• Home
  • About
    • Challenges
  • Charity
    • Gorta - Self Help Africa
    • DONATE
  • News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • PARAMOTORING
    • ABOUT PARAMOTORING
    • Equipment
  • Contact
  • Why?
  • THANKS
  GORTA Africa Self Help

News
and updates

Africa touchdown. Friday 15th September

20/9/2016

3 Comments

 
After two and a half weeks of flying and almost a week at the Southern tip of Spain awaiting final approval to fly across to Africa, the final leg of the journey took place on Friday Morning 16th September.  After some time trying to get the required formal approval to fly to Tangiers it was decided that rather than wait another week, I should make the flight to the less complicated crossing from Tarifa to Ceuta, on the tip of the Moroccan coastline. Ceuta while in Africa, is (like UK Gibraltar) a Spanish city.
Picture
FlyAfrica final Route
The unfortunate thing about the timing of arrival, which was a good bit earlier than anticipated, was that we arrived at the Festival of Eid, when many Moroccans would be on holidays and the contact for the Aviation Authority was unfortunately away on family holidays and few others were in a position to deal with the approvals.

Ceuta, ironically is within Spanish (Madrid) airspace and a crossing did not involve FIR boundary transit, making it easier in terms of ‘International crossing’. Approval was sought from Saville ATC, who agreed a window, and agreed to ‘turn a blind eye’ on the basis that a formal flight plan would not be submitted and no associated rescue services would be standing by.  They liaised with Ceuta Helipad (who I had already chatted to) who control the local zone and after I had agreed I didn’t need to land there (insurance issues) they were happy to ignore me if I was in and out early before any activity took place on their apron, or wishing their ATC.  
A practical solution to a complicated little crossing!  In hind sight when i saw about 5 or 6 fancy choppers on the small helipad, I am glad we didn't agree to landing there!!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
On landing I packed my bags and headed for the ferry home.  This was the furthest I have ever carried my flying gear on the ground!  Also carried on a wing bag was immersion suit, two life jackets, flares, marine VHF radio, and other survival gear!

On Monday afternoon, my flight permit was approved to fly to Morocco.  Such is life. Next time.

Now on the way back home to Ireland and due before the end of the week.
3 Comments
Kevin
22/9/2016 11:18:29 pm

Congratulations Oisin. Absolutely epic achievement

Reply
Pat
23/9/2016 05:23:05 pm

Brilliant achievement!

Reply
Kevin S link
1/12/2020 06:48:01 am

Awessome blog you have here

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Oisin Creagh - Pilot

    Archives

    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Sponsors

Equipment
Transport
Logistics

Donate

Gorta-Self Help Africa ​

Contact

Contact
FAQ
Terms of Use
  • Home
  • About
    • Challenges
  • Charity
    • Gorta - Self Help Africa
    • DONATE
  • News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • PARAMOTORING
    • ABOUT PARAMOTORING
    • Equipment
  • Contact
  • Why?
  • THANKS