Archive (1372 life histories found)
'It was many months later when the new timetable was eventually printed that we realized that we were supposed to operate the other way around - and no one had noticed '
It had been decided to base two of our aircraft at Kano, Northern Nigeria. This was a welcome break from Lagos. The weather in Kano was much more pleasant, it was dry and no humidity. We started the new morning schedule going clockwise Kano,…
'We mostly used the HF radio in the aircraft to call Berna Radio in Switzerland and they could patch a phone call to anywhere in the world'
For the two weeks we were flying in Nigeria contact to home was difficult as the phones never worked in the hotel . You could go to the post office and book an overseas call but had to wait hours for a connection also pay in advance for the…
Tags: navigation radios, Nigeria, phones
'Where else could you take off from a remote airport and fly at low level over the countryside dodging hillocks and trees in a Boeing 737 at 300 knots! '
Although we had very dangerous flying conditions it was fun . Where else could you take off from a remote airport and fly at low level over the countryside dodging hillocks and trees in a Boeing 737 at 300 knots! If any passenger queried this we…
'There was really no such thing as weather forecasting as none of the airports had communication with each other '
Flying conditions in Nigeria were appalling. We had all sorts of weather conditions to deal with. During the 'Harmattan' sand storms were blown down from the Sahara reducing visibility to nil. And then came the rainy season and hugh squall lines…
Tags: communication, draughts, navigation, Nigeria, thunderstroms
'Going back to Nigeria I take my brain out and leave it in the freezer'
One of the most interesting and amusing periods of my life were the years I spent flying in Nigeria. I was employed by Guinness Peat Aviation in Shannon and they had a contract with Nigeria Airways. This was a 'wet' lease i. e. supplied aircraft…
Tags: dead bodies, Electricity, Lagos, Nigeria, piloting, Water
'J'member '
J' member. J'member the days we played ball on the streets, Not a care in the world as we munched on our sweets. No cars to disrupt us 'cept cops on the beat Plodding their way on oversized feet. J'member the days when the milk was delivered, The…
'It was the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and I, in a fit of patriotism, decided to join the FCA (which was the Army reserves) and defend the country to the last drop of my blood'
This is what we were called by the local wags who should have known better. It was the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and I , in a fit of patriotism, decided to join the FCA (which was the Army reserves ) and defend the country to the last drop of…
''But, nobody leaves this Company, it's not the done thing. Not cricket old boy.' '
The course was a series of lectures and demonstrations on how to be a successful salesman. We had the dubious pleasure of meeting one of these rare British specimens one afternoon. We were informed that he had just returned from a sales mission…
Tags: Cricket, piloting, resignation, salesman training
'I had known the English were extremely class conscious but nothing quite prepared me for the canteen'
The factory was a short walk away and included the sales training centre. I had known the English were extremely class conscious but nothing quite prepared me for the canteen ,or greasy spoon as it was called. It was divided into three sections;…
'Breakfast was a solemn affair. The landlady ran the place on strict military lines, it was even rumoured that she had been thrown out of the SS for cruelty '
I once took a job with an English company as a trainee salesman dealing in office equipment. Their factory was located in one of the seedier parts of the East end of London. We were accommodated in a local boarding house and each issued with an…