment, either go in tactical at roof top height or a tight spiral from 15000' above the field staying between the 2 parellel runways all the time.
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Jordan definately rocks ! Only cotract where KFC and Burger king is just around the corner with running water as mentioned before.
apparently theres not much of a threat at the moment, but a couple of mortars have been landing now and again to close for comfort !
Interesting to see the oldest town in the world ( Erbil ) and the man with the iron fist`s beautifull palaces, still intact by the way.
But I have to say I`m really glad that after a day in Iraq you get to go back to Jordan and have a good Kentucky rounder !
Fly safe
Bubblewrap
apparently theres not much of a threat at the moment, but a couple of mortars have been landing now and again to close for comfort !
Interesting to see the oldest town in the world ( Erbil ) and the man with the iron fist`s beautifull palaces, still intact by the way.
But I have to say I`m really glad that after a day in Iraq you get to go back to Jordan and have a good Kentucky rounder !
Fly safe
Bubblewrap
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Grizzly Bare
Mostly no problems, only time its get a bit hairy is when youre spiraling down and some ruskie s spiraling up and not really talking on the radio. And then you get 2 B737`s that bom in there now again. ( Baghdad ) The other 2 fields ( Erbil & Basra ) arent too bad, pretty quite most times, but Erbil could get hairy if the spiral doesnt work out as planned, with that reduced runway lenght and all.
Controlling pretty good up to the point of spiraling overhead where youve got to have your finger way out !
Fly safe,
Bubblewrap
Controlling pretty good up to the point of spiraling overhead where youve got to have your finger way out !
Fly safe,
Bubblewrap
