Informational Hotel California

Information may come but it may never leave.

pw

Priorities

The color green represents agriculture, red stands for the great effort for independence and white symbolizes peace. The color black on the flag of Mozambique represents the African continent. On the raise is located a red triangle and within it is a yellow five-pointed star. On top of the yellow pentagram is an open white book with a hoe and an AK-47 in black. The Mozambique Flag is the first national flag of its kind to have an image of an AK-47 on it.

AK-47 on national flag. What else do I need to say.

pw

Lay of the Land

Depicted above is the current Q400 route structure in Mozambique. The country's size is similar to two California's. (Maybe Arnold should come here). From Tete to Maputo is a two hour flight. All other flights are under two hours. It's unclear what the plans are for future utilization of the aircraft. Compared to LAM's 4 other 737 200's, the Q400 fuel burns are about 1/4 of the 737 200. That should get someone's attention. Flights to Nampula, Pemba, and Dar es Salaam have been rumored. (Mozambican rumor mill).
Flying into Tete and Chimoio is like flying onto a page of National Geographic magazine. Outside the main towns are red dirt trails, grass huts, and classic African trees. I'm sure there are Hyenas lurking about but they are hard to see. If I saw one I would laugh at it just to see what it would do. Chimoio has an 8000' mtn. range south that is the highest in the country. I've looked for ski resorts. There are none. The major rivers are the Zambezi, Sauve, Limpopo, and Elephant rivers. We will not ditch Q400 in rivers due to croc's. I hate croc's. They creep me out. If it came to that the choice would definitely be hard ground. We'll take our chances with the land based animals. After all, billy clubs were included in aircraft purchase, and most likely some passenger will have a gun. (For their comfort it is stowed in a super secret place). Nice!

pw

Pressing On

Pictured above are shallow waters along Bazrutto Island chain. Below are Captains Paulino Mandalante left, myself, and Captain Sergio Natingue, on the ramp in Vilankulo this afternoon.
They are nearing completion of their line operation training. I will start with the last two Pilots this Sunday. If I can maintain the current pace, I should be returning in early March.

pw

Thoughts and Prayers

The ripple of this tragedy can be felt all the way in Africa. Colgan Air 3407.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the crew and passengers.

pw

State of the art

Air Traffic Control

Checking on with Mozambique Control (Like SEA center only different)

Pw: “Maputo Control Mozambique 2333 with you flt level 130 for 250.”
Maputo Control: *&#@$@*&**%#
Pw: “Unreadable. Say again?”
MC: *&#@#*&*#
Pw: “Completely unreadable. 2333 eta for fix is….and fix is…”
MC: &#$#@***($$#
Lp: “Maputo radio is very bad Captain.”
Pw: “When we land we should go plug it in for them or feed the hamsters.”
Lp: “What?”
Pw: “Nevermind.”

30 min’s later…

MC: “Mozambique 2333 say @#@&& radial and *&*&#@ distance from VMA?”
Pw: “Moz. 2333 is 025 at 98 DME.”
MC: “Moz. 2333 say @#&** distance VMA?”
Pw: “2333 is 98 DME.”
Silence
Pw: Do you have a cell number? I’ll text you.”



Arrival to aeroporto: This is most likely fiction

Pw: “I can usually understand this controller but not now. What did he just say?”
Local pilot: “Yes Captain. I don’t know.”
Pw: “Well ask again for a lower altitude.”
Lp: “Yes Captain.”
Pw: “See? It’s the same. It’s like the controller is slurring his words or something.”
Lp: “The controller is drunk.”
Pw: (Laugh) “Yea…he sounds like it….”
Lp: “No Captain, he really is. The controller is drunk.”
Pw: “No s**t?”
Lp: “Yes Captain…it’s Friday.”
Pw: “Oh..yea, I suppose it is. Well let's get a landing clearance before he passes out."

pw

Ahhhh....to be a VIP

At every aeroporto there is a separate building that usually sits along side the main terminal. This is true at all aeroportos, large or small. These separate structures are fancied up like first class lounges, kind of like Alaska Airlines Platinum Club. (Or whatever it's called these days). They stand out a little in one of the poorest countries in the world with red carpet, velvet rope, and real nice flowering plants. These high class areas are exclusively for VIP’s. Very Important People/Person. Very important people here are government people. BMOC types that parade themselves toward the aircraft only after all the passengers have boarded. The BMOC posse’ line up and shake hands with VIP as he (always a he) steps slowly up the aircraft stairs, waving like he will never come back. (Some probably hope that is the case). It’s all a very nice production.

Who are these VIP’s you ask, these people who command this level of exclusive attention? Well, it’s unclear. But there seems to be a lot of Ministers here. Ministers of Commerce, Ministers of Travel…Ministers of Building…Health…Restaurants… Ministers of Bowling… Ministers that minister the Ministers…a cornucopia of Very Important People that guarantee the high level of efficient Nation Ops I’ve observed during my time here. Life is good when you’re a big fish.

pw