Flight Log: Addis Abeba HAAB -- Kampala HUEN 10.11.2010

Distance: 827 NM
scheduled Flying time: 5.6h
Filed Route: BENDO OKNETR IMLAL EKBUL LOV
ATIS Addis Abeba: 0520 rwy 07 wind 010 09kts CAVOK temp 21 QNH 1030
Clearance: Right turn climb 105 BENDO
Take Off Time: 05:50 (UTC)
ATIS Kampala: 1120 rwy 30 wind 280/12kts CAVOK temp. 29 QNH1016
Landing Time: 11:50 (UTC)
10.11.2010 Addis Abeba/Kampala: We arrived on time at the airport from Hotel Sheraton. After about 15 minutes we spotted our handling agent. We dealt with everything easily and quickly. A short visit to the briefing office told us that the minimum flying altitude flight level should be 105, or 10,500 feet. Authorisations to taxi and for the flight plan to Kampala were obtained very quickly. Because the airfield is at an altitude of 7,000 feet, we were already prepared to make a very flat take-off. The additional tank in the cabin was over half empty anyway, so 'Marie' climbed very easily into the sky.

During our flight plan, at 10,500 feet we surprisingly only flew about 1,500 to 1,000 feet over ground because the mountain range outside Addis Ababa is very high. Martin was amazed that he had not yet experienced this type of IFR flight at an altitude where you can see mountains from the side window. After about 1.5 hours of flying time, radio contact ceased. We needed new frequencies and Martin asked me to pass the low-level maps from the back of the cabin so that he could continue with his responsibilities. To motivate me, he stuck a bag of wine gums on his side of the cockpit. I was to get the wine gums if he passed me the low-level maps from under the seat. So of course I complied.

Later on during the flight, we saw a few strange round holes filled with water. These must have been meteorite hits. As the upper limits of the clouds were getting higher and higher, we decided to ascend to flight level 125 to stay above these clouds. The next air traffic controller stations actually authorised us to do this. For quite a while, we tried to fly around cumulus clouds, but weren't always successful. Sometimes we had to fly through them.

After several hours, we reached Lake Victoria. In contrast to our landing preparations, neither runway 36 nor 17 were free, but runway 30. We were asked to make a visual approach. As a result, we had to make new landing preparations. For quite a while, we used visual flight rules over Lake Victoria until we saw the airfield. Shortly before setting down, another runway was still being used by another approaching plane, so we had to circle. After circling, 'Marie' was actually too high for runway 30. But thanks to the help of flight instructor Martin, we landed safely and were able to position the plane with the help of a vehicle so that we reached the place for refuelling.

I was slightly cross about the hard and not very good landing. We talked about it afterwards and realised that by taking different decisions the landing would have been better. Instead the touchdown was pretty hard.

We now had a minor problem. Refuelling with avgas at Kampala airport is normally only possible if you pay with a Shellcard. However, I didn't have one. Visa, Master and American Express are not accepted and to our huge surprise even hard dollars were rejected to start with. So we had to talk to the boss of the local Shell station and solve the problem. In the end I did pay with dollars. They were however given to another company that did have a Shellcard. This company then paid the Shell station with their Shellcard. In Africa, you sometimes have to take different routes - but if it helps, then it's OK.

I was given a real example of honesty: after refuelling to 230 litres, the attendant opened the bill. A litre was to cost US$ 2.80 - at least that's what I understood. So I entered 230 x US$ 2.80 and suggested this sum for payment. The attendant corrected me. I said that I must have understood something incorrectly: a litre only cost US$ 2.08. I was pleasantly surprised, corrected the sum and gave him a generous tip. In Uganda honestly is clearly a virtue.