Any Haiti Relief Flight Crews?

[RobertS975]

If there are any crews that have participated in Haiti relief flights, I am sure that you have some interesting stories to relate from the aviation perspective.

I believe that BA is in the process of sending a loaded 747-400 to PAP loaded with supplies at the company's expense.

Anyone with a first hand account?

[TOWTEAMBASE]

BA as in mainline, or BA as in GSS cargo ?

[Fargoo]

BA relief flight leaves Heathrow - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7002759/BA-relief-flight-leaves-Heathrow.html)

Mainline not cargo

[Zeflo27]

Looks like I'll be going sometime next week, would also like to hear how chaotic it is getting in and out.

[Llademos]

BA747F flown by GSS to go on Friday with 100 tonnes ... paid for by BA.

I am also hearing of very inflated pricing by some brokers/operators ($820K DXB to SDQ anyone?) Parasites.

[Flightmech]

Several FedEx MD-11s going to SDQ this week too, plus a 727 to PAP.

[DBate]

Lufthansa Cargo will be sending a MD11 loaded with about 80t to Santo Domingo...

[CR2]

Who the hell is quoting $820000? 74F I assume ... Name and shame....

That's like certain scumbag hotels in NY that doubled/tripled their prices the day of 9/11 when the city was full of people who were stuck.

[Po Boy]

Atlas has several flights scheduled to arrive in SDQ within the next couple of days.

[Flightmech]

We currently have a loaded MD-11 sitting in Panama City ready to go but waiting for an arrival slot in SDQ. Things are getting real busy!

[myannacone]

Got back a couple of hours ago from PAP. Amazingly quick turnaround. B757F 1 hour and 40 min turn. PAP Center is run by the hatian controllers and are only accepting ppr aircraft into the airspace period... Slots for parking and landing have to be arranged early before departure since there are only a limited number of slots a day. I have heard airplanes holding sometimes as little as 1 turn to 3 hours holding. The tower control is run by the US Military along with ground control. The control tower was destroyed by the quake... The runway is in the same shape that it has always been. The ramp area which is normally pretty empty is crowded with everthing from saabs to c17's helos and everthing in bettween. When we arrived Mid Eastern Airlines A330, parked next to us, when he left it was replaced with a CargoItalia MD-11... To get an airplane offloaded coordination and side deals have to be made with the FMC driver, the US Airforce drives the forklifts... Much chaos on the ramp with vehicles all over the place and people walking back and forth. US army, French, venezuelen and many other countries militarys and the un everywhere to be seen. the grass area is used for the smaller airplanes like caravans. blackhawks and bell 412's flying all over even a r22 hangin out.
Sad story, a 10-11 year old boy came to us and with a tear in his eye said "my family has all died in the earthquake, I have nobody here, could you please take me with you back to the united states?"

Tommorow gonna go to sdq...

[Zeflo27]

myannacone

Thanks for the insight!

[Pagan_angel]

News just coming in - an aftershock of 6.1 on the richter scale just hit Haiti...

Magnitude 6.1 aftershock strikes Haiti: USGS | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60J28W20100120)

[2Bad2Sad]

For the most of us Llademos.
Exactly which freight operator is trying to rape the system with this operation as you quoted 820,000 usd.
Name and Shame, think we all know who would pull such a scam out of DXB !!!
Only a small number to point the finger at in the UAE.

[MAN777]

Keep the stories coming chaps,

I think such an epic airlift needs recording, no doubt, in history, it will definately be on par with the Berlin Airlift.

Wish I could be there helping in some way.

[Llademos]

2Bad2Sad ... Info was from a broker who was reluctant to name and shame.

The BA flight is free ... 4 charities ex STN and BLL.

[TopSwiss 737]

Martinair Cargo also has planned a 747-400 freighter to operate into Santo Domingo (SDQ/MDSD) this weekend on two return flights from AMS with relief goods on behalf of parent company KLM/Air France.

[opsjockey]

Astraeus are sending their 3rd aircraft down today (another B757 in addition to the B757 / B737 already there). I spoke with the USAF slot controllers this morning and was advised that Port Au Prince (PAP / MTPP) arrivals are pretty much booked up with no slots available for heavy aircraft until round about 12th Feb (or call daily to check for cancellations). They can only accept 6 heavy aircraft per day (i guess B757 size upwards) due parking restrictions and each aircraft is subject to a maximum allowable ground time..... busy busy

[MAN777]

6 Heavies a day seems a very poor figure, but I guess most of the movements are now dominated by USAF aircraft supporting their own efforts installing thousands of troops, without which its unlikely that any form of an efficient distribution network or a return of order can begin.

[Flightmech]

Lots of heavies going in and out of SDQ though. Hope they enough enough trucks to get all the relief cargo across the border.

[JanetFlight]

Portuguese HiFly also sent there on Behalf of French Gov. an 313, 332 CS-TFZ and 343 CS-TQM.

[daveyb]

Aerlingus have sent an A330 with 25t of aid plus medics/aid workers left EIDW today at 1300hrs L

Irish aid flight heads for Haiti - The Irish Times - Fri, Jan 22, 2010 (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0122/breaking6.htm)