Last Week of August

082507 What an extremely busy week! Since publishing the blog last Saturday, Sunday morning J & I left for Kabul. We flew up on Ariana Airlines, which was the original National Airline instituted by Pan American. I had been told traffic was heavy and it was a 100% load factor flight. I can see why Safi Airways wants a piece of the action.
Not knowing what to quite expect except that “a driver would meet us at the airport!” I knew that we had hired a “station manager (named D)” for Kabul, but this turned out to be an understatement. This guy puts Ricardo in Acapulco to shame. He took our passports, telling us there is no point in US standing inline, and went directly to the immigration supervisor. The passports were stamped IMMEDIATELY and returned to us! That was just the beginning!

Our driver had a NEW (no dents, shinny) Ford Explorer. We had a leisurely ride to the Safi Landmark Hotel and City Center Mall. Passing all the major embassies enroute, I was surprised to see how close the US and Iranian embassies were. Each embassy had reinforced walls around their compounds, concertina wire above, and numerous armed guards at strategic spots.

The Safi Landmark Hotel is the only five star hotel in Kabul. It is classified as a UN Security Cleared Hotel, which appears to mean that it has barriers around the hotel so cars/trucks cannot ram their way in. Rooms have limited windows to keep “people from looking in.” There are guards at every entrance as well as metal detectors.

After we arrived in the lobby, it was very evident phone calls had been made. The General Manager, who is Indian, came quickly out to meet us and only had us sign our room cards. Seeing all that D was doing for us and the way he was treated, we knew he was more than a “station manager.” In effect, he works directly for Mr. Safi, and handles all the financial matters relating to all business matters in Kabul. Of course before starting business, we had to have an “Afghanistan” big meal again.

We then walked one block to the new Safi Airways Building. What a shock! This building is build, and equipped for a 100 plane fleet. Nothing like thinking big! If you don’t receive the pictures, contact Alice. What a beautiful building, inside and out. I think D has been working overtime.

The roof of the hotel is divided into two different restaurants. One is a cocktail area with tents and the other is half a level higher and you get a panoramic 360 degree view of the city. Naturally, I took the 360 degree view. There is no alcohol served but the waiter did catch J pouring into his glass, but that was quickly resolved with the supervisor changing waiters. Alice was correct in insisting that I take a sweater to Dubai. I took it to Kabul where the temperature dropped to 60 degrees on the roof.

The next day we had scheduled meetings with the President of Civil Aviation & Tourism, the Technical & Operational Depute Minister, and the US FAA Representative. All meetings went extremely well, lasting for quite a while. The FAA Representative was a good introduction to the ISAF Forces and procedures. I believe he was a little surprised at how fast we were getting things done in Afghanistan.

Speaking of getting things done, did I mention the new Safi Office building at the airport? Pictures are also included. D has purchased so much NEW airport ground equipment, that it can’t be all stored at the airport right now. When flights commence, the rest of the equipment will be brought in from behind the hotel.

D showed us another building we own that we let the Kam Airways Pilots use for their turnarounds. After getting to know them, and they are from Bolivia, they asked me if I would like to ride their jumpseat back. Let me think…
They also fly 767s, so it was great to watch their mountain procedures in action. Great also arriving into Dubai.

A direct quote from D: “in Afghanistan, all things are possible.” And after seeing what he has accomplished, it must be the quote of the week to be remembered!

Getting back into Dubai, we started calling the pilots over for their training in Bahrain and the commencement of flight ops. I will be leaving shortly for Beijing to pick up the aircraft and hope it doesn’t turn into much of a hassle.