Cameroon Aviation
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Flying (or not) in Cameroon
Having spent 50% of my time for the last 20 years travelling around Africa, I can inform you that, whereas East Africa has some world class airlines (KA, ET etc). the rule covering the whole of Central Africa and particularly Cameroon is simply "Nothing will work out the way you expect".
The now practically defunct Cameroon Airlines was, in 1986, a reasonably efficient regional carrier with long haul flights to Paris and, weekly, to London. Since then, they have crashed 4 aircraft out of a maximum fleet of 6 (3X737s and 1 747 which ran off the runway in Paris). They now no longer even publish timetables for their regional services.
The other players in the region (Air Gabon - GN, in particular) have a better safety record but are no more reliable in terms of timekeeping.
A few years ago I had regularly occasion to take a Sunday afternoon GN flight for the 40 minute hop from Douala to Libreville. On two consecutive occasions the flight was respectively 18 and 28 hours late. On the 3rd occasion, the flt left on time at 1830 and as soon as we were airborne, the purser announced "Welcome aboard this Air Gabon flignt to Libreville ...via BAMAKO (3 hours flight in the wrong direction).
In all I must have spent several months of my life waiting for aircraft to turn up - the most frustrating part being that nobody gives any information at all about the length of the delay.
There were rumours a few months ago that SN Brussels would be starting some regional operations from Douala, much as Virgin has done from Lagos. If they do this and can survive in the very corrupt environment of Cameroon, it will be a boon to the travelling public.
The now practically defunct Cameroon Airlines was, in 1986, a reasonably efficient regional carrier with long haul flights to Paris and, weekly, to London. Since then, they have crashed 4 aircraft out of a maximum fleet of 6 (3X737s and 1 747 which ran off the runway in Paris). They now no longer even publish timetables for their regional services.
The other players in the region (Air Gabon - GN, in particular) have a better safety record but are no more reliable in terms of timekeeping.
A few years ago I had regularly occasion to take a Sunday afternoon GN flight for the 40 minute hop from Douala to Libreville. On two consecutive occasions the flight was respectively 18 and 28 hours late. On the 3rd occasion, the flt left on time at 1830 and as soon as we were airborne, the purser announced "Welcome aboard this Air Gabon flignt to Libreville ...via BAMAKO (3 hours flight in the wrong direction).
In all I must have spent several months of my life waiting for aircraft to turn up - the most frustrating part being that nobody gives any information at all about the length of the delay.
There were rumours a few months ago that SN Brussels would be starting some regional operations from Douala, much as Virgin has done from Lagos. If they do this and can survive in the very corrupt environment of Cameroon, it will be a boon to the travelling public.
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Hy everyone!!
Noel Howare-Jones, I would like to ask you something.
You said that I have been traveling arround Africa, so, I would like to know, if you saw some small compani, which could be flying single enggine aircraft, and doing some kind of human works.
I´m young, and I have a low amount of fly hours, so, I´m loocking for some compani, that not need an experience pilot. I´m able to go and live in any place, but I just want to fly and make a leaving of that.
I have some friend who was flying in the south of Africa, but he was working for a small airline, he was flying a Focker 100 I think, but you know, this compani was loocking for people with experience.
So, If you know something, please let me know!!, thanks
bye bye, have good flight!
Noel Howare-Jones, I would like to ask you something.
You said that I have been traveling arround Africa, so, I would like to know, if you saw some small compani, which could be flying single enggine aircraft, and doing some kind of human works.
I´m young, and I have a low amount of fly hours, so, I´m loocking for some compani, that not need an experience pilot. I´m able to go and live in any place, but I just want to fly and make a leaving of that.
I have some friend who was flying in the south of Africa, but he was working for a small airline, he was flying a Focker 100 I think, but you know, this compani was loocking for people with experience.
So, If you know something, please let me know!!, thanks
bye bye, have good flight!
Aisle seat, please.
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I think the best comment I can make is that when I have to travel from Douala to Yaounde, I do so by road. It's faster and more reliable than any regional airline - and that's in Cameroonian buses!
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Soap Box Cowboy,
You have not said what it is you are wanting to know about the companies. Normally, if I can I fly to Douala from Lagos with Virgin Nigeria, or if I can't get seat I go Bellview. Both are not good at being on time. In Cameroun, it is better if you have friend with car, or if you rent a car from somewhere like Meridien or Akwa Palace Hotel. The luxury bus as said is good way to voyage from Douala to Yaounde.
I hear Afrijet may start service between Nigeria and Cameroun next year and there is rumor that maybe also Aero will start a service.
CHC is operating a Twin Otter, but I think is only for Cotco for pipeline flying.
You have not said what it is you are wanting to know about the companies. Normally, if I can I fly to Douala from Lagos with Virgin Nigeria, or if I can't get seat I go Bellview. Both are not good at being on time. In Cameroun, it is better if you have friend with car, or if you rent a car from somewhere like Meridien or Akwa Palace Hotel. The luxury bus as said is good way to voyage from Douala to Yaounde.
I hear Afrijet may start service between Nigeria and Cameroun next year and there is rumor that maybe also Aero will start a service.
CHC is operating a Twin Otter, but I think is only for Cotco for pipeline flying.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Single engines in Africa
Hi Nicolas DG,
Afraid I can not offer much encouragement. Single-engine operations in Africa are not too popular which, given the nature of much of the terrain, is not really surprising. Much of the humanitarian work is carried out under contract with assorted ex-soviet aircraft. These are also used on passenger ops in Central Africa, including the dreaded Antonov twin which is described as the "Flying Sauna" on account of the air-conditioning which is perfectly designed for Siberian winters.
Only single engine aircraft that I have seen are private and used for recreation - and there are not many of them.
Good luck anyway
Afraid I can not offer much encouragement. Single-engine operations in Africa are not too popular which, given the nature of much of the terrain, is not really surprising. Much of the humanitarian work is carried out under contract with assorted ex-soviet aircraft. These are also used on passenger ops in Central Africa, including the dreaded Antonov twin which is described as the "Flying Sauna" on account of the air-conditioning which is perfectly designed for Siberian winters.
Only single engine aircraft that I have seen are private and used for recreation - and there are not many of them.
Good luck anyway
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i'd like 2 make a comment about NOEL HOWARD-JONES thread although lately CAMEROON AIRLINES turned out 2 b a non-reliable airlines due to delays,corrupt and poor management however the safety record is not as poor as u mentionned above,i'd say in terms of safety the airlines had a good standard,there were 4 crashes indeed the B 707 in 1984, the HS 748 in yde-ville the B 737-200 in 1996 after a missed approach due to landing gear malfunctions and the B 747-200 which skipped out ot the runway at LFPG in 2000 with nobody injured or dead,sort of things happen but the safety record was up to standard
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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i'd say in terms of safety the airlines had a good standard,there were 4 crashes indeed the B 707 in 1984, the HS 748 in yde-ville the B 737-200 in 1996 after a missed approach due to landing gear malfunctions and the B 747-200 which skipped out ot the runway at LFPG in 2000 with nobody injured or dead,sort of things happen but the safety record was up to standard
