Bush Pilots?? - REALLY???
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Bush Pilots?? - REALLY???
I wasn't sure whether I should have posted this under "KQ Abinitio" or "Kenya Airways expansion plans" or even "Expat recruitment" threads but we're having a smashing time in this neck of the woods at the moment.
Case No1. A 748 is heading into a bush airstrip in Sudan with approximately 5 tons of cargo on board. He is warned - repeatedly - by another operator in the area that the airstrip is tight, even for a Caravan, and is only 600m long with tall trees around it. He opts to go anyway and attempts a landing. No-one badly injured but the plane is a possible write-off.
Case No2. A low-time PPL pilot doing a passenger charter from Wilson to the Mara (1hour flight time) got lost and after over 2 hours, saw the Orly airstrip 10 minutes from Wilson and chose to land. High speed for a C172 and no flaps meant he ballooned along the runway and didn't touch down until 3/4 along the runway so ended up overunning and turning the a/c upside down.
Pilot then legged it out of the aircraft and ran away, leaving his two passengers inside upside down with fuel dripping out the wings. Fortunately, there was no fire and an experienced pilot who witnessed the accident, helped the startled but uninjured pax out and then went looking for the pilot who seemed not to know where he was. (For reference, Wilson is almost visible from Orly for those not familiar with this area).
We're still not learning from past mistakes sadly. Its a kind of deja vu, Ground Hog Day scenario. I'm no expert but maybe we need to look at the root cause of these kind of accidents, and go back to getting the basics sorted out before we try to run too fast???
Case No1. A 748 is heading into a bush airstrip in Sudan with approximately 5 tons of cargo on board. He is warned - repeatedly - by another operator in the area that the airstrip is tight, even for a Caravan, and is only 600m long with tall trees around it. He opts to go anyway and attempts a landing. No-one badly injured but the plane is a possible write-off.
Case No2. A low-time PPL pilot doing a passenger charter from Wilson to the Mara (1hour flight time) got lost and after over 2 hours, saw the Orly airstrip 10 minutes from Wilson and chose to land. High speed for a C172 and no flaps meant he ballooned along the runway and didn't touch down until 3/4 along the runway so ended up overunning and turning the a/c upside down.
Pilot then legged it out of the aircraft and ran away, leaving his two passengers inside upside down with fuel dripping out the wings. Fortunately, there was no fire and an experienced pilot who witnessed the accident, helped the startled but uninjured pax out and then went looking for the pilot who seemed not to know where he was. (For reference, Wilson is almost visible from Orly for those not familiar with this area).
We're still not learning from past mistakes sadly. Its a kind of deja vu, Ground Hog Day scenario. I'm no expert but maybe we need to look at the root cause of these kind of accidents, and go back to getting the basics sorted out before we try to run too fast???
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Kenyan CAA to blame, no more, no less.
While they couldn`t possibly check the papers of every pilot before takeoff, Kenya`s CAA should improve background surveys on all categories of pilots and techs, via aircraft operators and airfields with security agents actively participating at every stage. It was God`s grace that the 172 never caught fire, and we have no casualties. But we SHOULD NOT tempt him 
. He`s loving enough as it is.
. He`s loving enough as it is.
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Case No2. A low-time PPL pilot doing a passenger charter from Wilson to the Mara (1hour flight time) got lost and after over 2 hours, saw the Orly airstrip 10 minutes from Wilson and chose to land. High speed for a C172 and no flaps meant he ballooned along the runway and didn't touch down until 3/4 along the runway so ended up overunning and turning the a/c upside down.
Pilot then legged it out of the aircraft and ran away, leaving his two passengers inside upside down with fuel dripping out the wings. Fortunately, there was no fire and an experienced pilot who witnessed the accident, helped the startled but uninjured pax out and then went looking for the pilot who seemed not to know where he was. (For reference, Wilson is almost visible from Orly for those not familiar with this area).
Pilot then legged it out of the aircraft and ran away, leaving his two passengers inside upside down with fuel dripping out the wings. Fortunately, there was no fire and an experienced pilot who witnessed the accident, helped the startled but uninjured pax out and then went looking for the pilot who seemed not to know where he was. (For reference, Wilson is almost visible from Orly for those not familiar with this area).
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Er - how was a PPL with any amount of hours "doing a passenger charter"?????
Even for Africa that's coming it a bit strong, isn't it?
Is he being prosecuted? If not why not?
Still, when I was operating from Wilson there was a British company operating a King Air that it was touting around the UN and NGOs as being fully certificated to UK Public Transport standards - but with a private cat C of A so anything is possible I suppose. Doesn't take much to stop that sort of nonsense though, if you've a mind to.
Even for Africa that's coming it a bit strong, isn't it?
Is he being prosecuted? If not why not?
Still, when I was operating from Wilson there was a British company operating a King Air that it was touting around the UN and NGOs as being fully certificated to UK Public Transport standards - but with a private cat C of A so anything is possible I suppose. Doesn't take much to stop that sort of nonsense though, if you've a mind to.
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Aircraft was 5Y-BZO operated by Regional Air Services Limited. Their slogan is "Excellence in Flying" - perhaps not???
And Agaricus bisporus, you've hit the nail on the head. Just how did a PPL end up doing a commercial charter? The two tourists who were planning a lunch in the Mara and ended up with a sightseeing flight of Nairobi area with a crash landing at the end of it - had paid more than the going rate for the experience. Stories are that they're seriously not happy about it and who could blame them?
Legitimate operators at Wilson go through a maze of regulation, inspection, documentation, legislation - you name it. Any perceived oversight or shortfall is jumped upon by the heavy-handed authorities - so how did this one slip through the net?
I suppose its a hell of a way to build hours for your commercial though!! KQ next?
And Agaricus bisporus, you've hit the nail on the head. Just how did a PPL end up doing a commercial charter? The two tourists who were planning a lunch in the Mara and ended up with a sightseeing flight of Nairobi area with a crash landing at the end of it - had paid more than the going rate for the experience. Stories are that they're seriously not happy about it and who could blame them?
Legitimate operators at Wilson go through a maze of regulation, inspection, documentation, legislation - you name it. Any perceived oversight or shortfall is jumped upon by the heavy-handed authorities - so how did this one slip through the net?
I suppose its a hell of a way to build hours for your commercial though!! KQ next?
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HS 748 F 5Y-BZR Accident
Hi There
Flew that aircraft a lot in RSA as ZS-DBL, any idea at which runway it happened, (heard possibly Doro?) and the Lat and Long of the airfield ? Saw foto's of the aircraft and it broke my heart !!!
Any idea who the operator, person was that warned Martin not to go into that runway? Happy flying in East-Africa, myself busy in West-Africa.
Flew that aircraft a lot in RSA as ZS-DBL, any idea at which runway it happened, (heard possibly Doro?) and the Lat and Long of the airfield ? Saw foto's of the aircraft and it broke my heart !!!
Any idea who the operator, person was that warned Martin not to go into that runway? Happy flying in East-Africa, myself busy in West-Africa.
