African ATC

[Exhaust Manifold]

Where have you found the ATC to be the worst and the best in Africa? I found Maputo to be very incomprehensible :\ on some occasions to say the least. Gaborone and of course joburg are the best i've experienced :ok:

[Treetopflyer]

It would be a few years ago, when Mbandaka tower suddenly went silent while 3 aircraft where departing/approaching. All the planes desperately called the guy, getting no answer and *sigh* finally reverted to auto-information. A few minutes later the Congolese controller came back on, and explained he was sorry but he was alone and urgently had to go take a sh$t .......:\

[I.R.PIRATE]

About 5-6 years ago, I would have to say Bata Tower on the mainland Equatorial Guinea. That guy used to be a shocker. Nicve chap, but the RT....she was not so beeeg!!

[Ossewa]

Went into Pemba a view years ago, not so good... Went into Luanda once and was quite impressed. George and Rand very good with us Rotorheads :ok:

[Aviator 1972]

:ouch: Hi fellow Aviators. Jap, about this subject :
It would be a few years ago, when Mbandaka tower suddenly went silent while 3 aircraft where departing/approaching. All the planes desperately called the guy, getting no answer and *sigh* finally reverted to auto-information. A few minutes later the Congolese controller came back on, and explained he was sorry but he was alone and urgently had to go take a sh$t .......

ATC's at smaller stations...no Co-ATC to take control!! Makes me think a few years ago when I was stationed in Kimberley. A very quit station in those days with only Uncle Sid keeping us busy with some cct's and landings outside our 3 SAA busy spells for the day.

But unfortunately, when mother nature calls, she CALLS
Situation:... One Joburg SAA flight in on a visual, and landed. One Cape Town SAA flight in and landed... pressure starting to build...you can handle it. Has happened many times before(15yrs of experience)...won't mention the time I was caught at Eros (Namibia) sitting on the throne and controlling cct's and landings......yeh...we had one in the tower and we had a portable!. OK, back to Kimberley, JNB flight departs for Bloem, Bloem flight inbound, Cape Town flight departing for Joburg...pressure now even higher.
Bloem flight landed, me standing and controlling...eish
As he parked I told him..."tower will be unmanned for a few minutes" Only received a burst of laughter....they knew!!
Three storeys down....hell I am not going to make it.
2nd storey..fire can in the corner.....no no no...everey body on the airport will know...:p
Ground floor... through the security gate into the Airports Departure lounge which in those days was not very big!! All the passengers in the lounge saw this guy with a blue face/pannic in his eyes/frightened face :sad: and with an understanding attitiude a path opened to the toilets which was at the back of this lounge. Till today, I still don't know how I made it...but I did!:ok:

When I arrived back in the tower, my friendly SAA friends (who held the fort in the mean time) gave me a quick briefing of who else joined the TMA. Shows you, some pilots can be called on to hold the fort!!

So guys, show some understanding. When a man has got to go, a man has got to go....just tell them!!

See Ya:ok: :E

[Cessnafan]

Hey IRPIRATE, I agree on Bata, but the same applied at MALABO, hell there were a few close calls there! Did you fly Bandits there for NL?

[I.R.PIRATE]

Yup, and a few other things....

[captain cumulonimbus]

Maputo is a total disaster waiting to happen EXHAUSTMANIFOLD.

Incomprehensible,not 'in the loop' at all.

Have been given impossible (perforance-wise) flight levels out,totally different to fpl levels requested,as well as being handed over to the incorrect sectors.On approach its pretty much a free for all with guys disobeying what little ATC there is in a mad rush for the runway.

Approach at Gabs is not my favourite subject either.

As always,Joburg ATC is tops-very friendly,HIGHLY professional and always willing to accomodate.I've said it before-keep it up under the difficult conditions you face guys and girls at joburg ATC-you are very much appreciated:ok:

[MungoP]

Kinshasa....Kinshasa....Kinshasa....one good controller and a lot of people probably related to President Kabila.... Much of the time totally incomprehensible....panicky...and downright bloody dangerous....could never quite decide which was the more deadly in DR Congo....towering CuNims or Kinshasa ATC ( stands for "A Total C*ckup " )

[Ttailed]

Roberts, Roberts and Roberts has to be right on top of the list..

Regards,

Tt

[Exhaust Manifold]

Tt we'll see about that, flying there tomorrow!

Most of the time when we arrive in Maputo we have to wake the buggers up, with the service they give I sometimes think it would be better to let them sleep.

[Ttailed]

Ok Let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Tt

[Exhaust Manifold]

Hey Tt, Roberts was just about as bad as maputo! The ATC in this area don't seem to realise that to us they have an accent and they just go on as normal.

A little thought would be great. Heard a controller in JHB when there were alot of international flights and she was talking slowly and pronouncing clearly. That's good service :ok: