OLD TECH COMES IN HANDY

World War-II vintage technology came to the rescue of cutting-edge infotech czar Bill Gates when the lighting of hundreds of kerosene lamps made it possible for his chartered jet to take off from the Jodhpur airfield after sunset last week.
The kettle-shaped lamps with wicks, or “goosenecks” as they are called, were lit along the runway of Jodhpur airfield on November 8 after the staff of Gates insisted that the Microsoft founder, his father William H. Gates, his wife Melinda and two sisters had to leave for the US on that very evening itself. “The runway lights at the airfield were not working since they were under repair. On their insistence, the goosenecks were used. Goosenecks are used by our pilots quite often to practise night operations because runway lights can fail or deliberately be kept off to evade enemy bombers,” said an IAF officer.
“Even civil aviation rules permit use of goosenecks for landings and takeoffs. The pilot of the Bombardier Global Express, a long-range corporate high-speed jet, chartered by Gates also said their use conformed to their company’s policy,” he added. OLD TECH COMES IN HANDY Bill Gates got special permission to take off
Kerosene lamps made it possible for Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ chartered jet to take off from the Jodhpur airfield after sunset last week. No flight is currently allowed to take off from the Jodhpur airfield, a frontline IAF airbase close to the border with Pakistan, after 4 pm because of the ongoing extensive repair and maintenance work since mid-April.
Special permission was, however, granted to the jet flying Gates and his family members, who were staying at Umaid Bhawan Palace, to take off latest by 5.30 pm. But even as the jet was taxiing, Gates’ father discovered that he had left two of his bags at the hotel.
The take-off was then promptly aborted to allow the baggage to be retrieved from the hotel. But by the time the luggage was brought to the airfield, it was already dark.
The IAF was initially reluctant to allow the flight to take off but finally agreed for “emergency assistance” after Gates’ staff insisted their boss had to leave immediately.
That is when over 200 goosenecks were deployed “to help the VVIP guest and save him from inconvenience”. “Gates’ jet finally left at 6.15 pm after necessary clearances were obtained from higher authorities. The light from the goosenecks is more than enough for a take-off... Landing is slightly tougher,”