Fugro have arrived in Entebbe
The only met station in Uganda issuing actual weather information and forecasting at Entebbe airport. The Last King of Scotland?
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Admiring the local wildlife on a stroll with senoir land surveyor Jock
Seems property fraud is rife here. Shame on you Mary Fransis Nakiwala
Colourful Kids
"GOD IS GREAT"
Preparation work with the local aviation authorites - Uganda
Land surveys department
Kampala panorama
A very prehistoric looking shoebill stork
Ground testing the GPS base stations before the land surveyors head off to their locations near lake Albert. These are accurately known positions used as a correction to the GPS data i collect in the aircraft.
The major giveaway that our aircraft has a special purpose is the rather large hole cut in the floor with a very precise, sensetive and expensive camera dangling inside
Taxiing past the old control tower at Entebbe which is riddled with bullets from a seige in 1976 by Isreali forces. 100 passengers were being held hostage after their Air France plane was hijacked. Isreali forces killed all of the hijackers and rescued all but 4 of the hostages. One of the many incidents in Uganda's darkly troubled history. Not that you would have any idea as the people here are incredibly positive and freindly.
The national dish of Uganda. Matoke and Posho. It may resemble plasticine and chalk but it does taste a little better. Matoke is mashed cooking banana (not plantain) and posho is maize flour and water cooked to a dense block
Chicken Safari
Pork Corner
Our area of interest and current part of the globe to photograph and measure
Finally after a week of preparation, coordinating, obtaining approvals and permits and ground testing we reach the morning of our first flight opportunity to be beaten by the weather as is usual. On Standby for now
The birth of Cumulus clouds. The aerial photographers nemesis. As the ground is heated by the sun throughout the morning., water vapour rises to an altitude where it condenses as it meets a cool level of air. This is generally from 2000 to 6000ft and the reason why in this business the early bird gets the worm.
Project manager Cedric from Fugro Geoid in Montpellier, Francois who is an inspector on my data collection from our client in Paris , Nandi a land surveyor from Romania & Jock senior surveyor from Johannesburg enjoying a day off
Daily weather analysis to best forecast our opportunities for cloud free flights. It is much more difficult in these parts of Africa compared with Europe as there is minimal met stations. Shown as red dots here
Entebbe is located just outside of the capital Kampala on lake Victoria and home to govermental offices, president Musiveni, United Nations and also Ugandans living in relative poverty
Bush fire on route back to Entebbe
A very old toy
Francois admiring what must be the only kitesufer in Uganda. 3700ft lake Victoria
