~25% ....

9/21/2011

Greetings from Bagram … btw, those of you following along wanting to see the aviation weather here, you can look at the TAF’s and METARS for OAIX & KQSA. A "K" code all the way over here …. Crazy !

I’ve been in-country for about 2 ½ weeks now and I’m really starting to get a good feel for what’s going on here. Life on an active military base in a war zone does indeed have its interesting moments. Our living quarters are very close to the flight line, and some very loud planes fly 27/7 here !! Interesting how you easily get used to it. For me, having grown up right under the final approach for Newark Int’l, its just the same old thing all over again.

There are troops from several different nations here, all eating together, walking the same streets … I wasn’t aware that military from other countries salute officers from other nations. I sometimes am following officers and notice they have to salute back several times a minute !!! Seems like their arms must get weary. 

The weather here continues to be warm and sunny, temps in the high 80’s and low 90’s … constant clear skies. I’m told winter kicks in late November.

I stopped in to visit with the USCG based here. My brother Pat is a Captain in the USCG. Although a land locked nation, the USCG does container inspections and works with Customs officials here. Pretty impressive group.

My work rotation has us in country for 60 days and home 30. As a math head, I’m constantly doing %’s, so, being here 2 ½ weeks already, I’m more that 25% done of my 1^st rotation. The department I work in, Flight Operations, see’s people coming and going thru their rotations … people are always psyched to leave, but come back refreshed and ready to take on their tasks. The sense of mission is quite a positive thing here.

Food, good. Bed, comfy. Showers, could be warmer.

I have to note that Skype has to be one of the best inventions going !! I’ve been able to have video calls with Linda and our children ….

So, all is well here in Afghanistan.

Take good care of yourselves.

Deltafox ("Afghan-is-Dan")

 

H-O-T !!!!!

Friday 9/9/2011  2015 AFT (1145am East Coast time)

Greetings from Afghanistan.
Man, its hot here !!! and dry !!!  and dusty !!!!!!

Things are going well here for me.
I'm starting to settle into my job .... there are 3 shifts, each 10 hours with a 2 hr break midday.
We work 6 days a week.
There are some very interesting tasks that need to be completed .... the AAR Flight Ops office is a tight facility with alot of traffic and activity. These folks are a tight community and they go out of their way to intro themselves and ask about you. I know I'm going to enjoy working here. There are some pretty bright people here who really know their stuff.

I'm assigned to a "hooch", a large tent like structure with rooms built into it, air conditioned. The rooms are about 8x8. I'm not yet assigned my permanent room yet but will be within a few weeks.
I've been a tad sick since I got here .... the dust and the dryness tend to dry up your nasal passages and give you congestion like an upper respiratory infection. The solution is to nose-inhale saline a few times a day and drink alot and alot of water. I'm feeling alot better.

Life on the base is interesting. Of course, its loaded with soldiers, all carrying guns. There are big trucks everywhere. All places are off of a central street called Disney, named after the designer of the roadways here. The food is good. I've found the gym, and I'll start heading there once I can 100% breathe. I found the movie theater, free movies 24/7 with free popcorn!! I've found the chapel but not Catholic services. I've emailed the Archdiocese of the Military and asked them for info. Its and interesting, hot and very dusty place. I've taken to wearing a surgical mask walking around and its amazing how quickly it gets dirty.... dirt that would've gone down the ol' trachea.

I cant take pictures really in the event of compromising the "inside the wire" information. I think I've taken about 20 security courses since I began with AAR and they really drill into you the whole idea of "loose lips sink ships".

I'm based in Bagram, one of several bases in the country. It is a 34.9* N latitude, about the same as NC.
We are surrounded by mountains on the north and south.

The jet traffic is ever present .... they go all day and all night. My hooch is within 100 feet of the flight line, so I can hear the activity.



I hope everyone is well.
Later !!!

Greetings from Afghanistan

Wed Sept 7, 2011 : 0800 AFT ("Afghanistan time")
Hello:
I successfully made it to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. The good people of United flew me from Pittsburgh > Washington DC Dulles where I had a 7 hour layover. My USCG brother Captain Pat lives nearby and met me at IAD, took me to his home and fed me a delicious porkloin dinner... his thought was "you wont be having pork for awhile!!" Thank you Pat & Carlene & Patrick and you too Fred for your hospitality.
The 2nd portion of the flight would be from Dulles to Dubai UAE, time enroute 12.5 hrs. I had looked at the United route schedule and noted they had drawn their flight path across the Atlantic, across the Azores and across the African plains to Dubai. Instead, actual routing took us across the North Atlantic tracks (NAT tracks), across Ireland, where I waved to my daughter Danalisa and her family, across Europe, thru Turkey, then straight down the Iraq/near Iranian border and into the UAE. I was pretty surprised at this routing, considering the politics, but I guess the world moves on. I arrived ~ 8pm local and was scheduled to depart @ 0615 the next morning, so I didn't have time to explore fascinating Dubai, as did the "Sex in the City" ladies (or so Linda tells me !!). I will schedule myself in the future to overnight there a day or two to check it out.

Onto Afghanistan ..... Breakfast at Dubai Intl was at the Golden Arch Cafe'. Breakfast food isnt served, so I had the classic Big Mac. Due to ISO standardization  that Micky D's follows, I've had this Big Mac around the world, and you can always count on it to taste exactly the same. The only odd item on the menu was a Chicken Big Mac.

The flight from Dubai to Afghanistan took us down the Persian Gulf, hooking a left at the Straights of Hormuz, thru the Gulf of Oman and north on the Pakistan / near Iranian border and into Afghani airspace. I can imagine I was on many a US Air Force radar, so I felt perfectly safe.
Afghanistan is a geological fascinating country. High mountain and desert plains with zero habitation reminded me of pictures we receive from the Mars Orbiters. In some places, slim valleys of green appeared in the canyons. Evidence of dried up river flow was everywhere.

Of course, there was time for some meteorology enroute. Beautiful cloud formation formed by orographic lift as the winds blow across and up the mountains and form clouds

The flight took ~ 2 hours and we arrived at Bagram.

Bagram VOR, a radio navigation tool used by aircraft. "BAGRAM V-O-R..."

(you have to be a real nerd to take pictures of VOR's ..... I have several !!)

Once in Afghanistan, paper pushing took about an hour. I found my ride and reported to AAR Airlift HQ

I met several people, got a 20 minute quiktour of where to sleep/eat/pee, and was told to report in this am @ 0900 for my full day indoc. I took a quik stroll around last night, bought my reflective belt (a requirement to walk around at night ... no streetlights) I'll get my 511 Tactical boots today .... great ... the stones are killing my feet. Soon I learn what it is I'm supposed to do daily, where the gym is and the Chapel, so stay tuned.

Hurricane Irene ....

8/26/11 (Happy birthday to my beautiful wife Linda <3)
We have a BIG hurricane targeting the East Coast, expecting to cause alot of problems.
Hurricane Irene should be going past VA and the NYC area Sat/Sun....
My flight out of Washington Dulles IAD is set for Sunday, and United already has sent out "make other plans" notices !!  My deployment overseas is now a week later, 9/4. Cool. Gives me an extra week to do some organizing and hanging out .... 

Well, my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

Mon 8/15/11 // Now that I have my "deployment date" (8/28/11), I need to get alot of stuff together to mail to myself to have while I'm "in country". AAR gave us a good size list of suggestions, everything from linens to toiletries to electronics to clothing ... Linda and I spent the afternoon AND ALOT OF MONEY at Target getting it all together. I honestly felt like I was going to summer camp !!! Once there, when I go home during my rotation, I'm able to store my stuff in a locker, so this load is a one-timer !!!!!

AAR Airlift

I have recently signed on for a Flight Dispatcher position with AAR Airlift and will begin my career there soon.
AAR Airlift, a 135 company, serves to supply our troops with needed supplies during their overseas deployment, such as food, water, mail etc.
AAR Corp is a terrific company, and I am honored to be working with AAR Airlift, supporting our brave soldiers in their mission.
I will be based at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
http://www.aarcorp.com/gov/airlift.htm

This opportunity allows me to serve our nation, and I am honored to be a part of it.

yeah, well, so .....

So, you're asking yourself ..... DID HE EVER GET A FLIGHT DISPATCHER JOB ?????

I'll update soon.

DeltaFox