Arabian Flights

Every day I do tasks not described in my contract with The National Commission for Conservation and Development. Of course, all of them have to be done, but some I like to do some more than others. I particularly enjoy one task. I give "tours" of my plane to visiting groups of Saudi students. I explain to them the function of the airplane in reintroducing birds and animals to the wild. Most of the visiting students know about the 747s of Saudi Arabian Airlines, but they cannot believe there are planes any smaller than a 737. Towards the end of my talk, I ask for questions. Abdul Rahman Khoja often translates the same question from the students, "How old is that plane?" I tell them the plane was manufactured in 1994, but the design is older than their fathers! Then, "Why do we have such an 'old' airplane?" This is a question sometimes asked within NCWCD today.

We use the Maule simply because it does the job assigned very well. At our maintenance shop in Al Jouf, almost all repairs are completed on site. Lead-time on parts orders from the States take six months to a year. The airframe is very strong, which has proven to be a lifesaver in at least one accident. The cruising speed is adequate for our survey needs. I file for 110 knots because of the Tundra tires and tracking antennas on both struts. With the 235 Horsepower O540 B4B5 engine, density altitude is not a problem. All NCWCD Maule's have the STC to burn car gas. Avgas in Saudi Arabia is very scarce and expensive. The planes have tip tanks installed for a total fuel capacity of 70 gallons. With the Plexiglas Patrol Doors, there is great visibility for two wildlife counters in the back, and the recorder in the front. The rear door is removable so a photographer has a good camera platform. During the majority of survey flights, there is a pilot plus one researcher aboard. This allows all four fuel tanks to be topped off. The tool box, plenty of spare parts, extra oil, the fuel transfer pump, hose and filters, plus the survival kit, and plenty of drinking water bottles are also on board.

The first Aviation Manger of NCWCD, an American, designed the NCWCD Maule instrument panel. These Maules have very complete panels. His philosophy was 'We don't need avionics spares on the parts room shelf, but in the plane'. There are two King 155 Nav Coms both with ILS's, plus ADF, DME, Marker Beacon, Radar Altimeter, and GPS. In addition to the two VHF coms, there is a FM transceiver for communications to Saudi Rangers, who are on the ground, in four by four vehicles. There is a HF radio to talk to the NCWCD dispatcher in Al Jouf, for weather and position reports. My NWRC base, near Taif, is 500 NM south of the NCWCD Flight Operations Headquarter in Al Jouf. The pilot also has the ability to use the FM to patch through to a telephone link with an onboard keypad. However, the only NCWCD FM ground station capable of making the patch is in Al Jouf, too far away to use from Taif. The audio panel, which brings all the avionics together, is a NAT AMS44. It will simultaneously transmit on any two of the four transmitters. The PIC can talk to Center as the observer is talking to a Ranger on the FM. The central radio stack extends above the glare shield several inches to house the added instruments. The Trimble 1000 GPs has 10 waypoints. Coordinates of the radio-collared birds and animals are recorded by hand.

Recently, some of the scientists began providing their own Garmin II GPS. By using a GPS with up to 500 waypoints, the scientist records our entire flight track plus the location of the radio signals. At the end of the flight, the information is directly downloaded from the Garmin into the scientist's computer. New aircraft will have an updated Garmin model 300 GPS/Com. The ELS 10 ELT is connected to the GPS. It will automatically transmit the coordinates of the location, as well as the registration number of the aircraft, if ever the ELT is activated. The alternator is large enough to power the avionics, plus supply power to the scientist's scanner, the portable GPS, and the noise canceling headsets.

Although the Maule airframe is considered less than "state of the art", ours have been modified to suit our specific needs. We operate surveys a long distance from base, often with little ground support. Until the mission of Flight Operations is redefined, I expect the Maule to remain in use by NCWCD Flight Operations.

I am the luckiest natural resource pilot in the world. The flying is great and, the work I do is important. The people I meet and work with are dedicated, international scientists. The countryside around the National Wildlife Research Center is enjoyable for most of the year. I fly all over Saudi Arabia and see so many things even Saudis do not get a chance to see.