Part seven: Once safely ferried over from the UK, the modifications we made to our second Golden Eagle got the local CAA into yet another lather
We were on final for Runway 09 and had just been switched to Tower. “Djibouti Tower, Golf Mike Uniform Victor Golf is with you, Cessna 421 inbound from Jeddah at three thousand feet and six miles out for Runway zero nine.”
“Victor Golf you are number one, QNH one zero zero five.” The controller sounded a little testy, and his Arab-English was a little quick and accented for our ears; perhaps he’d had a long day. “QNH one zero zero five, number one for zero nine, thank you, Victor Golf.”
We had heard a lot of Djibouti traffic on our inbound journey, but it had dwindled in the last twenty minutes as dusk set in. With the sun at our back, the rugged, barren moonscape that is Djibouti was burnished glorious shades of gold. We’d had a long day and were looking forward to a hotel, a beer and a shower, in that order.
Suddenly, a superior English voice out of the blue: “Djibouti Tower, Expeditor Three One is on final. I think we are number one, actually”. Jolted from our reverie, ferry pilot Steve and I peered down our crepuscular path to the threshold of the three thousand metre runway and saw nothing. We craned our necks and looked behind as best we could, Steve to the left, me to the right. Nothing. We looked below. Still nothing. A military call sign. Did we have a fast jet on our tail?
Steve shrugged his shoulders and nodded at me, “Djibouti Tower, Victor Golf has no traffic in sight. Please advise,” I requested. “Golf Victor Golf, you are number one. Proceed!” came Tower’s reply, now irascible and assertive.
The laconic English voice again, cucumber cool, “Djibouti Tower, Expeditor Three One is number one; we have the other traffic in sight.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2017 من Pilot.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2017 من Pilot.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country
