I've made SAR Captain! And not only a SAR Captain, but due to my instructing background and TRE status, and because the SAR Captaincy training went so well, the company asked me to take on a SAR Training Captain role as well. I was slightly shocked at the request, and knew it would ruffle some feathers, but there was a requirement and no one else to fill the role, so I accepted. I'll actually be training other pilots to fly SAR, having just qualified for a Captain's post myself, much to the chagrin of some rather experienced SAR Captains, but I'll be sure to defer to the experience on hand. As in everything I undertake, I accepted the role and I'll take it seriously, and I'll put a ton of effort into studying and learning from those more experienced, to make up for my obvious lack. Stoked tonight. Hoisting guys to and from heaving decks surrounded with razor wire with an aircraft unequipped with any auto-hover modes is the most fun I've had in a helicopter in years, even better than shutting down engines as students rotate just to see how they handle it (although I enjoy that as well).
To the satisfy the glut of SAR qualified Captains on my opposite rotation, and to replace a TRE who has moved into a full time sim slot, the company is sending me home tomorrow, after less than a month in country, for far too short a time home, then having me back in Mtwara and on the line on the original date I was supposed to head out for my six weeks off! It didn't sound too bad at first glance, but considering the two full days of travel to get from home to Africa, and again in reverse, I'm getting the raw end of the deal. Nevertheless, the overtime will be welcome.
Tomorrow the Sea Cliff in Dar.....fine cappuccinos poolside!
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