Can't believe this

[flyboy6876]

I caught this on an e-mail from African Bushpilots. I just can't believe this rubbish. Any of you East African pilots care to comment, I'd love to here what you've got to say. (In fact, I would'nt be suprised if the person under the ****** reads this.)

Here's any interesting story. ******* is the Director and Chief Pilot for the Kaajansi Aeroclub, which has a commercial operation and does charters. On Thursday 29th he got a request to fly Kajjansi-Entebbe (immigration)- Eldoret for a pickup, to be done Saturday 31st. This was in the clubs Uganda (5x) registered Cessna 210. With the new Kenya (clearance) notam in hand, he faxed the stated number for a clearance. He received by fax a clearance on Ministry of Information, Transport and Communications letterhead with the clearance number. On Saturday he exited Uganda through Entebbe, at the Kenya FIR called Nairobi Centre, and was asked for his clearance number. He gacve it. They told him the clearance was invalid, the wrong person at the Ministry of Information etc had signed (the person did not have authorization), if he proceeded he would be arrested at Eldoret. He came back to Entebbe. So now we must also ensure that the right person signs the clearance in Nairobi.... Probably this also applies to Kenya reg private aircraft currently out of the country.

[ShenziRubani]

flyboy6876,
I understand that you live in that other part of the world, but things are really really different here in Africa, whether it is East or west. Things like that happen and they're not the worst. We get way more surprises, not always nice one at times. But, in the end, the pilots make lots of hours, the owners make more money, pay less taxes.

It is possible that this happened because things have changed recently in Kenya, new Aviation Authority, new governement, etc... and it takes time for those guys to settle down.

Same stroy for us at the time I am writing. My boss is there with our 406 and foud out on his way to Nairobi that our clearance was wrong, invalid. Off course he sorted out everything when he landed, but if you don't follow up on everything and triple check all the times, you could end up with bad surprises.

This is Africa my friend!

[BAKELA]

Kunjani Flyboy,

You better believe it. Things change very quickly around here. A couple of years ago you could get hold of the Ivory Coast after hours to get a clearance in 30 minutes. Now I doubt whether you can get one at all.

Zambia (the Air Force) and Uganda still seems to be very sharp.

I agree with ShenziRubani, I reckon it's the new government and officialdom in Kenya that's causing the havoc here.

Salagahlè
BAKELA

[flyboy6876]

Jambo Shenzi

I only live here now, spent most of my life in Africa, so know about "only in Africa". I guess I was thinking why bother if their going to come out with things like "wrong person signed it". Just makes a mockery of the officials that set the damn thing up in the first place.

If I was a pax on that flight I would not have been to impressed with going back to Entebbe.

I've been reading quite a bit about whats been happening over in Kenya re: aviation and it seems to me that the gobernment is out to destroy it.

Bakela, when I was in Uganda a couple of years ago I found them to be efficient and willing to help. Spent a bit of time chatting to a couple of the pilots flying us to Kasese and they were having a ball. The only hassle I had was arriving on easter sunday and was booked to fly to Kasese on the easter monday only to get told that the "Eh, it ees Easter, we not flying"

[Gunship]

Flyboy says :

.......was booked to fly to Kasese on the easter monday only to get told that the "Eh, it ees Easter, we not flying"

Now THAT is the part of AFRICA that I LOVE