Turbulence in Congo

Lane Wallace

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Flying in Eastern Congo presents extreme hazards due to treacherous volcanic terrain, poor visibility, lack of aviation infrastructure (e.g., radar, weather support), and a significantly higher accident rate compared to the rest of the world.
The region is marked by severe political instability, active rebel conflict, and unpredictable ground security risks that extend beyond flight operations, making it particularly challenging for humanitarian aid efforts.
The author, participating in a humanitarian mission with Air Serv, highlights the critical need for air support in this volatile area, while also exploring the psychological phenomenon of "normalization of deviance" among pilots constantly exposed to high risks.

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“If we’re lucky, we’ll actually see the volcanoes today,” Cindy Silong says as we make our way through the murky gray skies of southeastern Uganda. Frankly, I’ll consider myself lucky if I see anything clearly today. There’s an overcast just above us, and we’re flying in and out of rain showers, with visibility that rivals that of Los Angeles on what even Angelinos would classify as a “marginal” day.