Bujumbura
 

We are taking our Jurassic jet (DC8) to Bujumbura on Sunday. Any info on the place, local knowledge regarding operating in there would be much appreciated. I have not been there before.
Thanks in advance
yambat

Bujunbura
 

Lovely place.
Before arriving review your plate well. Lots of high ground in the area.

As far as Buj goes, French speaking, but can get by with English. Plenty of taxi's at airport, locals are very friendly. If one or two nights stay at Novel Hotel, it is central and not far from airport (approx 10 kms) good Chinese Restrant across the road. I spent 5 years there and loved the place, plenty to do over w/ends.. the lake is beautiful and clean with crocks and hippo's... Suggest don't go swimming! Sorry I am not with you!

Great place. Better option than Novotel (no air con) is the Botanica. Speak to Ludo. Very small so you need to be lucky to get a room there. Learn to play liar/Belgian dice. There was a get together of aficionados at the Botanica every Wednesday night. Try the deep fried frog legs at the Dong Fang across from the Novotel. Taste like prawns but the bones are the giveaway.

Lots of runway and the wind blows straight up the lake from around 10am every day, pretty much on the nose for take off. No obstacles unless you're really low and bounce off the odd croc or hippo. The Cercle Nautique serves a good lunch and their iced tea is excellent. Try the ndagala with peri-peri and mayo as a bar snack. Supposed to grow the best coffee in Africa in Burundi.

Spent a few months there on contract flying a twotter for the UN in 1997. Plenty of high ground so suggest flying an approach the first time you go there. US Air Force C141 came in there when we were there and exceeded their flap extension speed trying to lose height and had to fly to Joburg for an inspection by Denel.

Food is excellent and agree with the Novotel. Keep your money and passports on you as we had money stolen out of the "personal safe" that was then located at reception.

If you come in from the south to land on the north runway, you'll be fine, as you can descend over Lake Tanganyika.

If you come in from the north, be cautious as it is quite mountainous.

Safe trip -

JT

Thanks for the replies, sadly we are not staying there but will be heading to NBO, couple of rotations from there to BJM before returning to Josie during the week.
Thanks again
yambat

Hi!

You normally land and take off facing the lake (South?). The airport is at the edge of the lake, which is at the end of a large valley, with high terrain on 3 sides. Come in over the VOR/airport, and loose height over the valley, if the weather is nice. All you need to do is fly a long downwind w/ long final, and it's no problem. If you do the approach it starts on an arc on the opposite side of the valley from the lake/airport...we never did that. No radar. Services were good, but slow. The whole airport is very old and small, but is kept up decently.

NBO: The most difficult part there is Tower/Ground/getting your departure clearances. Be alert, and ask for clarification if you don't understand what they are telling you to do. It is often difficult to understand what the controllers want you to do, especially if you are not a regular there. About 1+30 from BJM-NBO.

cliff
LFW

OPTIONS
 

There are several options.It is usually an advantage to land on the southerly RWY.Plan to be at the published initial approach point to the northeast at a sensible speed, maybe 180knots for a DC8.Follow the profile, its not too steep etc and will get you onto the LOC with a GS intecept shortly after.Use raw data to back up at all times.The clearance from tower is not very helpfull, just follow published procedures.The runway is nice and long.

Departure, again its better to use 17, it will take you over the lake.It is best to just get airborne and fly over the lake until you reach a safe altitude above MSA on a slight right turn heading around 190 I seem to recall then you can turn in any direction safely.There are no published SIDs that I remember.There is a lot of terrain there in most directions except over the lake.I canr give you much info on the town, it was in lockdown every night from 9pm when I was staying there, it was no fun at all......cheers, Pete.

Well we are in BJM, stuck overnight for reasons other than tech, put in the Hotel du Lac, fine place for a beer.
Theoretically off to NBO today, empty out of here. Yup the valley is quite tight in the old machine, not sure I would want to be into here in vrot weather, we just have raw data, all steam driven stuff, but it works. GPS is good, no FMS here, but George can be slower than the rest of us! Bit of a work up at times!!
Thanks for the gen guys
yambat

Yambat, it's good to see that for once Pprune contributed to some fellow aviator's helping each other with some useful gen. good job guys.

Enjoy and yes, the high ground is scary, my first time was on a Cameroon Airline contract at night into there. Steam driven B727 stuff, it keeps you sharp and is a great CRM test after a long day.