Stavanger to Ho Chi Minh City
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Stavanger to Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1
Stavanger - Le Touquet - Lyon
I have not flown on the North Sea for years and today we plan to do most of it in one hop!
AS332L2 post maintenance at HeliOne going back to Vietnam. Let's hope the Northern European weather is kind to us.
Watch this space for progress reports.
Stavanger - Le Touquet - Lyon
I have not flown on the North Sea for years and today we plan to do most of it in one hop!
AS332L2 post maintenance at HeliOne going back to Vietnam. Let's hope the Northern European weather is kind to us.
Watch this space for progress reports.
Do take in the Rex Hotel and the Lemon Grass Restaurant not far away from the hotel!!!
The Rex does shrimp paste on sugar cane that is quite a treat!
The Rex does shrimp paste on sugar cane that is quite a treat!
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Well...well....VN8610....
Spoke to you today on Anglia radar from 55N...didn't want to ask too many questions so just spent 10 mins doing a google search...but you were on PPRUNE already!!!
We did get SOB off you and Vietnam...be good to see a few pictures on here so we can see the AS32 we were talking to!!
Cheers!!!!
Spoke to you today on Anglia radar from 55N...didn't want to ask too many questions so just spent 10 mins doing a google search...but you were on PPRUNE already!!!
We did get SOB off you and Vietnam...be good to see a few pictures on here so we can see the AS32 we were talking to!!
Cheers!!!!
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Atcomarking, many thanks for your help. It's so wonderful to hear UK ATC.
Here is the team getting ready for departure this morning.
It was a wet and windy day on the North Sea, just as I remember it from all those years ago. We were off from Stavanger just about on time, had a rapid blast down the HMRs, a quick suck of fuel in Le Touquet and are now in the pub in Lyon.
Tomorrow Bastia and Brindisi all being well.
Here is the team getting ready for departure this morning.
It was a wet and windy day on the North Sea, just as I remember it from all those years ago. We were off from Stavanger just about on time, had a rapid blast down the HMRs, a quick suck of fuel in Le Touquet and are now in the pub in Lyon.
Tomorrow Bastia and Brindisi all being well.
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Hey....good to hear you on the radio this morn....you were passed to us on Anglia by Aberdeen ATC ..... which is in the same room! I'm always intrigued by some aircraft we work and your callsign had me wondering!! Hope I didnt ask too many questions....didn't know how busy you'd be!!
Good to see the pic....be good to see some from the cockpit too as you make your journey!!
All the very best...look forward to seeing and hearing more!
Good to see the pic....be good to see some from the cockpit too as you make your journey!!
All the very best...look forward to seeing and hearing more!
Ah, all makes sense now. I couldn't think of where the reg was from when I saw you lift off this morning. Have a safe and great trip guys! I am jealous.
*Is that a long range tank in the cabin?
*Is that a long range tank in the cabin?
Last edited by TiPwEiGhT; 3rd Oct 2008 at 20:18. Reason: Addition
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Have a good flight heliaviator. Hope you don't have to spend a week waiting for clearance at Cairo again! For a "retired pilot" you are pretty busy! Catch up with you when you are home.
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Day 2
Lyon - Bastia (Corsica) - Brindisi
We managed to get away from Lyon shortly after 8am and headed south for the Alps. The overcast kept us down to 3000ft initially, but broke up as we approached the high ground and we got up to 9.5 which saw us clear the high ground comfortably. There was some standing wave turbulence, which the L2 hates, but nothing to write home about so it was mostly an easy ride. Marselle Information was still in bed until 9.30 and had a charming message on the frequency which said "We are closed, if you have an emergency call 121.5"
Being Saturday we had a rather "relaxed" response from the Fueller and Agents in Bastia, but the flight plan was already in the system so we got off again after a 45min turn around.
The forecast for the south of Italy was not so good, with CBs and heavy rain showers so we departed Bastia anticipating difficulties once we moved into the mountains. In fact our only problem was managing to talk to Roma Information which was not helped by having to descend to stay clear of controlled airspace. Once we got hold of them all was plain sailing though. The visibility in the mountains once we had passed Naples was not brilliant but once we reached the Brindisi FIR things improved considerably and Brindisi cleared us direct. The SEAP airport handlers had lost the fax sent the previous day warning them of our arrival (as usual it has to be said), but once they found it all was well and the crew were happily shopping in town by 5pm.
The only setback was the discovery, once they got back to the hotel, that the Italian shoes they had bought at vast expense had a "Made in Vietnam" label.
Not many views from the cockpit as it was raining most of the way, but here's a view of the cockpit passing the Ponza VOR. At last the OAT is starting to look reasonable!
Lyon - Bastia (Corsica) - Brindisi
We managed to get away from Lyon shortly after 8am and headed south for the Alps. The overcast kept us down to 3000ft initially, but broke up as we approached the high ground and we got up to 9.5 which saw us clear the high ground comfortably. There was some standing wave turbulence, which the L2 hates, but nothing to write home about so it was mostly an easy ride. Marselle Information was still in bed until 9.30 and had a charming message on the frequency which said "We are closed, if you have an emergency call 121.5"
Being Saturday we had a rather "relaxed" response from the Fueller and Agents in Bastia, but the flight plan was already in the system so we got off again after a 45min turn around.
The forecast for the south of Italy was not so good, with CBs and heavy rain showers so we departed Bastia anticipating difficulties once we moved into the mountains. In fact our only problem was managing to talk to Roma Information which was not helped by having to descend to stay clear of controlled airspace. Once we got hold of them all was plain sailing though. The visibility in the mountains once we had passed Naples was not brilliant but once we reached the Brindisi FIR things improved considerably and Brindisi cleared us direct. The SEAP airport handlers had lost the fax sent the previous day warning them of our arrival (as usual it has to be said), but once they found it all was well and the crew were happily shopping in town by 5pm.
The only setback was the discovery, once they got back to the hotel, that the Italian shoes they had bought at vast expense had a "Made in Vietnam" label.
Not many views from the cockpit as it was raining most of the way, but here's a view of the cockpit passing the Ponza VOR. At last the OAT is starting to look reasonable!
he1aviator
Very interesting - if you mananage to keep up a report each day like that, it will be a great record of your trip and no doubt provide useful info for anyone making the trip in future. I flew Gatwick to Singapore in a SA330 but it was 1982, in the days before the internet, and I now regret that my only record is my logbook.
Just one point - in the cockpit picture the pressure altimeter strip looks all but blank - is it faulty or is it just glare from daylight on the screens?
HC
Very interesting - if you mananage to keep up a report each day like that, it will be a great record of your trip and no doubt provide useful info for anyone making the trip in future. I flew Gatwick to Singapore in a SA330 but it was 1982, in the days before the internet, and I now regret that my only record is my logbook.
Just one point - in the cockpit picture the pressure altimeter strip looks all but blank - is it faulty or is it just glare from daylight on the screens?
HC
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That was my first ferry too. Redhill to Singapore in 1979 in the second 330J to go to Miri, G-BFNF and only one pic to show for it. Here we are in Pasni (Pakistan/Iran Border) where one had to fly twice around the town (about 10 miles from the airport) to alert the refueller and immigration guys to come to the airport.
We have tons of fuel on this trip though, so Oman direct to Karachi is well within our capabilities...assuming the Pakistan Clearance comes through!
The altimeter is a trick of the camera, it must have just been refreshing the screen when the shutter clicked. The clock however is not working if you are going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb
We have tons of fuel on this trip though, so Oman direct to Karachi is well within our capabilities...assuming the Pakistan Clearance comes through!
The altimeter is a trick of the camera, it must have just been refreshing the screen when the shutter clicked. The clock however is not working if you are going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb
Very interesting ferry flight.
I'm working out of Vung Tau and probably will be on VN-8610 at some stage as SLF. Can anybody explain the logistics behind ferrying as opposed to shipping, is it costs or just to ensure all is well after major maintenance?
I'm working out of Vung Tau and probably will be on VN-8610 at some stage as SLF. Can anybody explain the logistics behind ferrying as opposed to shipping, is it costs or just to ensure all is well after major maintenance?
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Shipping cost.
Brilliant Stuff,
Couldn't they ship it like other cargos coming to the US from China? Doesn't seem like shipping price is all that expensive considering that Chinese goods are still so even after factoring in shipping costs.
Granted it will take a week or three to arrive.
Monk
Couldn't they ship it like other cargos coming to the US from China? Doesn't seem like shipping price is all that expensive considering that Chinese goods are still so even after factoring in shipping costs.
Granted it will take a week or three to arrive.
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Monk,
That is the exact problem. A week would be great, but 3 could mean penalties and all sorts of contractual nausea. Besides vessel sailing dates may not have been favourable for departure.
UL
Granted it will take a week or three to arrive.
UL
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Day 4 Brindisi - Iraklion - Alexandria
We had put a couple of extra days in the plan for Europe in case the weather held us up so we arranged our Middle East clearances accordingly. Since we did not get delayed by the weather we had a day off yesterday while waiting for the Egypt clearance to come through.
The weather was excellent this morning and we departed Brindisi a bit heavier due to the many pairs of shoes in the baggage compartment. We climbed to 7500ft and headed south. Greece seems to operate a system where VFR aircraft fly on QNH, even above the transition altitude, while IFR flights use 1013..seems like a receipe for disaster. The Greeks also really want VFR aircraft to use VFR reporting points. If flying in to Irakion you need to know where Deer Island is. We had a good tailwind and so arrived well ahead of schedule, had a quick refuel, and then set off for Egypt.
Egypt insists that one follows published routes and the minimum altitude is 8000ft. At the FIR boundary we climbed to 9500 and still managed a very healthy 155Kts ground speed. They cleared us VFR to Alexandria but on arrival instructed us to report established on the VOR/DME approach, a trap for the unwary!
We eventually got fuel and put the aircraft to bed for the night parked on one of the runways.
We have our Saudi clearance so we are off to Jeddah via Luxor tomorrow.
We had put a couple of extra days in the plan for Europe in case the weather held us up so we arranged our Middle East clearances accordingly. Since we did not get delayed by the weather we had a day off yesterday while waiting for the Egypt clearance to come through.
The weather was excellent this morning and we departed Brindisi a bit heavier due to the many pairs of shoes in the baggage compartment. We climbed to 7500ft and headed south. Greece seems to operate a system where VFR aircraft fly on QNH, even above the transition altitude, while IFR flights use 1013..seems like a receipe for disaster. The Greeks also really want VFR aircraft to use VFR reporting points. If flying in to Irakion you need to know where Deer Island is. We had a good tailwind and so arrived well ahead of schedule, had a quick refuel, and then set off for Egypt.
Egypt insists that one follows published routes and the minimum altitude is 8000ft. At the FIR boundary we climbed to 9500 and still managed a very healthy 155Kts ground speed. They cleared us VFR to Alexandria but on arrival instructed us to report established on the VOR/DME approach, a trap for the unwary!
We eventually got fuel and put the aircraft to bed for the night parked on one of the runways.
We have our Saudi clearance so we are off to Jeddah via Luxor tomorrow.
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Day 5
Alexandria - Luxor - Jeddah
Don't ask me about the theives that serve as agents in Egypt, but needless to say having disagreed with them over whether I would pay the hotel direct or they would pay, things did not go smoothly on our departure from Alex! A 15 minute start delay while waiting for the agent to finish his work was followed by 30mins running on the ground waiting for traffic (3 fixed wing arrivals). Our clearance was "Flight Planned route FL110" but eventually they settled for FL95 VFR.
We were vectored for an ILS at Luxor and then had to clear immigration which we should have done in Alex, so we were a couple of hours later out of Luxor that planned.
FL95 to Jeddah was smooth and a night ILS to 34R uneventful.
Nice hotel at Habitat close to the airport.
Off to Riyadh now.
Alexandria - Luxor - Jeddah
Don't ask me about the theives that serve as agents in Egypt, but needless to say having disagreed with them over whether I would pay the hotel direct or they would pay, things did not go smoothly on our departure from Alex! A 15 minute start delay while waiting for the agent to finish his work was followed by 30mins running on the ground waiting for traffic (3 fixed wing arrivals). Our clearance was "Flight Planned route FL110" but eventually they settled for FL95 VFR.
We were vectored for an ILS at Luxor and then had to clear immigration which we should have done in Alex, so we were a couple of hours later out of Luxor that planned.
FL95 to Jeddah was smooth and a night ILS to 34R uneventful.
Nice hotel at Habitat close to the airport.
Off to Riyadh now.
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Fabulous log so far......I have been tuning in daily but thought I'd leave it a few days before making comments again!!! Be good to see daily pics too....can't believe its nearly a week since we spoke in Uk airspace!!!! Keep the log going......all the very best!!!
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Day 6
Jeddah-Riyadh
Apologies for the missing log yesterday.. No Internet in the Riyadh Sahara Hotel! A bit of a tired hotel, but very convenient to the airport and the beds are huge.
Jet Aviation were efficient and we were airbourne just about as planned. 7500ft was not as comfortable as it might have been. The L2 hates that sort of turbulence so we had to reduce speed and there was also a significant head wind so our planned 3hrs 35mins turned into 4hrs 40mins. We had planned for this contingency so were not embarrassed for lack of fuel. For most of the route we were out of touch with ATC but they monitored our progress and already had us identified when we got hold of Riyadh.
They accepted our request for a visual approach so we did not have to waste any fuel on long downwind ILS legs.
Jet Aviation had arranged fuel for our arrival so we filled her up to the gunwales in anticipation of our longest sector Riyadh - Muscat.
Jeddah-Riyadh
Apologies for the missing log yesterday.. No Internet in the Riyadh Sahara Hotel! A bit of a tired hotel, but very convenient to the airport and the beds are huge.
Jet Aviation were efficient and we were airbourne just about as planned. 7500ft was not as comfortable as it might have been. The L2 hates that sort of turbulence so we had to reduce speed and there was also a significant head wind so our planned 3hrs 35mins turned into 4hrs 40mins. We had planned for this contingency so were not embarrassed for lack of fuel. For most of the route we were out of touch with ATC but they monitored our progress and already had us identified when we got hold of Riyadh.
They accepted our request for a visual approach so we did not have to waste any fuel on long downwind ILS legs.
Jet Aviation had arranged fuel for our arrival so we filled her up to the gunwales in anticipation of our longest sector Riyadh - Muscat.