Sitting at Boa Vista airport, my international one to depart from Brasil.

It has to be that way, as expected anywhere. The difference is that if a foreign aircraft enters the country to fly later around, it has the be ” imported”  with its declared value.

Then, before departure, it has to be exported.

But finally, it is a free procedure, no money involved, so no problems.

Sitting at the airport and eating my double-decker cheddar burger. I was initially concerned about the king size pictured burger. Never that huge thing would have room in my stomach !

Plus two layers of delicious meat….just imagine !

Number 66 !

I am number 66, obrigado !

Magic did happen ! , the Titanic cruiser size burger converted into my surviving dingy. The two layers were hard to be cooked so thin, and the bread….like a coin size!

So, finally, the standard way…

And I keep sitting at the airport, a very crowded one, as Boa Vista is far from every where and no river transportation is available. Just some loooong roads and aviation are the communication system.

Why sitting?

Well, that import and export has to be done before 1200 or after 1400 local time. Two hours for lunch time for the busy involved people. I understand that I was late. The University of Natal has helped to support the flight with some cash, an that cash was sent via Banco Do Brasil. Procedure was easy: go there, show your passport and you will be paid.

Yep! After three hours of line waiting, clearance number not provided and finally, once fixed, I didn’t have a Brasilean citizen identification number.

Sorry, the system doesn’t allow us to pay you!

Please, call your boss and I will talk to him.

OK, he will be coming soon.

Of course, I didn’t move a single feet from my standing position, and the lady started to become nervous.

She departed into another room, and miracle happened again. I was cleared to cash my money, against the strict computer system, even though I hadn’t that identification number.

But the price was high: three hours and besides, I had to provide the name of…my mother!

So late means knocking the door of the ” Receita Federal” at 11:45 . The guy had already departed for lunch!

OK, I will refuel the plane meanwhile, and pay the airport taxes.

Sorry, you cannot pay the airport taxes now.

I have done that at every airport, in advance, to avoid delays the departing day.

Sorry, we are not allow to do that way.

OK,…..Who is your boss?

So again, after lunch time, I will fight to have the landing fees payed today!

I know, I know, don’t tell me.

It is important to tell that all the involved people I am referring to, are really nice and always try to help.

Airplane was refueled and burger came later.

Good thing is that I have time to share the experience.

It is hot here. Some 34 degrees Celsius. But air is heavy and reminds me Saudi Arabia one.

Sometimes, temperatures can go as high as 49 ! I cannot imagine that at Boa Vista.

Boa Vista us a small city with open spaces. Small buildings and large roads. Very clean. People around also look nice. Safety is apparent.

I have got the clearance to fly over Venezuela. It is a strange clearance: just file your flight plan and you can go. Be sure you have the Colombia clearance. If you don’t have it, they will not allow you to enter their airspace.

I do prefer the other way. You provide the information and they provide you the clearance  number that has to be inserted and the field 18 of the flight plan.

Now, for Venezuela, It is ok, but not a written ok. I don’ t feel confident.

Relative to the flight, to reach Medellin, I have to sort out huge mountains. I will try to cancel IFR ( Instrumental Flight Rules) to fly IFR ( I Follow the Roads). Roads are nice when crossing mountains. They find a good and lower path across and underneath the peaks. Those past days some thunderstorms were around Medellin, Bogota and the surrounding mountains. I hope get rid of them tomorrow.

I plan to take of at 0630 Z. I know that it will be difficult to comply with.

………………

It is now three hours later.

The customs man, although he was already gone at 1145, he was not back at his work at 1400. Nor at 1410, nor at 1420.

He arrived at 1430!

Not in a hurry, he had me into his office and after providing him the entry custom document, he started to move his head left to right and right to left…

I cannot   do anything for you, he told me after his pendulum activated head.

He didn’t realize how close  he was to be knocked by the incredible Hulk nor he saw my skin turning green.

What a good exercise  to travel round the world with a light airplane, to learn about patience and controlling the basic instincts.

So, once I relaxed, I started again.

After a long time, he discovered that it was true: I did enter Brasil and even have a clearance (avanac) number.

But first, Mr. Gordillo, you have to go to the police in order to have your passport stamped.

So there I was, with the kind policeman  explaining me that he couldn’t stamp my passport the day before. I have to return starting not before midnight.

But of course, the customs man, Mr. Silvino, was not going to arrive before 0800 am.

But fortunately he told me that he is always on time when he comes to work…

Then, with its custom departure stamp, I can go to the AIS ( Flights plan office), and then and not before- together with a copy of having paid the airports fees (of course I didn’t manage to pay it today!), I would be able to fly, but not before 45 minutes after visiting that AIS office.

So, departing early from this airport is just impossible. So much bureaucracy and a pilot cannot depart early !

They really don’ t care.

Thunderstorms?

Fatigue?

They just don’t care.

Expected departure time has changed from 1030 to 1300 Z

You are not returning to Boa Cista, do you?, the Aldizio office man (another office I had to visit) asked me politely

You are right, I answered him with a grin.