My Flight Career as "Bush Pilot"
07.05.1977 - 18.08.1983

CPL multi engine, Land, Instrument
USA & Nigerian CPL

1977, an Austrian working as aircraft mechanic at "Aero Contractors (Nigeria)" introduced me to the Lagos Flying Club where I met the Manager and Chief Instructor, Captain Shaikh. He took me for a flight with a good old Cessna 152 (5N-AHD) and I got hooked. We arranged flight training to obtain the PPL (Private Pilot Licence). I achieved this goal and I started flying around with my Cessna 172, mostly for my business trips. After the ditching on this aircraft by Debby, I purchased a better equipped Cessna 206 Stationair (5N-AIU), my Sky-SUV! I soon found out that tropical weather could pose a challenge. Thunderstorms (Squall Lines and Harmattan (fine sand in the atmosphere) where the main obstructions. Flying "IFR" without an IFR rating and only basic avionics is not recommended. I did it, learned by doing and was many times just lucky! I needed a solid IFR training and the rating! 1978, I organized the needed training documents for the Instrument Rating (IFR) from the Boardman Flight Training Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. After studying all the theoretical stuff in Nigeria, I went to USA, passed the written exam and started the flying part. It took me 2 weeks to obtain my IFR rating. Once in the USA I also purchased an electrical horizon for 5N-AIU and a new set of Avionics, like VOR/ILS, DME, Transponder and a new Radio Transmitter (just could not afford the new Storm Scope). IFR was was the sure way to roam around in bad weather. I wanted to make it "safe" for my trusting passengers! 1981 I decided to go Commercial and traveled to US to get the required ratings. I went to Dallas Fort Worth (Texas) than the weather became horrible and I drove to Reno (Nevada) to continue the Multi Engine part. Today they would call it stress!

A Dutch Aircraft Engineer, Jack Van Dyke, working with Aero Contractors did all my maintenance work for my aircraft and kept the needed logs. Aero contractors where had a fleet of Piper Aztec PA-23 doing air charter flights. I knew all of their pilots and they where good customers at the Crocodile Bar. Some where members of the Hash (IHHH) and one of them died in the "Big-Bang". I met them all over the country's airports. I also got the occasional lift home to Lagos, in case I got stranded in the middle of nowhere. When I was lucky I got flown back with my mechanic to fix the problem and was back in business. This happened not very often, but still, Aero was a real bone to my operation.

Other hazards encountered where landings into short dirt strips or roads, spiked with holes or old termite hills and surrounded by "high" trees. The landing might be just OK, to climb out of it and over the treetops near by, could be another matter!. The heat might worsen it. Night landings into unlit runways can result in a landing on the taxiway or a runway under repair, probably garnished with heavy equipment! Getting fuel out of old drums, on deserted airstrips, might chock your engine! Actually the reason for the demise of 5N-AIU! There are many other hazards, I want not to dwell in! Just imagine you getting "the craps", hours from the nearest airfield. Landing on a deserted road looks like a good solution, not shit in your pants!!

CESSNA 172  "Sky Hawk"
The 1st "Texco Aircraft" 5N-AHD

Debby Gossen, a member of the Lagos Flying Club, ditched my first aircraft, a Cessna 172 Sky hawk, into the Lagos Lagoon. She borrowed the plane for a trip to Benin City and encountered bad weather, got "vertigo" and finally ditched it into the Lagos lagoon. This came as a bit of a shock to me, since I was loved of my little aircraft! Debby was sorry, but also happy to have survived the crash. Like all of us! However when she tried to dive for the plane in order to rescue some personal items, I shouted at her to better stay in the kitchen! Something an emancipated girl does not like to hear! I felt a bit sorry for her since her hurt ego was probably punishment enough!