Flying Lessons: Turbulence in Congo

Typical road in rural Congo.

Landing at Mwenga, Congo.

Rebel soldiers in eastern Congo.

Lane and Air Serv pilot Cindy Silong flying a Cessna Caravan from Uganda into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo By Mark Abbott

Volcanic peaks just north of Goma, Congo. Photo By Alex Viechec

Lane and Air Serv pilot Cindy Silong on final to Goma Airport (GOM), Congo. Photo By Mark Abbott

Short final at the Goma, Congo airport. Photo By Fabry Michael / Www.airliners.net

Typical downtown stores in Goma, Congo. Photo By Lane Wallace

Trucks stuck in lava from one of the two recent volcanic eruptions that have sent lava flowing through the streets of Goma. People rebuild on top of the lava. Photo By Lane Wallace

Lane and Air Serv pilot Cindy Silong anxiously await clearance to take off at Goma Airport. Photo By Mark Abbott

The jungle landscape of eastern Congo, just west of Goma enroute to Walikale. If you have a problem, there are almost no good places to land. Photo By Lane Wallace

The landing strip at Walikale, Congo–where Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has a clinic, and smugglers fly cassiterite and coltan out a dozen times a day.

**Short final at Walikale, Congo. The landing area is marked by the dark rubber marks on the pavement of the mining road. The two AN-2 biplanes crashed on landing there, and remain as cautions to other pilots to stay in the cetner of the 20? Photo By Lane Wallace

Unloading supplies for Doctors Without Borders at Walikale, Congo. Photo By Lane Wallace

Unloading supplies for Doctors Without Borders at Walikale, Congo. Photo By Lane Wallace

Lane helping unload supplies from one of Air Serv’s Caravans in Punia, Congo, northwest of Goma.

Lane helping unload supplies from one of Air Serv’s Caravans in Punia, Congo, northwest of Goma.

Lane and Air Serv Captain Cindy Silong in front of the Caravan they flew into Punia, Congo.

Lane and Air Serv Captain Cindy Silong.