Euro Car Rally

 The Euro Car Rally

    We at Indigo Pilots Group got an email inviting interested people for a Euro Car Rally adventure and I immediately expressed my willingness. “The Endurance Club” led by couple of our Captains were instrumental in coming up with the concept and arranged a third party team - “Adventures Overland” for logistics. The trip was planned in 2 legs - from Paris to Munich(leg1) and Munich to Paris(leg2) and I opted for leg2. It was for 10 days drive across Europe starting from 22nd Sept 2024. For me personally the attraction was visiting some countries I could not visit while I lived in UK before and covering the French Riviera Drive. Also Left Hand Drive was never attempted by me before and this provided a good opportunity in controlled environment to try it out.

    As we were all reaching Munich from different cities of India, we were advised to reach early to sync with the first leg members and get familiar with the time zone. I reached on 21st Sept and spent the evening in Munich Reim Square which was just outside our hotel. Next day morning, went out in Munich for a city tour with whoever reached early. The official tour was to start later in the evening. The official start for our leg2 was the visit to the famous Oktoberfest in Munich which was also the first day of the festival. Special tent was booked for all of us and we started off the tour with a bang! What an ambience the fest was! Besides Beer, it had everything for everyone to enjoy - the vibe of the place was fantastic - loved it to the core!

    Day2 - September 23,2024 was the first day we started driving. We were 40 participants and were assigned our vehicles and given initial instructions. All our vehicles were BMW X1 top models. We were all to drive in a convoy between a lead and sweep vehicle. We comparatively had a short distance to cover from Munich to Zurich in Switzerland which was 370Kms. The drive had an initial stretch on Autobahn which had no speed limits and was an exciting drive. However we were delayed heavily due to the fact that we were still getting used to driving in a convoy. We had lunch midway by the highway. We then drove to Rhine waterfalls which was the largest waterfall in Europe. We later learned that it was our planned lunch pit stop which we could not make it as we were delayed. This fuelled us for the rest of the journey to stick to the timelines for the rest of our tour. Later in the evening we reached Zurich hotel and went out for a city trip but returned back as it was raining and the high street in Zurich was barricaded for a bike rally the next day.

Us with our Vehicles - Drone Click

    Day3 - September 24th,2024, We started early from Zurich in the morning for Innsbruck(320Kms). The drive involved passing by picturesque Swiss towns and passing another country Liechtenstein and then we reached Arlberg Pass, Austria which was at an elevation of 6000 ft above Mean sea level and a damn beautiful spot. This place was our lunch pit stop which was enjoyable for everyone. We just couldn’t get enough of clicks and we moved on to our destination of Innsbruck. Our hotel was situated in a wonderful spot giving us a good view of the mountains. In the city, we explored the town centre, saw the golden roof, had dinner and returned to our hotel.

@Arlberg Pass

    Day4 - September 25th,2024, From Innsbruck, we started towards Zagreb, Croatia which was 530Kms. The drive involved passing through Germany Autobahn again and hence was exciting to drive. We passed through Slovenia and stopped close to Ljubljana for a lunch pit stop. We then continued to Zurich and immediately left for the town centre to visit places and ventured out partying before returning back to the hotel. The unique aspect of this day was that we had breakfast in Austria, Lunch in Slovenia and dinner in Croatia.

    Day5 - September 26th, 2024, We started from Zagreb and headed to Florence, Italy which was a good 630kms. Enroute we stopped at Predjama Castle in Slovenia which was a fantastic spot. This castle is the largest castle within a cave! This castle was made famous in Game of Thrones series, Armour of God movie and Counter Strike game. We then moved towards Florence. In Florence we had a three course meal in our hotel itself and then few ventured out to the city in night. This day too, we had breakfast in Croatia, Lunch in Slovenia and dinner in Italy.

One of the Highway Pitstop Location

    Day6 - September 27th, 2024, We complained that being close to Pisa, we did not cover it and hence we got it included in our route. From Florence, we first went to Pisa which gave us some wonderful clicks, had Lunch there and then moved to Nice, France which was 450Km drive. The route was part the famous Riviera drive. Once in Nice we checked in our hotel which was at a beautiful location by the beach and had dinner at one of the beach shacks.

    Day7 - September 28th, 2024 was our rest day from driving. As a group, we decided to go to Monaco which was close by. It was a wonderful place as we got to see the Palace, Monaco F1 circuit, the Casino, all sports/super cars and also the day had a special Yatch festival going on and hence was buzzing. We later returned to Nice, visited the old town centre, beach had dinner and headed back to our hotel.

SuperCars at MonteCarlo, Monaco

    Day8 - September 29th, 2024, we drove from Nice to Toulouse which was 560Kms drive. Enroute, we stopped by a beautiful seaside town named Le Grande Motte. We had lunch strolled by the beach and headed for Toulouse. In Toulouse we went to a classic style pub where we rendezvoused with our leadership team members and had fun partying!

    Day9 - September 30th, 2024, In Toulouse we had an Airbus factory visit planned. We went to the Airbus A350 factory line, learnt about the assembly,had a brief conversation with Airbus Test Pilots, visited the Flight Safety Centre and finally the Aeroscopia Museum where we could see different planes and purchase merchandise. Later in the evening, Airbus hosted us for an informal dinner where we had a wonderful conversation, got some goodies, clicked photographs and returned back to the hotel.

Airbus A350 Model

    Day10 - October 1st, 2024. The planned drive was from Toulouse to Paris (700Kms). However, I along with another Captain whom I got well acquainted left early in the morning by flight from Toulouse to Paris and reached by 12 noon. In Paris, we started from Notre Dame Cathedral, went to Arc De Triomphe, had Lunch at one of the brasserie on Champsélysées, then went to Eiffel Tower, did some shopping and then went on the River Seine cruise. Later returned back to the hotel where we had our farewell dinner as many had early morning flights back home including myself.

    In a nutshell, we could get a glimpse of typical European Countryside while driving and get a peek into the towns and villages lifestyle, which otherwise could not have been feasible for us pilots who would normally fly into cities and return - fantastic effort by the organizing team for such a curated route! A big thank you to Airbus Team for giving us the opportunity to visit their Offices and also get an opportunity to get an understanding on our aviation field and enrich ourselves! Overall, a fabulous adventure activity with fellow colleagues and family members which to describe in one word for me was “Picturesque” both in terms of the beautiful surroundings but also the moments we spent together!!! 

P.S: Below are some links for further reading.

1. Adventures Overland - our Tour Operator - https://www.adventuresoverland.com

2. Munich Oktoberfest - https://www.oktoberfest.de/en or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest

3. Rhine Waterfalls - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine_Falls

4. Arlberg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg

5. Golden Roof, Innsbruck - https://www.innsbruck.info/en/sightseeing/sightseeing/historical-buildings/detail/infrastruktur/golden-roof-innsbruck.html

6. Predjama Castle - https://www.postojnska-jama.eu/en/predjama-castle/

7. Leaning Tower of Pisa - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa

8. Monaco - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco

9. Le Grande Motte - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande-Motte

10. Toulouse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulouse

11. Notre Dame Cathedral - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris

12. Arc De Triomphe - https://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en

13. Champs Elysees - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champs-Élysées

14. Eiffel Tower - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower

15. River Seine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine

16. My Instagram Handle for more images - https://www.instagram.com/karangeddam/

17. Drone Clicks were by my colleague - https://www.instagram.com/_krishnaraju/

Pacific Thrill

I wanted to share my recent vacation trip to Australia. I went to visit my Sisters family in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Mostly when we take the name “Queensland”, it rings a familiar bell - Great Barrier Reef! Yes, the most conserved and largest natural coral reef system in the world. It’s one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World” made by living organisms! Coral Reefs - Support marine life and are a good indication of our water bodies overall health. 

To visit Great Barrier Reef, we choose “Lady Elliot Island” a small Island which is the southern most part of the Reef which starts from Close to Papua New Guinea. It’s located 85KM into the Sea North East of closest Queensland city of “Bundaberg”. We  choose a day return tour from Gold Coast to the Island.

We Started of early in the morning from Gold Coast Airport at 0645 Hrs on a Cessna Caravan(C208) to the Island which is a 1.5 hour scenic flight. The flight itself was wonderful given the fact that it would fly low over the ocean to see enroute scenic attractions like Gold Coast city beautiful beaches, Brisbane skyline, Moreton Bay Island, Tangalooma wrecks, marine life movements from the sky and then onto the scenic island!

Once on the Island, our tour guide gave an introduction to the Island and prepared us for the day. We changed to swim wear with snorkelling equipment and other safety gear provided by the Tour operator. We first went on a glass boat to the coral reef viewing every thing in the clear waters. Later the boat docked and we made the plunge into water. For me it was my first time in the ocean - I was anxious as well considering I never swam in the seas or rivers - only a Pool swimmer. Once in water, I initially gingerly held onto the safety rope and started looking in the water. The magnificent view of the coral reef along with the beautiful fishes quickly eased my anxiousness that I left the safety rope and started swimming besides the fishes. To my delight, We stumbled upon an “Green Sea Turtle” which swam right next to us and reached the surface to get some fresh air and again ducked underwater and swam away. That moment was epic for me and my excitement knew no bounds. It was simply a wonderful experience to watch the animal we know since our childhood stories live its natural beautiful life unknown to us till that instance. Once back on the Island, we tried to snorkel back on the other side of the island which was shallow trying to take advantage of the high tide to spot more sea life in action. However, the high tide was not that high and the sea current was too strong that we returned back to the island. Back on Island, we changed and ate our Lunch offered by the Island tour operator and chilled by the beach. Afternoon by 1430hrs we were back on the Cessna Caravan to return to Gold Coast.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience for all of us. Greatly appreciate the tour management firm and the Island operators for running a very balanced tourist attraction whilst paying utmost care to safeguard the marine and avian ecosystem. Even plastic water bottles are prohibited on the island in efforts to safeguard the reef. Simply Amazing!

P.S:

This is a personal opinion and none was influenced or paid for by any tour/island operator.

For detailed read, Please read the following links:

Great Barrier Reef - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef

Lady Elliot Island - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Elliot_Island

Tour Operator - https://ladyelliot.com.au/day-tour-ex-gold-coast

Amritsar Trip

It’s been ages since I last been on a solo trip. This time the destination was the Holy City of Amritsar! I have been planning this trip since December 2015 with friends but never worked out. Finally I found a gap in my training schedule that I decided to hop on to cover the city and fulfill my commitment. As usual it was not a well planned trip but an impromptu one with tips from my friends on phone. Only thing I did was to book a hotel room.

I landed in Amritsar early in the morning by flight. Luckily the weather was pleasant as it was the 1st week of April. I booked a cab and reached the hotel to stow my luggage. I requested the hotel authorities to guide me as I came in unresearched and they gladly did. I hired a cab for the day and started on my journey after having my breakfast. 

First stop - JallianWala Bagh. It is the site of massacre by the colonial rulers on citizens which was the darkest event in history leaving deep scars on the people’s minds. Currently the place serves as a memorial depicting the gory event. There is a walk through along the place with videos, plaques etc giving a detailed description on what and how events transpired. The well where people jumped to escape but met an unfortunate outcome is well preserved, so are the brick walls with bullet marks. There were memorial stones of freedom fighters with their inspirational quotes. A well documented journey into the past.

Next stop - Lunch. Been to the famous restaurant “Yellow Chilli” by renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor! Was mesmerised by the lip smacking food. 

Next stop - “Sadda Pind”. It’s a model village setup depicting the lifestyle of a village in Punjab. It’s an interesting and well curated journey for all age groups. Initially I felt that I would not spend much time, but ended up spending a lot of time. It had food, cultural and adventure shows, fun games etc. I got the opportunity to don the traditional Turban! I rode on a horseback, I got a glimpse of weaving carpet. Overall I was impressed by the setup and appreciated my time spent well.

Next - Attari Border! It’s the border between India and Pakistan where every evening there is a beating retreat ceremony by both the border patrol forces of India (BSF) and Pakistan(Rangers) face off in a well sequenced event culminating with the lowering of flags. This event is like the “Haka Dance” seen on television during rugby matches played by New Zealand. It’s a high adrenaline goose bumps raising event to watch. It was a wonderful to watch women being part of the contingent on either side which was not there in the videos I used to see before of this event.

Final stop - The Golden Temple! The holiest worship site of Sikh religion. The worship place is open to visitors from all walks of life irrespective of their religious backgrounds. The visit to this place cannot be penned in words but must be experienced by all. The “langer” or the community lunch is a must have! I can assure that you will return well enriched by the experience!

Next was me heading to the hotel for a good night rest and return back to airport the following morning for catching my onward flight. Another great solo trip to cherish!

Steps to safeguard mental health and avoid fatigue

What is Fatigue?

Fatigue is the general term used to describe physical and/or mental weariness which extends beyond normal tiredness.

Physical fatigue concerns the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected. It may be an overall tiredness of the whole body, or be confined to particular muscle groups. Physical fatigue most commonly results from physical exercise or loss of sleep. Physical fatigue often leads to mental fatigue.

Mental fatigue, which may include sleepiness, concerns a general decrease of attention and ability to perform complex, or even quite simple tasks with customary efficiency. Mental fatigue often results from loss or interruption of the normal sleep pattern and is therefore of great concern to pilots and ATCOs, who are frequently required to work early in the morning or at night.

[Source: https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Fatigue]

Having looked at the above definition, it must be pretty obvious that this is a cause of immense concern given the current situation in the world with COVID-19 Lockdowns/ Quarantines. There are many symptoms of mental health for people to be careful about - like social distancing(Isolation) or lack of assurance etc. These mental health issues when prolonged could lead to fatigue.

Health Meme - Source: www.pintrest.com

Now how am I qualified to talk about it? Well I have been in depression before and overcame it and successfully went on to qualify for my Pilot License and hence can give a brief insight.

Even before starting my Pilot training, I was earlier a Software Engineer working and having a decent life in London, UK. However due to personal issues and work related stresses together led me to become low-spirited and decided to return back to India. I undertook professional help (medical professionals and counselling) and recovered back. As part of the counselling, we explored what would make me very happy and one thing which was always there in my heart was to become a Pilot and thus I decided to embark on changing my career. However to become a Pilot, one must be both physically and mentally fit! So I approached an Aviation Medical Practioner to consult whether “At my age and recent mental health episode, if I could qualify for Pilot Fitness?” - to which I got a positive response and rest is me working hard to make my dream come true.

Later again after successfully completing my Pilot License and Multi-Engine endorsement training, I was struggling to find the right kind of job for me as there were age restriction of 35 for many entry level Pilot jobs in India - which I just crossed. I tried many other ways to improve my chances to become employed but was not succeeding  - which again was causing me anxiety. However, I could recognise the symptoms early as I had previously seen them and hence immediately rushed to get help. Counselling helped me again to quickly realise my groove and was back in no time. At this juncture to my delight, the job scene for Pilots was improving and saw few ads which offered promise for me. I started applying to all and finally was successful in tests, interviews and thus getting a Letter of Intent from a leading airline in Asia! After completing the required Type Rating program, the induction got delayed which now is likely to get pushed further due to COVID-19 :(. Hence this attempt at trying to beat the crisis by educating all on how it can be handled.

Now, I would put forward the steps taken by me to overcome - from which you’ll can gleam and customise it according to your personal needs and interests.

Firstly, one must try to hone your instincts to identify your own behaviour patterns, likes and dislikes. This is not an easy task! Also, one cant be perfect in identifying his own states that well. Hence, its always better to seek HELP! Help can be obtained from family members/friends etc. But best Help can be obtained from a professional mental health expert.

The ways I try to notice patterns are like eating habits - am I over or under eating? My speed and ability to do certain tasks - like speed of doing some familiar exercises - is it at an average speed or under?, sleeping habits - is it over or less?, screen time on devices - is it excessive? Given current lockdown, we cannot but do away with screen time - however, its important to give well balanced breaks. Also listening to friends or family joking or telling you about our behavioural change - this is difficult to grasp but one such way to start introspecting.

Next, Formulate a good time-table or routine to follow for the day. This helps the mind to be consciously active rather than just getting carried away with whatever activity you are engaged in. Try to follow it.

Make it a point to exercise for sure - its essential. It keeps the body active and sharp. However, its best kept at a moderate level - avoid over exercising to reach some target weight goals etc. Because strict targets would mean fixation on that target which could lead to some sacrifices for mental well being. Best is to do some form of mild exercises like walking/ yoga/ meditation/ short 30 minutes preferred workouts/dance.

Cultivate some time towards your hobby - some form like music/art/cooking/philately etc.

Learn a new language. You can either learn another Indian language or international languages like Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic etc. I learnt French when I was struggling to find opportunities.

Eat a balanced diet. This means combine well both healthy foods and an occasional comfort food/cravings. This keeps both body and mind happy.

Maximise efforts to be in cheerful moods. This is the key! So whatever works for you to be happy - pursue it. Maybe a comic film or watching standup comedies or just speaking to some jolly good friend of yours!

Keep away from negativity. There is plenty of it all over currently - Try to channelise efforts to stay away from it.

Despite your best efforts if you are unable to hold fort, do seek HELP. Prefer professional help over family members as family members could be biased.

Try to avoid consuming alcohol - which universally the society prescribes to elevate your moods. It is only a temporary effect and does not solve the problem and hence may lead to more craving for alcohol - potentially leading to abuse.

Speak about Mental Health issues openly. This is very much a necessity. I do know it is considered quite Taboo and is Stigmatised. Trust me, I discovered it myself - Many of your close friends or relatives might distance themselves. It did happen to me and the way I look at it is - It helped me discover my true friends who really stand by you. You can easily cut down your close friends list and know which relatives you can fall back for support!

This Speaking about Mental Health issues openly is now encouraged as Good practice the world wide - However, its a tricky situation in the world of Aviation. The state is Damned if You Do - Damned if you Don’t! 

To Support the argument of Damned if you Do:

{

 Being labelled with a "mental health problem" in aviation might have consequences, including stigma and discrimination (perceived and real); grounding; additional costs, including costs associated with examinations and treatment to obtain/maintain medical certification; loss of income; and fear of loss of employment. Possible outcomes of being diagnosed with a mental health problem include self-esteem and self-confidence issues; reluctance to seek help due to medical confidentiality matters; seeking help, but declining treatment; obtaining treatment but failing to disclose the condition or treatment; having peers be hesitant to report concerns to an employer/regulatory authorities; increasing stress and isolation; experiencing adverse effects on the progress of a mental disorder and/or the exacerbation of symptoms. All of these situations can lead to an increased risk to aviation safety, and, in extreme cases, to, Pilot Suicide .

}

Source : https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Pilot_Mental_Health

To Support the argument of Damned if you Don’t:

Is the classic aviation accident of GermanWings Flight 9525.

The above riddle is true and valid throughout the world. Given the current low in aviation due to lockdowns throughout the world, Proper and thorough steps and balances should be finalised and put in place to avoid and hardship or delays with Pilot Medical’s/Job Opportunites for the one who declares and an easy mitigation plans for Employers, Doctors, Regulatory Authorities alike!

Having said the above, many would like to know how I went about it. Here, Professional Help I took came in very handy. I did discuss the above related to my strict licensing requirements and they do suggest the best way forward for me. They understand the gravity of situation better and advice accordingly. The whole point of all the regulations is not to further cause agony to a person who recovered from mental Heath issues. I did take the path discussed and I prefer going the path of speaking openly on my mental health issues - which I did inform in my job interviews as well. Even employers would prefer someone who is open and forthcoming in disclosing about the mental health issues and taking the right remedy rather than hiding things in dark.

Hope the above is thought provoking and aids you in taking good steps for your mental well being!

Credits: 

Most definitions/theory has been obtained from SKYbrary an online wiki for Aviation. It requires publication of source and credits mentioned - www.skybrary.aero.

Image Source: Health memes - www.pintrest.com 

Ladakh Trip – A Pilots Perspective

I have recently been on a trip recently to Ladakh with my school friends. Leh, the capital of Ladakh region is located at a very high altitude – 11000 ft above mean sea level. Please check my earlier blog “The Adventure trip of Ladakh” on our fun activities. Now what is it for Pilots that I am writing this blog? The very fact that it is located at 11000 ft AMSL should raise eyebrows .

At Leh Airport

Now coming to the trip, since I did not Pilot myself there – I cannot write anything about the performance aspects of the aircraft nor offer any tips or tricks on Piloting to this challenging airport of Leh. So what do I have to offer?

Some TextBook Theory to start with.

Hypoxia – “Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair functions of the brain and other organs. Because of the nature of flight, flight crews are much more likely to suffer from hypoxia than “normal” people. Knowing what to look for and how to react to resolve the situation is essential to maintain flight safety.”  [Source: Skybrary]

Time to useful consciousness table

[Image Source: Skybrary]

Hypoxia  signs include increased rate and depth of breathing, tachycardia, cyanosis (blue coloured lips and nails), mental confusion, anger, euphoria, poor judgment, loss of muscle coordination, slouching and loss of consciousness. [Source: Skybrary]

How many like me have read the above in books and memorized the numbers by rote? 🙋

Now, Let’s see the Human Factors in action.

For the purpose of this blog – Please treat me and my friends as mere test subjects rather than someone who is an expert or being shown in poor light.

The day we landed in Leh, almost all of us had some symptom of hypoxia or the other – most notably Headache, tiredness and bloating sensation of the tummy. I personally had a headache.

We had medical check in the evening and almost all had elevated levels of blood pressure and lower content of Oxygen in our body with varying heart rates. BP of upto 150 systolic was considered normal at that altitude.

Some walking on the day2 of our trip was tiring for many but it did help us adapt to the conditions well. Our BP, Oxygen levels and heart rates were now normalizing.

On Day3, it was all good until we did water rafting. It was an intense exercise which had some people gasping. I too had some breathing difficulty for few minutes after the rafting experience.

On Day4, Couple of them including me reported having a bleeding nose/nostrils early in the morning – probably because of the exertion of rafting the previous day. Thankfully it was not severe for any of us. However, during our trip to Nubra Valley via Khardungla Pass which is the highest motorable road at 18000ft, almost all of us were struggling. One of my friend was panting and at Khardungla pass, he vomited and was feeling unwell. The Oxygen level in his blood dropped down to 48% and had to be put immediately on Oxygen. He was few seconds away from passing out! Many had bloating sensation of the tummy. We went out to take images but struggled, we found it difficult to go to the nearby coffee shop. We were advised to remain no longer than 10 minutes at the Khardungla pass and we realized it why – the hard way! 

Here I realized the importance of Time of Useful consciousness concept!

Day 5 and Day 6 were a breeze. The only thing on Day6 was the Changla Pass at similar altitude of 18000 ft but this time due to the acclimatization over the days and proper use of the drug diamox, we could carry ourselves through!

Day 7 was significant as we friends almost all being city riders embarked on a tough but achievable mountain biking trip to Kargil on NH1 a relatively safer road to ride on. Our communication was good in the beginning but once the setback of a vehicle tyre puncture occurred, things started to take a down turn. People did not look clearly in the rear view mirrors for the other riders etc – things were not smooth. After a late lunch almost around 1400 Hrs, we started on the tougher mountainous part of the ride. We being relatively amateur riders of the terrain, treaded cautiously. This led to us riding in the chill which starts after 1600Hrs in that region. Because of the chill and our poor biking gear – btw we just wore arm and knee caps on our regular jeans and jackets, we were all suffering from chills. We kept taking breaks and that added to more time to our journey. We kept continuing in the dark hoping to reach the destination soon. Though the distance was less, it was taking lot of time due to the mountainous roads. We kept pushing and pushing and finally reached our destination at 2000 Hrs safely!

The terrain and roads of NH1 between Kargil and Leh

 

Day8, We started out by getting our bikes checked for tyre pressures. One bike had a nut missing for which we tried to get a replacement which went in vain. We were split in our thinking about refueling our bikes at the start. Finally, it was agreed that we would refuel the bike enroute as soon as it hits the reserve tank. The day biking started smoothly and quarter of a way two bikes developed some breaking issues. One bike exhausted its fuel midway – the driver of the bike left it on reserve tank all the way so he did not have an indication when it hit the reserve tank! Ironically, that rider was the one who proposed the solution of refueling when on reserve. Thankfully it was not far from a fuelling station – so we could refuel and continue our journey. Many riders keeping the previous days uncomfortable night riding in chilly conditions kept pushing to reach back Leh. So - Not all bikes were riding together. However, we all reached our destination back safely and thanked our stars for completing the trip safely!

Now, Let me interpret the Human Factors which were in play during Day7 and Day8:

• ·         Poor Communication
• ·         Complacency
• ·         Lack of team work
• ·         Distraction
• ·         Stress/Pressure/Fatigue
• ·         Lack of resources/Knowledge/assertiveness 

Almost all the factors known to disrupt aviation safety were in play. 

Except one, none of us were aware of the terrain/road. We blindly accepted the challenge of biking in Ladakh which was popular “must do” with all adventure seekers. Though few were not inclined on it, they did not assertively push their opinion or to put it in other way, they fell on deaf ears.

Surely given poor mobile network connectivity it added to us not communicating well once we were halfway from our journey commencement. We started very well with proper briefing. However once there was the setback of tyre puncture(Distraction), the communication took a hit. Not looking at rear view mirrors, not looking behind for the next rider let to us not going in an orderly fashion.

Our Bikes and Our Biking gear

During the journey when it was becoming dark, we just pushed on despite the chilly weather. We were not dressed properly ie. We did not wear biking suits – we just put on the arm and knee guards on our jeans and jackets and started off. This lead to a very serious situation. The gear we were wearing was not reflective enough for night riding. Next, we were riding in chilly weather and none were comfortable with it. To add to that we were almost tired(Fatigue). We all exhibited the classic “Get There Itis” or we were trying to reach the destination rather than halting when we were uncomfortable (Destination Obsession). All these almost aligned to form a huge issue for us. But thankfully we survived without any incident.

 

The ride back to Leh started with a poor choice of not refueling for the trip. However, since it was a road journey with many refueling points, we managed – But nevertheless a poor decision which included complacency. Also on the return journey few riders rushing back to Leh trying to avoid the situation like the previous day. This lead to a disarray of few bikes going ahead without being closely knit together (Lack of Team work).

Given the above examples – Did they just happen by explicit choice? Do me and my friends have to be blamed for so many mistakes? Hypoxia led to much of poor decision making. Thus, I choose to present this as a working case study to understand Hypoxia.

All pilots must understand these phenomena very well – not just read and mug up the topic for exam. Here, we had the luxury of familiarization to the high altitude environment. In real life for Pilot, there is no such advantage of acclimatization – Hence the importance. Hope it helps the readers.   

Happy Landings!

Special Credits:

I would like to once again thank the officers of Indian Army who gave us wonderful advice on how to accustom to the high altitude and cope with the conditions better. After going through the trip, all our friends became extremely appreciative of the brave deeds and tough conditions being endured by the soldiers at extremely high altitudes and brutal weather conditions. A big Salute!

Other Credits:

Most theory has been taken from Skybrary an online wiki. It requires publication of the source. [Source: www.skybrary.aero]