Air Tanzania Q-400 Cockpit Flight: Dar es Salaam to Kigoma & Bujumbura

Departure from Dar es Salaam

• ✈️ The flight begins with Captain Amar Sharif and First Officer Ismile F. on Air Tanzania's D-8 Delta (Q-400), flight TC 218, bound for Bujumbura via Kigoma.
• 🌦️ Initial weather conditions in Dar es Salaam included rain and low clouds, necessitating a runway change from 23 to 05 for departure.
• 🗺️ The taxi route involved taxiways Delta and Papa to the holding point for runway 05, with a backtrack due to the runway change.
• 🛫 After clearance, the aircraft departed with a left turn, heading north-westerly towards Kigoma, clearing restricted airspace.

En Route to Kigoma

• ☁️ The flight cruises at 24,000 ft, initially off the Victor 282 airway due to a direct route request to Kigoma, saving time.
• 🌍 The flight path passes east of Tabora and is currently just past Doma on the left.
• 📍 Transition from Dar es Salaam East to Dar es Salaam West control occurs around position Nasox.
• 🏞️ Approaching Kigoma, the aircraft will land on runway 33 (north-westerly facing), with a right turn just before landing.
• 🌊 Kigoma is home to Lake Tanganyika, Africa's deepest lake, which will be visible on the left during the final approach.

Arrival in Kigoma and Departure to Bujumbura

• ⏱️ The flight to Kigoma takes approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes.
• ⛽ Upon arrival in Kigoma, a short 10-15 minute stop is scheduled for refueling before proceeding to Bujumbura.
• 🔄 The next sector to Bujumbura will see First Officer Ismile F. as the pilot flying, departing in a southeasterly direction with a 180° right turn.

Arrival in Bujumbura

• 📍 The flight successfully lands in Bujumbura after a flight time of approximately 35 minutes from Kigoma.
• ⏳ The crew will be on the ground for about 20-25 minutes to prepare for the next sector to Kigoma.