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Courtesy of Ahmed Usman Kelechi ,Andrew Kithika, ATS Helicopters

My Flight to Krugersdorp Part 3

After my lift off, I positioned myself for take off. I was a bit disorientated because I wasn’’t positioned nicely on the runway and couldn’’t even figure out what heading I should be turning to after take-off. I cross checked my gauges to confirm that all the instruments were working properly and after that, I did my take off
run, rotating at 40 knots and off I went.

It was after take-off, I realized I was facing the wrong direction (Left of my right course) so I had to make an adjustment.

Ten minutes after departure from Krugersdorp, I started feeling sick and disorientated and began to question my ability and decision making. To make things worse, the temperature was quite high coupled with a very bumpy ride. What a beautiful day gone bad.

The flight was supposed to last 0.5 which can be converted to 30 minutes but 20 minutes into the flight, I found myself at a different airport, an International Airport to be precise. While approaching the airport, I thought to myself, ‘’oh now I can land and rest,’’ but on getting closer to the airport I spotted the threshold markings and knew I was at an airport, but on getting closer to the airport I knew I was lost. While trying to figure out how to
fly back to my base, I mistakenly entered the International airport’s TMA which starts from 6500FT upward. This TMA is a class of airspace in aviation and it is also restricted to the type of helicopter that i was flying.

While in the TMA , i heard a voice saying ‘’DLF you are in xxxx TMA, please descend and fly low level’’. I was shocked and scared so I had to descend quickly while flying away from the airport at the same time. It
was during the process of descending and flying away that I actually saw a reference(water tower) that i hadn’t noticed which would have taken me straight to my Base.

I kept my eyes set on the water tower and the closer I flew to it, the closer I got to my base.10 mins after spotting my reference I was able to see my take off point from afar. I can’’t just put the happy feelings I had into words because it was unexplainable.

I changed my Frequency at about 4 nautical miles away from my Base and had the below Conversation with the ATC.

Me: Grand Central Tower, good day to you from Oscar Lima Alfa,

Tower: Oscar Lima Alfa.

Me: Oscar Lima Alfa requesting your Joining and landing Procedure and currently at about 4 NM from the Airfield

Tower: QNH IS 1017, wind is light and variable and condition is Cavok,report left downwind for Threshold 35

Me: QNH IS 1017, left downwind for Threshold 35 Oscar Lime Alfa.

I positioned myself for the downwind, made the downwind radio call and I was cleared to report final approach. I turned final and was also cleared to land. I didn’t watch my Airspeed indicator because all I wanted to do was land
the helicopter and get some fresh Air.I landed successfully, shut down the helicopter and the first thing after leaving the helipad was to get myself a chilled coca-cola to quench my thirst

.

It was after I had rested for a few minutes and then reviewed my day, I realized i had been flying on an empty stomach.

NB:- While it may not be advisable to have a breakfast buffet just before your flight, you should have something in your stomach. A light breakfast, such as cereal or some fruit and remember to always stay hydrated.

Ethiopian Airlines hijacker arrested

The co-pilot of a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines flight that was forced to land at Geneva’s international airport on Monday surrendered to police, asking for asylum in Switzerland, police said.

The co-pilot took control of the Boeing aircraft when the pilot went to use the bathroom, police said. The co-pilot landed the plane in Geneva and escaped the aircraft through a window using a rope.

Swiss authorities detained the hijacker and said all passengers were unhurt. There was no risk to passengers, police said, as the co-pilot was not armed.

Passengers left the plane parked near the end of the runway and were checked by police as they held their hands on their necks, before boarding a bus, a Reuters witness said.

Airport police said the situation was “under control” after flight ET 702 had been diverted from its original destination of Rome. The airline earlier said the flight from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa had been “forced to proceed” to Geneva.

State-run Ethiopian television said there had been 193 passengers on board the Boeing aircraft, including 140 Italian nationals.

The brief drama in Geneva on Monday morning caused the cancellation of some short-haul flights and some incoming flights were diverted to other airports. Hundreds of passengers booked on disrupted flights scrambled to change their tickets.

‘We need asylum’

In an apparent recording of a radio communication between the aircraft and air traffic control posted on the social media site Twitter, a demand for asylum was made.

Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording and it was not immediately clear whether it was a hijacker or pilot speaking from the plane.

“We need asylum or assurance we will not be transferred to the Ethiopian government,” the voice in the recording said, posted by Twitter user @MatthewKeysLive.

A flight tracking app for mobile devices showed the flight circling over the Swiss city several times before landing.

Ethiopian nationals and the Horn of Africa country’s flag carrier have been involved in several hijackings in the past.

In 1993, an Ethiopian used a gun hidden in his hat to hijack a German passenger jet bound for New York. He was later sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison.

Two years later, police in Greece overpowered an Ethiopian hijacker who held a knife to the throat of an Olympic Airways stewardess and demanded political asylum.

At least 50 people were killed when a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet crashed in the Indian Ocean in 1996. In 2001, a dozen Ethiopian students hijacked a plane carrying around 60 people and flew to Sudan.

source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ethiopian-airlines-hijacker-arrested-after-geneva-landing-1.2539920

Why I Love Flying Helicopters

I’ve always wondered what it was that made me fall in love with flying helicopters.
Could it be because helicopters are more advanced, and fun to fly compared to fixed wings aeroplanes, coupled with the low flying, and the ability to maneuver the helicopter in any direction? I think Thomas Coupling’s response to a question from an aspiring pilot has the right answer.

Thomas Coupling ::::::

Approach your future with this uppermost in your mind and you won’t be disappointed when you get there.

I have been in the military / charter / police / EMS in my time and the most rewarding was the Military without question – not only because of the challenges of the job but because you were surrounded by like minded people who were all very professional and talked shop 24/7. A very close 2nd is police for predominantly the same reasons.

My batting order for fulfillment (top down):
●FUN
●Flying sophisticated expensive technology.
●Challenging tasks.

My don’t go there list:
○Crappy jobs which are repetitive: Oil rigs/Instructing civvies/wire surveys. ( I
consider this fun as long as you are earning the cash 😉 )
○Crappy helicopters: single engine pistons.
○Crappy bosses.

IF you want to fly helos to be able to climb into bed at the end of the day and say to yourself: Jackpot! (everyday): do everything in your power to get your tickets and then target a specific job and go for it full on. It can be done, I have seen a couple of ‘non starters’ become fully fledged professional helo jocks within 2 years.

Forget CV’s get your face in front of the Boss man….enjoy and keep the ball in the middle.

Sikorsky Unveils Video Of High Speed Tri-Rotor Executive Helicopter, The Civilian Version Of The S-97 Raider It Wants US Army To Buy [VIDEO]

Helicopter Daily

http://www.ibtimes.com/sikorsky-unveils-video-high-speed-tri-rotor-executive-helicopter-civilian-version-s-97-raider-it

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Aviation Humour

I was flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles. By the time we took off, there had been a 45-minute delay and everybody on board was ticked. Unexpectedly, we stopped in Sacramento on the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be another 45-minute delay, and if we wanted to get off the aircraft, we would reboard in thirty minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind. I noticed him as I walked by and could tell he had flown before because his seeing eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him throughout the entire flight. I could also tell he had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him and, calling him by name, said, “Keith, we’re in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?”

Keith replied, “No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs. Would you take him for me please?”

Now picture this. All the people in the gate area came to a completely quiet standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a seeing eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses that day. People scattered not only trying to change planes but also trying to change airlines!

Source : collected from the internet

I pledge to Flying

I pledge to flying my passion
To be an experienced professional and skillful
To serve flying with all my experience and skills
To defend flying
and uphold her professionalism and safety
so help me God

Approaching Zebula

Approaching Zebula

MD80 First Officers Dana Air Nigeria

MD80 First Officers Dana Air Nigeria
Dana Air is currently looking for MD80 First Officers to be based in Nigeria

Minimum requirements:
An ICAO ICAO/FAA/JAR Licence
1500 Hours Total Time
500 PIC Hours on Boeing MD80 Series Aircraft
Class 1 Medical
Current on Boeing MD80 Series
Demonstrate sound technical skills, potential leadership qualities and command
Good CRM skills
Exhibit leadership and flight deck management skills
Proficiency in English is mandatory

If you are interested in this job APPLY HERE http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/02/md80-first-officers-dana-air-nigeria.html

As a proof of your professionalism, apply only when you comply with all the requirements and if you have or can obtain a work permit that allows you to be employed in this country.

source: http://www.aviationjobs.me/2014/02/md80-first-officers-dana-air-nigeria.html

From FAGG with Love