Up at dawn so as to make a 8 am departure slot from Nairobi Wilson before the heat of the day. Breakfast at the Aeroclub was limited; a splendid breakfast menu was produced but as we started to get quite excited at the prospect, about 90% of the menu turned out to be ‘off’. We got the impression that there had been a gradual decline in overall restaurant quality since we were last there a couple of years ago.
Hilary, a flying student from the EA Flying School, appeared after a while with all our paperwork. We had been cleared to depart directly from the Flying Club apron instead of taxying to customs first, which saved useful time and we were airborne at just after 8 am. Hilary told us he was learning on a Cessna 172 and he hoped to be flying Citations as a commercial pilot in due course. If his flying is as good as the way he looked after us, then he will certainly succeed in his goal.
After departure, we were cleared to Nairobi approach to climb to FL120 and then Nairobi Centre to report ‘operations normal’ every hour. We are now back into the rather hazy conditions north of the ITCZ so not much to see but I managed the odd photograph as we passed over very high ground west of Lodvar.
An unwelcome surprise awaited us at Loki. After checking in with the tower with our ETA, we were asked whether we knew about the displaced threshold for runway 09. It turns out that they are remaking the runway and what was previously a length of 1,800 m is now just 720 m. Still this should be enough if we depart at dawn at the coolest part of the day. Given that the work has been going on for a year apparently, we were surprised that Jeppesen had not caught up with it on their charts.
Our fuel arrived from the Total depot and with pump and hose assembled, we started pumping. The starboard main tank was filled but when we started to pump for the port main tank, nothing happened. Phil and I had trouble with the pump on the way down and I reckon it is caput. Fortunately Richard, the Total chap, managed to find a spare pump looking much like the one I photographed for the blog from the Franschhoek Motor Collection and the job was soon completed. Still it was very hot work in the blazing sun and a temperature of around 37ºC. I texted Eddie who has arranged for a spare pump to be available to use at Khartoum and then Phil and I will have to decide what we do on our return to the UK. Considering it has only been used perhaps half a dozen times, not very good.
Flight plan filed for a 7 am departure to Khartoum tomorrow, paid the landing and navigation service charges and then our driver took us off to Camp 748, around 5 minutes away. This is very ethnic with huts dotted around the compound with a central eating/bar/pool table area. Just up your street, Phil! Anyway, they produced a good late lunch for us plus of course the inevitable Tusker beer so a relaxed afternoon now in prospect. We gathered that all the airfield people come here in the evening so look forward to a jolly evening with them.
Loki airfield seems quite busy with half a dozen MAF flights arriving during our refuelling. At one stage, we had thought of moving on to Khartoum this afternoon but a good thing we decided not to; the heat and much shortened runway would have made this a very touch and go operation.
Nairobi Wilson to Lokichoggio: 372 nm in 2 hr 45 min