C-208 down in Boda.....

[blowawayjet]

just wondering if the c-208 had made it safely into boda last saturday. called search and rescue for you, and kept on monitoring 126.9, but lost you 10mins before your eta boda. hope you guys are ok.

tlx402........

[skottie]

Hi there,does anyone know more details about this incident?I fly Van's full time and am always intrested when one is involved in a safety issue.We can all learn from it,no matter what you fly.

Hope the crew are OK,wishing you all the best!

[blowawayjet]

aircraft was going to bangui, but the airport was under attack at the time by them rebels, so he had to divert, and had nomore fuel, he was going to land in boda, but don't know if he made it. hope he did.....

[4granted]

ZS OR UN??!!

What was the reg?
Was it the ZS 208 based out of Bangui or the UNHCR from Kinshasa??
More info please
7T4g

[blowawayjet]

the pilot had a south african accent, and he was heading for bgf, i think his callsign was TAS or SAT, something like that. just want to find out if he made it allright.

[togabutton]

Maybe ZS-TAS??

Read this posting with interest. Not sure if it helps, but about 3 years back I flew a caravan with the registration ZS-TAS. It was based in Khartoum for the UN WFP. I am out of the pic now, but I know that ZS-TAS is no longer Khartoum based due to change of contract. The aircraft was owned by Rossair Contracts when I flew it. If they still own it, and presuming that it is the aircraft in question, perhaps you could call them and find out.

Hope this is more helpful than a hinderance. Also hope all pans out well for whoever it was flying the van.

[Flying Bean]

Managed to find some additional information during the shutdown.
Our Caravan was meant to go to Bangui to do this contract but was switched to Entebbe at the last minute.
It appears Mark Jeffries (Capetown) took another one in and it was his flight. Not sure of the reg # of the Van he was using. Anyway he made it into Boda OK. He scrounged some fuel from there and did eventually end up in Bangui. But all the aircraft there, including a Pilatus on the same contract, are grounded pending the stabilisation of the situation and area.
Apparently the I insurers have smacked a 'war zone ' surcharge of about 4% so that it is going to kill most of the present contract work in this region.
Any other information would be useful for us guys operating in the Central/West region.

[Jono Flyer]

I spoke to ZS-TAS on HF 2 weeks ago on my way up the Congo river. He was safe on the ground but looking for fuel to get out of the strip he had landed at. Unfortunatley our transmission broke up and I couldn't get his exact location.

Just glad to hear that he is OK.

Hope to see you in Bangui one of these days soon (oom!)

[Flying Bean]

Yes. Spoke to the owners of the Pilatus at Bangui.
It was Mark Jeffries in TAS. He is still safe (relatively) in Bangui.
I am trying to get hold of him so if anyone sees him on the ground or in the air tell him I have a slot for him and his Van at Entebbe.

[paperweight]

Att Flying Bean

Have only just seen this topic - Mark Jefferies is staying at the Somba - I'll scoot over there in about an hour or so and give him your details and nature of your request for contact.

Cheers

Mark wasn't in but have left your contact details and the nature of your request for contact at the Somba Hotel's reception.

Anyway, you now know where to find him.

Cheers

[Flying Bean]

Many Thanks Paperweight. What a great institution Pprune is!! Better than HF. I do have his cell number now so I will try him this morning.
Thanks again.