Heard a van went down in the congo, and it's not the convair incident.

any one with more info.

thanks
LIGP

YES I HEARD ON THE RADIO TODAY ON MY FLIGHT TO ENTEBBE THE ATC ARE LOOKING FOR A VAN BETWEEN BUNIA AND BENI.BUT I COULD NOT GET THE CALL SIGN. Anybody with more news?

Correct plane is:

ZS-ADL / UN???? / C208b

Plane is missing since this morning

UN in Democratic Republic of Congo have said a UN WFP Cessna Caravan 208 callsign UN43W, ZS-ADL operated by King Air Sevices in Lanseria, went missing near Beni-Wageni in Eastern, DRC. Not to sure how many people aboard but two ZA pilots confirmed. Search continues tomorrow...

Caravan one or Caravan two? Know some boys flying a Reims 406 Caravan 2 up that way.

Any more news on this accident - hope all okay with crew and pax ?.

From Belga "A plane transporting communication material crashed in the east of DRC, making at least seven dead, while another aircraft with on its board three people was reported missing in the same area. The accident of the first plane that left Kisangani to Goma, close to the Rwandan border, occurred Thursday evening. All the occupants, five passengers and the members of crew - of which the number is estimated at two or three perished in the accident, indicated Billy Bilamekaso Tchagele, spokesman of the Mission of UNO in democratic Republic of Congo (Monuc)."
Another day of aviation in Congo-Kinshasa:sad:

SAR on going.. No further news.

Just spoke to a Major in the UN peacekeepers up here and he says they've recieved reports of an a/c being shot down... Don't know if its the van or the convair. Also I must stress it's not confirmed or anything, just info from locals apparently so it cant be taken as gospel.

Thoughts with the families and those guys missing

TD

Second SA plane missing in the DRC
April 29 2006 at 12:36PM By Louis Oelofse
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=&art_id=qw1146306782218B214&set_id=1
A South African registered plane has gone missing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), only a day after two South African Pilots were killed when their plane crashed.
Peter Smerdon, spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Saturday the search for the South African plane chartered by them was continuing.
"They resumed the search this morning but nothing was found yet," he said.
The
Contact with the Caravan light plane with two crew members and one passenger was lost early on Friday morning after taking off from Goma in the Eastern DRC. It was flying to Bunia.
A search for the missing plane was being co-ordinated by the UN Mission in the DRC.
The Pretoria News On Saturday quoted unnamed sources as saying the possibility that the plane was shot down was being investigated.
A spokesman for the owners of the plane confirmed that they heard the rumour but said it was difficult to determine exactly what happened.
The plane was flying to Bunia
On Friday the governor of the Maniema region, Koloso Sumaili, described what happened.
Meanwhile the South African Civil Aviation Authority was still waiting on Saturday for permission from the Congolese authorities to travel to the country and investigate the crash. "We heard nothing from the Congolese," spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said. - Sapa

Some big gomos on the Goma-Bunia track.:ooh:

found on the web
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=vn20060429095944281C491203


Neil

UN43W/ZS-ADL is missing since yesterday....... still no (good) news.....I do Hope that the SAR crew will find the A/C ASAP in order to cut down all stupid extrapolations and rumors heard today in DRC.........

I do hope that crew and pax are safe in this dangerous area

SAMOSA

thanks for keeping us up to date, they are agreat guys and personal friends so let's all hope for the best out come.

ps check your pm

LIGP

Does anyone have any more info about the van in the congo?

Does Anybody have any more info?

Hi guys.

The copilot is a friend of mine, french and canadian he left his chief flight instructor job in Montreal to get some turbine time with King Air Services.

He has a wife and two kids....

The plane has been localised in a forest and it looks like a crash... more infos are expected later as they'll send people on the ground but it can take time through that jungle.

Let's keep finger crossed!

What is it with flying in the Congo?
It seems that an aircraft goes down almost on a weekly basis. I can only immagine that maintanence and training in all areas, is a serious issue. How bigger part does corruption play?

Aircraft crash in the DRC not becuase of maintancence issues or crew training. Most of the crews flying in these types of area's are some of the most experienced pilots you will ever meet!! They fly in the worst conditions thinkable and can pole an aircraft like aces. They crash becuase of bad terrain, huge mountains and very bad weather!!

Your comment takes a lot away from all the people involved in such areas.

Our thoughts go out to the families, friends, collegues and to the crews themselves.

Hey guys,

Also look at
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223772

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Wreckage has been found this morning, unfortunatelly we can expect bad news..........

plane is located in a mountain area, close to the Ugandan border, rescue team should be on the accident site

They crash becuase of bad terrain, huge mountains and very bad weather.

Your comment takes a lot away from all the people involved in such areas.[/quote]

i am not passing judgement on what happened, but your statement is a little foolish i think...

how many mountains do you know of that flew into planes and killed the people on board...?

so, for whatever reason it might be, it was the pilots that flew into the ground/mountain/bad weather or whatever you want to call it....if they were all aces as you say they would still be alive...

i am not detracting from people who are good pilots, but it seems our community finds it hard to accept it when we make mistakes, errors in judgement, or just fcuk up which may ultimately lead to a crash.

we all make mistakes, just hopefully we live to learn from them, always going to be the case...[/quote].......I dont know who u are but realy have some respect that plane had one off my best friends onboard and 1 of the best pilots I know.:*

They crash becuase of bad terrain, huge mountains and very bad weather.
Your comment takes a lot away from all the people involved in such areas.[/quote]

i am not passing judgement on what happened, but your statement is a little foolish i think...

how many mountains do you know of that flew into planes and killed the people on board...?

so, for whatever reason it might be, it was the pilots that flew into the ground/mountain/bad weather or whatever you want to call it....if they were all aces as you say they would still be alive...

i am not detracting from people who are good pilots, but it seems our community finds it hard to accept it when we make mistakes, errors in judgement, or just fcuk up which may ultimately lead to a crash.

we all make mistakes, just hopefully we live to learn from them, always going to be the case...[/quote]

You have obviously never left the comfort of flying in a first world country, were weather forecasts are available and are accurate. The there are no mountains that are higher then your aircrafts cruising levels and you have to fly from GPS point to GPS point between the peaks, and let me not mention that you have never flown in areas were people are trying to shoot you down at every opportunity they get.

You probably are one of those guys who will sit in the pub talking about how great you are and that you always make the right decisions and how bad other pilots are because they flew into a mountain…because as far as you know…” no mountain has ever flown into a plane…hahaha.”

I saw a good T-shirt once…it said “think before you say something stupid”

Have some heart…it looks like three people might have lost their lives for g*d sake.

Sorry to all of you who had to read this.

Your comment takes a lot away from all the people involved in such areas.
i am not passing judgement on what happened, but your statement is a little foolish i think...

how many mountains do you know of that flew into planes and killed the people on board...?

so, for whatever reason it might be, it was the pilots that flew into the ground/mountain/bad weather or whatever you want to call it....if they were all aces as you say they would still be alive...

i am not detracting from people who are good pilots, but it seems our community finds it hard to accept it when we make mistakes, errors in judgement, or just fcuk up which may ultimately lead to a crash.

we all make mistakes, just hopefully we live to learn from them, always going to be the case...[/quote]

You have obviously never left the comfort of flying in a first world country, were weather forecasts are available and are accurate. The there are no mountains that are higher then your aircrafts cruising levels and you have to fly from GPS point to GPS point between the peaks, and let me not mention that you have never flown in areas were people are trying to shoot you down at every opportunity they get.

You probably are one of those guys who will sit in the pub talking about how great you are and that you always make the right decisions and how bad other pilots are because they flew into a mountain…because as far as you know…” no mountain has ever flown into a plane…hahaha.”

I saw a good T-shirt once…it said “think before you say something stupid”

Have some heart…it looks like three people might have lost their lives for g*d sake.

Sorry to all of you who had to read this.[/quote]

Before anyone gets into a slanging match, South Coast has a lot of experience working in Africa. The leg from Goma to Bunia has an MSA of around 17000' IIRC as one passes the Rwenzoris. No place for an unpressurised aircraft.

Speculation can only lead to strife and frayed tempers at this emotional time so better we keep things civilised.

Just a thought...

I am sad to say that they have found the bodies nobody survived.:{

I think this is a very emotional time for everybody that had any contact with the pilots and passenger. Please lets wait to hear all the details.

My thoughts go out to their families and other friends.


R.I.P my friend, I'll be missing you.

I am sad to say that they have found the bodies nobody survived.:{

I just told with a Cpt for King air service and he told me "No bodies was found"
An UN helicopter will be on site tomorrow morning.

Kingair 200 please empty your private mailbox in order for you to receive new ones

To my dear friends who lost their lives in DRC, may you rest in peace. I will miss all the good times and hope that when we meet again someday, we can have a few beers up there with you...

Can i also appeal to all operators that utilize single-engine, unpressurized aircraft in DRC to withdraw them and replace them with an aircraft that is fit for the job. The MSAs along their particular route were 17100, 12500 & 19100, hardly a job for a caravan. I would hate to see more lives being lost in such unneccessary way.

JBG

Boite MP vide tu peux envoyer

The NGOs release a document inviting tenders for an aircraft that meets certain requirements. If they wanted pressurised aircraft they would specify it. Don't take this out on the operators, it's the NGOs who have no clue and don't want to spend money on the correct equipment.

R.I.P.

Next time I see you, its my round. Condolences to family.

Tt

Sad sad week....my condolances to family and friends.
Needless to say was damn greatfull to get out of that operating environment. Anyone who has operated up there will obviously know what the situation is like...whoever is to blame.

I started this thread hoping for the best, but unfortunately is wasn’t to be, regardless of circumstances, opinions or comments we have all lost a fantastic person (in both crew members and the pax) if you knew them or not.

My condolences go out to the family’s, friends and colleges of the guy’s.

So every body out there if in a first world, contract or the @<hidden>#%$ hole called DRC lets all be careful and help each other rather than passing judgment.

To SAMOSA thanks for the accurate reports and 747BARBERSPOLE you guys obviosly understand.

Personally: let’s have a drink to absent friends, gone but never forgotten, cheers boys

LIGP

Publication : Sunday 30th - 17H30 UTC


An aircraft wreck close to Africa's fabled Mountains of the Moon is believed to be the South African chartered plane that went missing on Friday.

While the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed on Sunday that the wreck was that of the aircraft, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said this could not yet be confirmed.

The aircraft had been chartered by the WPF.

Phindiwe Gwebu, spokesperson for the CAA said the plane, a Cessna Caravan light plane carrying two crew members and a passenger, was found on the Ugandan side of the mountains, also known as the Rwenzori massif, at 8.45am.


CAA wants to investigate the crash
"The plane has been identified and the Ugandan authorities are still trying to get access to the plane in order to ascertain if there are any survivors," said Gwebu.

Earlier reports that the bodies had been found appeared to have been the result of miscommunication between civil aviation authorities in South Africa and Uganda

She said Ugandan inspectors had spotted the aircraft and confirmed that it was the South African-registered Cessna. All three people on-board were South Africans. (actually 2 SA and 1 French/Canadian)

Gwebu also said the CAA would request for permission from their counterparts in Uganda to investigate the crash.

Contact with the plane, chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), was lost on Friday after it had taken off from Goma in the eastern DRC flying to Bunia.

'No signs of the bodies'
The Rwenzori massif falls in both the DRC and Uganda.

Earlier on Saturday, WFP spokesperson Peter Smerdon said from Nairobi, Kenya, that a wreckage was sighted on the mountains' Margherita peak, the third highest summit in Africa at 5 109m above sea level.

WFP spokesperson for Southern Africa, Mike Huggins disputed the wreckage has been identified as the missing South African plane.

"There is nothing indicating that the wreckage is that of the plane. We have not been able to land there and there are no signs of the bodies," said Huggins.

He also said the search for the missing plane, co-ordinated by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC), would continue until a confirmation was made.

The plane crashed only a day after South African pilots Andre Nel and Charles Greyvenstein died when the plane they were flying crashed on approach to Amisi in the DRC.

Six Congolese, two air crew and four passengers were also killed in the crash.

Gwebu said the CAA had also sought permission to travel to the DRC to investigate the crash but no response has been received from the authorities there.

The Pretoria News On Saturday quoted unnamed sources as saying the possibility that the plane was shot down was being investigated.


1 - Read
2 - Think
3 - Wait
4 - Talk and respect...

Thanks


Rentre vite Nono

sorry to anyone i offended or upset, was not my intentions.

Pilot, wife on doomed flight
30/04/2006 21:53 - (SA)

Johannesburg - Two South Africans were on board a plane missing since Friday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the department of foreign affairs said on Sunday night.

"Indeed, two South Africans were in the ill-fated plane," spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said after earlier having reported that there were no South Africans on board.

They were the pilot and his wife.

A third passenger, believed to be a French or Canadian citizen, was also on board.

On Sunday there were conflicting reports about the whether the wreckage of the plane, a single-engine Caravan, had been found.

"It has not been found," said Mamoepa.

"However, part of a wreckage has been found, resembling an ill-fated plane and investigations are under way."

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) had chartered the aircraft to fly from Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to Bunia, further north.

The wreckage of a plane had been found in the fabled Mountains of the Moon, also known as the Rwenzori massif, which is between the two towns and shared by the DRC and Uganda.

"The Caravan was operated by King Air Charter Services, based in South Africa, and King Air Charter Services said the wreckage was located at an altitude of 3 600m on Margherita Peak, which is the third highest summit in Africa," read a WFP release on Sunday.

"A UN helicopter twice tried today to land near the wreckage, which is just inside Ugandan territory.

"It was unable to do so and King Air Charter Services said efforts were underway to try and reach the wreckage from Uganda but the extremely difficult terrain at the crash site made it a complex operation."

The search will resume on Monday.

2de SA vliegtuig stort in twee dae in DRK neer
Apr 30 2006 09:52:24:310PM - (SA)
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Erika Gibson
Die wrakstukke - moontlik dié van die tweede Suid-Afrikaanse vliegtuig wat in twee dae in die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo (DRK) neergestort het - is gister op die derde hoogste bergpiek in Afrika tussen dié land en Uganda gevind.
Mnr. Peter Smerdon, woordvoerder van die VN se Wêreldvoedselprogram (WVP) in Nairobi, het gistermiddag gesê die onherbergsame gebied bemoeilik tot dusver die positiewe identifisering van die vliegtuig, sowel as die toestand van die drie insittendes.
Die kaptein van die vliegtuig, 'n Suid-Afrikaner, en sy Suid-Afrikaanse vrou was aan boord, tesame met 'n Kanadese mede-vlieënier van Montreal, het mnr. Mark van Buuren, kontrakbestuurder van King Air Services by die Lanseria- lughawe, gesê. Vroeër het mnr. Ronnie Mamoepa, woordvoerder van die departement van buitelandse sake, volgens Sapa gesê daar was geen Suid-Afrikaners aan boord nie.
Die vliegtuig het op kontrak vir die WVP gevlieg en het Vrydagoggend onderweg van Goma na Bunia in die ooste van die DRK in die Ruwenzori-gebergtes vermis geraak.
Volgens Smerdon het 'n soek- en reddingspan van Monuc, die VN se sending in die DRK, met 'n helikopter sedertdien na die wrak gesoek.
Wrakstukke is gister uit die lug gesien, maar die helikopter het twee keer tevergeefs in die onherbergsame gebied aan die Ugandese kant probeer land.
Die piek waarteen die vliegtuig vermoedelik vasgevlieg het, staan bekend as die Margharita-piek. 'n Ugandese reddingspan sou moontlik teen laat gistermiddag per pad die wrak probeer bereik het, maar Smerdon het gesê dit kan eers vandag begin.
Die ligte vliegtuig, 'n Cessna Caravan, het glo in gure weer in die piek van 3 600 m vasgevlieg. Volgens Van Buuren is King Air Services reeds meer as 'n jaar in die gebied gekontrakteer om personeel van die WVP rond te vlieg.
Nóg 'n Suid-Afrikaanse vliegtuig, 'n Convair 580, het Woensdag óók van Goma onderweg na Lubutu neergestort en aan die brand geraak.
Kapt. André Nel (53) en mnr. Charles Greyvenstein (37) - albei ervare vlieëniers met duisende vliegure op hul kerfstok - het saam met twee Kongolese bemanningslede in die ongeluk omgekom.
Gerugte in die gebied wou dit hê dat die vliegtuig moontlik met 'n vuurpylgelanseerde granaat (RPG) neergeskiet is.
Ingeligtes wat in die gebied vlieg, het gister gesê daar word verwag dat dit in die aanloop tot die Kongolese verkiesing in Junie al hoe onveiliger gaan word om in die ooste te vlieg. Sekere politieke groeperings in dié gebied is nié ten gunste van die verkiesing nie omdat hulle dan waarskynlik hul beheer in die gebied sal moet opgee. Al blyk dit asof die vliegtuig by eindnadering sy een vlerk in die grond gesteek het, versprei dié groeperings disinformasie om vrees te saai, terwyl hulle heeltemal goed toegerus is om vliegtuie op dié hoogte neer te skiet, is aan Beeld gesê.

A sad week for SA Aviation - our thoughts are with all the families and friends

To our friends Capt and F/O, may you rest in the knowledge that you were brilliant guys, excellent pilots and good friends.
To friends, families and collegues our thoughts are with you in this troubled time.
Thank you to our SAR teams who flew in difficult circumstances searching for our lost friends.
Africa, esp DRC, is as we all know one of the most trecherous environments and to everyone flying here, continue the good work you are doing and fly safe. For those not in africa understand this is completly different to anything you have ever experienced, in time you will understand.
In time old friends will be reunited...Bye for now my friends..

I still spoke to the poor guy on friday morning at Goma.. If i am not mistaken, he had just moved up to Goma from Lubumbashi after spending a while there and seemed relieved to be in a new place..

I also flew to Beni and back that day from Goma and the weather was not bad, just the usual clouds around the mountains at about 12000ft. I hate to say this but I think the one of the only ways that he could have flown into the 17000ft mountain is if he was not briefed on the routing that all the aircraft flying to Bunia/Beni take from Goma. That mountain is covered in cloud 90% of the time and friday was no different..

I did however hear from the aviation medicine doc at Goma (SA contingent working for UN), that the wreckage was spread over about 150mtr with no real visible impact point..

RIP guys, another sad loss to the aviation community

Dear colleagues, friends and families,

Please consider that there are still chances.
As long as you're not proven the contrary there's still a chance!

Henry Guillaumet crashed his Potez 25 in 1930 in the Andes on his 92nd crossing of the cordillera. He's been then walking for a week and finally arrived to a village after crossing three chains of mountains.

So as long as we're not proven the contrary, there's still hope for our friends!
It's not time for condoleances... it's time to go there and get them back!

A team will start an expedition tomorrow to get there. It's going to be hard walking, can take days, but in the meantime let's stop speculating and criticisms... it's not the time for this... we'll have time when our friends will be back!

Regards to all,


Reviens nono!

anyone knows captain's name?

Thoughts go out to friends, families, loved ones and of course the operator of the C208B. It must be an incredibly hard time for all at the moment and hopefully they know that many people's prayers and thoughts are with them.

:{ Sad this is. Any accident where lives are lost, is a tragedy, period. Lives are irreplaceable.
My thoughts to the families and friends of all involved. My best wishes and condolences, may all of us involved in aviation learn and grow safer allways.
One should focus to learn from such tragedies, support the people and companies involved and thus, make positive contributions.
This start off with training, with planning, contracts, maintenance, ATCs, airfield personnel, everybody, my wish it that all will work together in a supportive spirit to make flying the safe, fun and professional thing to do.

So sad the whole event! Really does take the fun and pleasure of flying in Africa when things like this happen. My thoughts are with the families and friends involved.

Pointer41- I agree with you that we must all stick together and learn from this! We do not know what went wrong yet, and it is always easy in hind sight to speculate. But I do feel that having flown in many a region around this treacharous continent including the Kivu region, that not enough emphasis is based on regional knowledge. The so called contract pilots do not have a very good reputation in the well established airline, more SOP orientated environment, and yet they are a special breed of pilots that make do with the little support and information available to them. The dispatch rate of aircraft on contract is too high considering what the real operating minima would be in the more controlled Airline or Charter market. I have been there and done that many a day with several of the African contract operators and been lucky to live to tell the story. Companies are too money driven to get contracts and make profit to actually stop and take time to think how they could improve safety. Hour requirements drop each year and more and more inexperienced crew are placed to do the job that years ago high hour crew were doing. Crew get hired with lower experience then ever before and are put in the field to fill shoes of much more experienced ones. There is no short cut to experience!

It all ofcourse boils down to time and money again on the companies behalf. But with us crew not enough regional knowledge is passed on from more experienced crew to new arrivals. There are regions on the continent that I have been placed into by several operators to do a job with no handover. As crew you have to try and absorb as much information from other operators in the area and try and survive. Operatators should place more emphasis on passing required important operational information to new crews.
It is hard to do but still there should be more open discussions on region specific advice. In the deepest darkest corner its the inside/infield information that allow for the task on hand to be completed safely. Operating minima take a whole new meaning when out in the field.

Contract flying has improved over the last decade and has become more SOP orientated with better maintenance. It is only due to the good operating skills and judgement of each experienced pilot out there that there have not been more accidents and incidents.

Lets learn from this and prevent future accidents!

In Africa there is always tomorrow... no pressure pilots!

KESHO

Well said, boet!:ok:

My honest condolences to all involved …

Hi guys,

Sorry to say so but it's not time for flying lessons nor condoleances...
An expedition is on its way.
There are chances still and i refuse to admit it is over yet as we still see from time to time our friend the copilot appearing on MSN messenger as online for short periods everyday... he has a laptop with bluetooth and cellphone... there is a password to access his msn... so right now i think he is alive!!

So let's wait and see and certainly not abandon searches!

I'll keep you advised of this...
Cheers

I would appreciate that everybody could stop speculating on what happened or not... Nobody even knows anything and we should all pray to see our friend alive. I think about his family waiting for him, and loosing hope day after day. Can you imagine one of them reading such things??
For him... keep relax and stop relating bad news.
Thanks a lot...
Why it happened, when, where, how... no matter but knowing if heart is still beating...
Just think about this please...

It's why it's called a rumour network....

Anyone have anymore news about the wreckage or news of survivors.
Safe flying guys please!
Cheers

http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200605011075.html

All we can really say for now is there...

We should get more news today as the expedition stopped for the night but was getting near last night.

Any update on the situation? Hope to hear good news soon!!

The progression of the ground Search and rescue team is made difficult by bad weather.
Yesterday night they were splitted in two to follow two different ways up.
They had to stop for the night at about 2 km of the crash site.

More updates today hopefully.

It's a very difficult and eventually dangerous climb on the Margherita Peak and specially during the little rainy season... we can only wait for news... no rumour or speculation is usefull to anybody in the meantime.

Our friend appeared again on Msn Messenger last night at 1700z which still give us hope that he's alive.

Regards

Hi Tyfilou
Which friend appearing on MSN are you referring to?

The Ground Search team has reached the plane and
found three bodies.

Condoleances and regards to families and friends....

Condolences and prayers for our friends and their families.
Have the names been released yet?
RIP

:sad: :sad:
Condolences and prayers to families and friends.

May they rest in peace, and may their memories never leave us.

Very sorry to hear!! May they rest in peace...!

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the lost...

May you rest in peace...

Hi all

Today is a realy sad day in aviation we have lost 2 very good pilots.I knew the Capt of that ship very well him and his wife.I am in a sence glad to say that they went out of this worl toghter and wil be together for all iternity I am just realy sad that the other crew member had to leave his wife and kids behind they are all in a better place now.

They defnitley made aviation a better place to be in and wil save alot of lives on the long run.So I would please like to ask the ppl that fly in Africa (and I know africa its not a place for scary pilots) but please if you are a captian on a plane dont be scared to turn the plane around if the Wx gets bad its not so bad or u feel uncumfy with the flight.

Then to there families my deepest condolences to u and the lost that u are sufering.He was a dearest friend and the best.To his wifes family and friends she was the same as her hubby very good friend to have in your corner.Then I dont know the F/O well but to his family aswel my deepest condolences.

Then to them that knew the Captein have a Vodca or Amstel Lager on them tonight.

WE WILL MISS U GUYS HEY BOET U WERE THE BEST FRIEND EVER ADN LIEFIE U 2 U WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS C U SOON!!!!!!

:uhoh: :{

R.I.P my old friend...you'll be missed on the balcony in the desert

My good friend:{ going to miss you. To all the friends and family my condolences. He was a gentelman of gentelmen wont forget the good times boet.:{ :{

You will be missed by your wee Jock friend. RIP my friend. To all your friends and family you are in my thoughts.

To our dear friend and his lovely wife, you enriched our lives and brought happiness to everyone with whom you crossed paths. We will all miss the genuine friendship, good times and happy smiles. Your kindness was appreciated by all. Thank you for all the heart to heart chats and for never hesitating to go out of your way to make sure those around you were comfortable and happy. Honest friends like you two do not come along every day. I know you are together right now looking down on us and having a good laugh. We will see you again soon my friend's and when we do, this round is on me.

My condolenses go to the family's and friends who have lost loved ones in this sad week for aviation. Our thought's and prayers are with you all.

To my friend who flew the grand van so high.
Everytime we drink you shall be toasted up there in the sky.
You were a great boss but you will never be lost.
I didnt know you as long as others but you were a legend and you will always be one.
I know that you are in the great brewery where you will never have to pay for a drink.
Your spirit will always live on my friend!
Cheers Boet

Heard that another two aircraft have been reported missing (C406??), not sure where but supposedly from Fugro Airborne Surveys in Lanseria? Any more info much appreciated...

It may have already been discussed, I haven't gone through every thread.

Heard that another two aircraft have been reported missing (C406??), not sure where but supposedly from Fugro Airborne Surveys in Lanseria? Any more info much appreciated...
It may have already been discussed, I haven't gone through every thread.

My goodness, you are on the ball, from Melbourne nogal...

Where did you hear this ???

I used to work in Africa and heard this from a friends friend... Not sure if the information is entirely true and I hope its not...

Just to confirm i work for fugro and our C406 are all ok none of them are missing.

Are there any names being made public yet?
A lot of our aircrew move on from us to Charter Companies at Lanseria, especially on the C208 and B1900.
Perhaps someone could drop me a PM.
Condolences to the families left behind.

Please if anyone knows, could you pm me the names of the crew and the wife who were killed in this tragic accident.
Many thanks

I am never a person that will give my opinion on any newsletter or on the web, but I need to say something today. No person that has never flown specially out of Goma, dare make any comment about the flying conditions or capabilities of these pilots flying in the DRC unless he/she has flown there or knew these people that had this tragedy.

I have flown out of Goma, and any pilot that has flown there, can wouch for me, Goma has its own unique problems not only with the ATC, but also the terrain and people.We know how to fly safe-we do look after each other, and yes, any contract pilot that is worth his salt will do more than a thorrow brief with the reliefing crew especially in the DRC.I knew I did it because I was the one that they reliefed.

I dare any pilot that has not flown contracts and has only flown out of tar runways to come and fly with us-stop thinking that we are inferior pilots!We are much more aware of what can go wrong than any other pilot!

I feel very sorry for those people and their families-it does not matter what the cause of their accident was,do not speculate-none of us were there-respect it and pray for their families.This is truly a sad event.

Never a good thing when people die needlessly.
Our local newspaper has published the 2 names of the South Africans. Is there a specific reason no-one is making them known here?

Bye

Freelander - I do agree with you it is such a SAD event that should not have happened! To speculate we can all day long, but knowing the region and general accident investigation on this continent we will never know what exactly happened onboard that Caravan.

I do think that we can only learn from the accidents.

In this industry it is the so called professional pilot who always draws the short straw. I have flown in the area with various aircraft and know what is it is like to be out there doing the job.

This in my books is the problem:
Every year more inexperienced guys are given the same jobs with less money. Standards have gone down there is no question about it. I am not referring to the Goma incident but aviation flying standards from crew in general on this continent. Nowadays a commercial license holder is allowed to fly as Captain of a B190 only because there is a shortage of ATPL holders. Excess insurance policies are taken out all the time because the operating crew do not meet the minimum required hours. You can only ask has the safety impoved with this...I dont think so!

Freelander -I feel that you are right in saying the contract pilots do a great job out in the field especially in the mentionned company. But, majority of the flying experience is self taught through different experiences, ie. trial and error. I have been there and done that already. There is no training what so ever. Contracting is just a job at the end of the day. The pilots arent really any better than in the airline environment. Flying a Caravan out of 300 meter air strips is just as challenging as flying a 747 out of 2300 meter strips. At the end of the day it all boils down to having the required experience for the task at hand. I feel the experience levels are too low for the posts given!

Condolences to all families left behind.

To all friends and family,

the service for the captain and his spouse will take place on friday the 19th may at 13:00, at the Marathana church, cnr of Dann and Veld rd's Kempton park.

I wont be able to attend but will be thinking of every one on friday

LIGP

My access to the South African Newspapers is intermittent, so is it possible to get the crew names now please?

On other matters I would also like to endorse how vital it is in this region to get a proper handover and briefing from the aircrew and operator when a new crew takes over.
We had our Van in Uganda for 3 months a couple of years ago. Although our crew was experienced, each region has its peculiarites. Our first flight into the DRC in partial VFR at Fl12 was a real eye opener. On the return leg we were sure to check our oxygen system and Fl 21 performance for when we needed it.
But I must add the local information, co-operation and advice we got, especially from Airserv and other local crew was fantastic. Entebe is a very freindly place.

Its always sad when lives are lost. In aviation all of us become familiar with loss of dear friends. And though grief does cloud reason at times but we do need to take a pragmatic approach and try and learn what happened so that we may be able to use this knowledge to make it safer for all of us.
I currently operate out of goma and I completely agree that a proper handing over/briefing of new crew in the area can not be over stressed.
Since I am here I did get to know certain facts about the crash of caravan UN43W, There was a lot of turbulence that day in the vicinity of the Rwenzories , where the crash took place. and the peaks are almost always covered in clouds. Most aircraft in the area fly anything between 9500 to 12500. And almost every one follows a routing to avoid the Rwenzori mountain range and follow shores of lake edward till you come north of lake to take a route where you can avoid high ground. There is a flight following system in place which monitors ops normal calls and logs the GPS position of all UN aeroplanes every 20 minutes. According to Flt following logs the caravan had reportrd altitude as 22000' in last call. Analysis of GPS position reports made by the caravan show that it travelled just 28 miles along the track between the last two calls a time period of appx 30 min! . There is of course the possibility of the GPS co-ordinates being wrongly interpreted or transmitted. And finally the crash site was located at a height of more than 12000'. I did manage to get some pictures of the crash site but I am not able to attach them here . I will put them on my web page soon.

I also flew the Goma Beni route the day the van crashed, took off at 0800 in the morning, and the wind was pumping.. We had a heavy crosswind at Beni and on the Northern side of lake edward had about 15 degrees of drift from the east (Fl 075).. cloud was scattered around Rwenzori from about 10000 ft up,if i remember correctly.

Hi there

I have it on good authority that the skipper was
Wendell Price.
Not sure why nobody has mentioned the names.
Wendell you where a champ and will be sorely missed!

Fly safe all and remember that if you aint comfortable
with doing the flight,there is probably a very good reason.

RIP

General Topgraphy of the Rwenzories
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid206/p08349add372e2af07c72e6d109b4e4ee/eecfc716.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ImageOption('exif');)

Wreckage of N43W
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid206/p621521c3997e10bc9d5abbe57d4d5b9a/eecfc6e9.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ImageOption('exif');)


Just at the bottom of the U
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid206/p9863ddb6a7f8e75d70e79747de0a3b00/eecfc650.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ImageOption('exif');)


N43W
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid206/p40deda9b016ae9fd19022313b80c4413/eecfc4b9.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ImageOption('exif');)

In the news recently:
Ugandan report blames UN crew on plane crash
September 12, 2006,
By charles kazooba
Kampala (AND) A new report says human error by the pilot caused the United Nations' plane crash in the Rwenzori Mountains early this year.
An investigative team comprised of representatives from Uganda, the South African Civil Aviation and the World Food Programme, in their findings, claim the plane crew did not operate the route indicated in the submitted flight plan.
Instead, the crew opted to use administrative flight planning data to execute a direct GPS route.
On April 28, 2006, the representatives of UN's MONUC at Entebbe informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda about a missing aircraft Cessna 208B, registration ZS-ADL.
A search and rescue was initiated and commenced by MONUC to locate the missing aircraft on the same day. Due to adverse weather in the Rwenzori Mountains, the wreckage was not located until April 30, a report presented to the Kampala government on Monday 11, partly reads.
The aircraft, aboard a female passenger and cargo with a crew of two, departed from Goma to Bunia but later changed route to the Rwenzori Mountains where it crashed at 06:47 at an altitude of 12 500 feet above mean sea level.
On impact, the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. All the occupants died instantly, and were recovered after five days.
The head of investigations, Lt Col (rtd) Chris Mudoola told the press the search and rescue was done by untrained persons.
The aircraft having not had signal equipment complicated the search, Mudoola further said.
Investigations show that the crew took a direct GPS routing contrary to the submitted flight plan route that led to high terrain with clouds and low visibility, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.
In addition, the flight crew lacked prior familiarisation for the Goma-Bunia route.
According to the report, there was positive communication between the aircraft and the aircraft control radar (ATC) up to 15 nautical miles, and thereafter with MONUC's flight following units.
However, the last communication with the aircraft was with UN's flight following unit in Beni when the crew requested for weather update for Beni airport.
The investigators recommended that Uganda and the DR Congo discourage aircrafts without visual equipment from flying over the Rwenzori Mountains.
Kampala Bureau, AND

http://vincent.fabri.free.fr/photos/canada2002/pm000030.jpg

Today, it has been 5 years since Arnaud (on the right side of this pic) died in Africa.



We remember...

You are missed old friend!

Dog