This is the second part of the story. The beginning is here (click to go).
May be, from the first part, you have got a question about this photo on the right?Well, you probably know that lots of hotels have laundry and iron services. Usually these are paid services. If we will talk about business trips which happen regularly often, and an employee (a pilot in my case) usually stays at the same hotel, a good employer signs a contract with the hotel, wich includes a payment or discount for these services.
As for me, I've caught these times in the beginning of my career. These were very romantic times.
I don't know what about you, may dear reader, but posts like this warm my heart. The beginning of my career was very educational, my life experience grew very fast and gave me a firm understanding where is the beginning of a "too-well-eating-pilot".
A pilot, who passed the anarchy of the past years, definetely must be qualified as a cook and a laundress. And an ironing-specialist, too.
That is why I do not feel frustrated when another fresh and ironed shirt is needed for the next morning. It takes less than 10 minutes to wash a shirt! Is it worth wasting time to pack the clothes, write down a list of them, than call service and wait, thinking whether they will forget to do it or not ? I have had an experince, when they delayed to bring back my shirts for more than 20 hours! Fortunatelly, that was not a flight trip.
--==(о)==--
Next flight was to Norilsk.
Differently to the previous flight to Yakutsk, it was a day trip. May be it could be considered as an ideal flight for an OVB pilot (morning departure, evening arrival), if there was not a one 'but'...
But Norilsk.
Norilsk, a very nothern place, is well (correct word is BAD) known for its weather. The weather there is usually not good, and sometimes is not good at all. Pilots, who plan their flight to UOOO (ICAO airport code) may expect poor visibility combined with strong gusty crosswinds, crasy windshears and very low temperatures. If one will decide to fly to Norilsk, it make take him several days to catch the good weather in Norilsk!
Norilsk summer is so short, that local workers (miners) use to joke:
-How was your summer?
-I don't know, I didn't catch it, I was in the mine that day
It is very dark 9 months a year there . And almost for 3 months they have a 24h daylight.
Most of local summers are unable to melt all the snow, though temperatures in the mid of July can be as hot as +30C!
I know this place very well, because my jet career has started here. I have spend more than 9 months in Kayerkan, located in about 10 miles from the airport ('Norilsk' is a common naming for the whole region, which consists of several small towns and Norilsk, as well, as a 'capital').
Brrr.
But that day the weather appeared to be as nice as it could ever be. Any airport can proud if obtains such a clear and peaceful sky! So, we carried the flight without any issue.
Here go the shots and some more words.
UNNT (Novosibirsk, Tolmachevo airport) apron
The crew today looks amazing... Somebody can suppose that they are twins.
During the leg to Norilsk I noticed an airfield in the center of wilderness.
We are flying from summer to winter... Very the same with my first impressions of visiting Norilsk.
It was in May, too, in 2003. Again, from Tolmachevo, I flew as a passenger in order to start working as a Big Jet pilot. As the airplane was flying, the trees underneath became smaller and rare, 'saucer-lakes' appeared to become frozen and finally, snow covered everything.
Our Tu-134 flew very close to the airport, but the wind at the runway was unacceptable for landing. The Captain had even decided to divert, but suddenly, the wind turned a bit and the crew was granted a try. I sat on the rigt row near the window and exactly could see the runway while we were approaching it!
This is Norilsk. One of the most damned places, and one of the most reachest places of the world. Citizens say that "we have all the Mendeleev's chemical table underneath".
And it is true.
On final
Because of my history, all flights to Norilsk seem me to be 'retro flights' :)
We are going to land on Runway 01. Another end of the runway is 'famous' among pilots because of its slope, which, for the first hundreds of meters, exceeds the limit. I will show it later.
Do you see? The runway at the far end dissapears! It is that 'navel', as old pilots use to name this part of the runway 19
This Tu154 knew much better times when was operated by Pulkovo Airlines in Saint-Petersburg.
Landed. Approaching the 'navel'
Most of pilots afraid Runway 19 for its slope, but I do not. Nevertheless, if you also want to have no fear, you have to respect this slope and be very attentive - really, there have been made lots of hard landings (this is the true reason of fears).
There is just one lifehack - if you fly a normal glidepath without an intension of going below (and above, too), and then perform a normal flare and touchdown, this will give you a perfect landing on the flat part of the runway which is right on top of the "navel".
Some "old pilots" teach others to fligh high approaches, to be 1/2 or even 1 dot above normal! This is not good, because after the 'navel' the runway goes down, and you'll amazingly find yourself trying to land the Bird, but unable to catch the surface, and if we remember, that the runway is normally slippery...
And it is true.
On final
Because of my history, all flights to Norilsk seem me to be 'retro flights' :)
We are going to land on Runway 01. Another end of the runway is 'famous' among pilots because of its slope, which, for the first hundreds of meters, exceeds the limit. I will show it later.
Do you see? The runway at the far end dissapears! It is that 'navel', as old pilots use to name this part of the runway 19
This Tu154 knew much better times when was operated by Pulkovo Airlines in Saint-Petersburg.
Landed. Approaching the 'navel'
Most of pilots afraid Runway 19 for its slope, but I do not. Nevertheless, if you also want to have no fear, you have to respect this slope and be very attentive - really, there have been made lots of hard landings (this is the true reason of fears).
There is just one lifehack - if you fly a normal glidepath without an intension of going below (and above, too), and then perform a normal flare and touchdown, this will give you a perfect landing on the flat part of the runway which is right on top of the "navel".
Some "old pilots" teach others to fligh high approaches, to be 1/2 or even 1 dot above normal! This is not good, because after the 'navel' the runway goes down, and you'll amazingly find yourself trying to land the Bird, but unable to catch the surface, and if we remember, that the runway is normally slippery...
So, all that a pilot needs, is just to fly the normal glideslope, see the runway, aim as usual, and then just land. Of'course, you must be more attentive than usual, await wind shears as they may happen in this airport. So, do not relax, but not afraid. Usual technique is a good technique for Runway 19, if you, of'course, practice standard landings on a daily manner.
Enjoy flying! Think of it that it is not so dull, as usual! :)
Norilsk. The most cute airport in the world
Because the region lives in poverty (it is a joke - remember about the full chemical table underground?) the airport prohibites airplanes with low-mounted engines to move on their own power. Therefore, all Boeing's and Airbus' birds are requested to vacate the runway and shutdown. Then a tow-car arrives, catches the airplane and get it to the gate.
And vice a versa for the departure.
Of'course, the airport is not poor. Its all about money, just business, nothing more Airlines pay for towing. Every time when I arrive at Norilsk I try to find any difference between Norilsk's apron and, for example, Barnaul's, and still found nothing.
In 2003, when I worked here, all buildings were coloured in gray yellow, and nobody could imagine this airport in cute pink, Even no one dreamt about the gates!
Welcome!
A typical nothern car
This is not the highest snow build-up I've ever seen here. Such snowbank is being built during the snow time (9+ months a year) by the aerodrome graders/ which remove the snow from the apron. Usually these build-ups are unable to melt during a short Norilsk's summer.
The apron. Seems to be big, but it is due to the lense effect.
And this is the snow build-up on the other side, near the end of Runway 19. We are being towwed for start up.
Standing on taxiway A, nose to Runway 19.
On the runway. Looking at the 'navel'
Today we will depart to the North, so we are moving to the end and than will make a 180 turn.
Airborne.
Nowadays it looks like Las Vegas if one will compare this view to what I saw in 2003.
Descending into Novosibirsk clouds.
Flying back from the winter.
Two hours ago it was -10 outside... and here is +20.
One of Novosibirsk's airport.
Turning final for runway 25.
Oh! Antonov-124 'Ruslan' is on the military apron!
After landing
A signal man.
Sightseens of Tolmachevo vicinities.
The plate directs the way to get to the committee, wich selects candidates for pilot schools. I stepped on this road in 1996. And my Dad did it in 1970.
The view of a 'profilaktoriy' - a Soviet hotel for the pilots. Rooms for 4, without bathrooms and toilets. Conditioner? Never heard!
Can you tell me, what is written there???
And this is a normal hotel. Though it is very close to the military stands and sometimes it is very noisy here.
My dinner
Military birds.
The photos below were made in my last flight from the Nest back to Moscow.
I used to fly a lot with this Captain when I was a first officer of Boeing 737.
A pilot's inflight supper
So, that is all.
I've checked Novosibirsk crews and gladly found, that they work almost well. I brought these good news to the head office and the Mission was complete.
Take care!
Enjoy flying! Think of it that it is not so dull, as usual! :)
--==(о)==--
Norilsk. The most cute airport in the world
Because the region lives in poverty (it is a joke - remember about the full chemical table underground?) the airport prohibites airplanes with low-mounted engines to move on their own power. Therefore, all Boeing's and Airbus' birds are requested to vacate the runway and shutdown. Then a tow-car arrives, catches the airplane and get it to the gate.
And vice a versa for the departure.
Of'course, the airport is not poor. Its all about money, just business, nothing more Airlines pay for towing. Every time when I arrive at Norilsk I try to find any difference between Norilsk's apron and, for example, Barnaul's, and still found nothing.
In 2003, when I worked here, all buildings were coloured in gray yellow, and nobody could imagine this airport in cute pink, Even no one dreamt about the gates!
Welcome!
A typical nothern car
This is not the highest snow build-up I've ever seen here. Such snowbank is being built during the snow time (9+ months a year) by the aerodrome graders/ which remove the snow from the apron. Usually these build-ups are unable to melt during a short Norilsk's summer.
The apron. Seems to be big, but it is due to the lense effect.
And this is the snow build-up on the other side, near the end of Runway 19. We are being towwed for start up.
Standing on taxiway A, nose to Runway 19.
On the runway. Looking at the 'navel'
Today we will depart to the North, so we are moving to the end and than will make a 180 turn.
Airborne.
Nowadays it looks like Las Vegas if one will compare this view to what I saw in 2003.
Descending into Novosibirsk clouds.
Flying back from the winter.
Two hours ago it was -10 outside... and here is +20.
One of Novosibirsk's airport.
Turning final for runway 25.
Oh! Antonov-124 'Ruslan' is on the military apron!
After landing
A signal man.
Sightseens of Tolmachevo vicinities.
The plate directs the way to get to the committee, wich selects candidates for pilot schools. I stepped on this road in 1996. And my Dad did it in 1970.
The view of a 'profilaktoriy' - a Soviet hotel for the pilots. Rooms for 4, without bathrooms and toilets. Conditioner? Never heard!
Can you tell me, what is written there???
And this is a normal hotel. Though it is very close to the military stands and sometimes it is very noisy here.
My dinner
Military birds.
The photos below were made in my last flight from the Nest back to Moscow.
I used to fly a lot with this Captain when I was a first officer of Boeing 737.
A pilot's inflight supper
So, that is all.
I've checked Novosibirsk crews and gladly found, that they work almost well. I brought these good news to the head office and the Mission was complete.
Take care!
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