The brake was replaced Saturday morning less than 24 hours after we broke in Niarobi. At 2 am the next morning we showed back at the DJ putting up with the monkey business.....I mean force protection that the Kansas guard provided, ready to go. At ATOC they repeated the itinerary as Mombassa crew rest, then the assault strip and back to Mombassa then on to the DJ for the next day. We were jazzed about a crew rest in Mombassa along the coast so we thought one thing might go right today.
While the cargo handlers and the loadmasters loaded the cargo an ATOC rep came out and told us we were going to Nairobi. We scratched our heads because the computer itinerary we had showed us going to Mombasa and crew resting. Oh yeah, we didn't have dip clearances for Ethiopia either so we had to fly around the horn of Africa and that's why we were crew resting; we didn't have the duty day. Perhaps you might think that isn't so far. Take a closer look at a map of Africa the next time you have the opportunity. You'll notice that Somalia's coastline is a long one. It takes six hours to fly from Djibouti, right next door, to Kenya, on the other side of Somalia. Here's where the drama starts.
As mentioned, ATOC showed us going to Mombassa and crew resting then taking the assault strip in the morning and returning to Mombassa for fuel. Our computer sheet told us the same. But there was cargo for Nairobi. What cargo? Oh, this little 21 inch carry on luggage? Yep. That's right American taxpayer who feels beaten down by the government, but supports anything the Pentagon chooses to do with your hard earned money because that must be a sure sign of patriotism. You collectively paid over 100k to move a bag that could have been sent commercial. No critical supplies or perishable items, just a bag that got left behind by some embassy marine. Yeah!!!!!! So because of this bag, we flew to Nairobi. They officially claim that it was to preposition for the assault strip. We've had crews fly to the strip from Mombasa several times.
The loads finished putting the cargo on and here was this little red carry on. We needed a ton of fuel for the 7 hour flight to Mombassa; we requested 52000 lbs for the flight. Another thing we couldn't figure out was why we were going to Mombassa if we weren't picking anything up there until after we went to the assault strip the next day. Our illustrious handlers at the MAJCOM said that if Kenyan controllers gave us permission we could fly straight to Nairobi. Of course that would make our day four hours shorter so we didn't want to get too excited because that would make too much sense. Finally, loaded, fueled and ready to go we started the show.
The show. I don't talk about all that happens when we start up and taxi, but it's really an amazing thing. People are milling about with no direction, talking or doing something and then I lean down from the flight deck and yell, "checklist!" Suddenly everybody flows like one unit. The loadmasters jump on headset. I'm flipping switches in the cockpit in anticipation of the Before Starting Engines checklist. The copilot is requesting start clearance and putting our flight clearance on request with ground. The pilot is waiting for start clearance to call for checklists. The navigator is banging out coordinates on the onboard computer and checking the flight plan. Start clearance is given and the pilot calls for the checklist and items are quickly rattled off. Within five minutes all four engines are started, air conditioning is on (it's often only 116 degrees with 65 percent humidity) and the loadmaster has closed the crew entrance door. We call for taxi clearance and as soon as ground gives it to us the copilot flips the taxi lights on, I upspeed two engines (or four if we're backing up) and we're moving. Within two minutes all other checklists are done and we're just waiting to lineup on the runway. As soon as we're given clearance to lineup, I upspeed the other two engines and roll into the lineup checklist. Takeoff clearance is granted and we push the power up, I make sure the torques are good on all for engines and off we go. For our crew that takes a total of 10 minutes from my yelling for checklists to pushing the power up. I love the calm before the storm. It's an amazing process and I don't see it repeated often in any other career field.
We took off for Mombassa on our seven hour journey. We were scheduled to land in Mombassa for no reason. We couldn't get gas since we were going to the assault strip. We had nothing to pick up or drop off. It was just another part of the crew harrassment program. As soon as we were handed off to Mombassa from Mogadishu control we requested to overfly Mombassa and go to Nairobi. We weren't hitting the assault strip so Nairobi made sense. We recieved permission and that shortened our day by three hours. We got to Nairobi uneventfully and prepared for crew rest.
We all changed and waited for a bus to take us to the hotel. Of course we had security here as well and they actually made us put our luggage through a scanner on the way out of the airport. Really? The ride to the hotel reminded me of Dar es Salaam. Very modern city with crazy traffic and pedestrians. The hotel wasn't bad. Hey it's not a tent right? And they paid us 118 dollars a day per diem. It's good to be the king!! We found a Brazillian Churrascuria downstairs and it did not disappoint. Man I didn't know I could eat that much meat and still walk. After dinner we sat at the bar and had several delicious Tuskars. It's practically the national beer of Africa. Like Budweiser or Miller except that it tastes good!!! The hotel overlooks the national park. You can see Giraffes and other widlife, but the lions stay away from the businesses along the fence line. If we broke we all planned to go on a safari, which we all agreed would be the highlight of our lives and this trip. Of course 3022 didn't break because she's an awesome gal!!!
The next morning she sat silently waiting for her crew. Ready to take us into harm's way and back. But that's another post.
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