RATW copy
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Where Men Are Men And Sheep Run Scared
Arm the Floats - Very very very unlikely. The following images will basically answer your question. The white squares you see in a lot of the images are the concrete foundations of houses and buildings and the major town is Meaulabah.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 237
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From: Where Men Are Men And Sheep Run Scared
These next few are what touched me. Kids I never ever knew and never heard of but taking these photos brought a few tears to my eyes. Just innocent children caught up in one of historys most disasterous events. May they forever rest in peace.
Thats all from me for the time being folks. Really hard even looking at these young childrens pics again. Hope they find peace and eternal happiness wherever they might be now.
Ned.
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 83
From: Gold Coast, Australia
Vertalop's post
I received the following e mail & photos to post, from Vertalop:
My internet connection is rather tenuous so I can't access PPRUNE web pages, only send a quick e-mail.
It's been a very busy day in Bandar Aceh today, with aircraft from the Singapore Armed Forces (Two Chinooks and a Super Puma), the German Navy (Three Sea Kings) the French Army (one Puma), Royal Malaysian Airforce (Two S61 Nuris), Indonesian Airforce (One Puma+), MHS (One S61N), Saba Air (One Bell 212), and Eurocopter (One Dauphin), all competing for refuelling spots on the Indonesian Military hardstand.
The grass parking area had become a mud bath with aircraft sinking in up to the axles and the hardstand a bloodbath as people fight for the attention of the one fuel bowser. The football field has seen the now normal hectic loading of U.S. Seahawk, Australian Blackhawk and UH1 and various other types, while the main apron has had several visits from U.S, CH53s. The U.K. Army contingent of (Bristow/FBH) Bell 212s from Brunei also got airborne from Ozzie lines.
On the fixed wing front the impressive sight of US and UK C17 reversing into their tight parking spots has been incredible.
Tomorrow is going to be even more interesting as the new helicopter air-traffic system is put into operation. All helicopters will refuel on the civilian side of the airport and then reposition to one of three locations on the military side for loading. All helicopter traffic will be co-ordinated by the excellent Australian controllers assisted by the Indonesian ATC. A common frequency of 129.3 will be used for all helicopter movements so that it will not even be necessary to listen out on the tower frequency of 122.2. In fact 129.3 has been in use for all helicopter movements on the military side for some time, but obviously not all pilots are aware of this as various aircraft still turn up unannounced. I think that the change of procedures tomorrow will be a very big surprise for some crews who operate on the civilian side at present and do not attend any of the daily military briefings. The new traffic pattern (for aircraft not coming from the refuel pad) involves crossing the runway at its midpoint and passing overhead the football field at 500ft and then letting down to one of the loading locations in ether a left or right pattern, depending on the wind. Departures will be routed so as to cross the runway centreline at 300ft a safe distance out, thus deconflicting with fixed wing movements.
I'll try and attach a pic of the "TNI Ramp" at 11am today.
Vertalop
It's been a very busy day in Bandar Aceh today, with aircraft from the Singapore Armed Forces (Two Chinooks and a Super Puma), the German Navy (Three Sea Kings) the French Army (one Puma), Royal Malaysian Airforce (Two S61 Nuris), Indonesian Airforce (One Puma+), MHS (One S61N), Saba Air (One Bell 212), and Eurocopter (One Dauphin), all competing for refuelling spots on the Indonesian Military hardstand.
The grass parking area had become a mud bath with aircraft sinking in up to the axles and the hardstand a bloodbath as people fight for the attention of the one fuel bowser. The football field has seen the now normal hectic loading of U.S. Seahawk, Australian Blackhawk and UH1 and various other types, while the main apron has had several visits from U.S, CH53s. The U.K. Army contingent of (Bristow/FBH) Bell 212s from Brunei also got airborne from Ozzie lines.
On the fixed wing front the impressive sight of US and UK C17 reversing into their tight parking spots has been incredible.
Tomorrow is going to be even more interesting as the new helicopter air-traffic system is put into operation. All helicopters will refuel on the civilian side of the airport and then reposition to one of three locations on the military side for loading. All helicopter traffic will be co-ordinated by the excellent Australian controllers assisted by the Indonesian ATC. A common frequency of 129.3 will be used for all helicopter movements so that it will not even be necessary to listen out on the tower frequency of 122.2. In fact 129.3 has been in use for all helicopter movements on the military side for some time, but obviously not all pilots are aware of this as various aircraft still turn up unannounced. I think that the change of procedures tomorrow will be a very big surprise for some crews who operate on the civilian side at present and do not attend any of the daily military briefings. The new traffic pattern (for aircraft not coming from the refuel pad) involves crossing the runway at its midpoint and passing overhead the football field at 500ft and then letting down to one of the loading locations in ether a left or right pattern, depending on the wind. Departures will be routed so as to cross the runway centreline at 300ft a safe distance out, thus deconflicting with fixed wing movements.
I'll try and attach a pic of the "TNI Ramp" at 11am today.
Vertalop
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 83
From: Gold Coast, Australia
Getting back to the more mundane operations, we had a local client who couldn't get his new plant pots through the doors to his penthouse apartment. What better way to solve the problem this morning........
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 564
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From: Chilliwack, BC Canada
212 HP AHB at CMH Bobby Burns HeliSki Lodge, -30 C this AM
AHC's portable Herman Nelson Heater quit, so we brought another in from CYGE
It's hard to start a 212 at -30 without pre-heat !
Paul and Eric working hard
AHC's portable Herman Nelson Heater quit, so we brought another in from CYGE
It's hard to start a 212 at -30 without pre-heat !
Paul and Eric working hard
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: South East Asia
Helicopter Scenes at Bandar Aceh
Brunei Armed Forces Blackhawks Arrive in the Fog
Sunrise on the TNI Apron
An Indonesian Registered Bell 427
Dauphin Sinks into the Mud
South African Bell 407
The Civil Apron at Bandar Aceh
The MHS S61N crew have been camping in the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) Hangar underneath the remains of a Hawk (?) Jet. Morning abolutions take place in a tented arrangement shared with all the TNI soldiers and leave a lot to be desired to say the least. The flying can be very frustrating with tasking snafus, fuelling delays, landing site closures due to VIP sightseeing trips, but these guys are still smiling. They represent the very best in the helicopter community and deserve every tribute.
Saturday 15 January 2005 6:45am
The good news is that they may be moving into a house with a bit of privacy and someone to do the laundry while they are out there doing the biz!
Sunrise on the TNI Apron
An Indonesian Registered Bell 427
Dauphin Sinks into the Mud
South African Bell 407
The Civil Apron at Bandar Aceh
The MHS S61N crew have been camping in the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) Hangar underneath the remains of a Hawk (?) Jet. Morning abolutions take place in a tented arrangement shared with all the TNI soldiers and leave a lot to be desired to say the least. The flying can be very frustrating with tasking snafus, fuelling delays, landing site closures due to VIP sightseeing trips, but these guys are still smiling. They represent the very best in the helicopter community and deserve every tribute.
Saturday 15 January 2005 6:45am
The good news is that they may be moving into a house with a bit of privacy and someone to do the laundry while they are out there doing the biz!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: 'Mampara' langa, ZA
A Few Photos
A twin Squirrel that lives in our part of the world
Doing some game capture in Zimbabwe recently during an Anthrax outbreak in the South East
Not too many clear LZ's around
Darting a Black Rhino cow and calf
Innoculating a Roan Antelope after downing it with M99. A risky business as the stress on the animal rises along with the OAT.
Some fire fighting photos; Dropping a team near the fire line
A Mil 8 taking a load
A bit of practice with the bucket again...
Doing it with the "pointed pig" as well
Showing my youngest what REAL toys look like
Our newly acquired EMS machine for the Lowveld
On holiday, low level down the Mozambique coast. At least it doesn't have a training wheel bolted to the front....
Thanks to everyone for all the great photos on this thread as well as the advice on how to post them.
Safe Flying for '05
Doing some game capture in Zimbabwe recently during an Anthrax outbreak in the South East
Not too many clear LZ's around
Darting a Black Rhino cow and calf
Innoculating a Roan Antelope after downing it with M99. A risky business as the stress on the animal rises along with the OAT.
Some fire fighting photos; Dropping a team near the fire line
A Mil 8 taking a load
A bit of practice with the bucket again...
Doing it with the "pointed pig" as well
Showing my youngest what REAL toys look like
Our newly acquired EMS machine for the Lowveld
On holiday, low level down the Mozambique coast. At least it doesn't have a training wheel bolted to the front....
Thanks to everyone for all the great photos on this thread as well as the advice on how to post them.
Safe Flying for '05
