Back at Eros Airport in Windhoek, Namibia
After 27 years of full-time professional ferry flying, it is still a great feeling for me to return to an airport I’ve visited before. Today, I found myself back at Eros Airport in Windhoek, Namibia, catching up with old friends and looking at aircraft that will soon be heading off on their own ferry flights.
Not necessarily because they are the biggest or busiest airports.
Sometimes it is simply because you remember the people.
Today, I found myself back at Eros Airport in Windhoek, Namibia, and it was good to return to an airport I first visited many years ago.
Even after all these years of travelling around the world delivering aircraft, there is something rather nice about walking back into a familiar airport and seeing an old friend again.
Catching up at Sky Core Aviation
During my visit, I stopped in at Sky Core Aviation at Eros Airport to see an old friend, Peter Keil.
Peter is one of those people who has accumulated the sort of aviation knowledge and practical experience that you simply cannot learn from a textbook. He is an aircraft mechanic, aircraft owner and aviation enthusiast, and we’ve known each other for many years.
After 27 years of ferry flying, I’ve met a lot of people in aviation. Some become contacts.
Others become friends.
And occasionally, you get to combine the two. It was great to catch up, have a chat about aircraft and, naturally, have a look around at what is happening on the field.
Another aircraft delivered… and two more to look at
I’d just dropped off another aircraft that I had ferried from the United Kingdom, on the other side of the airport.
But, as is often the case with ferry flying, you don’t spend too much time standing around doing nothing.
While visiting Peter, I also had the opportunity to inspect two aircraft that are expected to be ferried in the near future.
That’s one of the enjoyable parts of this job.
One aircraft arrives and another one is already waiting for you.
Before long, you’re looking at the next route, checking the aircraft, considering the requirements and thinking about how you’re going to get it from A to B.
That’s ferry flying.
Eros Airport – Windhoek’s Aviation Gateway
For those who haven’t visited Eros Airport, it is quite an interesting little airport.
Eros is located in Windhoek, Namibia, relatively close to the city centre, while Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek’s main international airport, is approximately 40 kilometres outside the city.
Eros therefore has a very different feel from a large international airport.
It is a smaller, more centrally located airport with plenty of general aviation and business aviation activity.
And despite its relatively compact size, Eros Airport has international airport status, including customs and immigration facilities.
For an international ferry pilot, that can be very useful.
Don’t let the size fool you
One thing that is particularly important about Eros Airport is its elevation and surrounding terrain. The airport sits at approximately 5,700 feet above sea level and is surrounded by higher ground.
That means aircraft performance and weather conditions need to be considered carefully when planning operations.
High elevation already affects aircraft performance.
Add surrounding terrain, temperature and wind conditions, and you have an airport where proper planning is important.
It might look like a relatively small city airport on the map, but the surrounding environment deserves respect.
As I have said many times before:
Never underestimate a small airport.
A Small Airport With Plenty of Aviation History
One of the things I enjoy about Eros Airport is the atmosphere. It isn’t one of those huge international airports where you’re surrounded by thousands of passengers and endless rows of commercial aircraft.
It has a much more personal aviation feel.
You can walk around, talk to people who actually work on the aircraft and, if you’re lucky, bump into an old friend you’ve known for years.
For a ferry pilot, those moments are particularly enjoyable.
After spending so much time travelling from country to country, you begin to realise that the people you meet along the way are just as important as the aircraft. Here are two links to their website www.airports.com.na and about us page, www.airports.com.na.
More ferry flights on the horizon
My visit to Windhoek wasn’t simply about catching up with an old friend. With two aircraft now on the radar for upcoming ferry flights, there is already more work to do. I’ll be looking at the aircraft, planning the routes and working through the usual logistics that come with international aircraft ferrying.
That’s what I enjoy about this job.
After 27 years, every aircraft still has a story.
And every ferry flight has its own adventure waiting to happen.
For now, though, it was simply good to be back at Eros Airport in Windhoek, catch up with Peter and take a few photographs and videos of this fascinating little corner of Namibian aviation.
Some airports you visit once. Others you are happy to come back to.
Eros is definitely one of those. ✈️
Eros Airport operations, aircraft performance and international procedures are subject to current airport, aviation, weather and regulatory requirements. Ferry pilots should always consult current official aeronautical information and aircraft performance data when planning operations.
