Someone said to me the other day that he really misses the saga surrounding the Huey, and that pprune has been a bit boring lately without the latest Huey news. Well, my friend, here is my latest contribution.
I fail to understand why this helicopter has attracted so much attention. Is it because its unique and not many people here in SA have seen a "real Huey", or is it because its a great hit and making money? Bear in mind that the Huey saga was started by the opposition as far back as December 2002. It is stil dragging on, and has now dragged on for the last 13 months.
During the 13 months, the Huey has flown approximately 500 hours, and transported about 5000 club members. 500 Hours of flying for any one helicopter in one year is a lot of flying, and probably a fair producer of revenue, taking into consideration that the average hourly revenue of the Huey has been in the region of R15 000 per hour. I personally think that this is the main reason why this helicopter has attracted so much attention. Not because its a bad machine, or because its flown by "idiots", or because its being operated in a "grey area" of the Law, but simply because it has made money, and this has p1ssed off the opposition.During the last 13 months, none of the Cape Town Helicopter Operators had anything good to say about the Huey and it's operation. (I wish I could post an email here received from a friend who received an emailed opinion on the Huey from a staff member in the employ of the operator that operates those big Red, Blue & White Helicopters. My goodness, what a nopinion that was. Should be published in a flying magazine.)In actual fact, only one of the 9 or 10 cape Town based operators had the decency to phone up and congratulate us. The gentleman told me that the Huey had certainly affected his business, pulled a big chunk of his revenue, but that it was a unique concept, and that he wished us well in our future endeavours. I thought that was pretty decent. If you're wondering who it was, I can assure you it was'nt Elvis!
During the last 13 months, we have also had many visits to our hangar/facilities by locals and foreigners. Even by the CAA. Some came to offer encouragement, whilst others came to take photographs of the rebuilds at our AMO. Some came to ask questions to educate themselves, and some just came to check out the Hueys. Some of the CAA inspectors became honorary club members, and some flew on the Huey during route checks or during routine inspections. Our friends from the CAA. Great guys!
Our business has always been pretty open, totally transparent and factual to the point. We have taken cognisance of the rumours, the hearsay, the condemnation and the CAA visits, and through it all, we went about conducting our business in such a way that the Huey was able to fly 500 incident/accident free hours. No one got hurt, no one was killed, the helicopter was'nt written off or damaged, and most important of all, we weathered all the bullsh1t that was created by mostly our opposition. The "accident waiting to happen", fortunately did not happen,(yet) and surely anyone concerned with aviation safety must wonder why? Why did this helicopter fly 500 hours in one year without any incident or accident? Was it luck, or can one subscribe it to good, healthy maintenance, a professional approach to the operation and professional airmanship? Surely "The proof of the pudding is in the eating?"
Having digested some of the latest postings, I would like to comment as follows:
Cleric: I see that you are a new member, and that your first posting is on the Huey. Welcome to pprune. For your info:
A Standard Operating Procedure (Sop's) were put into place by the Waterfront Company on insistance of the CAA, and all the Waterfront Helicopter Operators participated in the drafting of the SOP's. Countles meetings were held with the V&A Waterfront Company, the CA and the Operators. A couple of the issues that affected the Huey operation from the V&A was the fact that the other 3 V&A operators wanted the definition of "a light helicopter" to be (re) classified as a helicopter with a mass not exceeding 3500 kg, and not as 5700kg as officially described in the CAR's. You can only wonder but why? The Huey's AUW falls outside of the 3500kg category, but inside of the official "light helicopter" classification of 5700 kg. The second issue was the blade diameter. They said that no helicopter with a blade diameter exceeding 14 meters should be operated from the V&A Helipad. The Huey's blade diameter falls marginally outside of that. Then there was the issue of flotation gear. When the Huey originally came to the Waterfront, the opposition labelled it as unsafe, an accident waiting to happen etc. The reason? It was being flown without flotation gear. At that time, not every V&A operator was operating helicopters equipped with flotation gear, and after the persistent "hoo-haa" of the flotation gear, the CAA decided that ALL helicopters operating out of the V&A should be equipped with flotation gear. That meant that every light helicopter operating out of the V&A, must be float equipped. Then the very people who raised the Huey flotation gear issue, were forced to equip their machines with floats. Boy, you should have heard the moaning and groaning. Unfairness, bullsh1t, unnecessary, were but a few words that were expressed. We did not agree with the light helicopter story, the blade diameter story and the flotation gear requirement, and deleted it from our copies of the SOP's before it was signed and forwarded to the V&A Waterfront Company and the CAA. So no one can accuse us of being hypocrytes. We've disagreed with those three conditions right from the start, and we've stuck by it. Some of the opposition operators acquired floats, some asked for excemption, some continued to operate without floats etc. The VERY people that consistently moan about the flotation gear requirement, and who continuously slate the lack of flotation gear on the Huey, however, continues to sub-charter helicopters from the Airport based operators for operation out of the V&A. These helicopters are NOT equipped with flotation gear, and these helicopters are a common site at the V&A Waterfront helipad from time to time. So its OK for the opposition to charter helicopters operating from the V&A with no floats, but it is not OK for the Huey to operate out of the V&A with no floats? With regards to your insurance concern. The Huey meets all the requirements in terms of the law.
Cyclic Hotline: I think that Kennel-Keeper explained himself pretty well when he gave the history on the machine.
Avi8tor: I do not know what your interest in aviation is, how much experience you've got, and / or from who(m) you get your information. All I can say to you is that you obviously know nothing about Part 94 or Part 96. Do yourself a favour, read it and educate yourself a bit. Your statement from your posting that the Huey has no component records and that one part or serial number is that of a Jetranger and not of a Huey, is not ridiculous, but totally pathetic. Do you know anything about part and serial numbers? Do you know the difference between a Huey and a Jetranger? Do you really think that we are that stupid my man? Come on squire, get a life! Do you really think that the CAA, who meticulously inspected this helicopter prior to issueing it with a CofA would be so stupid to let such a thing happen? Do you really think so little of the CAA, their inspectors and their ability?
For the rest, it is sad that some people in the aviation industry had to stoop to levels that I have observed during this last year. One can only but wonder if it is driven by animosity and greed? Some people's obsessive behaviour and their consistent interference, fabrications and filming of the Huey operation leaves much to be desired. One can only but sympathise with these people, as their behaviour is indicative of "irrational behaviour", and of ones that have been deeply affected by the presence of the Huey here at the Waterfront.
For 12 months now we have heard of one opposition company in the Waterfront buying a Huey. We've heard reports and rumours from various sources that it was on the water, that it would be arriving in Cape Town soon, that its a definate etc, but to date, nothing has transpired. We've heard about this, but we've not seen a Huey yet. Its a pity that these people don't put their money where their mouth is, because can you imagine a squadron of Hueys filling the skies around Cape Town?
Perhaps if they do put their money where their mouth is, they will concentrate on running their own Huey and refrain from interfering with the operation of ours. Good luck to you guys!
Should any one interested in the Huey require more information, feel free to email me on
[email protected]
Safe flying guys!