Written by Peter Kastelein | 12 March 2010

We made the press in India! Not only nice newspaper articles, but also inerviews with local TV. In this blog we show you 2 articles, one of which you might not be able to read. But the content points out our themes of 'bringing minds together' and 'realise your dreams'. Actual themes in India also and nicely put to all our attention in this special way.

It is strange though to see yourself and our arrival printed out in the newspaper, but it makes you feel welcome in this beautiful fast developing country. At this moment I am updating the site with some local Decos employees and believe me, tehe guys know what they are talking about!

More interviews are lined up and we are curious what's gonna happen in terms of publicity.

This weekend we fly to Goa, but not as pilots, because overnight parking of the plane at Goa was not at all possible, even the prime minister's plane could only land and deliver the minister, but had to go within the hour. But in Goa we will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Decos India with all employees. Tonight Marco and I will prepare a short presentation about the flight from Rotterdam to Pune. It might be a good idea to save the presentation for the people back home.

As promised, we will expose the Dutch drawings next Tuesday at the beautiful Decos offices in Poona. The reception will start at 16.00 pm

Click the articles to expand.

Written by Peter Kastelein | 11 March 2010

I am writing this blog at flightlevel 270, about 8 kilometers height, after leaving Karachi, Pakistan. Again a huge airport where were not permitted to use the toilet facilities in the airport buildings. After one hour of burning sun, we were finally allowed to find some shelter from the sun and after some more waiting we could use the facilities in the VIP room of the Civil Airtraffic Authoroties.. After this we got startup permission and we taxied to the holding of runway 25 Right. Here tower warned us that I left my wallet with all its content at the CAA building.

They were happy to send a follow-me car with my wallet and with running engine, I got out and collected my very full wallet and papers and  said goodbye to the man gratefully. At Crete I had made the same mistake and left my filofax at a bench outside, after 45 minutes it was still there. The Greek are also honest or blind, because my passport, creditcards, and a big bundle of money was in it. I never learn…

In the mean time we fly overhead beautiful India and I am wondering what it will look like at the ground. We will land within the hour, that will be 12.00 hrs UTC or 17.00 hrs Local.

Landed in Pune and over 3,5 hours of filling out forms and clearing customs. 'Red tape' is an Indian invention and we now understand why. Even our personal belongings had to be declared. I finally lost my patience after 3 hours delay and asked whether I had to declare my socks and underpants as well.

Outside a warm welcome was provided by very patient decos employees and press. We hurried towards a fine hotel where the first Kingfisher beer tasted like nothing before.

Written by Peter Kastelein | 09 March 2010

It was a beautiful day of flying. From Luxor in Egypt, cross Saudi Arabia via Jeddah and Rhiyad, over the Emirates to Muscat in Oman. Temperatures in the high thirties and from time to time the turbine was getting so hot, we had throttle back.. We flew over immense quantities of sand and as we are used in Europe to some bad weather, over here we came across some low vis also. Now in the form of dust with visibilities lower than a few kilometers. We saw codes in the taf and metar (aviation weather forescasts) we never saw before.

We are tired, local time over here is midnight. Just had a bite to eat and now a couple of hours sleep. Tomorrow we are up for 2 exciting legs to our final destination Poona. We have an arrival slot, of which we cannot deviate more than 30 minutes, so it will be complicated planning. First to Karachi and leave there on time!

To arrive on time, we will have to leave at 5.30 am, and that is a little early... But to miss Poona is no option. Marco carried a portable emergency radio and customs over here confiscated that. I hope we will get it back tomorrow. Paul accidentally hit a Saudi customs official searching the plane for alcohol. He just walked away....

Written by Peter Kastelein | 08 March 2010

We had a lot of bad weather today! It started in Split, where the strong wind made the departure more than difficult. En route to Crete we had a lot more headwind than planned and we weren't sure weather we would make it at all. Besides the weather at Heraklion was very very bad,  red dust storm, more than 45 knots crosswind etcetera. On top of that a very clumsy controller first let us turn around and then made us divert to a military field at Crete.

Afterwards to Luxor where we landed after a another long 4 hour flight. Paul made a beautiful night-landing and the outside temperature was 35 degrees Celcius! Tonight we found a good hotel (much better than yesterday) and we are in the lobby, resting after a hard day flying. Almost half-way!