Flight Log: Bamako GABS -- Dakar GOOY 17.02.2011

Distance: 593 NM
scheduled Flying time: 4h 52min
Filed Route: DCT BKO A610F NURAS
ATIS Bamako: RWY 06 Wind 030/03 Kts Temp 19/-04 QNH 1013
Clearance: right hand BIDOK climb FL 100
Take Off Time: 07:50 (UTC)
ATIS Dakar: RWY 36 Wind 010/14 Kts 9000 mtr no significant cloud 22/11QNH 1013
Landing Time: 12:55 (UTC)
17.02.2011 Bamako/Dakar: Shortly before 7 a.m. the Tuareg handling agent Mariama in full war paint, or in other words well made-up, picked us up in the hotel in colourful robes. We were impressed. And her comment was I only need 4 hours' sleep. Good for her!

After driving us to the airport she took us to a shuttle bus. The flight plan was changed and Mariama said goodbye, giving us a kiss on the left and right cheek. We hadn't had that from handling agents to date.

One hour before the official take-off time we were in the air. Goodbye Bamako. Then we flew for 5 hours over the Savannah, bush, lakes and some desert sand. After about 30 minutes' flying, a pilot overtook us at 18,000 feet on the same airway. We saw him disappear into the distance. Shortly after passing over the border to Senegal we had radio contact again. Now we were nearing the Atlantic Ocean. Fully unexpectedly we were able to clear up the question that has always puzzled humanity: 'Who is God?' (See photos as proof). Soon we saw the huge peninsula where the capital Dakar is located.

On the approach to runway 36 we flew over our future hotel. After landing in gusty wind, we were given three containers with avgas and a bottle of compressed air. We needed it because one tyre had far too little pressure. Everything was handled correctly and quickly. Soon the three containers had been emptied with our own pump. We paid in dollars and the attendant who had operated the manual pump was very pleased with his tip. This was a super team in Dakar.

We left the airport and headed off for our hotel.