Kasane, Botswana (FBKE)

[George324]

Hello everyone....I have a possible trip to Kansane, Botswana coming up. Anyone here have experience with this airport?

Thanks,

George

[theSOD]

I have plenty of experience... Heck, I just flew out of there this morning.

What is it you need to know?

[George324]

I have plenty of experience... Heck, I just flew out of there this morning.

What is it you need to know?

I see that it's a VFR only airport....I've checked the weather history and it appears that it's CAVOK most of the time so that shouldn't be an issue. I'll have the airport diagram but would you have any other charts for the airport? Local handlers to use and any other local knowledge that would be helpful?

Thanks in advance!

George

[abezzi]

As you have seen there is a VOR but no approach procedures, strange but true! The positive note is that this time of the year it almost always possible to land without huge problems, but in case you get a bad day think about FLHN airport as alternate
You dont need other charts for the airport, once you have landed you will exit via A or B and park to the main apron; if you fly something smaller than a Caravan go park on the first row, if you need to stay for more days ask the tower where is best to park, maybe they will send you to the W apron, huge plenty of space and away from all the daily traffic.
Don't know about handlers, but if you need custom/immigration is very easy and straigfhforward.
If you need to refuel: Avgas you must taxi to the pump, JetA1 they will came with the bowser to your plane
Enjoy Kasane and if you have more questions, shoot!

[George324]

As you have seen there is a VOR but no approach procedures, strange but true! The positive note is that this time of the year it almost always possible to land without huge problems, but in case you get a bad day think about FLHN airport as alternate
You dont need other charts for the airport, once you have landed you will exit via A or B and park to the main apron; if you fly something smaller than a Caravan go park on the first row, if you need to stay for more days ask the tower where is best to park, maybe they will send you to the W apron, huge plenty of space and away from all the daily traffic.
Don't know about handlers, but if you need custom/immigration is very easy and straigfhforward.
If you need to refuel: Avgas you must taxi to the pump, JetA1 they will came with the bowser to your plane
Enjoy Kasane and if you have more questions, shoot!

Thanks for the info. One additional question....the airport ops info I have shows it's a Monday-Friday operation and we'll be arriving on a Sunday. Do you have any experience with weekend ops there?

[daladaladriver]

Airport is closed weekends...if you land, you pay a fine bribe

[abezzi]

Airport is closed weekends...if you land, you pay a fine bribe

Kasane close on weekends??? Since when???

[Bend alot]

Kasane
Gaborone ‑ Sir Seretse Khama InternationalSun, 20 May
13:00
15:00

P1971.00

[oggers]

The information about kasane closing on weekends is spurious. We fly there all the time.

[Bend alot]

It is not to say that certain persons on weekends don't request the weekend rate at Kasane airport for visiting aircraft.

I recall years ago when a whole bunch of books for issuing speeding fines or receipts went missing, I got pulled over and the fine was to be paid in cash. I insisted on being given the ticket and paying it on my return to Gab's.

Seems it was my lucky day, the pen did not hit the paper and was told to go on my way.

They then asked for some cigarettes.

[Pilot_OLF]

information about Kasane closing on weekends is not true and even further misleading when it talks of some bribery payments.we operate there all round the year and have never encountered such.

[Bend alot]

Glad to hear one place in Bots has no form of bribery. Every aviation company had to deal with it on one level or another when I was there.

Cash is not the only form of a bribe.

[George324]

information about Kasane closing on weekends is not true and even further misleading when it talks of some bribery payments.we operate there all round the year and have never encountered such.

The posted airport operating hours are 0630-1245L and 1345-1630L. Have you been able to operate in and out of there after 1630L?

Thanks!

[PilotInPink]

An AIP supplement last year amended all operating hours.

Let me try out the new picture uploading tool that PPRuNe added...

5149

5150

As the Botswana regulations don't allow VFR night flights and there are no instrument approaches or late scheduled flights into Kasane, I assume that is why the airport closes so early. Of course it may be possible to pre-arrange a later arrival (at a cost).

[PilotInPink]

An AIP supplement last year amended all operating hours.

Let me try out the new picture uploading tool that PPRuNe added...

5149

5150

As the Botswana regulations don't allow VFR night flights and there are no instrument approaches or late scheduled flights into Kasane, I assume that is why the airport closes so early. Of course it may be possible to pre-arrange a later arrival (at a cost).


Sorry, that didn't seem to work.

FBKE AD 2.3 OPERATIONAL HOURS

Customs and Immigration 0400-1630 UTC
Health and Sanitation 0400-1630 UTC
AIS Briefing Office 0400-1630 UTC
MET Briefing Office 0300-1830 UTC
ATS 0400-1630 UTC
Fuel 0500-1500 UTC
Handling By arrangement with Air Botswana. Aircraft Ground Handling.

[George324]

Sorry, that didn't seem to work.

FBKE AD 2.3 OPERATIONAL HOURS

Customs and Immigration 0400-1630 UTC
Health and Sanitation 0400-1630 UTC
AIS Briefing Office 0400-1630 UTC
MET Briefing Office 0300-1830 UTC
ATS 0400-1630 UTC
Fuel 0500-1500 UTC
Handling By arrangement with Air Botswana. Aircraft Ground Handling.


Thanks! Appreciate everyone's info!

[George324]

Had a great stop in Kasane last Sunday....next time I want to stay longer than an hour. Appreciate everyone's info.

One follow up question for those who operate there. On initial call with the tower they were looking for a bunch of info from us. Endurance, souls on board, etc. There was additional info that they kept asking for. What do you the local operators give the tower on initial contact? I'm taking notes for the next time.

Thanks,

George

[oggers]

They want to know where you are coming from, position, level, number of crew, number of pax, endurance, and eta. They don’t have ATIS there. Maun is the same but they have ATIS.