biggest helicopter charter...

[goaround7]

I recently flew in a helicopter charter for Naturelink in South Africa from Gold Reef City, Jo'burg to Pecan Wood.
13 helicopters - supposed to be 12 407s but client changed the day at the last minute, as they do, so was 10 407s, a 222, and a Squirrel with 44 doing camera work.

Found out a few days later that the entire floor of the Sandton Centre office block occupied by one of the big (yellow) cell phone companies in SA all hit the deck when they saw us coming. Someone apparently decided it was 9/11 for Jo'burg by helicopter and hysterical reaction ensued...

Note in the background of the take off shots, the EC120 kindly parked by the private owner who arrived unannounced and illegally at GRC, parked right in the way of the 222 take off path and refused to move his aircraft. Apparently CAA did have a word in his shell like and he didn't like it....





http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/gr1.jpg



http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/gr2.jpg



http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/gr3.jpg



http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/gr4.jpg

[SASless]

Parked in the takeoff path of the 222.....errr....ahhh....what of Vertical flight...the special domain of helicopters?:{

[Giovanni Cento Nove]

Jo'burg, 222, and vertical probably shouldn't appear in the same sentence.

2004/12/15 15:30
FAJS 151530Z 33010G20KT CAVOK 26/10 Q1016 NOSIG

5557' AMSL makes the DA about 8000'.

Hence the 14,500' runway!!!!!

[goaround7]

True, SAS, but A type engined 222 stretches the definition of a helicopter being a VTOL machine sometimes; it's rather a STOL aircraft at 7000' density altitude if you want to take fuel to be able to fly more than five minutes...

In any case, taking off over other aircraft is never polite.

We were just miffed 'cos we spent the whole of breakfast organising the take off and formation just to avoid anything in any way dubious...

[oxi]

Gee the 407 is popular over there....I remember we had a large formation down R405 (Sydney Harbour) about 8 years ago, it included most helicopters on the east coast.

The idea being that a 212 would sling a Toyota Prado (4WD) down and around the place with all theses helicopters chasing after him, then the 212 placed the Toyata on some local footie feild....the big finish was for a skydiver to jump from a plank and land on the top of the Toyota....

Any way he did a good job but almost ended up going through the roof.

Japenese steel..........no wonder mine is full of rust.


P.S It's a wonder the 120 could get off, probably had to wait untill the car park was rid of you blokes.

[goaround7]

Yep, because of the dive of the ol' greenback the guys with the cash here are grabbing at the 'cheap' 407. There are at least three more coming in the New Year and the charter guys are a little concerned with what's going to happen with them all. Established companies can take only so many which makes new owners put them with slightly less 'scrupulous' entities, with or without the right 'credentials' (allegedly) at such low prices it's going to hurt. Could be an interesting 2005...

Luckily for the 120 driver, he was leaving it there overnight cos he was one of our pax. He had planned to go home in it at the end of the day but obviously didn't know that the standard EC is illegal for night flying in SA as the law here requires two landing lights or a twin filament and the EC ain't got but one.

[ANVAK]

Apparently the private owner was quite happy to apologise and learn, but was peeved at the "holyier than thou" attitude of one or two of the "professionals" who ran yelping to CAA and then were too chicken to own up to the fact.
By the way, about ten years ago did a sortie over Jhb for a store launch with banners and a lot of machines - will have to check exact numbers.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Eagle's Landing? Did a few jumps there when it was still called Maralswa. Great long weekend involving hops from light aircraft, microlights and balloons as well as almost castrating myself trying to get airborne behind a powerboat with an old ParaCommander over a fence post hidden in the bush.

Culminated with an accuracy jump into the pool for a bet and winning myself a Combi load of beer. Got them to stack it to the roof and in the windows when the door was closed and almost didn't make it home with more than a tonne of beer on board.

[canthover]

If I recall correctly - there was a large turn out in March 1993 when the one an only launch of Formula 1 happened at Kyalami Race Track. Cannot recall exactly but about 1000 (?? - a lot more maybe) people were moved to the track.

BTW one of those photo's does not exactly show a EC120 blocking the take off path of the 222 - sounds more like Bone Dome must have been in the 222 and decided that he needs to show his authority in the industry again. I'd say the EC120 pilot should be commended for his airmanship by parking in the corner - have a look at the pics - there is plenty of space.

[goaround7]

ANVAK,

Not aware of exactly what happened or what was said re. PPL but he obviously doesn't know his Air Law as he only obtained permission from Gold Reef City to land in the car park. He was not included in the CAA authorisation and it's not unheard of for CAA to send a 'spy' out to check registrations etc. Has happened to me twice on off airfield landings.

Didn't hear conversations either, but his body language was definitely not that of someone 'quite happy to apologise and learn'.

I'd have to agree that given all that, the parking was neat and an attempt to be considerate but he did block the only safe route out especially for the 222 as north east is all trees and telephone wires. Could be some truth to him not being approached properly regarding moving the machine though; can't say as I was n't there when he landed.

Interested to hear the numbers, if you can find them, about the charter you did.

[cyclicmicky]

Should have shown the 120 driver where the disabled parking bays were. (DOH!!)
Nice piccys
Micky:ok:

[rotormate]

Funniest part of this whole thing is that the person flying the 120 was the one paying for the whole charter and thus the "squadrons" salaries for the day.

[goaround7]

Not sure about that. He was (is ?) a Casino VIP but Gold Reef paid.

Unless you mean he spent (lost) enough at the Casino to pay for all the helis ?!

BTW, stand by for another 12 ship charter supposed to take place on Monday and Wednesday next week.