The Goat Rodeo
Perhaps you’ve heard of a Goat Rope? Imagine a Goat Rope of epic proportions – now you have a Goat Rodeo. That’s what it can be like traveling around these parts.
I recently made a trip out to the FOB where I’ll eventually be working. Our flight out of Al Asad was to be by helicopter, at night, as most passenger flights are (for safety reasons). We showed up at the passenger terminal at the appointed time, and we weren’t on “the list.” Oh, wait; yes, we were listed as cargo. Now that that’s straightened out, we go to “the Phoenix C-Hut” to wait for the helo. The Phoenix C-Hut is a long plywood structure with a phoenix painted over the door. After waiting until about 30 minutes after our flight was due to leave, our names are called and we load our gear on a Humvee and proceed out to the flightline. We stop, and dutifully unload our gear. “You’re not getting out here,” says the sergeant driving the Humvee, so back in goes our gear. We wait a while, and then drive out to the helicopters sitting nearby, rotors turning. Once again, we unload our gear and get out, and the driver and the crew chief have a short conversation shouted over the rotor noise. Oops, not our flight! Back in the Humvee, back to the Phoenix C-Hut. We wait some more. Finally we get back in the Humvee (our gear stayed there this time) and proceed back to the flightline, where we sit. And sit. And sit. Finally, we go to the helos (another pair) sitting there, and unload again. Another conversation with the crew chief ensues. Yay! It’s our flight! On we go, and off we go to the FOB.
Coming back from the FOB was similarly eventful. To begin with, our original flight gets cancelled due to a big dust storm at Al Asad. We have to wait until the next night. We make a stop at an intermediate airport and it turns out the helo we are on has some mechanical problems, so we get out with all our gear, stand around for 15 minutes, and get on another helo. We take off, immediately turn around, and land right where we just took off. What’s going on? Now the other helo in the flight has a blown tire and they have to fix that, which takes about 45 minutes. Back on the helo, and off we go...to land at another part of the same airport! And sit, and sit and sit, until finally we load some cargo and off we go. In short order, we’re back here at Al Asad, two hours late, and all the goats are back in the pen. Until next time.
I recently made a trip out to the FOB where I’ll eventually be working. Our flight out of Al Asad was to be by helicopter, at night, as most passenger flights are (for safety reasons). We showed up at the passenger terminal at the appointed time, and we weren’t on “the list.” Oh, wait; yes, we were listed as cargo. Now that that’s straightened out, we go to “the Phoenix C-Hut” to wait for the helo. The Phoenix C-Hut is a long plywood structure with a phoenix painted over the door. After waiting until about 30 minutes after our flight was due to leave, our names are called and we load our gear on a Humvee and proceed out to the flightline. We stop, and dutifully unload our gear. “You’re not getting out here,” says the sergeant driving the Humvee, so back in goes our gear. We wait a while, and then drive out to the helicopters sitting nearby, rotors turning. Once again, we unload our gear and get out, and the driver and the crew chief have a short conversation shouted over the rotor noise. Oops, not our flight! Back in the Humvee, back to the Phoenix C-Hut. We wait some more. Finally we get back in the Humvee (our gear stayed there this time) and proceed back to the flightline, where we sit. And sit. And sit. Finally, we go to the helos (another pair) sitting there, and unload again. Another conversation with the crew chief ensues. Yay! It’s our flight! On we go, and off we go to the FOB.
Coming back from the FOB was similarly eventful. To begin with, our original flight gets cancelled due to a big dust storm at Al Asad. We have to wait until the next night. We make a stop at an intermediate airport and it turns out the helo we are on has some mechanical problems, so we get out with all our gear, stand around for 15 minutes, and get on another helo. We take off, immediately turn around, and land right where we just took off. What’s going on? Now the other helo in the flight has a blown tire and they have to fix that, which takes about 45 minutes. Back on the helo, and off we go...to land at another part of the same airport! And sit, and sit and sit, until finally we load some cargo and off we go. In short order, we’re back here at Al Asad, two hours late, and all the goats are back in the pen. Until next time.
posted by Greg at 10/24/2004 08:14:00 AM
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