Current info on Kinshasa conditions

[jetjackel]

Anyone out there have any info on the current condition of Kinshasa. Living conditions, security, airport ops., hotels etc.?

Appreciate any feedback.

[Jungle John]

Regarding Kinshasa
The place is a toilet!!!
Here on contract flying for the UN. Been here for 3 months now. You can get whatever you want (at a price) but if you are on your way up by way of a ferry flight then bring everything you can with you.
Accomodation is available ie an apartment will cost you in the region of $1000 per month. Hotels very expensive. Security is the normal Africa story...you never know whats gonna happen from one day to the next.
Airport ops are a nightmare, it will take you 2 hours to file a flight plan, get clearance etc after having to visit 5 different offices. None of this dropping a flightplan off and getting airborne 30 minutes later. Hope you speak french otherwise you will be lost at the airport.
The apron is worse than a whores handbag, parking is chaos. The apron has 11 parking bays but never less than 30 aircraft on the apron at a time...wings over and under each other. We have 2 aircraft here and had one drivin into the other day by another. Fortunately it wasn't a IL76 (a few of those about)
Hope you still wanna come
Cheers
JJ

[GUSTO]

HI JJ ,

You have probaly met a chap called Steeve Magnum BE200 driver. Please tell him we miss him in Lusaka ,hope he will be back soon life seems to be horrible in Congo.

Happy flying ,

Gusto

[Quinke Tube]

I was in Kinshasa a couple of years back. to make a long story short, it sucked big time, and be careful who you work for!
Domino's Bar & Grill was a good place to eat and drink. Lots of aviation types in the back room.

[joubs]

Jungle john. Kinshasa sounds quite cool. Apparently it is also a little difficult to get your bowels moving and sleeping from 0130 onward impossible. Cheers china and take it easy !

[Jungle John]

Gusto
Steve and I are driving the same BE20 for UNHCR
He sends regards
Joubs
Found the alarm clock and am off the sweetener......revenge is sweeter than sweetener!!!!
JJ