Some Of The Crew Back In 1992-1993.
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I certainly hope not, she was a lovely Lady as were all our Pursers.
I think she startled Paul in that photo.
We had Aussie Pursers (as they were called in those days) but the rest of the Cabin Crew were Vietnamese.
I think she startled Paul in that photo.
We had Aussie Pursers (as they were called in those days) but the rest of the Cabin Crew were Vietnamese.
Hey airsupport,
Can you give those of us too young to know a bit of background, what was the contract for? Why the aussie purser/vietnamese cc? What was the ratio of Aussie to local pilots? And anything else you think is worth us younguns knowing!
Can you give those of us too young to know a bit of background, what was the contract for? Why the aussie purser/vietnamese cc? What was the ratio of Aussie to local pilots? And anything else you think is worth us younguns knowing!
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Can you give those of us too young to know a bit of background, what was the contract for? Why the aussie purser/vietnamese cc? What was the ratio of Aussie to local pilots? And anything else you think is worth us younguns knowing!
I was there personally from the start of the contract in 1992 through 1993, however I am not sure exactly how long it went on after that.
Vietnam Airlines were looking to expand dramatically, at the time they only had Russian made aircraft and only operated domestically and to a few very close Countries.
They wet leased a B767-200ER (VH-RMA) from AWAS, and the Pilots, Pursers, Engineers and Station Manager come as part of the wet lease along with things like insurances etc.
Once we were there we operated to all sorts of places for Vietnam Airlines, mainly several overnights a week in Taipei, where all the scheduled maintenance was done, also Moscow and back to Sydney and Melbourne.
The Cabin Crew, except for the Pursers were local Vietnamese, and we had some of the local Mechanics and some of their Pilots with us too. While I was there the Vietnamese were only First Officers on board our aircraft, even the famous Mr Trung.
It was made more difficult, but also interesting, because of the American Embargo, the aircraft was not initially allowed to display the Vietnamese name or flag, was not supposed to ever overnight in Vietnam, but we often did, and it was impossible to get any technical support from ANY American Company, but us Aussies found ways around all of that.
Sure if you are seriously interested.
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probably some great stories came out of it.
All the people we worked with were very nice people, some still had no time for Yanks, but they all were happy with Aussies.
One of the main potential problems were as I said before they were only used to these really old Russian aircraft.
The first check we did in Saigon one of the local Mechanics went to do as they did on all their Russian aircraft, pull out the overwing exit and walk out on the wing, I just managed to stop him before he did so and deployed the escape slide etc.
Another time on a flight up to Taipei for an overnight I went up to the buffet to get myself a cup of tea, and the Vietnamese Ladies (CC) were having a discussion about safety things. They had apparently discussed the idea that IF there was an emergency landing they could open the cabin doors on touch down or even just before touch down in order to speed up the evacuation.
I suggested to them that they may want to discuss this with the Purser, as the Captain would be very angry IF they did this and sent evacuation slides down his engines.
Great people all of them, just they were NOT used to the technology of a Boeing 767.
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probably some great stories came out of it.
As I said before our wet lease was the first Western aircraft to operate in Vietnam and the only Western Crews too, not counting the War of course.
ATC in Saigon was not too bad, they had dealt for years with Western Military aircraft and Crews, however Hanoi not so much, it was primarily there for the Vietnamese Air Force and the local Vietnam Airlines Crews in their Russian lead sleds as we called them. They were okay but you never really knew what they thought or whether you could rely on them.
Anyway we were returning to Hanoi one day from Moscow, very long flight of some 12 hours, just wanted to get down safely ASAP, overcast day with limited visibility and Hanoi ATC were keen to talk us down.
When they asked us to report ''field in sight'' the Crew did so, Hanoi asked for confirmation and it was given, we could see some fields at the time, mainly rice fields.
Anyway a normal uneventful approach and landing followed without ATC assistance.
When we turned off the runway there was a ''follow me'' car waiting for us, had never seen them use one before that day or after it.
As we were taxiing in behind this car ATC said please confirm you can see the follow me car (with laughter too), just letting us know that he knew we were not really visual when we said we were, and proving he did actually have a sense of humour.
I was also on the AWAS contract.Jumped in a cab in HCMC one day and the cab driver spoke perfect english I asked him where he learnt his english.He said, America during the war, where he was trained as an air traffic controller.I asked the obvious question,why aren't you a controller now? He said, because the north won the war and they did not trust those from the south with such a security type job.
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This is our aircraft on turnround Hanoi, with an Aeroflot aircraft behind it.
And a photo I just found of some of the local Vietnamese Cabin Crew.
And a photo I just found of some of the local Vietnamese Cabin Crew.
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Just going through the photos again, found a few more that may, or may not, be of interest.
This is the only other one I can find of a different Crew Member, First Officer CC enjoying a break at the Dragon Inn in Saigon.
This aircraft WAS retired from service, but only just before we arrived, from memory I think it is an AN-2.
These were the main aircraft used domestically when we arrived, AN-24s, and that was our driver Mr Ming waving to you.................
Now this photo I am sure many of you will think is silly, but I was so pleased to get it and that it worked this well. It is on final approach with clearance to land runway 25L Tan Son Nhat International (Saigon) through the windsreen of our B767.
This was a VERY rare visitor to Saigon, an enemy aircraft, there for talks about lifting the embargo.
This is the only other one I can find of a different Crew Member, First Officer CC enjoying a break at the Dragon Inn in Saigon.
This aircraft WAS retired from service, but only just before we arrived, from memory I think it is an AN-2.
These were the main aircraft used domestically when we arrived, AN-24s, and that was our driver Mr Ming waving to you.................
Now this photo I am sure many of you will think is silly, but I was so pleased to get it and that it worked this well. It is on final approach with clearance to land runway 25L Tan Son Nhat International (Saigon) through the windsreen of our B767.
This was a VERY rare visitor to Saigon, an enemy aircraft, there for talks about lifting the embargo.
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Couple more of the local workers, cleaning our 767 in Saigon.
While a few of them do have hard hats on, they had no real safety gear like harnesses or anything, and none of those hi vis vests.
Can you imagine this happening in OZ.
While a few of them do have hard hats on, they had no real safety gear like harnesses or anything, and none of those hi vis vests.
Can you imagine this happening in OZ.
but thank you for the news.
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our wet lease was the first Western aircraft to operate in Vietnam
Within trying to be picky, Qantas operated the first of many B767 charter flights in to Ho Chi Minh City on January 6th 1992 so unless the AWAS contract started between Jan 1 and Jan 5 1992 .............