Namibia Fiasco

[JEAN-PIERRE]

Hanno,

as one of the pilots that was involved in the Ondangwa arrest,
I thank you for all your efforts and assistance in getting us our ATF.
We would have loved to have met with you when we landed in Windhoek to get your side of the story and
to personally thank you.
I think allot has been learnt from this experience and we happened to be the guinea pigs.
Wrong place, wrong day, wrong part of Namibia.

You have been a star and we appreciate your honesty and being willing to post it for all to see.
Your Testimony has been the missing link in our puzzle.

Thanks again for your assistance. Blessings come to those that serve, even when the consequences don't seem so.
You will be blessed for your kindness.
Not one of us have ever mentioned that you were at fault. Lets put that on record.

A great weekend.

[Louis Cole]

That is correct,
Paul and Louis's applications was among those submitted with Larry's group.
They heard about the fiasco and decided to wait around Upington until the final overflight is issued.
I was once again with DCA this morning(never stops) and saw the application reached the correct office in my absence.
The overflight was issued about 2 hours ago and I mailed it to them.

Paul and I have thanked Hanno personally but want to share it publicly as well. From the first day we asked Hanno to assist us, his replies have been instantaneous whether it was by phone or by E-mail. He drove to DCA 3 times in a few days to have the dates rectified on the original Validation certificate that was erroneously issued and mentioned to us that it was the first time that this document had been issued in all the years that he had been doing it but that they had assured him that it was the correct one. He called us personally before he left for vacation to make sure that it had been sent and mailed us from the USA to inform us of the fiasco in Ondangwa. One day after his return and after we had already arrived in Upington, he intervened and mailed it through to us. Hanno went far beyond the call of duty and for that , Paul and I are really greatful. We look forward to meeting him at some point during our trip to personally thank him. It would be a sad day if he had to withdraw from helping other pilots experience what we are about to experience.

[tigger_na]

A rather pathetic new development is that Nahas Angula, Namibia's MOD, apparently went public on the national broadcaster with the story that the 12 planes were "intercepted and monitored" by the Air Force upon entry into Namibian airspace. The airplanes only became of concern after the public started raising questions, and the pilots attempted to land at Grootfontein airport, which is an airforce base. When they attempted that landing, they were immediately commanded to land in Ondangwa instead, where security forces were waiting for them.

[vernon11]

Pathetic, to say the least.

[Turbo]

Let me guess --- the country is run by ....... malemas brothers!! Grade one graduates - forget about travelling to Namibia unless you feel like free 'food' and water behind bars!

This is such a disappointment - where else do we stay away from?

[bryan]

I have avoided responding to posts about this trip. I was one of the pilots on said trip. Never before so much balls been written by so many people who believe any bull! We never even flew near Grootfontein and and I still believe the radar operators were fast asleep that day and were never even aware of us in their airspace. Our flight plans were never monitored and itinerarys never read by anybody with any brains! We flew at FL all the time and so should have been clearly visible to radar at all times had it been manned there were distinct groups of planes , fast medium and slow. The Authorities there have egg on their face and they know it!
Regards
Bryan
ZU EZA

[bryan]

I have avoided responding to posts about this trip. I was one of the pilots on said trip. Never before so much balls been written by so many people who believe any bull! We never even flew near Grootfontein and and I still believe the radar operators were fast asleep that day and were never even aware of us in their airspace. Our flight plans were never monitored and itinerarys never read by anybody with any brains! We flew at FL all the time and so should have been clearly visible to radar at all times had it been manned there were distinct groups of planes , fast medium and slow. The Authorities there have egg on their face and they know it!
Regards
Bryan
ZU EZA