The Huey in Capetown (including Huey down)

[Deanw]

I reckon they should paint the Huey red :}

From the Cape Times:

Filming of helicopter 'invading privacy'
March 25, 2004

By Fatima Schroeder

The Huey Extreme Club at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront has asked the Cape High Court for an interdict prohibiting its competitor from filming its operations, saying it is an invasion of its right to privacy.

The club is a voluntary association offering Vietnam War-era Huey helicopter flights to members from its V&A helipad.
The club launched the court application against Ernest McDonald, trading as Sport Helicopters, on February 9.

Judge President John Hlophe granted an interim order in terms of which McDonald undertook to stop filming any of the club's operations pending the outcome of the application.

It emerged yesterday that the filming allegedly started in December 2002 on a sporadic basis before occurring on a daily basis a year later.

The filming includes the embarking and disembarking of passengers, take-off, refuelling and the crew.

The club says members have objected to the filming and it fears its business and profitability will drop further.


The club's counsel Brian Pincus, SC, said McDonald's behaviour was an invasion of the club's right to privacy.

"Even if (McDonald's) reason for the filming was at one time bona fide, the Civil Aviation Authority, city council and the media were already aware of his complaints and objections and the continued filming has now gone beyond that which is reasonable for its stated purpose".

He asked for an interdict, pending the outcome of an action for damages already brought by the club against McDonald.

McDonald's counsel, Roelof van Riet, SC, said his client maintained that the Huey helicopter was conducted in an unsafe manner and against safety regulations.

The filming was in the public interest and if the court granted the interdict, the club would know that it was not being filmed and operate contrary to safety regulations.

Judge President Hlophe has reserved judgment.

And involving a related party :oh:

Asset unit has to return R1.15m

March 25, 2004

By Estelle Ellis

Johannesburg: What a difference a day makes - that's what the Asset Forfeiture Unit found out when it had to return R1.15 million to a businessman because it had not done its job timeously.

The unit also agreed to pay the man's legal costs, but had a demand of its own - it asked that the whole mess just be allowed to quietly go away.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said yesterday that the authorities were busy investigating how things had gone so horribly wrong. He said he was not aware of an instruction that the media could not be told about what happened.

But unit head Willie Hofmeyr said he was reluctant to comment as there was a settlement order - which was "fairly common in civil cases" - that it would not be discussed.

Last year, in a blaze of publicity, the unit applied to the Cape High Court for the preservation of R1.15 million in cash which had been confiscated by police at Cape Town International Airport.

The money belonged to businessman Gary van der Merwe of Wellness International, and was supposed to be delivered to Johannesburg businessman Jacobus van Heerden as payment for a life policy. It was transported by Johan Blignault, who carried it in two bags and a box. According to papers the money was confiscated because of Blignault's "evasive answers" that he had picked the money up "somewhere in an office in Bellville" (near Cape Town).

The court was told the Scorpions were investigating Van der Merwe for fraud, theft and contraventions of the Companies Act, and the unit said it was suspecting money-laundering.


Van der Merwe and Van Heerden denied any wrongdoing or that they were involved in money-laundering. They maintained that there was nothing illegal about conveying money of a sum of that magnitude.

In her judgment issuing the preservation order, Judge Shanaaz Meer said: "The conveyance of R1.15 million was in itself cause for suspicion, unusual and at the very least foolhardy in the current climate of crime. It provides grounds for reasonably suspecting something untoward, and the police acted reasonably in seizing the money."

To have the money forfeited to the state, the unit had to file papers within 90 days after the preservation order was obtained.

It filed its application after hours on day 90, but it only reached Van der Merwe's Cape Town attorneys on day 91 - one day too late, according to the letter of the law.

This led to an application by Van der Merwe's legal team that the state return the money. The unit told his legal team that it would return the money and pay the legal costs - estimated at several hundred thousand rands - and insisted that the whole unfortunate incident be kept under wraps.

Nkosi said he "can confirm that the Asset Forfeiture Unit withdrew the application for a confiscation order owing to technical reasons".

"There are currently internal efforts aimed at establishing the exact cause of the technical reasons which led to the withdrawal of the application," he said.

But Hofmeyr said that "the option to redo the case is still open to us".

"We have done so in a number of other cases," he said.

[B Sousa]

Filming of a Helicopter on Publlic accessed Property illegal?? Whats up with that.........I can understand it if it was in Denels hanger

[Deanw]

Can you believe it :eek:

now they want to take the Huey away :{


From the Cape Argus:

Businessman fights arrest warrant
May 24, 2004

By Karyn Maughan

A high-flying Cape Town businessman has applied for a Cape High Court order forcing police to tell him why he faced impending arrest.

Gary van der Merwe, the former chief executive of
WorldOnline, Wealth International Network and Wellness International Network, who is currently involved in the Huey Extreme Club, brought the urgent application to the high court on Thursday last week.

In papers before the court, Van der Merwe said his Johannesburg attorneys received a call from one Senior Superintendent M Cloete on Wednesday last week. During the call, Cloete informed the attorneys' secretary that the police had a warrant for Van der Merwe's arrest and the search and seizure of a helicopter "which he believed to be under my control".

Van der Merwe maintained that the helicopter in question in fact belonged to Helicopter and Marine Services.

Cloete asked that Van der Merwe report to Customs House at the Waterfront this morning, from where he would be arrested and taken to court.

According to Van der Merwe, Cloete indicated that the complainant in the case against him was the Civil Aviation Authority.

After communicating with his Cape Town advocate, Pete Mihalik, Van der Merwe said the police declined to furnish him with the warrants for his arrest until this morning.

"I do not know in terms of what Act or what Section I will be charged and ... have no idea on what grounds (Cloete) is relying to arrest me."


Van der Merwe argued that he had the right to "be informed of the exact nature of the charges against me and why I am going to be arrested and detained; prepare my case and defence for a bail application; challenge the lawfulness of my imminent arrest and detention and the search and seizure".

He further denied that he was guilty of any offence and said he believed that the CAA was using the criminal courts to "pursue a civil remedy" - after two failed civil cases against him in the high court.

In an order reached by agreement, the police handed over copies of the warrants for Van der Merwe's arrest and the seizure of the helicopter, while Van der Merwe promised to report to the police for arrest tomorrow morning.

l Van der Merwe first hit the headlines in April two years ago, when two of WIN's helicopters were involved in a mid-air collision at the V&A Waterfront.

The assets forfeiture unit returned R1.15m in cash to Van der Merwe last year, after the unit failed to file the paperwork necessary to have the money - discovered by police at Cape Town International Airport - forfeited to the State.

The money was transported by Johan Blignault, Van der Merwe's former business associate, in two bags and a box and was supposed to be delivered to Johannesburg businessman Jacobus van Heerden as payment for a life policy in March 2002.

Van der Merwe and Van Heerden denied any wrongdoing.

[Gunship]

I hope the HUEY is flying again soon FM :D


Cape Town-based entrepreneur Gary van der Merwe appeared in the city's magistrate's court on Tuesday in relation to a charge under aviation legislation, his lawyer said.

Attorney Bradley Allison said the matter, which had to do with a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) order for the grounding of a Vietnam war-era helicopter owned by Van der Merwe, would continue on Wednesday.

Allison, speaking from Johannesburg, said he was not sure what arrangements had been approved by the court, but that his client was not being held.

Van der Merwe reported to police earlier in the day in terms of an agreement and had been formally arrested.

The court case comes in the wake of repeated bids by the CAA to get Van der Merwe to stop operating the helicopter, which is a regular sight in the airspace above Cape Town.

Allison said the arrest and court action were part of an "unwarranted campaign of harassment" by the CAA against his client.

[CaneRat]

This morning i saw something really, really awsome. TWO Huey's out on the pad (Helibase next to the N1). One without main rotor blades, but still looked good.

Regardless of all the allegations and sh:mad: t that is going down, we take our hats off to Gary, Francois and the Huey crew.

Viva the Huey!:ok:

[francois marais]

Yes, the Huey saga continue's.

One can only but wonder when it's all going to end?
The SACAA allowed the Huey to fly unhindered for 13 months. No problem. They certified it for flight, they issued the CofA, they condoned the operation, and then suddenly, boom, they decide the Huey is now a danger to society, its unsafe, its unairworthy etc.

This helicopter, has flown in excess of 600 hours in the last 16 months, transported more than 6000 people safely, and to date has not injured or killed anyone.

So one can only but wonder what the agenda is? Gary has appeared in the local magistrate's Court for the last 3 days, charged criminally for "allegedly denying authorized officers access to his premises" in terms of Part 185 of the CARS, and operating the Huey in violation of an alleged "grounding order" issued by the CAA on January 7, 2004. This grounding order was issued the day after Gary denied the said officers access to his premises, and this denial of access, is the reason for the grounding. (Wonder what denial of access has to do with flight safety?)

This grounding order, is in contradiction to a High Court order granted in favour of the Huey Club, authorizing them to operate the Huey. Gary has thus followed the High Court order, and continued to operate the Huey.

Since the "unusual or irregular grounding order" of January 7th, the helicopter has flown an average of 30 hours per month. The CAA was at all times aware that the Huey was being flown. At no time whatsoever, did they do anything to stop it. They did not approach the High Court to contest the order ruled against them with costs during December of 2003, neither did they approach the High Court with an urgent application to ground the Huey due to unairworthiness, but instead joined the Waterfront Company in a High Court application in an attempt to ban the Huey from the Waterfront, which they lost with costs. They appealed, which they also lost with costs.

Now the Supreme Court of South Africa is none other than an independent, unbiased medium that has a mandate from the Government to dispense law. In other words, the High Court must determine or distinguish between what is right and wrong, and not take sides. Well, the rulings of the High Court in these matters were clear. The other parties were wrong, and the Huey party was right. End of story!

The CAA then decided to take on Gary and the Huey in the criminal court. Its such a pity. Instead of sitting round the table with the intent of finding suitable solutions, the CAA, as the regulatory authority, have decided not to engage in any dialogue with Gary, but to rather charge him criminally, with the hope that they can get him jailed, as he is a menace to society, a danger to the public, and most certainly a severe critic of the bureaucratic inefficiencies of the SACAA, which they don't like, and if they can get him removed from society, then the Huey won't fly. Dinkum, this is the mentality here.

One would have thought that by now, 10 years into the new democracy, this sort of behavior would have come to an end, but it is clear that old habits die hard. One upmanship, big ego's, the lack of reasonable judgement and the likes, have clearly spilled over from the actions of the old DCA to the "new" CAA. No wonder the SACAA is currently so dysfunctional.

"If you don't do as we tell you, we will ride you until your back is broken". We will haunt you, and ultimately destroy you."

It is due to this sort of mentality, that aviation is going backwards in this country, and people are afraid to speak out, in fear of reprisal. "Mmmmm, so you're the guy that critisized the CAA huh? Mmmmm, bad news for you mate, you've just failed your renewal test. Sorry!"

Do we really have to put up with this sort of immature behaviour? Believe you me, it happens!

We are all waiting in anticipation, to see which way the Cat or is it the CARS, are going to jump next.
:ok:

Rumour also has it that they will be coming after me next.

Viva freedom of speech, Viva:ok:

[Deanw]

Francois, missed you this morning ... :)

Took these of the next Huey to fly :}

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/IMG_3858.JPG
Next Huey to fly

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/IMG_3862.JPG
Bit of overspray on side panel

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/IMG_3864.JPG
Rubber band anyone?

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/IMG_3866.JPG
Two birds together :D

:)

[DualDriver]

Francois

What do you mean they're coming after you next. Tell us more. I also hear there is another Huey on the way to the Waterfront???? Not through you guys, though.:hmm:

[Deanw]

I believe 'Little Elvis' has been promising to bring their own Huey for quite a while now :rolleyes:

[clipboard]

Another Huey at the Waterfront? Oh come on Dual Driver! You must be kidding. The entire aviation fraternity in Cape Town has been waiting in anticipation for the "promised" Huey to hit the Cape Town shores.

You must remember that this Huey left the Houston Port on January 13th this year. (Littl Elvis' own words) Now a ship only takes 14 days from the USA to SA. So either the ship sank, or Littl Elvis is a "big teller of stories". The alleged Elvis' Huey has been enroute for Cape Town since July of last year, but to date no one has seen anything. These people live in their own littl world Dual Driver, and if you think about it carefully; "How can Elvis buy a Huey whilst he has been six feet under since August 1976 huh"? Makes you think huh? :ok:

[francois marais]

:p Dual Driver, I better take the 5th Amendment on that one, otherwise I may compromise myself.:D

Nice pics Dean. The pic with the "overspray" is in actual fact not overspray. The window is masked with brown paper & tape, as the window frame was sprayed. The overspray you see is on the masking covering the glass.

Yip, Huey 774 is ready. The engine must just go in and the blades must be fitted. The SACAA must however, still come and inspect it prior to registration approval, and this of course, is subject to certain conditions.

774 must be one of the lowest time Hueys in the world. 2200TT since new and 470 hours since total rebuilt by Agusta. The helicopter was damaged in a hard landing during its service in Ethiopia, and Agusta rebuilt it. (New belly skins, new tanks, new skids etc.) Eddie initially, and Gert did a great job getting it to what it is now. New wiring looms, overhauled instruments, new seats etc. All done and ready to go.

Huey rules!:ok:

[DualDriver]

Classic one, Clipboard!!!! I've been out of the loop for a while and only recently found out about the "proposed" Huey. All talk and no acton again, I suppose!! Mybe the ship hit an Iceberg...:rolleyes:

[prospector]

Perhaps this may have some relevance to the SACAA thinking.

DCA/HELI/4 Ex-Military Helicopters – Finite Life Recording
Applicability: All ex-military helicopters operating with a Restricted or Special Category Certificate
of Airworthiness (including Wessex, Scout, Gazelle, OH-58 and UH-1 Series).
Requirement: To prevent finite life components inadvertently exceeding their safe lives accomplish
the following:
1. Examine aircraft records and verify that all finite-life limited components, as listed
in the applicable Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, Maintenance Manual or
Schedule of Retirement Lives, are being tracked.
2. Ensure all finite life components have a serial number recorded in the aircraft
records. Any life limited components which are not identified by serial number, must
be removed from service.
(NZ Occurrence 04/1354 refers)
Compliance: Before 2 June 2004.
Effective Date: 26 May 2000

Prospector

[clipboard]

Hiya Prospector, thanks for the info. The SACAA should be thinking along those lines, but they're not. They wrote Part 94 & Part 96, approved it, implimented it, partly removed it, re-wrote it, implimented it again, changed it again, issued AIC on it, and to this date, no-one really knows or understand what they mean. No one at the CAA can with certainty tell you exactly what is required. They're all confused.

Example??? The SACAA says OK, NTCA (Non type certified aircraft) can fly for commercial gain, but then at no time with more than 9 pax. Oohh hoo, big problem! A former military DC3 with 25 pax seats can now only fly with 9 pax. Is this normal or what?

A friend of mine who works for ICAO informed me that an ICAO delegation will be arriving in SA tomorrow for discussions with the SACAA, and some of these discussions will centre around NTCA operations. Hopefully something will be resolved.

Just heard via the grapevine that the Magistrate in the Huey matter ruled that the helicopter may fly.:D

[Deanw]

Just saw the Huey flying past my office :D :ok:

Heeyhaaa :)

Guess the CAA got another :ouch:

[CaneRat]

Not sure about the black eye, but there are a few tails hanging between legs....will a trail of p:mad: ss.

Dualdriver, its been a long time since we last had a cold one.
Remember the helipad and the Missis phoning all the time...

Cheers

[bigmanatc]

What the hell is CAA`s story....I`ve just returned from a week-end in the Cape and had not 1..but 2 rides in the Huey...Francois flies the bird like a pro....no danger to people or public property....gives the pax a helluva ride and returns them all safely to the pad....the bird is in immaculate condition.....obviously well maintained.....as an ATC I see no problems with these flights.....I think some asshole is stirring.......
Francois...thanks...dit was MOERSE....gee hulle gas...!!!!

[prospector]

The reason that the NZCAA has brought out this AD on ex military helicopters would appear to be based on the fact that three have disintegrated in the air thus far, 2 American and 1 Russian, with the loss of 6 lives. The Russian during log hauling operations, the two American on Agricultural Ops, but both during the ferry mode with no undue loadings.

Prospector

[B Sousa]

The Logging was no doubt to to overstress on the tailboom. There have been more than one of those. Slinging a load of logs with a huey was not its designed intent and the tails have been breaking off due to structural fatigue. There is a mod out for this exact situation.
Agricltural OPs?? In the states. Im sure this translates to Fire Fighting as the Forest Service in the States is under the Department of Agriculture. Quick turnarounds and Heavy loads, make for high torque and stress.
None of these problems should arise by hauling pax. Heavy slingloads would be the problem.

[Gunship]

:ouch: FM - give the b@st@rds hell and fly bru - we LOVE your bird :D

[Rhodie]

FM - the saga with CAA and "ten years on" reminds me of an old saying...

"Tyranny is when people fear the government -
Freedom is when the government fears the people"

Seems like CAA is taking notes from Mad Bob up north....

Keep it flying, Francois - I need to get my ride in with Bert, when he gets back...!! :ok:

Cheers

R

[B Sousa]

Which reminds me Rhodie. My bags are already packed. Lots of toys on board. We will have to go down to the Cape together. Francois puts on one hell of a party.....Chops and Dops........
Im bringing some Caribbean Rum.
See ya around 18 June

[Gunship]

Bert's "toys" ... haa .. Rhodie watch out I know the 'Merican ... his "toys" usually contains leather articles :E

Kidding Bert .. Sorry Da Gunship is so quite again .. no e-mail since I mailed you with my question - in fact NOBODY get's mail.

Eischhh Africa.

Will change to another SP today ... not that it will help though :{

Good Luck Francois - gee hulle gas swaer :}

[Kennel Keeper]

To Prospector

You appear to show the same mentality or approach as the SACAA in condeming the Huey without actually knowing anything about it.

Again the facts are that all the condemnation of the Huey by CAA is as a direct result of hearsay evidence!! This evidence from one Elvis who died some time ago.

The Huey in question does have all the required time recordings and cards as required and has also had all the AD's done including the tail boom mod!!

I still thank goodness someone had the guts to allow NTCA aircraft to fly in this country. Its just a pity that a few jealous people are trying to spoil it for all.
I say this not as a Huey fan but also in defence of other projects and flying clubs involved with kit planes who may as a result of this be closed or curtailed. This could also include museum flying.

I can also state clearly that some of the certified large passenger services flying out of Africa operate (certified)machines which could kill a lot more people than 10 Hueys could!!! I know, been there flown them!

[Rhodie]

No worries Bert

We'll go down to the Cape and wake them up... (pity Gunss can't join us) :(

Francois - break out the Prohep. :eek:

Cheers

R

[prospector]

Kennel Keeper,
Don't see anything in my posts condemning anything. I pointed out the situation in NZ regarding ex military helicopters.

It is to be assumed that the NZCAA and SACAA do have communication channels, and would very likely exchange information.

The fact that 2 UH1's have had in flight failures resulting in complete destruction of aircraft and death of crews is not hearsay.

If the Huey's in question have all the requirements of AD's and modifications complied with then the CAA would be skating on thin ice by grounding them, if indeed that was the reason for the grounding.

Prospector

[Gunship]

Rhodie,

God willing I will be in the Cape 30 June to about 8 August as I only have one leave this year.

Will be nice to hook up with you, Bert, Francois, Dean and box or 2 of Tassies (ask Bert) :p

[Rhodie]

Gunss...

Your'e on... :ok:

All being equall with Bert, I'll do my best to get him down there..

I'll bring the biltong.

Cheers

R

[B Sousa]

I'll bring the biltong.

Cheers

Stuff the Biltong. Chops and circle Sausage. Im bringing over another U.S. Helo driver whom I flew with years ago. He also has many tales of woe whilst in Uniform. In fact if your real nice and get him drunk he may give you a copy of his book. "Apollos Warriors"

[Gunship]

Ok Peeps we have. Tassies we have, biltong we have... now just a reunion with Dean, Fishbowl, FM and co ... so Francois - venue at your place with the Huey :D

[Deanw]

Yo Gunns, Rhodie, Bert, et al

I'm game! It's time we had a good ol' chinwag over some liquid again :E

[francois marais]

:D Gunnzzz, we're waiting for you. Mail me the date convenient for all, and I'll have all the goodies ready.

Bert, we need the Haas here for that party, as well as the 737 driver. All Cape Town ppruners are invited. Goffel, Dean, Dual Driver, DP, GA, DW, Kennel Keeper, Marc Perkins and all who is into doos........dooswyn!:ok: Not to forget the Goldfish Jack. GJ, maybe you should bring along a few comrades from your facility, so that they can meet the "manne". R, S & C. huh??? Mail me. [email protected]

Lets make it a proper pprune party.:ok:

Awaiting a suitable date!

[B Sousa]

I just spoke with "The Masked Rabbit" and he has 21 July till 10 August available. About the same as me. That should give us plenty of time to prepare a real sh1tstorm in the Cape.

[Rhodie]

Great stuff..

Bert, just let me know if we drive or fly - no problem either way - the drive just requires another hangover the next day...!

AND - circle sausage on order, plus that onion dip of yours...!

Looking forward to seeing / meeting all.

Cheers

R :ok:

[Gunship]

How about Friday 30 July ? I am also avalable the whole first week of August ... or maybe 2 weeks (still deciding to take all my leave or not) :D

Would be great to meet yiou guys.

PS: Dik VIS (Orca) .. can you and SKertjie make it perhaps ?? :p

[B Sousa]

Guns, Lets shoot for 30 July. I will Volunteer Francois to select the same place as last year. bet he will love that.........
Onion dip no problem. Caribbean Rum No problem. Too much rum,.big problem.........
Rhodie it will probably be Kulua.com or something similar.

[Goffel]

Thanks chaps.
You only picked the 30th July cause you know I wont be in CT.
By the way,whilst paddling with Elvis's advocate the other day,it transpires that even they think he is an idiot delux.
It just shows......the world is round.
:E

[Deanw]

Eaina :ugh:

I'm in the same boat as Goffel (long time no hear!), any day but Friday.

Guess I'll just have to keep the Windycorners to myself :E

[B Sousa]

Dates are Flexible. We can start on the 30th and make it a two dayer. or we can change a day or two on either side.......Lets not lock into something just yet.

And somone paddling with an advocate??? Is that a two paddled out and one returned??

[Gunship]

I am easy to change chaps.

Just the Sat and Sunday I have important stuff on. (31 July and 1 Aug).

Even during the week - no problem for me ... I am on 6 weeks vacation :D

[prospector]

Following on from some of the earlier posts on this thread some of you may be interested in the following, no axes to grind, just thrown in as probably being relevant.

Prospector


1 June 2004
DCA/UH1/14 — Emergency Airworthiness Directive
Airworthiness Directive DCA/HELI/4 issued last week was intended to urgently address an
unsafe condition found during the investigation of a New Zealand accident involving a UH-1B
helicopter on 22 April 2004. This AD however did not take into account life-limited
components that are not provided with a serial number by the manufacturer.
DCA/UH1/14 is being issued to supersede DCA/HELI/4 and addresses the unsafe condition
found during the investigation of the accident. This AD is considered interim action pending
the completion of the investigation.
This AD requires recording in the maintenance records, the S/N of each tension-torsion (TT)
strap (including those held as spares) and tracking their history from new. Any TT strap that
has exceeded its retirement life must be removed from service immediately.
While the AD only addresses the tracking and retirement of TT straps, all finite life-limited
components must be tracked and removed from service before exceeding their retirement
lives. Some finite life-limited components do not have a manufacturer’s serial number (such
as some rotating bolts) and a process must be in place to ensure that the retirement lives of
these components are not exceeded.
DCA/HELI/4 Cancelled – DCA/UH1/14 now refers
DCA/UH1/14 Tension-Torsion Straps – Tracking by S/N and Retirement Life
Applicability: All model UH-1 series, TH-1 series and HH-1 series.
Requirement: To prevent failure of a tension-torsion (TT) strap, loss of a main rotor blade, and
subsequent loss of the helicopter, accomplish the following:-
Record the S/N of each TT strap (including those held as spares) and track the
history of each since first installation from new. Remove from service before further
flight, any TT strap that has exceeded its retirement life.
Compliance: Before further flight.
Effective Date: 2 June 2004

[B Sousa]

TT Straps are not expensive and the cheapest way to start off an old ship with questionable history. Once inside the hub a few more items may warrant replacement, but the inspection is worth not having to worry about slinging a blade........
Blades are another story. most bigger than 205s etc have BIM indicators which are the first sign of a problem other than recorded hours. There have been some nastys when folks didnt pay attention to indications.........
Be careful out there. Its much nicer to be able to hit the pub in the evening rather than someone seeing you in the news.

[CaneRat]

Elvis Macdonald from Sport Helicopters today lost his appeal with punitive costs against the judgement delivered by Cape Judge President John Hlope in favour of the Huey Extreme Club during August.

Chief Justice Hlope ruled in August that Elvis' campaign against the Huey was illegal, and termed "shadowing". This was found to be illegal by the high Court more than 100 years ago. He ruled against Elvis with punitive costs. Elvis then decided to appeal the decision, which he once again today, lost with punitive costs.

I find it amazing that this clown has no end to interfering with other people's business. His cape Town based rag "The Cape Argue" is a prime example of this man's charactor, always looking for trouble, or wanting to make trouble.

Rumour has it that the numerous Court cases he is invloved in have crippled him financially, and due to this, he has put his taxi business up for sale. Apparently Sea Point Radio Taxis are being sold to a rival Cape Town Taxi concern, and they are due to take over on the 1st of October.

Shame.....one can only wonder what's going to happen to "Little Elvis" when daddy sells his helicopters to pay legal bills, coz "Little Elvis" can't sing...........only scream!!!:ok:

[Airforce1]

I went as a pax on that Huey the other day,was a bit pricey for a local lad but was worth it!On a perfect day that 30 minute flip was incredible,Highly recommend it(coming from a fixed wing pilot too).

[CaneRat]

The Huey is a awsome machine, and in the hands of a 10 000 plus hour pilot one can only get VALUE for MONEY.

Its really a shame that some people will miss out on the Simulated Combat Mission in the Huey because they have heard all the kak that has been spoken by Elvis and his village idiots::yuk:

Cheers all..

[Deanw]

From todays Cape Times:


City 'highflyer' in fraud bust

Van der Merwe out on R60 000
October 29, 2004

By Nazma Dreyer

A wealthy Cape Town businessman suspected of being a "highflyer" has been granted R60 000 bail on tax and investor fraud charges.

Gary van der Merwe appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court yesterday with Paul Kilian and Tyrone Oates, directors of his companies, World Online Limited (WOL) and Wellness International Network (WIN), and his secretary, Karin Hoge.

Kilian and Oates were freed on R30 000 bail each and Hoge on R20 000.

Van der Merwe and his associates are being investigated by the Scorpions.

Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane said: "Van der Merwe is suspected of being one of the highflyers in a certain category."

The charge sheet alleges that between November 2000 and February 2002, Van der Merwe's company WOL defrauded investors and shareholders of R10 million by claiming that the investments in WOL were underpinned by gilt-edged guarantees against any losses of money invested.

In April 2002, Van der Merwe allegedly induced shareholders through false pretences to exchange WOL shares for WIN shares. Shareholders did not have the right to refuse the swop, the charge sheet claims.

Investors were guaranteed a minimum return of their original investment in US dollars, irrespective of the performance of the company.

It is alleged that Van der Merwe and his directors told shareholders they had an irrevocable guarantee against any loss of their investment as WIN was an established holding company with a dollar-based balance sheet of more than R400m.

People who had invested in WOL transferred their shares but, according to the charge sheet, the information they had been given was false. This had allegedly been done with the knowledge of Van der Merwe and his directors.

WIN was liquidated in September last year.

The charge sheet also alleges:

Between November 2001 and November 2002, Van der Merwe and his directors got people to invest R6m in WIN under false pretences. They allegedly claimed that the company had made a net operating profit of R59m for the year ending February 2001 whereas, the Scorpions claim, the company had operated at a loss.

Van der Merwe and his directors also allegedly claimed that WIN had assets - including ships, submersibles, supply vessels, the only turbine seaplane in Africa, a cruise liner and a fleet of helicopters - that it did not possess.

Van der Merwe submitted false tax returns. He is said to have claimed to have had a gross income of R23 000 for the tax year to end-February 2002.

The Scorpions say Van der Merwe accrued more than R2.85m in gross income in that year.

Van der Merwe declared R60 000 to the SA Revenue Service (SARS) in his 2002/03 tax return, whereas he had allegedly made more than R22m.

WIN's directors received millions of rand in false VAT claims and supplied SARS with incorrect information.

In one example given in the charge sheet, WIN allegedly claimed more than R3.2m in VAT from SARS in September 2001 - this included R2.7m purportedly paid by WIN on a R22m ship.

The Scorpions allege in papers that the vessel cost R1.5m.

The state has not opposed bail because other court cases against Van der Merwe are under way and he is not considered a flight risk.

His mansion on Woodbridge Island near Milnerton has been put up for sale with an asking price of R25m.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit has not seized any of Van der Merwe's assets.

"Van der Merwe has been the focus of the integrated law enforcement agency since July last year," Ramatlakane said. "The arrest closes this chapter."

The Scorpions were "happy" with how their investigation had progressed, their provincial head, Adrian Mopp, said.

"When people think of crime and criminals, they think of people living on the Cape Flats," he said.

Ramatlakane said the Scorpions, the Asset Forfeiture Unit, SARS, National Prosecuting Authority, National Intelligence Agency and Correctional Services were continuing to work together in building cases against people suspected of white-collar crime.

"We will protect our communities," he said.

WIN owned the two helicopters that crashed in the Cape Town harbour two years ago.

In March last year, Van der Merwe sought the Cape High Court's intervention in his efforts to recover cash confiscated at the Cape Town International Airport.

[Recuperator]

:hmm: Gary and Highway Hennie should get together, they will have lots to talk about....in jail.:ok:

[Kennel Keeper]

If Gary gets locked up who is going to antagonise the CAA???

[B Sousa]

Trust me, If the Huey is turning and Burning, the CAA will be antagonized no matter who owns it.
To those flying it, have fun.... Just remember someday you may be asked why your flying something the CAA did not approve.

Or have they....what day of the week is this??

[carnivoruslegallus]

B.Sousa.....if you don't know what day it is, consult your calender. :D :ok:

The Huey is flying a lot. I saw it on a film set at Thunder City a week or two ago, and rumour has it that its doing at least 5 flights a day. Now that must really burn "ol Elvis' butt.

5 Flights with 14 pax on board at R900 a head. Good business I would say. When you're shuttling 70 pax in a Jettie per day, you're working. For the Huey.....its of course easy as pie!

Good luck with your Huey Gary, just keep Gary Fox away from your premises. You get him involved, you're toast!

By the way, the latest rumour has it that Mr. Fox conned the CAA about his AME license and his rating on the Hueys. Be careful! Be extra careful!!:ok:

[B Sousa]

Calender.........I knew there was someplace I could find the answer..........
Another newbie to the thread happy as a Pig in S:mad: that the Huey is flying.
Making good money is the name of the game.. Thank your stars its South Africa as it wouldnt be happening in the States. They are considered"'Restricted Category" there and NO Passengers are allowed let alone Paying Passengers. If the CAA had teeth, Im sure it would not be flying in SA.
Also thank your stars its a Huey. With a couple thousand hours in them I can tell you a Huey is very unforgiving of things like work done by Car Rapairmen, parts from the local Builders Warehouse or from Ahmed in Iran. No need for tracking parts or time change , if the thing is flying. Not an Accusation, just a comment.
The latest Mods out to the Tailboom etc. are a result of work in the civilian world with former Military Hueys. For those who are not familiar the tail falls off when you put too much on the sling and give it a pull. Logging is the culprit.
I agree in that someone should ride the high while it exists. Murphy is sitting on the fence with the rest of the Buzzards.
I also wish whoever good luck.

[Goldfish Jack]

Seen it around the southern subs recently and at the airfield and passing by the other day, so it seems quite busy.

Nothing like the noise the gentle beast makes as it passes my house - they can fly by all day and I wont complain!!

Good on ja.

[Herc130]

Heard as a rumour????

The Huye has been chartered for flight to FAHO, the pilot a PPL and CAA has been given heads up. Sounds like something aint smelling so well over there.:confused: :}

[clipboard]

Herc 130.... You're right, this is a rumour network.

Maybe you should learn to spell Huey, and can you tell me where in the world FAHO is? I can't find it in my Jepp.

[Herc130]

Finger trouble myside (or maybe its the beer).

FAHO is Oudshoorn.:D

[clipboard]

I noticed this last week that there is a lot going on at Gary's place on the Waterfront. He's revamping the Helipad, and rumour has it that he's turning into a "pucka" combat zone. Apparently it is now going to become a real "Vietnam" hangout. Come on you Huey fans, get down there and experience it.

By the way, rumour has it that François is no longer associated with the Huey Club, and that he left them a month or two ago. :confused:

[carnivoruslegallus]

Rumour has it that the two Gary's have had a fall out. (Van der Merwe & Fox) and that it is only Gary Van there now that is flying the Huey. Apparently Gary Fox also lied to the CAA about his Huey Rating, and the CAA caught him out on that as well, so now he can't fly the Huey anyway. What a joker this dude is. When he opens his mouth he lies.

Apparently the CAA suspended or revoked Gary Fox's AME license which he obtained thru suspect representations made to the CAA, and they caught him. Now he is of no use to Gary Van, and now Gary Fox wants Gary Van to pay him his costs for "going to America" to become a Huey expert. Will the circus with these two children never end? What beats me though is where Gary Van is getting the money to continue funding the Huey Operation? 99% of his staff has left him, and the man is in acute financial difficulties. :confused: :ugh: :}

[goaround7]

Have heard that two civilian 205s and two more Hueys are on their way to join the fun and games in Cape Town, scheduled to arrive in January. Apparently the two Hueys are ex German police and ARE type certified and with full traceability of parts, thus should be fully legal to operate, possibly even as ZS...

[bladestrap]

GA7

Mmmmm, somehow I don't think so. A lot of people have been talking about getting Hueys, but nothing has ever materialized. All talk and NO action!

Elvis apparently bought a Huey in the USA in March this year, but to date has not been able to get an export permit from the State Department, with the result that the machine is still lying in the Port of Houston......fate to be unknown. If old Elvis would only have listened to the right people, but unfortunately that man is ................., well really.......!

Gary Fox has been running around SA telling everyone that he is now the official Huey expert in SA, and that he is importing a number of machines for a number of clients. Usual bull**** though, because no one can believe anything that boy says. People should know by now that Fox is a compulsive lier.

Fox was supposed to bring in 2 x Re-certified Bell 204's (Baby Hueys) into SA for his mate in Parys OFS, but to date this has also not materialized. First the machines were due in May, then June, then July, then August, and finally the Hurricanes and Typhoons delayed shipping during September and October as ships could'nt sail from the USA (although many other ships sailed from the USA to Cape Town) and now apparently that has also been just a story. No 204's for Cape Town. Rumour also has it that Fox and the man from Parys are no longer so friendly with each other. One can only but wonder why?

So, judging by what the Gary van der Merwe is doing, he's gearing up for a bumper tourism season, and will continue to dominate the Cape Town extreme helicopter market, until such time he gets competition, which is not likely at this time. So good luck to him.

If his Huey goes down though for whatever reason, which apparently is likely according to RUMOURS floating around the SACAA about the unairworthiness condition of the machine, it will simply close the doors on anyone else wanting to operate a Huey, as there will be a huge stigma attached to "any Huey" operating in the Cape Town area. So one wil have to see. Watch the Cape Town Helicopter space.

I have always been a great Huey fan, and I think what the Huey people do is great, but Gary should not overplay his hand with regards to the safety and airworthiness of the machine. It will be a shame if anything goes wrong. Pray God that it won't.

:ok:

[B Sousa]

"It will be a shame if anything goes wrong. Pray God that it won't."

"Murphy" is working on things, give him some time.........

[Gunship]

Enjoy your semi - retirment Francois :D

I will come and "help" you make wine in December bru .. (I am an old tester and conoseur of good wine (ask the PPRUNE party goers)

Long live the HUEY in whichever form / whoevever own her.

Myself and Guns Jnr had a few rides with Francois I will never forget and thanks for that FM :ok:

Cheers,

Gunsss

[DualDriver]

Good GRIEF

Seems to me I'm COMPLETELY out of the loop!!! Where did Francois go to? Saw him a couple of weeks ago and he didn't say anything about leaving the Huey.....:confused:

[Gunship]

FM is alive and well, enjoying life on the farm :D

[B Sousa]

Actually He is alive and well and in South America on vacation. I got a couple emails from him and he says all is fine including the women.......

[Gunship]

He is always one step ahead ... no wonder his mobile aint answering :p

[bladestrap]

Yebo Gunnzz, Bert & the boyz!

Got a mail from François yesterday. He is on vacation in the Galapagos Islands, happy as a pig in Palestine.

Hey François, if you're reading pprune over there, have a great time bud, and we'll see you when you get back. How´s your lovely senorita enjoying the Iguanas, toirtoises and bird life?

Seeya!:ok:

[carnivoruslegallus]

:confused: :confused:
The Huey has not been flying for a while, and following an investigation, it turns out that Gary van der Merwe experienced a catastrophic engine failure some time last week. Fortunately neither the Huey or anyone in it was affected by the engine failure.

Apparently they have installed a replacement engine, and by this morning they were getting everything together to test run the machine.

I really like the Huey, and its been a great success in Cape Town, but I'm beginning to have my doubts about the airworthiness of the machine.

Come Gary, give us the facts! Are you being up to no good?:confused:

[B Sousa]

Duh.............Murphy works on the Waterfront. As I mentioned before, thank your stars that its a Huey as it will fly pretty much no matter what folks do to it.

[Kennel Keeper]

FACT:-

The Huey did NOT have an engine failure. Where did you scratch that bit of #### from?

The huey did have an oil leak at the rear seal and a decision was made by the WELL qualified engineer (read car mechanic ) to remove the hot section and replace all the seals to avoid breakdown during season.

Parts were in fact purchased from a Lycoming certified supplier ( read as LOCAL HARDWARE ) in Amrica where you are not allowed to have fun with a Huey so the loud mouth Yanks have to come here to sunny Sefrica!!!

Hey Bert your snotty comments are not welcome as I seem to remember you actually flew the Huey yourself and were always welcome at our facilities for braai's etc. Why the sudden change?

The marines had a poster which says it all for you negative back stabbers:

Offensive language removed. Bit touchy are we KK? 4HP

[Gunship]

:ok: I loveFreedom of Speach ... Vivaaa Freedom ... Vivaaa die B O K K E ... Vivaaaaa die HUEYyyyy :ok:

[carnivoruslegallus]

:D Watch out Mr. Bert, don't cross the mechanic!!:p

Eddie, Are you back there??????? Geezzz my man, what have you gotten yourself into........again???? :{ :{

Everybody loves the Huey, but it must be safe. That's the bottom line! There is no compromise for safety, and if you guys are taking shortcuts by fitting incorrect parts and flying with timex components fitted to the Huey...... well my man, that's criminal!!!!

Come on Eddie, tell us the truth my man. Can you honestly say what you guys are doing parts and maintenance wise, is correct!!!:confused:

Can you honestly say that the Huey is in great mechanical shape, that there are no problems with the machine and that all your paperwork is in order??? For your sake I hope it is.

Maybe you can also tell us then why there are rumours doing the rounds at the SACAA that there are airworthiness problems.....big problems relating to components, and no log cards. Is it true, or are the SACAA Inspectors a bunch of liars??

Long live the Huey!!!:ok:

[B Sousa]

Who let the Dogs out.Woof Woof........

Kennel Keeper, Francois invited me, and I think may have invited you..I also believe he footed the bill.. I paid for my own booze, thanks.
Since it must be known....Yes I did fly it once, and will never do so again.....
And since you opened the can of worms, I will mention why.
Any Huey that has to be started from the Emergency Governor Position just to get a light, then catch the throttle before the TGT goes through the roof...Should be grounded.
Any Huey that cannot fly over 80-90 knots without shaking parts into the ocean because the blades are so far out of track, should be grounded.
Any Huey that leaks oil from the Blade Grip reservoirs so bad that they have to be filled every flight, should be grounded.
ANY aircraft with no Historical Records should have a Pole shoved up its ass and mounted at the front gate.
That is what I observed When I flew it.
I dont think I have to go on.. about things like T/T straps etc.
I personally sent gaskets and things to get some of the major problems solved. That was out of my pocket. Also sent you your CD with all the maintenance information. When I asked if you needed parts , I got a laundry list a mile long, but when money was mentioned..ooops, we dont need them.
I still have a stupid Cargo Hook at home in my garage that nobody seemed to want. I certainly dont want the dam thing. (Its one of those things you use for proper slingloads in a Huey, not a B205)
I never posted this before in respect to Francois.......So you got it from a loud mouthed Yank with over 2000 hours in all models of Hueys.(and were properly maintained)
I did enjoy myself there but I also saw a major war about to happen based on what was going on. As you know CAA got into it with both feet and the war is not over.
So you can defend your position all day long and never make it right. The best chance for something similar would be to get some certified 205s and do the same thing.
I dont think my comments were snotty. I just said Murphy is working on the waterfront..........and it appears hes looking over your shoulder.
Fire Away....its your game.

[warloc67]

Spoke to the guys at CHC, Huey did have an engine failure and the gods must have smiled on them as they autorotated on to the practise field. (Rumour has it it was for the foxes renewal :confused: )

[bladestrap]

Warloc....... Not a rumour my man. The Huey is parked on the east side of the Airport (SAAF Hangars) after an engine failure or engine problems in flight. Just yesterday they got the machine going after previous engine problems.

Gary is really letting the Huey fans down by his hard-headedness. Why can he simply not understand that there are problems, and that the mechanic is NOT a qualified helicopter engineer, has NO papers of any nature, has no decent tools, test benches or anything feasible to do a proper maintenance job. Then there's the Fox, a so called Huey expert with fake licenses and NO working experience on any Huey. A recipe for disaster.

Come on Gary, this is not the way to go about things. Safety first. Don't take the chances, you're gonna hurt yourself and someone else...... overseas visitors for that matter. Gear up your business, shape up or ship out.:}

[carnivoruslegallus]

Mmmmmmm, what a circus!:{

It is clear that the Huey's got major problems, and between the 2 Garys & Eddie, they can't solve it.

I'm now beginning to wonder why Francois is no longer associated with the Huey. Could it be for safety reasons? Did he see the warning signs? Come on Francois, if you're out there, why don't you give us your thoughts and tell us what your opinion is on what is going wrong now. We'd all love to hear.

As a huge Huey fan, I have flown on the Huey a number of times, both with Gary & Francois, and I really love the machine. I also thought that what the Huey did for Cape Town's helicopter scene was marvellous, but now I'm beginning to worry about the safety aspects, and the SAFE operation of the Huey.

It is clear that there are major problems, and that Gary is either to stubborn to realise that there are problems. Owning and operating an AMO for 15 years surely should give him the edge to know that you cannot continue operating and flying a machine with faults, suspect components (albeit on condition) and poor maintenance. There's obviously a problem.

Come on Gary, Eddie, Shaun & Co, fix it nicely, sort out the :mad: t, and lets us see a safe Huey in the skies this summer. Otherwise, keep it on the ground until its safe.

Don't let the Huey, yourselves or any pax become an accident statistic, because the way its going now, its on the cards.

Out of you all, Eddie, you should know that whatever you're doing to that machine thats not according to the regulations, are dangerous, unacceptable and criminal. You will have all the s:mad: t on your shoulders. Is it really worth it?..... And that for a few bucks???..... I'd be thinking very careful if I was you......consciously!!!!

[clipboard]

Man!, how I love that Huey.:ok:

What's going on now?

Who was flying it?

Be really interesting to know.:confused:

[27Foxtrot]

Well the CAA are here and they are moving the chopper.

We will have to wait and see......

27F

[bladestrap]

:} The more information I get, the more concerned I get, and right now I'm kinda disgusted.:yuk:

This whole issue revolves around money, and it is absolutely amazing what some folks will do for money. Its really sickening.

1. What is the first thing an instructor teaches you when you go for your first lesson? Inspect the paperwork, make sure the machine is appropriately licensed, registered, airworthy, and that all the documents are in order.

Dave Mouton, who is a DE, was in command of the Huey when it had a compressor stall and other engine related problems during a training flight, and he executed the "forced landing". The CAA should be all over him like a rash, as it is very clear here that he came to Cape Town to do the conversions for Gird, Fox and Bohnen, only for money. Gary has a history of paying people off, and one should understand here that Mr. Mouton was paid, and he gladly accepted payment to fly a helicopter that:

a. Has no C of A as it was revoked by the SACAA.
b. Is not airworthy as per a CAA report after an inspection
c. Are being maintained by a mechanic who has no qualifications whatsoever, and is knowlingly doing work and fitting parts to the machine which he knows are unservicable. (Also for money and pressure from Gary)
d. Is not on a Part 141 training license of any sort, yet Mr. Mouton is conducting training which is also contrary to the law.

The SACAA should immediately pull Mr. Mouton's licenses (Like they did with the Drban three) until he can prove that he is competent to be an instructor let alone a DE, as he evidently does not understand the law, or, deliberately broke it.... for money! What a boy!! Absolutely disgusting! No training license, non airworthy machine..... Gee, what a boykie! Total disregard for the law. Nail him SACAA, Nail him!

Rumour also has it that "patches" flew off the main rotor blades, as the blades were patched prior to fitment. Man this is criminal:}

So,.... it now appears that the Huey has really gone backward in condition during the past few months, and yet van der Merwe is of the opinion that there is nothing wrong with the machine and that it will be flying again in a few days. The SACAA should lock the Huey away in a hangar, and throw away the key to the lock. It has now become an accident waiting to happen, which will severely damage the Cape Town helicopter scene, should it happen.

I'm really disgusted at what these so called professionals are getting up to.

And Mr. Fox???? He's in line for a conversion...... this after he flew the Huey last year without a rating, and to date has still not satisfied the SACAA that he had a rating. I mean... if he was rated like he said he was, why was Mr. Mouton meant to give him a rating??? The whole thing stinks, and I hope that the SACAA this time will have the balls and the courage to deal with these jokers. Put them away!!!!:} :yuk: :mad:

[clipboard]

Bladestrap, where are you getting your information?

:confused: What a story? Is this all true? My goodness, what are these people doing?:confused:

This has become a circus. How sad. I have always been a front runner/campaigner for the Huey as I know most of the people involved personally, and have attended numerous Huey functions. I find it hard to believe that this is all happening.

Is this the end of the Huey? It sure sounds like it!

Geezzz, I still can't believe all this.

[B Sousa]

Seriously waiting for Kennel Keeper to quit chasing his tail and commit some more Bull:mad: to this forum.
Sorry to hear about Dave. Hes a good Pilot, but life does revolve around money. A DE who knows that the CAA is all over that thing should really be watching from a distance, not sigining off ratings.....If that was what was happening. Sort of puts ones license in jeopardy.
You folks have no clue how much was made by the "Huey Club" doing flips for "membership" . Im betting it was a better cash cow than owning your own Winery in Franschoek. Im sure when the CAA stuff is over, that question will come up with your Revenue boys. It was a great idea and very little financial outlay........as we can now see.
Look at the Bright side of this. They have two or three more Hueys in the same condition or worse in the hanger. Eddie the Panel Beater was doing some great Mods to them. Im sure the CAA will bite off on the Modifications and a sign off on a different C/G.... NOT
I do hope the CAA will come out from behind the bush and take corrective action based upon in place Rules and Regulations. Im certain they are watching this forum with glee. This whole mess is WHY Surplus Hueys are not flying with Passengers in the states... Since Kennel Keeper needs a reply.
Lite My Fire...........:} :}

[carnivoruslegallus]

Just been to the airport to see for myself......

The Huey is locked up in the ABC Helicopter hangar where the SACAA Accident investigators have been going through the machine. They have made some horrific findings. The machine, for sure, ain't gonna fly no more if the investigators have their way.

Yes, and it was all for money! Dave Mouton broke all the rules for a couple of grand to give 3 conversions to Gary's cronies. John Gird, Gary Fox & Chris Bohnen was lined up for type ratings. John Gird has previously burnt his hands with Gary, but keeps on coming back for more. Just shows you the power of money huh? Gary Fox is alledgedly a Huey expert, but we all know the truth behind that lier. Beats me that van der Merwe still allows him around. Chris B has a good job with Base4 as a pilot/instructor. Beats me why he wanted in on the Huey. Must be to satisfy his ego. (bigger, better, best......Kiwi.)

Now from this scenario it is pretty much clear that Dave Mouton is in deep dwang with the CAA, and will probably have his licenses pulled, which is the right thing to do, and is only fair. (Go for it SACAA. Dave deserves that after displaying his total disregard for the law.... and that for a couple of grand. Dave is known as a goodpilot/instructor/DE, but is also known to have a weakness for money, and wil do anything for a coupla greenbacks. 'Tis a shame.)

Eddie the Kennel Keeper has gone quiet........ no more defensive postings from him, and rumour has it that he warned Van der Merwe of the engine & compressor problems, and notified van der Merwe that something was gonna go wrong. Very noble gesture....... warning the hand that feeds him...... but still unethical and immoral to succumb to pressure from the boss, fitting unservicable parts and components..... all because of money.

These so called professionals have turned into a fully fledged back yard circus. Mr. Gary van der Merwe.... entrepeneur par excellence, man with so called vision vision, man with so called courage and balls..... respect....... have dwindled into a pathetic, irrational individual. He's for sure lost the plot. This IS NOT the Gary I have known for 20 years. Its a shame. Maybe his problems have made him crazy..... or the greed????? Who knows, but he's for sure not the same anymore.

Long live the memories of the Huey:ok:

[BAKELA]

Huey, seems like it's bloody hot in Cape Town. :} Never mind the weather. Does any one know if "Elvis" has composed a song for this one...? :E Jailhouse Rock comes to mind...if the above is to be believed.

[clipboard]

Bakela, thank goodness this is a rumour network!:D :ok:

Ol Elvis Macdonald can't sing to save his life and had to sell his taxi business to fund his helicopter operation and his law suits with the Huey.;)

What comes to mind thinking about him is "I'm all shook up":p

[josh sitanga]

;) After reading this thread with interest, it appears that what was predicted came true. :confused:

Gunzz my bro, it looks like your brothers in SA are in deep s:mad: t.

South African Pilots have the habit of critisizing West African Aviation, especially pilots, airplanes, regulations and airports.

I can assure you though that in my country, our CAA will not tolerate behaviour that was displayed by the Instructor-DE in this case. As ICAO certified, our CAA will pull his license so fast, he would not know what have hid him.

I stated during previous postings that West African Aviation in general was becoming more and more concerned about the actions of the SACAA.

Rules are da rules my bro, and if you break them, you should face the consequences. Rules are for all, not only for the elitists, royalists or the well connected.

I rest my case.

[BAKELA]

The worst is...for the Huey...

"Are you lonesome tonight"

:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:

[Gunship]

Lo Josh Bru ...

The popo really hit the fan bru.
I have no bro's left on the Huey - they all left :D

So RIP Huey.

Sad to read re Dave Mouton.

Hope it is untrue though.

Have a great week all.

Dumela BAKELA ... love your chirp ... linesome tonight ... ;)

[carnivoruslegallus]

Gunzzz, what you read about Dave Mouton is very true! He should have his licenses pulled immediately.

Latest on this is the fact that on Saturday night after the Accident/Incident investigators got the Helicopter into the ABC Hangar, Mr. Gary van der Merwe and his mechanic Mr. Eddie de Jager broke into the hangar and unlawfuly removed the engine from the helicopter so that the Investigators could not get their hands on it. I mean, this is criminal. Interfering with an accident/incident investigation is a serious criminal offence, and I hope the DOT, SACAA & SAPS will pull out all the stops to prosecute these criminals. Can you imagine, breaking into a hangar and removing the key evidence. Jail for these boys is ALL I can suggest. They must have lost the plot big time!

Rumour has it that the compressor disintegrated. Now for a compressor to disintegrate, it must have been running out of balance for a very long time. So its not a fresh problem. I mean... are these guys not competent enough to pick up a compressor problem? Surely the N1 would have warned them?

All I can do is shake my head in disbelief.

[Deanw]

Geez, I'm a little shocked at the latest developments :sad:

We all knew that the Huey was living close to the edge, but was it teetering so far over the edge for the last year :eek:

I hope the problems are sorted out once and for all now. Ground the Huey (and prosecute) if there has been any illegal or neferious activities.

Despite what the Huey has done for helicopter tourism in the Mother City, let's hope it does not kill off the industry as well!

Man, I really loved that Huey :ok:

[clipboard]

Its Official...... The Huey's days are over...... for now!

The Dept. of Transport's investigators today moved the Huey from the ABC Hangar to another hangar where it will remain behind lock & key whilst it is being "disected & inspected sans" engine though. Apparently it has now been formally impounded.

Rumour has it that the engine exploded and had a total melt down in flight. Van der Merwe alledged that the engine suffered a compressor stall, but on demand from the investigators to start it, he refused, as of course it could'nt.

The investigators have alledged that Mr. van der Merwe has not been very co-operative in the matter, and this could delay the process of returning the Huey to its owner.

I find it really difficult to understand van der Merwe's actions, as it will be real shame if the Huey is going to be permanently grounded, which appears, is now almost a certainty.

Sad, real sad!:(

[B Sousa]

Amongst all the mire consider if what is mentioned here did happen to the Huey, I was correct in that Dave Mouton is a good Pilot. He got it down without breaking it.........That aside.......
Consider this little tidbit. As Pilots we abide by rules and back when things were fun, Huey was smiling and all was well. One of the very first rules as licensed Pilots is that we fly an aircraft with certain documentation. Originally it was blessed by the CAA. Certificate of Airworthiness was issued and everyone was happy.
Underneath all this the aircraft had problems that came to the surface and the war was on.
CAA pulled the Airworthiness Certificate, the fight ensued and a Court said no you can still fly.......OK. Im confused, who knows more or at least is supposed to know more about whether an aircraft is flyable...
Either way the bottom line is that it had NO Airworthiness Certificate. So all you boys and girls out there who put that tail number in your Pilots logbook based on your License issued by the CAA have now technically commited a flight violation.
So whos to say that should they desire too, they have a pretty well documented case against many of you who thought this was a great deal. You agreed when you got your license to abide by the CAA Rules. I dont give a hoot what a court says, the court did not issue your license..
Something to ponder while your out having fun.

[twomember]

There is most definitely a sting in this ‘tale” – maybe from the Scorpions? I have been following the saga of the circumstances surrounding the operation of the Huey in Cape Town, and have urgent need to comment. There has been such a lot of sucking up to Gary van der Merwe on this website that it is unbelievable. It is also quite clear that some of the contributors never read a newspaper, and that some don’t know a single thing about Helicopters, The Aviation Laws, or Safety. It is also clear that some of those same contributors should be writing children’s fairy stories.

The Huey operators appear to blame others for the fact that the CAA has grounded them, and for the bad press, (first Andy Cluver, and then Ernest Macdonald). However, any reasonably intelligent being would realise that they do not need any help from their neighbours to cast suspicion upon themselves. It is their own blatant disregard for the laws which has cast the spotlight upon them.

Mr van der Merwe has constantly appeared in the media over the past few years; Running an illegal gambling venue; Defrauding his investors; Attempting to carry R1.5 million in cash through the Airport; Crashing two Jet rangers on the V&A Helipad; Beating up some members of his staff; Bulldozing a sand dune in an ecologically sensitive area of Milnerton beach in order to extend his garden; Attempting to take foreign currency out of the Country through Cape Town Airport; Tax evasion; His ships were attached; His Jet rangers were repossessed; His Auditors resigned: and he is operating illegally out of an Industrial area next to the freeway; not to mention the fact that he has been flying a Grounded helicopter for 9 months now, and charging the passengers for the “pleasure” of flying with Private Pilots and no Insurance. He apparently has neither conscience nor sense of reality, as he appears to exist in his own private world where the law does not exist.

His second in command, Mr François Marais, apparently also has a fairly chequered history; as he forged an FAA Commercial pilots license and then attempted to use it to fly in this country; he was sentenced to community service for this, (at Ysterplaat; some punishment!) but he should have been banned from flying altogether and all the other private pilots who fly the grounded Huey should have their licences revoked.

Considering all the facts regarding the integrity of both Mr van der Merwe and Mr Marais, the two heads of the Huey “Club” operation, and Mr van der Merwe also being the main shareholder of Helicopter & Marine Services, which “hires” it’s helicopter to the Huey “Club” the burning question would be:- how did this Huey obtain it’s Certificate of Airworthiness in the first place?

Also considering that when WIN still owned it’s Jet rangers, they caused the first crash on the V&A Helipad by tying two helicopters together, and when the bank repossessed the remaining Helicopters, they were in a very sorry state: they were uninsured and had missing component cards, were sporting parts pirated from other helicopters and several Unserviceable parts; why would anyone imagine that the Huey would suddenly be run as a legal, airworthy and up-and-up business? And judging from the fact that their previous Auditors threw them out, what guarantees are there that the books are being kept correctly?

Seeing that the Huey is currently grounded due to missing component cards and legitimate records for certain parts, it follows that these records were never correct. At the time of the “club’s” inception, Mr Trevor Abrahams was the Commissioner of the CAA. This man needs no introduction, but perhaps he could be tracked down and asked how the Huey got its Airworthy in the first place? I have no doubt that Gary van der Merwe has the “Gift of the Gab”; all those sorry Investors prove it; how many CAA Inspectors are currently embarrassed over the fact that the Huey’s operation is not a “club” after all, and the Helicopter is unsafe?

The Huey “Club” grossly overloads their Helicopter, for which the law allows a maximum of 9 passengers (if they were operating legally). But they are regularly loading up to 16 passengers per flight.

They take off and land over water without either floats or life vests, contrary to the V&A Waterfront Helipad’s Standard Operating Procedures, which make Floats mandatory. Once they picked up a plastic bag on their rotors and they narrowly made it back to the pad Maverick style, what if they had come down in the water? On at least 2 occasions smoke was seen billowing out of the Helicopter and they had to land and have the passengers disembark in a hurry! They have had forced landings and engine outs more than once, and only one of these reached the media, thanks to the quick thinking of Ernest Macdonald of Sport. They reportedly had a cracked tail boom at a Stellenbosch air show, what was done about that? How many of these near misses have actually occurred since the “club’s” inception, and how many have actually been reported to the CAA?

They sell flights from the V&A Quayside in the same way as all of the legitimate Commercial Operators do. They are not recruiting Club members. The flight is a novelty, therefore a once-off trip.

The passengers receive a “certificate” after their flight, this has a “membership number” printed on it. Should that same “member” come back later and wish to fly again, he has to pay another fee, and receives yet another “certificate”, printed with a new “membership number”.
Having spoken to several of the passengers who have flown on the Huey, not one of them has ever received a newsletter; nor have they been asked to supply their addresses. Also, some of them have said that they did not even know that they were supposedly joining a “Club” until they had received their “certificate” after the flight. The whole scam is a farce.

They have no Public Liability Insurance on this Helicopter, and the passengers are signing away their legal rights on an indemnity form. Several Tour Operators have reported that they have asked the Huey “Club” for proof of Insurance, (which is standard practice for most Tour Operators, prior to booking their tourists for flights, etc), to no avail. What happens to the Helicopter operations in Cape Town after this man dumps his paying (foreign) tourists in the sea?

Private Pilots are flying fare paying passengers in contravention of several Aviation regulations.

As far as one can establish, neither The Huey Club, nor Gary van der Merwe, nor Helicopter and Marine Services has a valid Air Services License.

In his papers before the Court when the V&A Waterfront attempted to force him into complying with his Grounding Order, Gary van der Merwe stated (under oath) that he has 3000 hours flying time as a pilot on the Huey. At that time, he had owned the Huey for approximately 1 year. Thus 3000 hrs divided by 9 months over the year, works out to 333 hours per month, and therefore 11 hours per day. (Given the winter weather and all the times the Huey has been down and out of commission, and given that he did commercial work with the Huey at Chapman’s Peak for a month, and used Commercial pilots.) That means that he would need to fly the Helicopter as the sole pilot, every day, all day! Besides being impossible, this would also be illegal, as Pilots’ flying hours are strictly regulated for obvious reasons. Perhaps Mr van der Merwe could explain how he managed to obtain all these extra Huey flying hours? This is the way in which they continue to mislead the public and lie to the Court and the Judges.

In the V&A case he claimed that the Huey’s Main Rotor Grips have a mandatory life period of 9000 hours. This is definitely not true, the manufacturers of the Huey, Bell, give these Grips a life of 1200 hours or 2 years, whichever comes up first. Should the Helicopter not be flown for 1200 hours within the 2 year period, Bell will provide the owner with a pro rata rebate. In this Court case van der Merwe argued that Bell simply gives these component times in order to sell Aircraft parts. The fact is that the rebate is in place precisely to discourage the owner from attempting to continue using parts which are no longer deemed to be safe.

In the papers before the court for their Interdict Application to stop Ernest Macdonald from filming their illegal operations, Gary and Francois tell several blatant lies. (under oath) (As the case has run, this case is a matter of public record). One being that they claim to have flown rescue work as the Huey “club” for the NSRI. It is common knowledge that such bodies as the NSRI are governed by strict regulations, and therefore they would never be allowed to utilise a Helicopter without floats and specialised lifting equipment for sea rescue work. Gary has tried to mislead the Court, as the Huey “Club” has never been involved in any form of sea rescue work, they simply do not comply with the requirements.

In those same papers, Both Gary and Francois insist that the fact that their operation is illegal is “Irrelevant”. Yet that is the whole crux of the matter, and the reason for Macdonald’s filming! The fact that they and the Court do not find it relevant that they are operating illegally is frightening!

They continually tell anyone prepared to listen, that the Court ruled that the second Grounding Order was invalid. Anyone with reasonable intelligence would realise that this is yet another con. The second Grounding Order has not yet been challenged by van der Merwe. How could a Court rule over a Grounding Order which has not happened yet? Should the Traffic Department issue a motorist with a speeding fine, and the motorist overturns the fine in Court on a technicality, does this mean that the Traffic Department may never issue him with another speeding fine?

The Huey Operators’ constant attempts at fooling the public are beyond belief, and the fact that the Huey is still flying is also beyond belief. It is really high time that one of the legal operators in the Waterfront bought a Huey, and showed them how to do it, as it is a great machine, and it is criminal (no pun intended) to see how what was an excellent idea has been so badly abused.

The Huey had another Engine failure last week, and now has finally had one at the Airport where it could not be covered up, despite that ridiculous statement to the Cape Times this morning! Apparently, van der Merwe’s staff sneaked into the AMO’s hanger in the dead of night and stole the Huey’s engine, and when the CAA came to investigate the forced landing, there was no engine to investigate. What kind of behaviour is this? Why is this man not behind bars? So far he has been more than lucky; he has crashed and patched that Huey over the last 2 years, just keeping it going well enough to make more and more money, and has not yet crashed with paying passengers on board! Will this man only ever give up once he kills himself and a Huey full of passengers?

Seems quite a few ppruners have egg on their faces now. I cannot believe that so many (presumably Intelligent) people fell for van der Merwe’s lines, and no one, (besides me, and I’m just an interested spectator) actually ever bothered to investigate whether “Rotorhead” was speaking the truth or not way back in December 2002. And how many of you actually asked the other operators (Cluver & Macdonald) why they were so against the Huey Operator from the beginning – just accepted Gary’s story about jealousy. Maybe some of you are going to accept Gary’s story that they were “practicing” forced landings at the Airport?

I am aware that this is a rumour network, but seems as though some of those rumours are really far fetched – some of you should be writing children’s novels! Come on, altogether now, one large collective apology to Rotorhead as well as Ernest and Robert Macdonald. (Obviously not such a pair of nuts after all!) Van der Merwe has certainly caused a lot of damage to the Cape Town Aviation scene; here’s hoping it will all fizzle away soon!
There is another interesting little forum on http//ikiteboarding.com go to – forums – Chill out Lounge – Huey Cowboy, for anyone caring to read it.

[Deanw]

Cape Times:


Helicopter operator defies grounding order

November 23, 2004

By Babalo Ndenze

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is investigating a Huey helicopter operator in the city for flying without permission following an accident earlier this year, but the company says it will continue to do so.

The CAA grounded the Huey on January 7 because the Huey Extreme Club would not allow a safety inspection of the aircraft after it was stranded near Bloubergstrand. The club claims the grounding was invalid and has continued to fly the helicopter.

On Saturday the helicopter was involved in a forced landing at the airport.

Following this "precautionary landing", CAA spokesman Moses Seate said the helicopter was grounded in January and as far as they were concerned it was not supposed to have been flying.

"They are defying our grounding order. We are still investigating the matter and we can't tell what the outcome will be. When there is an accident we will not allow any aircraft to fly. If there is an accident the authority to fly immediately becomes invalid."


Operators had to re-apply for a permit to fly after an accident, he said.

The Huey's owner, Gary van der Merwe, said the CAA had no idea what it was talking about and he had every reason to fly the helicopter. The club won a high court interdict against a CAA grounding in December.

"They are talking nonsense, that's bogus bulls**t they're feeding you. We have a high court order against the CAA allowing us to fly."

"Anyway, all we were doing was performing a precautionary landing exercise. It's quite normal. You know, people are always trying to blow things out of proportion," Van der Merwe said.

[clipboard]

[B]TWOMEMBER

Great first posting TwoMember. You sound just like the whining Rotorhead.

Now if this is not a bitter and twisted comment to defend Rotorhead's initial thread, then I don't know.

So what is your point exactly?

You sound like you've been briefed by "ol Elvis the hound dog and his kid judging by the comments you make with regards to the Court papers. A Court case that Ol Elvis lost with punitive costs, as well as the appeal.

To date, the Huey has'nt killed anyone, or has it? Your facts are so way out of line, it borders on pathetic. Maybe you should get educated on the facts first before writing a novel about your hatred towards the Huey. Shame, poor man! It's enough to make one cry.

The Huey was up until Saturday, Cape Town's helicopter industry's premium money puller, and your comments about the Huey is clearly a case of bitterness. Why? Because you could'nt fly it, and because your employers did'nt make enough money, so you lost out on some of your part time revenue???

Its amazing that people like yourself always have lots to say about others, but you yourself lack the balls and the initiative to do something for your self. Come on man, stop whining, get a life, go out and try and make some money for your self, and leave those that know how to do so, out of your idiotic philosophy.:} :yuk: :mad:

[B Sousa]

Clipboard......Come on now........ "To date the Huey hasnt killed anybody" What kind of comment is that......
Is the CAA designed to wait for that before taking action??
Two member has only made one post but certainly sounds as if he is close to the pulse.
Unfortunatly most on this rumor network remain anonymous.........Consider though that could change if someone has a lawyer in their pocket. Folks here are only superficially anonymous.
Further, "Until saturday, the Huey Capetown's helicopter Industry's premium money puller." Yes it probably was....Street Hookers make a lot of money on the waterfront, but that does not make it legal...

[carnivoruslegallus]

Twomember, as a "interested spectator" you seem to know an awful lot about the Huey, the Waterfront SOP's, Cluver, Elvis and the lot, which makes me think that you are none other than the original "whiner" that first posted issues about the Huey way back in December 2002.

You mention of a lot of things, like breaking the law, the Waterfront SOP's, flying without floats etc. Well mister, Have you noticed that your part time boss Cluver operates one of his Jetranger's without floats and have done so for nearly 18 months. Have you noticed that both Elvis & Cluver subcharters the Agusta 119 without floats to fly from the Waterfront from time to time. Have you noticed that your other part time boss Elvis charters Airport based helicopters from time to time, also without floats. Because they're your buddies and employers, they're legal? They're not breaking any SOP's or laws are they? Yeah right!

Gary van der Merwe personally never tied two helicopters together and pranged them. His pilots did.... out of a pure act of stupidity. Bear in mind that the very one now works for Elvis, and can't get employment anywhere else due to the accident he was the cause of. These are your buddies..... the ignorant and the stupid... with ego's ten times higher than their IQ's, and these are the guys that have never achieved anything in their lives, other than to critisize those who have. They themselves have never gone anywhere themselves. Remember... there's a lot of professional jealousy out there, and YOU are most certainly one of them. The bitterness in your posting confirms that. It's amazing that whiners like your self are in aviation. Can you cope under pressure my man?

You asked how the Huey got its original Airworthiness Certificate? How do you think? Oh I forgot.... you're just an innocent spectator with no knowledge of aviation, so yeah right... you would'nt know, but maybe you should find out. You mention the previous Commissioner and states that this man needs no introduction. What are you implying? Are you implying that Mr. Abrahams is corrupt or incompetent?

You also mention that an other operator should buy a Huey. Well why don't they? Elvis alledgedly bought a Huey in March this year, but to date it has'nt arrived. Any reason for that? Money problems???? Paperwork problems???? Export/Import problems? Elvis hates the Huey, and have fabricated many a lie about it. He has also tried everything in his power to get it banned from the Waterfront, but in spite of all that, he is quite willing to buy a Huey and operate it from the Waterfront in spite of the fact that he has alledged to the Waterfront Company that a Huey is too big, its blades are too long etc. But its OK if he operates one huh??? What a bunch of jokers you are!

We have all flown in the Huey, know the operator and the people involved, and I can honestly say that the Huey was always operated professionally and within the parameters of the law. Why would the Supreme Court, after hearing argument, rule in its favour three times? Are the judges according to you, also corrupt? The stories and the rumours about the Huey was/is/are fabricated by people like yourself..... the jealous and the ignorant, only because you did'nt think of the idea and could never be part of it.

As for B. Sousa, he critisized me when I first posted in favour of the Huey, but like the Kennel Keeper said, he came to SA to fly the Huey (as a 2000 hour Huey pilot) but could not perform on basic slinging at Chapmans Peak, and because he could not perform, he blamed all his own personal mistakes and incompetence on the Huey. He then started sending out PM's to a number of pprune readers, as well as to his mates at the SACAA, bitching about the Huey. Sick huh? The Huey got the wrath of his incompetence.

Anyway, I have not always agreed with what the van der Merwe did, or how he went about conducting his business, and I have openly critisized him for it, but I am a fan of the Huey and will always be. The Huey has been great for Cape Town.

Long live the memories of the Huey:ok:

[Dave Mouton]

As Mr P Volland of CAA informed me about the site today I decided to become a member immediately and share in the fun. I will attempt to give you fact and fiction to keep this topic alive.

Fact

1. After the incident I immediately called a CAA official and was quickly reminded about my legal position and the possibility of losing my licence and DE status. Before I received a letter from CAA on Monday morning one of our members posted the questions verbatim on the web. FICTION- Any relation to par 4 and 5? YOU Guess. End of fiction
2. Dave Mouton does fly for money. R2000 a day if the client requires me to leave my office. The travel, meal and accommodation will also be for the clients account. This time round I was kind enough to wave the meals and accommodation as the weekend gave me the opportunity to visit my father (diagnosed with terminal cancer recently) and yes to fly a 205.
3. Please forward the professional pilots details that are flying for free. My company would like 10 of them (I will pay meals but no accommodation).
4. All legal training in South Africa takes place on a Part 141 licence. These licences are not helicopter registration specific but only specify the type of training a qualified instructor can give. The training on Saturday complied with all the requirements of my Part 141. FICTION-“Previous training on the 205 to the owner was given by a CAA official and I would like to know which Part 141 was used in that instance. Did CAA have the same concerns at that time regarding the safety of the helicopter? Did that official ensure that all documents were in order? Was it even necessary because that official helped Gary to set up the operation? ” End of Fiction
5. If CAA revokes a C of R or C of A what is it still doing in the owner’s possession? I always thought the Supreme Court is the highest authority in South Africa. A pity your friend did not tell that to the people who know me and my love of money so well.
6. I always had the impression that CAA was there to protect pilots and passengers. So if all you guys that hate the 205 and its owner are indeed correct about the 205 I wish CAA acted sooner and also won the legal battles. If given a choice I would prefer being on the ground on Saturday because CAA did a better job/ had better legislation or legal aid. If CAA fails again and Gary continues with a safe operation I wish him and our 205 lovers many happy flying ours.
7. If Saturday had a fatal ending for 6 people who was my wife going to blame? My love for flying, my urge to fly the 205 and a helpless CAA.

[B Sousa]

Carnivore
Just to set the record straight. I did do some slinging at Chapmans, and immediately told Francois that he should use a precision sling pilot for the job that was required. Capetown has one and he was busy at the time.
I was not using vertical reference and also not using a Cargo hook made for the Huey and not used to this method. Slinging is easy, but placing steel on a spot while relaying through three different people is not. Chapmans peak was not Basic Slinging. Im sure I can put out the fire in your Braai with a Bambi Bucket.. You do that??
Nothing to blame the Huey for, its just a different kind of work. Im not ashamed of admitting it was a bit much for me so your not slinging mud in my face.. I would ask you though what Personal mistakes did I make??
You obviously are typing for someone else as the problems mentioned about the Huey had nothing to do with Sling work, sounds as if Eddie has his hand up your rear wiggling your lips..
Maybe you should post your name , its easy if your honest.
Im sure there will be more fun as this progresses.....

[bladestrap]

:D Wow, let the show begin. The Huey is more newsworthy than the mercenaries in EG, and the Sheik & Zuma's saga.;)

I have read all the threads regarding the Huey, and going back to the original thread posted by Rotorhead in December 2002, Rotorhead eventually, due to pressure from Cluver, identified himself as Pete Hanes, an ATP (H) who "works for most of the operators". Now since the world knew who Rotorhead was, Pete Hanes NEVER posted anything again under the name of Rotorhead. His last posting was in march 2003.

Now, 18 months later, TWOMEMBER, a man with a big urge to comment, albeit "an innocent spectator" posts a thread, again with so much bitterness. Some of the issues raised are exactly the issues Pete Hanes raised during his initial threads, airworthiness, fake parts, lost logs, insurances, the Cluver & Elvis comments, its the exact duplicate of the previous postings. So I'm prepared to bet my last bottom dollar, that there is a connection. He even suggests a "Huge apology" to be made to Rotorhead.:mad:

Be that as it may, TWOMEMBER has written exactly what Elvis wanted him to write. Elvis has even supplied him with copies of court papers from his matter with the Huey (which he lost), as TWOMEMBER quoted these. The plot thickens, and soon we'll know who this man is. Keep on writing TWOMEMBER.

It amazes me that the "Huey Haters" have stooped to the levels they have. Fabricating stories about tailbooms cracking and falling off, numerous engine failures, pirate parts and whatever else. These are the guys that are so envious of the Huey, but they DON'T have the courage to acknowledge that the Huey has been a big success. I mean, this man asks how the Huey got its original C of A? Now what kind of an ignorant question is that? That whole issue was addressed in the original thread in detail! Shows you the lack of brain power here, or is it pure malice, trying to implicate the previous Commissioner, always looking for another stick to beat the dog. These people are sick, sick with envy, and its burning them up.

The man even had a go at Francois. Rotorhead did that in his previous thread also. The man is clearly confused, as the info posted on Francois is so far from the truth, and varies everytime he says something. The man is so ignorant, as he still refers to Francois as Gary's second in command. This after Francois left the Company in September.

Since Francois left the Huey organisation, Gary basically took control of everything there, and although some of us supported him, we also openly critisised him when he did things we did not agree with. Owning the helicopter is one thing, and operating it is another thing. What Gary does, or have done, does'nt mean that we as Huey lovers should stop liking the helicopter. In spite of all the fabricated stories that have reached the ears of all sorts of people, the Huey has been flown without causing injury to soul. TWOMEMBER mentions all the problems and the alledged failures, but he neglects to mention all the problems and the failures of the other operators. Engine cut in a Jetranger which resulted in the tail being chopped off in the ensuing forced landing, doors flying off in flight due to poor maintenance, but to mention a few. Come on TWOMEMBER, wake up my man, these are mechanical things that can fail. Are you telling us that everytime you have an incident, mishap, or problem on your A340 it is due to poor service or incompetent mechanics? What an Einstein!

The situation that Gary now finds himself in, may be self inflicting, who knows. We are not involved in the day to day running of his business, so we won't know, but we support the Huey, and will do so to the end. Gary may be a maverick, but at least he had the courage to face up to believing in his dream, which is clearly what the other envious operators could not stomach, including Rotorhead, A340-CoJock, Twomember and the rest who have gone out of their way to malign the Huey.

As with Dave Mouton's posting, welcome to the pprune Dave. Your first post makes a little bit of sense in some ways, but I would say that it is rather defensive, and in it you're "fingering" a CAA Official, who if I remember correctly, was at one time also your boss in another organisation, and rumour has it that also there, you were always trying to have a go at him. Bottom line is that as a DE you have certain responsibilities towards safe flight, and the way I look at it, you broke all those responsibilities. Difference of opinion? Yeah sure, there will be, but lets leave it at that. Let the SACAA here be the judge.

With regards to B. Sousa's defensive posting, come on Bert, don't be so sensitive. The boys are only giving you a bit of your own medicine. Tooo many pprune readers received PM's from you about the Huey, and not all of them kept it to themselves. They shared it with the Huey boys. They all know your sentiments on the issue, especially the information you sent to your friend at the SACAA. So what you sow, you will reap.:D

Don't become bitter now. See the lighter side of it. There may soon be, according to TWOMEMBER, "a legal Huey to fly" in the Waterfront, Ol Elvis'. Then TWOMEMBER can get a type rating and show us all how to do it. (Having watched him fly an Alo3, with his rock ape departures and low level beat ups and turns, I'm not so sure if he'll survive in a Huey) Then maybe you'll have a chance to fly a "legitimate" Huey, and then you can compare the difference between a "legitimate and an illegal" Huey, and give us your comments which we will of course digest with glee.:ok:

:D Hee Haaa, long live the Huey!:ok:

[Kennel Keeper]

Eddie De Jager alias the Huey 'Kennel Keeper' wishes to make the following statement without hiding behind names:-

Qualifications:

Qualified at Atlas Aviation 1975 as an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic after a legitimate trade test and apprenticeship beginning in 1972.

4 years post apprenticeship training at the expense of the SAAF.

2 years in small commercial aviation before going back to Armscor until 1994 in research and development. Official secrets act prevents any disclosure of work done during my entire career and therefore makes it look as if I came out of the woodwork.

Since 1994 worked as a contractor for various companies under the wary eye of well known inspectors who were happy to sign for my work.

No I do not have an AME licence as I have never had the need for one in a management role. I have always had other people willing to sign my work when required. Luckily I also gathered vast experience in car repairs and panelbeating which certainly fed my family when aviation could not.

Privately I have built many aircraft for various roles all of which were done with a great deal of pride and as a result my workmanship international and local magazines published stories of this work. The Huey is in fact the culmination of one of these projects.

The Huey:-

The Huey was rebuilt exclusively by me at a private field in Johannesburg to the original military spec and the addition of civilian specs.
All the parts were stripped down, inspected and re certified by legitimate organisations .
Parts were only purchased fron NAC or Bell factory authorised suppliers.
Copies of ALL the log cards and maintenance records were obtained and in fact were always available from the original Ethiopian shipment.
CAA in fact have copies of all these records but still like to imply forgery etc.(although I think more of the implication has come from the likes of jealous opposition )

Everybody and I mean everybody has always been more than welcome to come to my workshop at Helibase to look at the Huey project and ask questions including the SACAA.

Oh and by the way I dont even work for Gary anyway so it cant be the for the money. I am passionate about the Huey and any other warbird and will pledge whatever it takes to keep it flying safely, simply to give ordinary people the chance to fly a legend.


FINALLY
I invite all of you to please not be cowards and come and see for yourselves if all you alledge is true.

I also do not agree with some of the things Gary has done and have not been shy to say so. I admit I have had a good fight sometimes to get things done properly.

I also spent my aviation career in an environment where the rest of the world abandoned us to the threat of Soviet agression and learned to make a plan. We south Africans can be proud that we developed aviation and other products which still make the yanks jealous!! So what if we make a plan with local parts. Why should I not rather pay local engineers and suppliers and create employment than support an overpriced american market.
I remind you all that we built the worlds best combat helicopter from LOCAL PARTS we made ourselves. Therefore the ROOIVALK should also be grounded because we made it in a back workshop from local parts???
I am very proudly South African

Email [email protected] if you have the guts to come forward from behind your aliases!

[marc perkins]

Interesting to watch all the previous War Bird euphoria rocked to it's foundation, by recent events and some revealing comments by Bert.

It would seem that he is by far the only trully qualified expert on Huey's on this forum to date; there is no doubting his experience, and his comments on this forum have always been well measured and left plenty of food for thought. What amazes me is the ridiculous and really childlike comments relating to his so called inability to conduct the sling work at Chapmans Peak. I personally carried out some of the work at Chapmans, and it was anything but mandatory. On numerous occasions I turned more opportunities to work the Peak down, regardless of how lucrative, due to lack of proper equipment or personnel. I don't know Bert from a bar of soap, but I can assure you his attitude and comments come accross as Professional. Isn't this what we all should be striving towards !

Wrt Dave Mouton I know him, and respect him to be a complete professional in every sense when it comes to flying. He for one would definately have checked all the aircraft documentation regarding the Huey. Like he says, if this aircraft really was grounded as the CAA claims, then why are these documents still in the aircraft ! If the CAA grounding order was in fact valid, then it would seem that there is a chronic void in the policing of these urgent matters.

Re the entire float issue at the Waterfront pad: this has been flogged to death and debated about so often. Firstly let us all admit that the Waterfront is a confined area Heli Pad, surrounded by water. Most aircraftapproaching or departing this site, wether float equipped or not, should be planning their routes in such a fashion that should they experience any problems, they can make it back onto the pad. Not entirely easy for newcomers, but with some suitable base checks by qualified persons, then quite possible. Not so some detractors might say; well explain that to John Pocock with whom I flew the various possible profiles, under the different wind conditions to prove this very point.

Secondly the present law allows for flights over water for single engine helicopters without floatation gear for purposes of take off and landing. The new Waterfront SOP's compiled in conjunction with the SACAA representatives does not allow for this, and all helicopters are expected to have floatation gear. This in spite of all objections from most of the Operators.

Thirdly the law specifies that for periods of intended sustained flight over water, then all forms of floatation devices for aircraft and persons, is mandatory. At the inception of the Hueys flying, I was one of the critics for their sustained low level routing well behind the "backline" minus the necessary gear for their aircraft and people. On numerous occasions, in my opinion well beyond any hope of succesfully autorotating to land. Their routing was subsequently adjusted, and they routed at a height of 1000' amsl and at all times within safe distance of land. Never mind the noise saving which was also a bonus. End of criticism, no problem and congratulations to them seeing the wisdom at the time.

My point is we don't need to reinvent the law, if we all adopt a professional outlook to what it stands for. If we all look behind the fineprint, there is wisdom in there to be found believe it or not !

This has become quite a mouthfull, but one last point. Earlier in this thread someone mentioned the effect a tragedy would have on peoples perception of a particular aircraft type. Bare in mind that 90 % of all tourists are completely ignorant on technicalities regarding aircraft. If something were to happen ( which is bound to in our industry), and all matters aren't squeeky clean then the International world will not be specifying a Huey, or a Jetty, or an Alo or Robby for that matter. What they will do is label "Helicopters" and "South Africa", and that affects us all.

We have a jewell of a helicopter industry, and we all need to take it apon ourselves to safeguard it. There is no doubting the genious of Gary's concept, but my only wish is that he and all other Operators, do whatever it takes to get in line with both the law, and what is in the best interests of a safe and prosperous industry.

Just my Pounds worth after sitting on the sidelines for sometime now.

Regards to all, and safe flying

MP

:ok:

[clipboard]

:ok: Nice posting Marc. Well done!

I'm really glad to see that since you've "been sitting on the sideline", you have mellowed and have accepted the success of the Huey, as if I remember correctly, you were one of the fierce critics of the Huey initially, labelling it as an "accident waiting to happen" etc. Amazing is'nt it, what a change of environment does. No poisening from the V&A Operators no more. Good one!;)

Safe flying comes from sound training and the right attitude. Now the question I want to post is; Why has the Huey during its two years of operation not killed anyone? Was it due to sound training of the crew and their professional attitude in dealing with the "millions of failures and mishaps", or was it simply good luck? What has kept it going and kept it a premier draw card to the Waterfront? I would love to know the answer.

Furthermore, TWOMEMBER goes on to slate everything he can think of, from Gary's "corruptive business dealings" to everything bad he can think of regarding the Huey. Logs, bogus parts, poorly qualified personnel, etc. If one has to believe this joker, then one must accept that the Huey should never have flown, and that Gary should long ago have been behind bars. So how does one distinguish here between what is really right and wrong? If TWOMEMBER is an "innocent spectator", why is he trying to act like a professional.... pilot, engineer, lawyer, inspector, policeman et al? I mean, this joker should be a highly paid "master of all". He's even quoting Manufacturers data on Grips & TT straps. Man! This Einstein is good!

My Huey membership number is below 100 and I'm a life long member, so I was one of the first bunch to join, and I can assure you, as an enthusiast, I was very much part of the original scene, and up to now I have always fiercely defended the Huey operation because I believe in it. I know that the CAA inspected the machine initially, and was satisfied enough to issue it with a C of A. Maybe its true that the CAA did not handle the Huey issue correctly from the beginning, but in spite of all of that, for 18 months they had NO objection to the flying of the Huey, by whom it was flown, by whom it was maintained, and what kind of work it did. They were so happy with the Huey that on 23 July 2003, they even issued it with A Commercial C of A, hand delivered by the CAA official to the Huey's offices! So where did the sudden change come from? From poison parties like Elvis, who in one day made in excess of 50 calls to the CAA to complain about the Huey. His helicopter business was going broke due to the success of the Huey, and he had to do something to stop it. So he got the likes of Rotorhead and TWOMEMBER to start the malicious rumours about the Huey, with which they have actually had NO success with. The result? Elvis had to sell his Taxi Business to finance his Court battles and to keep his helicopter business in the Waterfront afloat.

The Huey people, on the other hand, believed in what they were doing was legitimate, went to the Supreme Court, and won. Three times! This in spite the numerous fabrications by Elvis and his cronies.

Maybe you're right about Dave Mouton. Maybe he did inspect the helicopter's documents, and yes, maybe he did find them to be in order. Surely, if he found them to be in order, then they MUST HAVE BEEN IN ORDER huh? Maybe Dave can tell us enthusiast a bit more as to what actually happened and what was the cause of the "forced landing"? Then we can hear it from the horse's mouth.

All machinery has a chance of failing, and surely the Huey should be no exception. I mean, the thing works mechanically and anything mechanical are prone to failures, especially when you least expect it. So is the huge hoo haa about the Huey's alledged engine failure really justified? In actual fact, are all the hoo haa about the Huey really justified, or must one accept that there will always be jealous critics out there ready to fabricate some sort of "fairytale"?

It will be a real shame if the Huey should leave the Cape Town skies under this cloud, and I hope that Gary will sort out this mess, and get the Huey up and running again.

Lets see!:ok:

[B Sousa]

Bladestrap
Not being sensitive at all. What I mentioned to others was the same as I posted a couple days ago. Nothing has changed if you compare notes. The only difference being is that I didnt post it on the open forum until Kennel Keeper let the dogs out.. I also spoke to Francois in depth about it..
You just dont get it, I spent 21 years flying those things. I lived in them ,slept in them and lost many friends in them. They are a part of my life. My love for Hueys is the one reason I get a bit vocal on the matter. I am not used to seeing things in this fashion. Dont blame it on Africa either.
Something I forgot to mention in regards to sling work was that the Huey was probably never used for precision work in the Military. Our slinging was usually re-supply. Nets full of food, fuel, etc. on short 25-50 lines. The only time I ever did 300' lines was in tall trees in the mountains and with good communication.
The B205 which is almost the same machine is used extensively in the civilian world and for precision work. As a rule it is set up for Vert/Ref by using a bubble window on the left side with TQ/TGT/N1 guages so that the pilot does not have to move his head while working.
Albeit the Huey and the 205 are the same airframe, they have differences. Dave Mouton is well versed in the 205 and can explain if necessary.
On another item; in the states to do any maintenance....let me say that again, TO DO ANY MAINTENANCE, one is required to have in his possession a valid (A/P) Airframe/Powerplant License or to sign off work a Valid (A/I) Airframe Inspectors License. Yes you can work in a Factory or for a Manufacturer or in a Licensed Repair Station without that. You are working under their agreement with the FAA. If you are not meeting that criteria, I dont care how long your resume is at the College of Underwater Basketweaving; You dont have a License, its illegal.
I also get the feeling that the emotions here from some are due to the fact that they are "Huey Enthusiasts" and not qualified Helicopter Pilots or Mechanics as we call them. It seems to be a determining factor as to which side of the fence they are perching.That alone explains a lot of the mud slinging.:ok:

[Dave Mouton]

Bladestrap

As an old member of a rumour site you should read between the lines. The question is not whether SACAA will decide, it is whether they could do so objectively.

[carnivoruslegallus]

;) I heard a rumour today that Bert NEVER flew in Vietnam:confused: and that he was a Law Enforcement pilot flying Jetrangers for the Sacramento Police.:confused: :confused: I was always under the impression Bert was a seasoned Vietnam Vet.

By the way Eddie, nice of you to come out in the open with your stuff. As you are the primary engineer on the Huey, what caused Saturday's failure? Was it really just a compressor stall, or was it total turbine/compressor failure? I am lead to believe it was the latter, but there are so many stories doing the rounds, one does not know what to believe. Have you got the courage to tell us the truth?

According to the newspapers it was a training flight to practise precautionary landings. Now that SURELY is not true, as why did the CAA come down. Tell us Eddie!:ok:

[B Sousa]

Carnivore.
You certainly have a bug up your rear. I never claimed to anyone about any combat flying in Vietnam. Who came up with this crap, get some names out here. I did fly in the Army. My service in SE Asia was on the Ground as a Marine. I joined the Army later on and started flying in 1970. and Yes I flew for Law Enforcement . I retired as a Detective/Pilot in the Narcotics Division from the Sacramento Police Department in California and also as a Captain from the U.S. Army Reserve. Do I need to lay out a Biography so you can get a thrill or two??
I certainly dont know why I am so important to you. The issue or thread is regarding the Huey. Where do you get these impressions, certainly not from anything I said.
So to quell any rumors is there anything else that you think may get a rise from me. Anyone else want to wiggle your lips....Im very open about any questions and would be pleased to start another thread.
Give it a rest.... go grab a couple Castles and relax, I dont think Im your enemy....
And who are you by the way??
Also since your asking Eddie what happened to the scrap metal which used to serve as a T53-L13, ask him where it is?? RUMOR has it, it was stolen? Now thats Africa........

[DualDriver]

Bert

It seems to me he's jealous and out to sling a couple o' tons of mud at you.

Why, I don't know:confused:

[Daiseycutter]

Not to throw a cat in amongst the "pigeon poop", but has anyone else noticed that the pieces written by "clipboard", "bladestrap", "carivoruslegallus" and "francois marais" all have the same spelling, grammar and context errors.

I might be off in a big way, but could it be that the same person, author or split personality is responsible for alot of the stirrings on this string of the forum.

Go figure it huh.

[4HolerPoler]

Eureka!!

Daiseycutter just uncovered a whole new aspect to this saga.

It would previously have been unethical for me to divulge source identities but I can confirm that:

• carnivoruslegallus
• clipboard
• bladestrap

are all posting from the same terminal. Now as to whether they are the same person is a matter of conjecture but it if you review this thread with the knowledge that these three personalities could all be the same person, then this book reads in a whole different light.

Daiseycutter got three out of four – Francois Marais has no connection, electronically, with the other members. The style, I’ll give you, is not dissimilar but Francois has always had the balls to post candidly, under his real name.

Once again, I refer you to the warning at the bottom of this page that As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, to elicit certain reactions.

4HP

[Deanw]

Geez Daisycutter, and that with your first post!

So, who are you and who is your alter ego :E :}

[Gunship]

I love mod's with brains ;)

PS: And I love IP address give aways .. :p

Your IP address has been logged ... :E

[PPRuNe Towers]

Daisycutter's analysis is confirmed from our central database along with the proviso added by 4HP

The enthusiasts and huey fans who have always offered their support should think carefully before posting and spend some time considering what you'd be saying under cross examination if you were as close to the action as you wished you were - until recently.

You might also put yourself in the position of a walk up punter. What would you think you are buying into. Would you expect civilian safety standards to apply?

You might also want to read the postings of the celebrated triple handed typist once more with regard to self justification and distancing efforts.:uhoh: :uhoh:

Regards
Rob

[B Sousa]

Very Interesting, So in essence I have met the person at the gatherings. Im disappointed. Based on that, It appears I was correct in that a lot of the mud is coming from "Enthusiasts" versus Pilots/Mechanics. Also based on what Eddie posted we can also consider him an "enthusiast."
Time for the next thread on "Bogus Parts". We shall make that a different thread so as not to cast a shadow on this one. Im hoping some qualified folks will add to it.

[Dave Mouton]

How interresting it would be if the IP address those three names used is the same as the IP address of a govermental organisation in South Africa.
Will somebody be so kind as to give us that IP address?
Or at least will those three/one tell us who they are?

[carnivoruslegallus]

4HP, so how many people post from the same terminal? In SA there are about 5 big providers. So everytime someone signs up, and happens to use an internet café that use one provider, those persons are labelled as the same? Is that right?

Just asking!:confused:

[Gunship]

No mate,

An IP address is quite particular to a machine.

So if Elvis and his dad and small boetie uses the same machine - the same IP adress will appear ;)

It was fun anyway :E

Cheers,

Gunnzzzz

[PPRuNe Towers]

Incorrect Dave but we will not be lured into further spoiling guessing games at whose agenda is being furthered by all this.

Regards
Rob

PS Amidst the fun and paranoia I do hope you all spend a moment considering how the months and months of this saga make all aspects of SA aviation look to an international audience.

[Gunship]

PS Amidst the fun and paranoia I do hope you all spend a moment considering how the months and months of this saga make all aspects of SA aviation look to an international audience.

Laughing stock ... same as our rugby ... :sad:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Jeeeezzzz, Guns.....

That's cutting a bit close to the bone.:E

[jammydonut]

You are right there....why doesnt turn it into an actuality sit com for TV

[Gunship]

Sorry SRT ... it felt so close to home and I was nearly at the stadium.

PS: We will redeem ouselves on Saturday vs the Scots though.

PS: Back to the topic.

Long live the Huey ... I will have to blow up the wonderful moment in the great machine with Foxtrot Mike (uhmm that is the digital pictures boys) :ok:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Guns

I stopped supporting the Boks when they stopped playing rugby and became a herd of glamour gatte. Looking forward to the All Blacks game.

Now THAT'S rugby!:ok:

[Gunship]

Watch them this weekend bru :D

At least our FlowerBokke in India is doing ok ... first one a draw :)

[BAKELA]

all aspects of SA aviationI've said it before, so won't say it again 'less I get sh@t on for slagging off "you know who"! I reckon this is only the tip of the iceberg! Sad indeed! Maybe we need more 'whistle blowers' in SA to show who's doing what to whom and where and how and what for...? Just saying...?

Gunzzz!!(it's late..I know). Howzit bru! Nice one on the IP's, hopefully have the trolls thinking about it????. :} :} :} SRT, as Gunzzz said, I can only endorse that one, the truth hurts...big time:sad:

Jammydonut, TV...what TV? why doesnt turn it into an actuality sit com for TV Maybe because in sitcoms :yuk: (Ali:yuk:. Osborne:yuk: ) they have the same problem in expressing themselves as you seem to have...:} :}

The seemingly pending demise of the Huey is not a sitcom, it's a bloody disaster...for those of us who love warbirds (in any form or in any way..and I'm one of those), for Cape Town, for South Africa, for this world and for the future of all "old" flying machines that may have had a chequered background but by the grace of Zeus and the other Gods had someone that said "Get me on the road again"...Let's keep on trying. Long live warbirds...and the Huey!!!!

[Dave Mouton]

Thanks for the honest correction and point taken, but if you don’t mind I will stick to my initial opinions while taking stock of South African aviation and rugby. If you read SA history you will see the sad roots of what we refer to as the crab syndrome. “As one escapes the fishing basket for the big blue waters the others will draw him back into the basket.” We have the ability to backstab and fight while forgetting and not solving the real issues. As long as the sun doesn’t shine on others life is good.
So even attempting to reflect on this saga objectively it is difficult to assess who is in the basket and who is really concerned with aviation safety. Lets just hope that the final decision makers have more wisdom than the average crab.
I do agree though -- Long live the Huey and it was great to fly in one again.

[Kennel Keeper]

Please read the following statement objectively without involving the sentiments for or against the Huey’s present owner/operator.

My hands are tied with regard to disclosure of any facts to the public at large for the following very sad reason :-

In any normal world wide aviation accident or occurrence the norm would be for everyone from the FAA / CAA, manufacturer and operator to have access to the parts to determine the cause of the failure or incident, and to use this information to either improve the failed component or recommend operating procedures or warnings to operators of similar aircraft.

However it has been my sad experience that in South Africa playing along with the authorities only spells trouble.
Our system which includes the CAA and insurers as well as banks have a tendency to punish the pilot/operator/owner for the incident rather than use this info for the good of all.
I have had this experience personally and know of others who have honestly admitted true facts of an accident to the authorities only to have licences suspended and insurance claims refuted.

This has sadly created a precedent with owners and pilots to rather lie and cover up than tell the truth which WILL be used to punish you.

In truth the Huey like many other aircraft has had a “forced” landing due to a failure of some sort. Normally this failure would be reported to Lycoming and other operators as it occurred at low engine total time. However this is now being used as a means to cane somebody for being a naughty boy.
If I or anyone connected to this aircraft were to admit any form of failure in the said engine or maintenance procedures, the chances are the said AME/AMO licence would be suspended and someone would be prosecuted!! Should the aircraft have been insured the insurers would be looking for any excuse not to pay with a great deal of help from the CAA.

The CAA authorities try to pretend they are your friends only to use any information given to punish you. We still seem to be locked into the old police state from the past.

Additionally due to the current climate of jealousy within the other operators everyone is trying now to claim they were right all along about the Huey being a dangerous aircraft including the CAA.

The other day a big European operator had an engine explode on takeoff at JNB with a new 777 full of packs. The aircraft stopped on a taxi way and all persons on board were safely evacuated. Immediately following the incident the engine was replaced and the aircraft was inspected and found serviceable to fly back to Europe.

Airbus did not get on the net and cry foul, nor did the CAA impound the 777. I think Airbus used this as a lesson of why the engine failed rather than as a reason to badmouth Boeing.

I would prefer full disclosure but fear a very large stick being waved including a CRIMINAL record for having dared to work on a component which failed due to FOD or fatigue.

Eddie( Using a proxy server through another port just in case big brother is watching)

[prospector]

"I have had this experience personally and know of others who have honestly admitted true facts of an accident to authorities only to have licences suspended and insurance claims refuted"

What a strange experience, I wonder why this should be?

Prospector

[anjouan]

Whilst I haven’t always agreed with everything Bert says, at least he’s always upfront and the rather pathetic attempts to discredit him serve only to show the inadequacies of the posters themselves.

I went for a flight in the Huey earlier this year and I fully agree that it’s a complete sham trying to pass it off as a club. It’s a normal fare-paying passenger pleasure flight. In my opinion it’s also a completely unsafe passenger operation. When I went up we had a long leg over the water, flew ridiculously low in a single engine machine carrying passengers and had there been any major engine problem a lot of people would have been seriously injured or killed. While it may be nice to keep old warbirds flying, this is not the way to do it.

[B Sousa]

KK writes:
"However it has been my sad experience that in South Africa playing along with the authorities only spells trouble.
Our system which includes the CAA and insurers as well as banks have a tendency to punish the pilot/operator/owner for the incident rather than use this info for the good of all.
I have had this experience personally and know of others who have honestly admitted true facts of an accident to the authorities only to have licences suspended and insurance claims refuted."

This is a good point to bring up and I will mention how it sometimes gets resolved in the states.
If there is a failure of some kind or an accident. One who is involved can write an honest statement to the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) This information CANNOT be used in any way for prosecutorial purposes, only for SAFETY and in the hopes the problem can be resolved. Lots of folks use to this legally get off the hook, and thats OK, if it prevents future problems. I dont think SA has that in Place.
This all applies if all else is considered "legal". That is proper documentation issued by the FAA as to the aircraft and all persons involved, ie. Pilots, Mechanics(Engineers) etc.
I believe the comparison to the major carrier engine problem and this situation is a matter of apples and oranges.

[clipboard]

Seeing that the moderators are now keen to expose pprune posters, why don't they just expose the whole lot? That way we will all know who's who in the zoo. :ok:

Its amazing how much attention the truth attracts, and how few people like the truth!

Take for instance the ONE posting by TWOMEMBER. I would say it is rather defamatory and very one sided.

My views on the Huey and its people (Owners & Opposition) have always been my own candid opinion and will remain so.:)

Good posting Eddie. :ok:

Good idea Bert, but this is South Africa, not the USA, and SA does not have a NTSB, only a couple of lawnmower mechanics.

[Jetdriver]

"Seeing that the moderators are now keen to expose pprune posters, why don't they just expose the whole lot? That way we will all know who's who in the zoo."


The rules are clear in this regard. A real name should not be used unless it already in the public domain. Any abuse of these rules is unacceptable and will be stopped.

[Kennel Keeper]

I quote Bert off the bogus parts forum

"keep in mind what Lu mentioned were AB205s, 206s. Those were probably manufactured in Italy by Augusta under contract and certifable aircraft, vs. those made in the states by Bell. Basically AB (augusta-Bell) were Civilian aircraft in Military paint.
Same thing in Germany. Dornier had a contract and made Hueys, but they were certified.
If the Huey in the Cape were either one of those, we wouldnt be having this discussion. They would be certifiable aircaft and everyone would be happy."

Surprise surprise!!!

What if I tell that 90 percent of the parts fitted to the flying Huey have AB part numbers and serial numbers and that in fact 4 of the Huey's at Helibase are actually AB 205's with 212 parts. This Huey was in fact fully maintained and overhauled by an Agusta subsidiary in Ethiopia. I have original documents (copies on file at SACAA) to prove this!

Fact:-
ZU-CVC (Huey 1) has in fact had almost all of the time related items replaced including installation of a NEW certified set of 212 part number main rotor gearbox and swash plate. The engine was overhauled by South East Asia aviation and only had a couple hundred hours in service when this machine started flying in Cape Town.
The blades were in fact removed three weeks ago because the 1 blade is short on time and the 2 year life of the TT straps is up!
Tail rotor components have also been upgraded due to advise from other operators and personal experience.
Why would I buy parts from NAC & Placo or parts logistics or IAP if I know that Bert has a scrapyard right there near home.

Again I repeat that anyone is or was always welcome to fly with the Huey back to Helibase and come and look for themselves. In fact the CAA themselves brought an inspector from Bristow to find all was in order.

BUT go home and read parts 94, 96 of the aviation legislation which clearly states that you may apply your own standards and maintenance procedures and use home made or non certified parts.

Why then did I apply both the military and civilian standards to the Huey and adopt military serviceing schedules to ensure the safety of the machine.

Because 14 people ride in that machine every day and even though I work for someone else I care enough to go there in my spare time to enforce those standards. The military specify a 7 page daily inspection which is not done on civilian aircraft. That inspection has been done every day and signed by an authorised person or inspector.

As To comments about the actual flying Francois took the trouble to invite high time Huey pilots from various operations to fly the Huey and give advise on characteristics of the machine.

One more comment. If I find a Eurocopter part that can replace the Bell part and give me better performance or safety and is easier to buy is it a "bogus" part. Bell helicopter created a problem for themselves and we also are affected because they wont sell parts for their machine to anyone including their own law enforcement agencies!.

[B Sousa]

KK writes:"Surprise surprise!!!

What if I tell that 90 percent of the parts fitted to the flying Huey have AB part numbers and serial numbers and that in fact 4 of the Huey's at Helibase are actually AB 205's with 212 parts. This Huey was in fact fully maintained and overhauled by an Agusta subsidiary in Ethiopia."

The saying is "That Dog wont Hunt." 90% of the parts is like saying a little pregnant. In this game its all or none. Starting with an Airframe that came from Bell, for the Military. Transmission, for the Military. Engine, Lycoming for the Military. You can put new stuff on it till the cows come home and that wont change the fact that from what has been posted here (Rumors<<<) you cannot show a complete History on the Airframe, major components and that extra 10%.. (Complete History is like from the time it came out of the box to present) I saw the Data Plates and Im not buying your statement that they were made in Italy or under contract to Augusta-Bell
212 part numbers on a 205 is acceptable, but in some cases requires an STC.

"BUT go home and read parts 94, 96 of the aviation legislation which clearly states that you may apply your own standards and maintenance procedures and use home made or non certified parts."

That when applied to the Huey is Scary to say the least. Im certainly glad you didnt mention it before I flew it.


"Because 14 people ride in that machine every day and even though I work for someone else I care enough to go there in my spare time to enforce those standards. The military specify a 7 page daily inspection which is not done on civilian aircraft. That inspection has been done every day and signed by an authorised person or inspector."

One word...>>> Who?( Authorized to me, means certified and licensed by the CAA )

"As To comments about the actual flying Francois took the trouble to invite high time Huey pilots from various operations to fly the Huey and give advise on characteristics of the machine."

Bluntly, in one Ear and out the other.

"One more comment. If I find a Eurocopter part that can replace the Bell part and give me better performance or safety and is easier to buy is it a "bogus" part. Bell helicopter created a problem for themselves and we also are affected because they wont sell parts for their machine to anyone including their own law enforcement agencies!. "

First Eurocopter as I know it does not make replacment parts for Bell. If they did and it met specs, it would not be considered "Bogus"
Second, your wrong. Bell will sell you anything for a B205, which other than the Tail Rotor Assembly is much the same. What you do with it is your business. The Problem as I see it in this case is that the price is staggering. Why buy new when you can find other stuff?

I think Kennel Keeper should stay on the porch as everytime he looks for the bone, he just digs his hole deeper. Its only going to result in someone in SA giving him the Bone. There comes a time when Silence is Golden.....

[Kennel Keeper]

Thank you Bert for the good advise.

I am departing to quieter pastures to participate in restoration of other toys where real parts and real money is available and where one can work in peace without criticism other than the judges at EAA.

I think my contribution to the Huey is over.

As A Final statement on this Huey forum I wish to thank all of those people who contributed over the last 5 years with advise and encouragement and who all made the fight worth burning the midnight oil. I will still run outside to look even if its only a CHC 212. Long live the Huey!!!

Watch the Pprune for new project postings.

[carnivoruslegallus]

Adios Amigo! Go well Eddie!

Viva the Huey!:D

[B Sousa]

What do you know ...a good point from Eddie. Sounds like the SPCA is knocking on the door.
I think it is time to put this to rest and I see no reason to inject anymore of my drivel here. Everything has been asked and answered at least twice and it wont change history.
Before going I would like to pose a question. There has been about 130+ postings and over 4600 hits on this thread alone.
What has been accomplished and who is reading this.
The only accomplishment that I see is about a dozen folks who normally get along, have pretty much severed ties.
Now as to the postings, they were made by a few and with viewings, probably account for lets say 1000 of the hits. That means there are 3000+ hits by whom??
Well, heres my best guess.
1. Bell Helicopters has a stake in this and Im sure watches it like a Hawk.
2. FAA/CAA, you know thats a fact...
3. Lawyers, We couldnt have a mess like this without them. Guarantee, some are on the fence waiting to see who has the deepest pockets.
4. Huey Owner, you bet. I met the guy and he seemed to be a pleasant dude, and I dont think he got a ton of money from being stupid. He certainly pulled off something that many others couldnt. Also for all you out there who kicked him around on a personal note, I will take my bet to Vegas that you will hear from him down the road.
5. Tourism Industry. have too be in there somewhere. Its big money all over the world and this could be a big knock in the Cape area. Anything that has been questioned for safety, they stay away from like the Plague.
6. Elvis........Hell yes, dont know the man, but it sounds like (rumors) this has cost him a few rand and he hasnt even flown it. Funny thing is the real Elvis made more money last year DEAD, than all of us will make in a lifetime..Thank you very much.
7. SA Helicopter Operators, certainly they are watching, as they know that this will affect them as to how much or how little the CAA has for power in the end. It will determine how close they have to monitor their own operations.
8. The News Media...you bet someone has been drooling in their cereal for a story.
Im sure there are more that should be mentioned, someone else can have a go.

Most Everyone here agrees, as to long live the Huey......Done correctly. IF someone wants to continue to haul in some money on a project like this they are going to have to do it in a different manner. Its going to take money to get it done, and it certainly should require that they work with, not against the SACAA as difficult as that may be. First suggestion is to stay away from a Surplus Huey and do up a B205. Most including some here wont know the difference.
Enough said
Bom Dia

[Herc130]

After an abundently clear case of sheer legal incompetance, our intrepid CAA lost their case in the high court against Gary today!!! This again shows that the CAA is a toothless tiger, attempting to do right in a world where, who is paid, is worth more than who is right.

The huey is not airworthy and should not fly, whether airworthy or not, for commercial purposes, and the rest remains unsaid.....:hmm:

[Gunship]

Cheers Eddie - your hard work will always remain in my memory bank and thanks what you gave us :ok:

[Deanw]

Apologies for the delay, but missed this article yesterday as too darn busy at work :yuk: :

Cape Times:


Huey helicopter parts war hits high court

December 1, 2004

By Fatima Schroeder

The owners of the Huey helicopter operating from the V&A Waterfront have taken the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the Cape High Court for the return of the helicopter's airframe seized by the CAA after a precautionary landing last month.

But the CAA has lodged a counter-application for the return of the helicopter's engine that the director of Helicopter and Marine Services, which owns the aircraft, allegedly unlawfully removed after the landing.

The CAA says it is statutorily obliged to investigate the engine, but director Gary van der Merwe denies it was illegally removed. His counsel told the court he needs the frame so he can make money flying tourists during the Christmas season.

Helicopter and Marine Services leases the aircraft to the Huey Extreme Club.

In an affidavit Van der Merwe said the Huey took off on an exercise on November 20 this year and decided to return to the heliport at Culemborg. At a few metres above ground level the engine backfired and a precautionary landing had to be made.

The area was declared an accident scene and it was arranged for CAA officials from Pretoria to investigate. The officials photographed the Huey on the scene and made notes.


The next morning, Van der Merwe, an employee and an aircraft maintenance engineer removed the engine from the airframe in order to inspect it at the company's premises.

But CAA accident investigator Francois de Bruyn protested.

The two later agreed that De Bruyn would investigate the engine at the company's premises but when he failed to arrive, Van der Merwe dismantled it.

Van der Merwe later learnt that police were investigating the removal of the engine and that the airframe had been removed.

The CAA says it is statutorily obliged to perform an investigation into the engine and that the club and Helicopter and Marine Services were hampering this.

They are demanding the return of the engine and say the airframe cannot be returned unless the investigation is completed. But this cannot be done unless the engine is returned.

Van der Merwe said the engine backfiring was so insignificant that it did not warrant an investigation.

Justice John Foxcroft has reserved judgment.

[clipboard]

So what's the latest?

Rumour has it that Gary won his Court case with costs against the SACAA, but no one has posted any information here, and neither have the newspapers carried any story. Apparantly the judge ruled that the SACAA was harrassing him with all their actions, and that they should return his helicopter.

Someone told me today that the helicopter is back at the Helibase, and that they were putting it together and that it should be ready for flight again soon.

Does anyone have any info on this?:confused: :ok:

[Deanw]

Cape Times: December 6, 2004


Huey to fly again as owners win legal war

'CAA acted unlawfully'

By Fatima Schroeder

Just in time for the busy tourism season in the Mother City, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) must return the airframe of a Vietnam War helicopter seized after a precautionary landing last month.

The owners of the aircraft, Helicopter and Marine Services, and the Huey Extreme Club have been embroiled in a legal battle with the CAA.

The owners and club, which were in possession of the aircraft's engine, wanted the airframe returned to them, but the CAA, which had the airframe, lodged a counter-application demanding the engine in order to conduct an investigation.

The owner wanted the airframe returned so that he could make money flying tourists during the Christmas season.

The helicopter is one of 10 000 manufactured by the Bell Helicopter company for the US military during the war in Vietnam.

In court papers the CAA claimed that Helicopter and Marine Services director Gary van der Merwe illegally removed and dismantled the engine after the precautionary landing, hampering its statutory obligations to investigate it.

In his affidavit Van der Merwe said the Huey took off on an exercise on November 20 and decided to return to the heliport at Culemborg.

But a few metres above the ground the engine backfired and a precautionary landing had to be performed at Cape Town International Airport.


The CAA said it was statutorily obliged to investigate the state of the engine.

In Thursday's judgment Justice John Foxcroft said: "Far from Mr Van der Merwe's conduct in removing his company's engine from the helicopter being unlawful, (the CAA's) confiscation of the helicopter airframe was itself unlawful since it was not backed by the appropriate statutory authority."

He added that CAA aircraft accident investigator Francois de Bruyn did not have the authority to confiscate the airframe and was only meant to assist an investigator-in-charge.

De Bruyn "had no authority to remove the helicopter in the first place" and Helicopter and Marine Services was entitled to the return of its property.

There was no evidence that the engine was ever lawfully in the CAA's control, although "they certainly had the right to inspect it".

"Helicopter and Marine Services had tendered full inspection of the engine a number of times but the CAA had refused to take up the offer, maintaining it was conditional upon the return of the airframe".

The CAA had no right to hold the airframe and should have accepted the tender to inspect the engine. There was accordingly no substance in the counter-application.

Judge Foxcroft ordered that the airframe be returned and dismissed the counter-application.

[Goffel]

:E
Nothing gets my hormones going as sitting on my stoep,watching the waves break,drinking a nice cold frostie.

But when my wife hears that "whoop whoop" sound followed by "nothing but a hound dog" blaring,

THEN

I definitely know I am going to get lucky.

Oh yes,thats the sound she heard this afternoon.(me,Im still smiling).

Well done to the Huey.(sorry for the rest of you cynics).

:8

[carnivoruslegallus]

Yo Goffel;) , glad you got lucky my man!:ok:

The Huey should be gracing the Cape skies again by the end of the week if all goes well.

Viva the Huey! I hope it got fixed properly this time. Please Huey team, no disappointments OK!
:ok:

[Bravedave]

You poor, sad, damp eye'd Huey fans - what happens when, down wind, 50' agl, Blouberg beach, weekend warrior PPL at the helm, said "backfire' (engine failure) occurs. 15 unsuspecting, uninsured, foreign "club members" aboard. WHAT THEN MY FRIENDS ?? This is not about museum piece Shackleton type fun but the safety of pax and the reputation of our industry - what's left.

[BAKELA]

15 unsuspecting, uninsured, foreign "club members" aboard. WHAT THEN MY FRIENDS ?? :sad: The same as an attack on a foreign (Japanese?) visitor on the slopes of Table Mountain. OUTRAGE! But too late. :sad:

[Deanw]

Not about the Huey, but a related item from today's Cape Times:


Bank sues well-known city businessman, aviation company for R5.59m

December 9, 2004

By Fatima Schroeder

Imperial Bank is suing Court Aviation (Pty) Limited and well known Cape Town businessman Gary van der Merwe in the Cape High Court for R5.59 million after the company allegedly did not pay instalments on an aircraft on time.

The company admits it did not pay regular instalments but has lodged a counter-claim for more than R2m in payments already made.

It alleges it is entitled to a refund after Imperial Bank had failed to hand over the aircraft's log books as stipulated in a written agreement.

In court papers it emerged that Imperial Bank, Court Aviation and Van der Merwe entered into an agreement and suretyship in Edenvale on December 19, 2002.

In terms of the agreement, Imperial sold used aircraft to Court Aviation for R14.83m, payable in 12 instalments of R190 000 each, 47 instalments of R261 581 each and one instalment of R261 581.

Imperial would remain the owner of the aircraft until the instalments were fully paid.

If Court Aviation failed to pay instalments timeously, Imperial could cancel the agreement, repossess the aircraft and recover the outstanding amount less the aircraft's value at the time of possession.

Imperial claims Van der Merwe failed to pay a R190 000 instalment due on June 7 last year despite Imperial's demands for payment.

Imperial cancelled the agreement and alleged it was entitled to take possession of the aircraft.

But Court Aviation failed to deliver the aircraft and, on November 17 last year, the Cape High Court ordered it to hand over the aircraft and log books to Imperial, pending the outcome of this action.

The aircraft was delivered three days later and its value was estimated to be R10.53m.

Imperial says Court Aviation is obliged to pay it R5.59m and that, as surety and co-principal debtor, Van der Merwe is liable for the amount.

In responding papers, Court Aviation admits it failed to pay the instalment, but claims Imperial failed to deliver all the log books.

The company says this is in breach of the agreement and it is therefore entitled to cancel the agreement and claim a refund of payments made.

Van der Merwe claims that his attention was not drawn to the fact that the agreement incorporated a deed of suretyship, from which he was later released in an oral agreement.

Justice Selwyn Selikowitz ordered Imperial to provide Court Aviation and Van der Merwe with documents it intended using during the court proceedings.


It should be noted that the 'Court Aviation (Pty) Ltd' is not related to Court Helicopters, now CHC Helicopters South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (That was the subject of another court case!).

[Deanw]

Well, it's 7pm at the Huey has just taken off from Helibase, heading towards the Waterfront ...

[HedgePig]

Heard via a pilot friend of mine that the Huey did another precautionary landing in Blaauwberg this weekend, spent an hour or two there and then returned to base.

Any takers?

[BAKELA]

With or without paying pax remains the question. Club or commercial air service remains the question. PPL's or Com/ATP remains the question. Legal/illegal helipad remains the question. Floats or no floats remains...please stop for goodness sake...!!!

I just wish that somebody would either:

1. Stop the circus (if it's a show?);or,
2. Give the tiger back it's teeth (if it's a tiger?).

A final legal/liability decision now needs to be reached on this matter (by the relavant (competent?) authorities) and I am of the opinion that the Huey thread has now been slagged to death and needs to be aneathisized (spelling?) on this forum.

Edited for Gr I spelling. :O

[bladestrap]

I go outa town......

Just got back from being outa town for a coupla weeks, and lotsa things seem to have been happenin with da Huey.:confused:

I believe that they've had an engine failure and after winning a court case, the Huey is up an runnin again.

Well I luv that Huey, and I've always thought that the boys were doing a damn good job.

After chatting to some people real close to the Huey, it seems that a number of things went wrong, resulting in them changing an engine. Apparently the SACAA werent happy about it, but the Court ruled in Gary's favor, and he is entitled to proceed as before, and have since been doing the tourist thing.

It appears that the Huey is now again fully servicable, and that revenue flights commenced this past weekend.

I really do hope that they've got it together in a big way this time, and that it is safe & airworthy.

Come on guys, tell us what's goin on!

:ok:

[BAKELA]

the Huey thread has now been slagged to death BS, you've just added, bolded, undelined and indented the above. Daiseycutter just uncovered a whole new aspect to this saga.

It would previously have been unethical for me to divulge source identities but I can confirm that:

• carnivoruslegallus
• clipboard
• bladestrap

are all posting from the same terminal. Now as to whether they are the same person is a matter of conjecture but it if you review this thread with the knowledge that these three personalities could all be the same person, then this book reads in a whole different light.

I also beleive in father x-mas, the easter bunny...:suspect:

[clipboard]

The Cape Argus 31 December 2004.

Vietnam-era Huey to go under the hammer

by Karyn Maughan
Staff Reporter

A Partially shelled Huey Helicopter "on skids" will go under the hammer in two weeks after a series of legal wrangles between its owner and the V&A Waterfront.

Gary van der Merwe is the director of Helicopter and Marine Services, which owns the Green Bell Huey UH1H set for auction at the Culemborg helibase on January 14.

Van der Merwe, his two co-directors and his company secretary were arrested for alleged company tax offences and share fraud involving several million rand in October. They were all released on bail.

Van der Merwe also faces charges under the Exchange Control Act after being arrested at Cape Town International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle R1,5 million in cash out of the country. The cash was returned to him after the Assets Forfeiture Unit failed to file the paperwork necessary to keep the money.

Van der Merwe was at the centre of public controversy when two of his helicopters collided at the Waterfront during a practice stunt for the Fear Factor TV Show some years ago. His company faced accident costs of R12m for the unautorised stunt, after its insurance company refused to pay. The firm was later placed under final liquidation.

The Waterfront has named Helicopter and Marine Services and the MV Cape Endurance, a ship owned by the company and understood to have been berthed at the Waerfront, as its debtors in its Cape High Court sale in execution notice.

Helicopter and Marine Services leases aircraft to the Huey Extreme Club, which has also been involved with litigation with the Waterfront.

Earlier this month, Helicopter and Marine Services asked the High Court to force the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to return a Huey airframe it had seized after a precautionary landing last month.

The CAA lodged a counter-application for the return of the helicopter's engine, which van der Merwe allegedly unlawfully removed after the landing.

It could not be confirmed that the shelled Huey and the helicopter whose parts were seized are the same helicopter.

Earlier this year, the Waterfront sought an order stopping Helicopter and Marine Services and the Huey Extreme Club from flying an allegedly "un-airworthy" ex-military Huey from its its helipad as "each time the Huey flies in contravention of the grounding order", the Waterfront was "at serious risk".

Although cited as a respondent in the case, the CAA said it supported the Waterfront's efforts to enforce the grounding of the Huey. It emerged in court that the Huey was built from four helicopters which had served in the United STates, Israeli and Ethiopian air forces.

Mr. Justice Jock Comrie dismissed the application.

[Deanw]

Cape Times: 13 January 2005


Van der Merwe's court bid for return of R1.52m forex fails

By Fatima Schroeder

The Cape High Court has dismissed an application by well-known businessman Gary van der Merwe for the return of R1.52 million in foreign currency seized from him at Cape Town International Airport in July last year.

The money was in euros and US dollars.

During the court proceedings, however, Van der Merwe's counsel abandoned the claim for the return of the dollars and proceeded with that for the Û130 000 (about R1.02m).

Van der Merwe claimed in court papers that he had planned to take his family and friends on an extended holiday in the Mediterranean.

They had left before him so he could attend to his business and his flight for Las Palmas, through London, had been scheduled for July 13 last year.

He had completed a declaration under the Customs and Excise Act giving the amount in foreign currency that he was taking with him.

But, after an inspection of his luggage, a police official seized currency. The money was counted and placed in a sealed bag.

Van der Merwe was arrested and released on bail the following day.

He turned to the high court in an attempt to recover
the money and alleged that it was being held without just cause.

He also claimed that he needed the money because the vessel that his family had boarded as part of their trip was stranded in Las Palmas because of a lack of funds.

The money had been seized at the airport on the grounds that Van der Merwe had contravened the exchange control regulations by allegedly making a fraudulent declaration.

The regulations say that any money seized should be forfeited automatically to the National Revenue Fund unless the Treasury directs that it be returned to the person from whom it has been seized.

Days after the money was seized, the commissioner of SA Revenue Services (SARS) issued a notice under a section of the Income Tax Act claiming that the money should be forwarded to SARS because Van der Merwe or his company, the Wellness International Network, owed it money.

In a judgment handed down yesterday, Justice Rosheni Allie agreed with Van der Merwe's legal team that the state had failed to prove that the businessman owed money to SARS.

"In my opinion, the (commissioner) was not entitled to receive the funds for two reasons," she said.

"First, because (SARS) had not shown that any tax, interest or penalty was due. Second, because the funds were not held on behalf of (Van der Merwe) at the time and were in fact forfeited to the National Revenue Fund."

Judge Allie found that the money had been forfeited to the National Revenue Fund and that this had been done legitimately. It should be held in terms of the provision on forfeiture, she said.

She dismissed the application with costs, but warned: "The respondents would do well to heed the finding that (the commissioner) was not entitled to hold the funds.. and to correct their administrative bungling."

Van der Merwe's counsel, Brian Pincus, SC, told the Cape Times yesterday his client was considering his position and might seek leave to appeal against the judgment.


Edited to correct date

[Gunship]

Seems like Elvis came out as the "winner" here ... shows you .. the dude is alive and well on his 70th "birthday" :}

[Gunship]

I heard Manus Steyn flies the Huey now ?

I was in CT four times over the Xmass season and did not see the Huey once.

Sure beats that Robbie flapping over the Waterdronk ;)

[B Sousa]

Guns writes: "I heard Manus Steyn flies the Huey now ?"

As has been mentioned here beforeThat aircraft is/was operating due to a court order. Whether that is still in effect is not known. The latest from the CAA is that IT HAS NO Airworthiness Certificate.
I would have to question the intelligence of anyone who knows this yet continues to fly. Its a real "in your face" to the CAA. Of all the folks you need to get through life as a Pilot in SA, I dont think I would want the CAA on my ass for life. Wherther you like them or not, they are there and just like an ex-wife, they will never forget you........Am I wrong Guns??

[Gunship]

From Bert .. and just like an ex-wife, they will never forget you........Am I wrong Guns??

I do not have an ex-wife but I can tell you if things aint right it is absurd to fly the machine.

I know Manus as a very professional pilot - therefore the rumour was very strange that I heard ? :o

PS: Don't leave that Saffer wife - they are quite scarce to sit in La$ Vega$ and all ... ;)

[bladestrap]

The Huey is a great helicopter and the Huey Xtreme Club have many fans including myself. There are a number of Cape Town based fans that have stood by the Huey through thick & thin, supported it and defended it from criticism, albeit controversial at times, and that included me. At this time, as a fan, I can only comment on what I have personally observed during the past few months from visits to the Club's facilities.

It has become apparent to me that the owners have lost interest in maintaining the status of the Huey as the number one "flying tourist" attraction in Cape Town. On numerous visits to the Club's Headquarters at the Waterfront, the Huey was just parked there, and not flying. Sometimes there was no pilot to fly it, or it was'nt flying because the wind was to strong, or it was plagued by maintenance problems. The media reported extensively on those problems, the subsequent court cases and the fact that the High Court ruled that it could fly.

Recently it was rumoured that they have again had major delamination problems with the main rotor blades, resulting in the cancellation of flights and excessive down time of the Huey.

Its a shame that this is happening, and that the Huey is not as often in the skies as it used to be. Its also a shame that the owners are not applying their resources to keep the Huey in a tip top flying condition. There are rumours in abundance that the Huey is in bad shape, that it is kitted out with timex parts monitored by the owner as "on condition", and that there is no qualified engineer maintaining the bird.

***News 24 reported in the media this last week that Mr. Gary van der Merwe appeared in the Belville Magistrate Court on 8 charges of fraud and tax evasion of at least R12million. He appeared with his secretary Ms. Karin Hoge, who is also facing 8 charges of fraud, and two former directors of World Online Limited and Wellness International Network Limited, Mr. Paul Killian and Tyrone Oates. All 4 have been released on bail varying from R20 000 to R60 000. The provisional charge sheet imply that investors lost approximately R6million in a scam by investing in World Online Limited, a Mauritius registered Company. There are also several charges against the four for VAT fraud and tax violations. Mr. van der Merwe's legal team asked for a postponement of the matter in order to obtain more particulars on the matter. The accused will re-appear in Court on 22 April. **

[B Sousa]

It seems every time that we are reminded of how much fun the Huey was, how much money was made, and how much the aircraft flew in contravention to all the rules Professional Pilots live by.............................Another Professional Pilot jumps in and says he would like to be there punching holes in the sky; even faced with the knowledge that its everything that he would normally scream about at his place of employment should it be happening there.
Whats wrong with this picture.

[barryt]

What is the latest on this lot? Is the Huey legally flying again? A Huey flew over my house in Muizenberg yesterday. With all the talk in this forum I am sh*t scared it's going to come down on my house one day...

[carnivoruslegallus]

barryt:ok: Of course the Huey is flying. It has never stopped flying. Except of course when the guys did essential maintenance like replacing a "seized" or an "exploded" engine, changing delaminated main rotor blades, repairing cracked main rotor blades etc.;) Hell, the machine is in good nick. Its going better than ever before!

Don't worry my boy, Gary's legal team will keep you covered in the event of a mishap. They're gonna insure that the Huey never crashes on YOUR house or anyone else's for that matter.:ok:

Sit back, relax and watch the Huey make a mockery of the toothless/useless SACAA.

Viva the Huey!:{

[B Sousa]

Carnivoruslegallus

Im trying to decipher that Latin Translation. Something to the effect that you "Eat Lawyers"??.
You certainly hit the nail on the head with SACAA. Just shows that enough money can buy anything in SA.
Anyway in your Anonymity dont forget that "Legal Teams" are only there as long as the pot has money in it....... I cannot forsee any "Pro Bono" in this matter. Lots of Sharks in the Cape waters, some of them are..................

[carnivoruslegallus]

I find it really hard to fathom out the SACAA.

The National Newspapers reported yesterday that Gary van der Merwe ONCE AGAIN won a court case against the SACAA. This time concerning a matter of wrongfull arrest when some half wit CAA inspector filed a charge against Van der Merwe because Van der Merwe refused to see him or allow him access to his office.

The Court ruled that the arrest was unlawful, and threw the case out of court. Van der Merwe's lawyer indicated that they will now be sueing the SACAA for millions of rands in damages.

What next?

Previous postings on this thread explained in detail how useless the SACAA have become, but Minister Radebe have done absolutely nothing about it. A New Board of Directors were supposed to be appointed October last year. Nothing to date. A Commissioner and CEO were supposed to be appointed as well, but also no action there. The ones there are all still in acting positions. The result? No decisions, no management, no enforcement, just :mad: around and wasting money. Flying around the country to do inspections and audits, which very seldom get done at all, or properly.

It also appears that some of the staff that had left the SACAA some time ago have been re-employed on a contract basis. The reason? Alledgedly because they know where the front of an airplane is and what fuel it's supposed to be using. (Remember, some inspectors DON'T know that some propellor driven aircraft does'nt have to use AVGAS.)

A couple of white faces are leaving shortly due to age and non renewable contracts. The politics, backstabbing and mismanagement have turned the SACAA into a true circus. What a bunch of idiots.

The Head of Helicopter Operations is a 250 hour R22 & R44 flyer, and only knows how to drink Tequila shots and talk big. What a joke. The SACAA is truly destroyed.

My prediction? 5th World +&%@* up organisation in less than 2 years. No plan, no qualified people. Just a bunch of faces pulling wages and doing what they're doing now. Sweet nuthin!

So Bert, what does your mates in the industry say? You know a coupla heavies don't you?

[B Sousa]

CV
Just a guess mind you but as I said before I think your spot on and can only assume that they may agree.
As to all the money its costing, the government is the taxpayer and the taxpayer is you. So the situation is not really funny its appalling.
Alll the reasons have been posted on this thread before...

[flyboy2]

I heard that a "CAA Inspector" saw a trainer startup at a main airport with it's door open [ useful thing to do on a hot day ]
& ran out to the aircraft [ prop turning et al ] to stop this.
Seems that he insisted that the door must be closed.

What do you think ?

[Gunship]

:E Sounds headless to me .. :E

[Wyatt Earp]

Just heard that the folks at Helibase had a good solo party last night for the first pure Huey student trained by the Big G. When he gets his Student Pliots check out from Frank to day we will then have a Commander of the Huey flying pax with a Student Pilots Licence. Lets hope he can maintain the excellent safety record. Go baby!

[Gunship]

Mr Earp ... tell us you are pulling our legs ... this is turning out to be a mayor farce :ouch:

[farmpilot]

Say again, unreadable!!! A student pilot driving the Huey with paying pax - did I miss something? When I did my PPL I had to have the grubby licence in my hand before I could expose even my poor mum to my amazing piloting skills, let alone paying sheep.......

But before you all jump down my neck I've been watching this topic from the start so am full up to speed with the ups and downs of the Huey:ok:

[bladestrap]

Ja its true!:D

I used to hang out down there and flew on the Huey numerous times. Great ship, the Huey. Over the months though, things have happened down there at the Waterfront Helipad, and a lot of us Huey fans have watched it all from a distance, to scared to go close in case Gary or his security guys beat us up for saying anything about the Huey, good or bad.

In spite of all the problems with the Huey, all the Court cases and the bad publicity in the Newspapers, the Huey saga have continued uninterupted. This mainly due to the CAA not being able to touch the Gary. They have lost every single court case against him, and think there must have been about 6 of them.

At the end of the day we have all heard the stories, and the Cape Town Aviation fraternity have absorbed the latest gossip with awe!:confused: :p

Latest is that Gary is instructing on the Huey and have trained numerous pilots. That includes his right hand man and a very nice colored man who does have a PPL (H). (Part of his empowerment drive)

So it generally understood that in South Africa you can instruct with a PPL and no instructors rating, you can fly with no license, you can send students who don't have any student licenses solo, and for all of that, you will get a pat on the shoulder from the SACAA which will include a "well done".

People say Gary is controversial. Others fear him and his legal team, and that must include the SACAA, because the SACAA have allowed things to happen which makes a total mockery of the regulations in SA, and to date, NO ONE at the SACAA, which includes their lawyers, could say why they are allowing the Huey people to get away with what they get up to, and why they continue to allow it?

Some people say he's a modern day Jessie James, or a Walter Mittey character, but the bottom line is that the Huey and its people keep on going, and they keep on getting away with things that are way beyond what is prescribed in those 3 big blue books.

The SACAA is the regulatory authority, but in their books its OK for a non Huey rated DE, yes DE, to conduct type rating training to type. Yebo, no rating but he signed off a number of students and the SACAA condoned it. So its even possible these days to give a person a conversion even though you're not rated on the type. To qualify? Just prove to the SACAA that you can fly, have lots of experience and are a nice person.

In spite of all the gossip, rumours and story variants surrounding Gary and his Huey, the good old Huey keeps on chugging along thru the Cape Town skies with the foreign tourist on board. Whats really nice about it all is the fact that these poor tourists have'nt got the foggiest idea who the Commander is, whether he's qualified, whether he's rated, or whether he has a license. Bottom line is that the Huey is a major attraction and people love the beast. Viva the Huey!:ok: :ok:

Now why do we have a CAA in South Africa? To regulate and control what? Maybe some one can answer that one. Will be interesting to see!:confused:

[Gunship]

Bladestrap it is days like this that I am so glad I never had anything major to to do in the civillian side of flying in SA.

This is damn frightening what you are saying here and I have NO doubt you know what you are talking about.

I remeber Mrs vd Merwe signed my ppl in 1976. I also remember in the 60 hrs as a ppl pilot that I decided never ever again ... I stuck to it and have a nearly 30 year old (lapsed) ppl to show that. Thanks to the SAAF training and background you CAN say NO and YES and rules and regulations are there to be enforced (well not always) :E but at least not as blatantly than what is going on here.

So people are scared of Gary ... thought so .. :ouch:

It shows clearly now :E

[B Sousa]

Can we consider the Huey story a good example of where SA is going? Fill in the blanks and take this particular story to the Banking Industry, Insurance, Construction, Medical. CEOs of Coprorations that fold, yet they walk away with Millions of Rand after walking out of courtrooms unscathed. Government funded Projects with no accountability, yet the taxpayer continues to pay into the black hole (no pun intended).
All similiar in some fashion. An operator who needs not operate by rules, but by court edict. As long as the legal team is in place and an incompetant Government agency is operating, this will continue. The tail will continue to wag the dog.

Beyond all of this, the world can now see what a tough Aircraft that was built in the U.S.of A

[Gunship]

Bert I agree with some of your sentiments but I also think you are mixed up with the Michael Jackson court case :E

As long as the legal team is in place and an incompetant Government agency is operating, this will continue. The tail will continue to wag the dog.

and this canbe generalised in America .. US of A .. UK ... even Japan (once world's richest man is going to sit as well) ... :E take this particular story to the Banking Industry, Insurance, Construction, Medical. CEOs of Coprorations that fold, yet they walk away with Millions of Rand after walking out of courtrooms unscathed. Government funded Projects with no accountability, yet the taxpayer continues to pay

PS : VIVaaaaaaaaaaaa the Huey (South Africa Rebuilt) :p

[B Sousa]

Guns I always have prefaced things with "if its :mad: up we did it first." Michael is a great example( Just remember they are only picking on him because hes white)
Certainly the generalities apply to the U.S.. Its just sad to see a beautiful country such as SA following our poor example.

[Gunship]

Thought I would get you more wound up than this :E

Back to the Huey ... always been a big supporter (and admirer) of the machine but the way things are going it is close to being ridicioulous ... spell check ... :)

[clipboard]

What a :mad: up business.

I find it really hard to fathom out this whole lot. :confused:

Come on SACAA, what the heck is going on?:}

[Sir Cumference]

I hear from a reliable source that the said Huey had another incident yesterday sometime. Training? Anybody have any dope in this never ending saga?

[bladestrap]

The spies at the Waterfront hinted that the Huey had a hard landing and that some damage was done to the tail area. Apparently they are either replacing the tail boom or strengthening it with stainless steel.:confused:

Since the Dave Mouton forced landing when the engine actually exploded and causing a total meltdown, the boys have fitted a Dash 11 engine. Some CT engineers believe that due to the fact that they dont have proper facilities or tools to correctly set up the FCU and engine, the engine is not functioning normally due to the fact that it often "backfires" and spews out a puff of smoke. The hard landing may well have been due to loss of power close to the ground. Anything is possible, especially when you don't have a qualified engineer performing the maintenance, and worse of all without the proper tools or equipment.

I fail to understand why the SACAA allows this machine to fly? Its only a matter of time now before its gonna kill someone!

[B Sousa]

Bladestrap
The FCU was a bone of contention over a year ago, its mentioned back a few pages in this never ending thread.
Its an item that was giving problems then. One of the reasons most starts went to Emergency Governor had to do with this item. We call that a big red X (grounding authority) Its also something that when repair is required it has to be sent back to an authorized repair station, mainly for the Calibration. Shade Tree Mechanics were only allowed to box it up to be shipped out....They know that in CT
Putting in a -11 engine means its the UH-1D category vs. -13 for the UH-1H. That requires a new Airworthiness Certificate (at Least under FAA rules), but since they dont have one anyway, who cares.
As to the tailboom, just remember there are only four bolts that hold that puppy on there. Part of the preflight requires a hands on check to see that there is no seperation between the body of the aircraft and the tailboom. If it hit as hard as you mentioned the tail stinger may be bent, if thats so the area where it attaches should have damage. We used to paint tail stingers and "he who comes home with paint missing (and it is acceptable) buys the beer." I know of one actual autorotation where the idiot rotated so far that he got the tail rotor instead of the stinger. That was just the beginning of his problems.
Also HUEYS DO NOT backfire. Thats usually something attributable to a failing engine.
Last but not least SACAA seems out of the picture after getting their ass whipped in the courts.
Again we see that that Huey is one aircraft thats hard to hurt......

[Gunship]

:ugh: ..this is getting seriously embarresing ... :bored:

[Wyatt Earp]

It would appear that the newly trained student lost it in the hover, panicked and shut the throttle . The skids are a bit modified and the tail boom has got a boundry layer control modification but in the greater scheme of things not really something to panic about. Darn, there goes the safety record so well built up over the years. Also, the blades got a bit of a fright but nothing that the maintenance man is not used to. Go Huey

[bladestrap]

Yo Wyatt, where's da harse you were supposed to ride into town on??;)

Man, this Huey story is getting good again. So much happening but no one is posting. I wonder why? Last I heard that some Huey critics were threatened and warned that they will be taken out. The big boys were gonna pay them a visit and break every bone in their bodies. Heard it happened to "Rotorhead/twomember/A340_cojock" Apparently he was beaten up and his family traumatised. Is this true???

Well fellow ppruners, here's the latest gossip from the "reliable spy down in the docks", and I mean RELIABLE! An in house man, and when this boy's had a few, he loves to talk...... big!

The Huey Company is now empowered. Its become a BE Company and they're all moving back to the Helibase again shortly. Gary Fox is the chief engineer, and he's telling the Huey members & enthusiasts that he's bought 6 Hueys in Germany, 2 ship load full of parts out the USA, and that within 2 months he's gonna have 6 Hueys flying. Well, how we would all love to see that, but then again rumour has it that Fox is renowned for not always being to economical with the truth:{

Furthermore, the Huey is currently out of service. Its so messed up that its gonna take at least 2 weeks to get it fixed. Apparently big problems all round. Tail boom buggered, MR blades kaput, engine suspect, but in spite of all this, the SACAA have backed them in their endeavours, and are 100% behind them. The spy says the SACAA gave them a fresh AMO. The SACAA have now also appointed a fresh team consisting of "Pula" (he's in it for the money.. pula being currency) Sakhile ( Because she's a training captain and knows helicopters very well) Peter Volland (former Luftwaffe Officer retired) and a string of colorful faces from the airworthiness department that knows everything about Hueys. (Fox alledgedly trained them.):D ;) :p Man this is funny!:ok: The Court cases scared the s:mad: out of the SACAA, so they decided to make peace with Gary and instead of trying to prosecute him, decided rather to lend a helping hand. They've been spending a lot of time with him trying to get his Huey Company SACAA compliant. (Whatever that means.) They've run out of legal fees and legal ideas, and their BE Legal advisors know s:mad: out aviation law. Just looking at the court cases won with costs, Gary must have made at least 2 bar out of the SACAA in the last 2 years. Man oh man, what a way to earn a living! Just sue those dumbo's.

For the rest, there is so much more to post, but I don't know if I should tell it all. Man its really exciting and captivating stuff. Mr. Moderator what do you think? Shall I post it? It is after all a rumour network.;) :p

What's the SACAA gonna come up with next? Abolish all regulations? It certainly looks like it. Just think about it! They're trying to assist a client in BECOMING compliant. That means he's not compliant, but he flies. He has no Operating License, but the CAA audit him. He does'nt have an operating license, but the CAA does a Dangerous Goods Inspection. His helicopter is not airworthy, but he flies it with no certification, insurance or paperwork, and no licensed engineer to sign it off. Man, this CAA sure looks like its gonna end up the same as those corrupt and non-functioning CAA's we know so well in darkest Africa. Well done SACAA, you're a great example!

I wonder if the SACAA are allowing the trainee pilot to fly commercially with passengers in the mean time while they assist him to become compliant as well......????:confused: :confused:

Viva South Africa, Viva Bob Mugarbage, Viva! Viva! Viva SACAA!:{

[B Sousa]

Maybe we ought to start a GPS Pool. R100 buy-in. The one with the closest coordinates to the burning hole in the ground wins.........
Sounds like now its just a matter of where and when.........

[Skaz]

bladestrap whats the timecheck on your gen?
This morning, the ball-and-chain and myself drove to the waterfront for a little jaunt on the ferry out to robbersisland, and the Huey was parked on its pad. Engine covers open and some bloke climbing all over it. (this was about 12:00 local)

This avi,about 16:30 , as we cruised in to the waterdronk , as certain groot geeste like to call it, the Huey was parked out on the V&A chopper pad and a little string of pax was being led to it, kinda like the pied piper? Didnt see it take off, but it was there, got the pic to prove it too! So unless somebody drove it there on the back of a bakkie, it must have flown?

Also, last week, think it was tuesday or wednesday, saw it whopping along the coast by Blouberg and over the hill...

... by the by,how much is the chap paying for his ppl training?:E

[Christo]

send the story to Carte Blanche! They love sensational stuff like this!

[Gunship]

Go for it bladestrap .. :ok:

It should be written :ok: Newspapers and (hopefully) Carte Blanche reads this ;)

[clipboard]

Hells bells guys, the saga never ends. I love that Huey, have always loved it and cherish the flips I've had in it.

The thing is getting a bit long in the tooth now, and maybe the SACAA should just tell us exactly what the truth is behind this saga. Is it legal and airworthy, or is it not?Come on SACAA, lets hear it from YOU! I mean, there are so many stories, but no one knows for sure. Lets hear it CAA, lets hear it!

[B Sousa]

Clipboard
Back a few hundred posts ago it was mentioned that SACAA had revoked the Airworthiness Certificate. Although the owner(s) may still have it physically in hand, according to all I have seen is that it is revoked. Since all the court battles, SACAA just stays out of the way.
If Im correct it C/A was never re-issued and remains revoked. The Aircraft is flying under the guidance of the courts..... They always make the right decision........................NOT
Has Anyone seen a new C/A recently issued, lately?? I mean Im sure every pilot who gets in the Aircraft properly checks these documents as part of the preflight..........If the SACAA had any juice, all who have flown it since its revocation would have seriously tainted their flying priveliges.
Anybody out there who has the true Answer??

[clipboard]

Its official. The Huey does'nt have an airworthiness certificate, but the High Court ordered that it can fly. So you won't be getting any information from the CAA Mr. Bert. They're not going to tell you anything. Simply because they don't really know how to deal with the Huey saga.

Right now the Huey is still flying. The Company is now Black Empowered with Gary Fox as the Chief engineer and Chief Instructor. Fox is currently instructing the new pilots, and rumour has it that the Huey is in pieces due to several hard landings. One, with Fox in the Instructor's seat and his student in the right hand seat. According to an inside source, they dragged the tail and bent the skids. Nice one huh?

What the aviation fraternity in South Africa fail to understand is how a pilot with no rating can give instruction on a helicopter he's not rated on, and the CAA condones it. Total lawlessness. The Wild West.

That scenario basically means that each and everyone can do as they please. The SACAA are so lawless now, that they don't care who breaks the rules.

One can therefore only assume with all of whats been posted here, that the SACAA don't need to exist, because they're not enforcing their regulations, and anyone who can fly, can just fly, license or no license. And what's worse is the fact that in spite of all the criticism here, the SACAA have not responded to the allegations, neither have they attempted to set the record straight. So one must assume that everything is OK and that the SACAA condones it all.

Sad, real sad!:}

[Goffel]

The Huey is still flying and is by no means in pieces.

I watched it fly this evening as I do every night from the beach.

It still gives off it's puff's of black smoke every now and again.(have no idea what causes the black smoke,and dont care).

:*

[B Sousa]

Clipboard said it, as its been said many times before. Something terribly wrong when the courts determine what clutters your skies......I still have my R100 and have a good guess as to Lat/Lon if the pool gets started.
Again it goes without saying that the Huey is a tough piece of machinery. This is a perfect example.

Goffel writes:"It still gives off it's puff's of black smoke every now and again.(have no idea what causes the black smoke,and dont care)."

Im sure you should only care when your on board. Many causes for black smoke. One that comes to mind in the Lycoming case is unburnt fuel igniting intermittently.. More reason for me to up my wager to R200. Sad part is it will probably be at the loss of someones family member.
If this is one of the older models, it may not have the Crashworthy Fuel System on Board. We lost a lot of folks due to post/impact fires with those aircraft as the Fuel bladder sits right behind most of the PAX seats. Sure makes a big fireball.
Make sure you tuck in your Nomex.

[Goffel]

I am not joking when I say it gives off "puff's" of black smoke every now and again.

I will try to get a photo of this.

It happend in S&L flight.

:confused:

[Christo]

Without an airworthy cert I would imagine that there is no way in hell that insurance or 3rd party would even consider paying anything in the case of an incident, which seems imminent at this stage.

The victims families will then sue the operator which will most prob just declare insolvency and again walk away scotfree.

It's so unbelievable it's actually funny, until someone gets hurt of course :\

[INJECTOR]

I think it is time that Clipboard, Bladestrap, Carnivoruslegallus or better known as *** posting under all these pseudonyms is exposed once and for all.

As anybody in the SA Aviation Community will know *** *** is the only person ever convicted in SA of having a fraudulent flying license. In addition there is now a full investigation by the CAA into how he got a PPL for a helicopter or a fixed wing in the first place as he had never attended any flight schools and it has transpired that the person issuing him with these licenses is also under investigation for being paid to issue these licenses.

I believe the correct forum to expose fraudsters is the Jet Blast forum and this thread will continue there.

It should also be appreciated that should members want to become personal and fabricate stories they should face the consequences both legal and consequential.

I am meeting with Gary Fox and Gary van der Merwe later and will be continuing this thread on the Jet Blast Forum where it will be more appropriate and this character exposed completely and I can assure you there is plenty of legal and factual documentation available to remove any doubt.

In addition it is distressing to note that a person of Bert Sousa's calibre is so easily drawn into BladeStrap/ Clipboard/ Carnivoruslegallus/ Francois Marais's web that he in turn is starting to misalign himself with the facts and the truth.

After consultation with helicopter engineers it transpires that black smoke is caused by oil-a Good sign on a T53 turbine and carbon seals are air pressurized and with any substantial change in air pressure within turbine due to power changes, can be cause for oil to be released into the exhaust system resulting in a small puff of black smoke and that white smoke is caused by excess fuel or unburnt fuel. Anybody with experience of these big turbines should obviously know this but it seems the experts don't.

I put my R200 that the only thing that gets buried in the hole where the Huey is supposed to be will be *** *** and any clown or joker that sympathises with him.

See you on the Jet Blast Forum for all the fact and gory details.

[Tokoloshe]

I always thought Black smoke=unburnt fuel and white smoke=burning oil:confused:

[bladestrap]

Injector! Mmmm, I recall from the EC 120 thread that Injector was exposed as Mr. **** ***. The engineering comment can only come from a "know it all" like ***.

Well, I dunno, but if *** is Injector, then I just want to tell you that I am not Francois Marais. Remember me Mr. **** ***. I was the guy that flew your soil sampling contract in the old BP Jetranger, and I am the guy you accused of stealing from you. So don't blame other people for your own misery.

**** ***has always had a very bad reputation, and will always have. He's controversial and is a thug of note.

Come on pprunners, lets get some postings from the lads who know this boy ***.:}

By the way Injector, why don't you post the name(s) of the officials allegedly involved? Are you scared to name them, or are you thumbsucking this whole story? I think that you should be bold enough to back up your rediculous statements with facts if you're prepared to state this. You can be lucky that this is just a rumour network. I think things have caught up with you, and you're now trying to shift blame. Sick my man, sick!:yuk:

[Goffel]

Somewhere I am missing the plot here.

I have no idea (I know I am not the brightest carrot around),where the mud-slinging on Francious;Bladestrap;Carniv???(or whatever),has to do with the "puffs of black smoke" coming out of the Huey.

This thread is about the Huey.(and Elvis).

If the so called know-all is in fact Mr Gary ???,then is he not the one that stole from a certain Leb king,who then in turn had Mr Gary's leg broken with a bat.

We all have skeletons in our cupboard.
Just some get caught,and others get away with things.

Whether Francious has a licence or not,put him in a spray a/c and watch poetry in motion.
Put him in the Huey and see if the experts can fault his flying.

But after all that said......The Huey still has "puff's of black smoke" being emmitted from it's turbines.
:confused:

[B Sousa]

Injector, Thank you for your confidence, but consider, Im just a Pilot, not an Expert...... Francois didnt drag me into this, it was the fact that I flew the thing back when it was certified.......I think, and my recomendations for some major repairs went into the S***can due to the fact it would cost money. They were and appear to still be, Safety of Flight issues. Then Kennel Keeper got in my face and I was not a happy camper. Further, Injector, we call the responses as to this particular aircraft "Spin" as nothing has be posted that would get me to believe ANYTHING to do with the Safety of Flight issues have been dealt with in accordance to the Manufacturers or SACAA specifications.
What keeps this alive is the fact that the insanity of the SA Regulatory Agency that should have the Final Word as to its flyability (SACAA), cannot do Squat about it. The total picture is that although this one Helicopter in SA, may also be indicative of the complete Aviation community there and could have long range considerations as to how the rest of the world looks at SACAA.
In other words how will they regard SAA, for example, when they are given permission to enter other countries that have a working FAA/CAA with standards.
This thread sort of wants to die, then someone throws more fuel in the fire.......Certainly is entertainment on a subject very serious.
One of Francois' main faults is he didnt let me drive his little German Toy...........It is Sweeeeet.
I dont recall Francois being those other monikers, but who knows. I think if Im correct that he has moved on, but no doubt watches a lot of the drivel here.........Hear that Francois I wanna drive that little Gem when I get back.....
Hey, keep all the smut here on this thread, its a good long running mess and the news slugs will have to go surfing to get all the trash..........
Whats the thread title on Jet Blast, cant seem to find it..........

[josh sitanga]

As a regulatory officer in my own country, I have followed this thread with interest. May I add my two dimes worth?;)

First we find the actions of the SACAA very strange with regards to this helicopter. It just does'nt make any common sense. Something is seriously wrong and the SACAA appears not to be taking any action in this case.

Secondly, I have it oin good authority from some SA officers that Mr. Gary Fox is indeed a very controversial character. Some people know him better than others, and I can assure you that I have only heard of him. (nothing good I may add)

What I do know is that his AME license from the SACAA is suspended due to misrepresentations and acts of fraud. This is correct and can be verified. He does not have a Bell 205/Huey rating, and he has admitted this to the SACAA. So I'm told by a duly authorized officer, so it must be true.

What we fail to understand here is why the SACAA Commissioner has not cancelled his license, or prosecuted him for being in command of a fly machine with no rating. In my country he would go to jail.

I think that this thread is nothing more than a dirt hanging exercise between people, and it really is not good for aviation. Maybe these people should refrain from these way of attacking each other and if they want to continue, to do so off the forum.

This is very bad for African Aviation!

[B Sousa]

"I think that this thread is nothing more than a dirt hanging exercise between people, and it really is not good for aviation. Maybe these people should refrain from these way of attacking each other and if they want to continue, to do so off the forum."

Dirty Laundry is sometimes the only way to get folks attention prior to an accident. In fact if you look at three of the latest threads on this forum, they are regarding recent accidents. Maybe I should bring over some Cowboy Hats, there could be a good market in SA.

Wonders never cease, please say Hello to Alfred..

[Goffel]

APPOLOGIES TO GARY FOX.

Todays Cape Argus has put us all in our places.

Three new Huey's have graced our shores.(pge 6..with photo).

Captain Gary Fox,Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and Authorised factory trained pilot AND mechanic.

Fox said the Hueys have been demilitarised and type CERTIFIED.

So there you have it,all you cynical muffoons.

Gary Fox has spoken,and as he is a factory trained pilot AND mechanic,you had better believe everything that is said.

It's OK,I also believe that fairies :mad: knomes.

[B Sousa]

Somebody is going to have to Help Goffel or Gary, Someones into some good Daga. (what the F:mad: are you smokin)
For those of us who cant get that paper on our local newstand, how about posting it here.

[Goffel]

Hi Bert.
I would love to be able to put the little bull:mad: story with the photo's on the net,but not sure how.

By the way,with Gary's influence and knowledge,Francious is going to be flying the shuttle.:}
:=

[DeltaFox]

Is this Gary **** *** you're talking about?

[alwaysinverted]

It must be!

The FAA Airman Certification Branch lists his details as follows:

Gary Mark Fox
P.O. Box 2552
Midrand 1685 South Africa

Airmen Certificates : Private Pilot (foreign based)
Rotorcraft Helicopter

Mechanic : Airframe
Powerplant

It does'nt say anything about being an Authorized Inspector.

I also saw the article on page 6 of The Cape Argus of yesterday, and those helicopters look very much like the bunch that have been in their hangar at Culemborg for the last 18 months.

[clipboard]

I have just read all the postings on the Huey posted here on pprune, made a few phonecalls and chatted to some enthusiasts who know a lot about what is actually going on. Enthusiasts that are often with the Huey people at their drinks and barbeque parties, and all of them had a story or three to tell. It seems from information though, that the barbeques are not so well attended these days.

What transpired from the couple of phonecalls I think, is worth mentioning here.

When Gary Fox was first mentioned on the pprune, he attacked Francois in the "EC 120 that rolled over in Durban" thread under the name Injector. When confronted on pprune, Injector acknowledged that he knew Gary Fox, that he would pass on the message, but that Injector was "female".

Injector then with his second posting on pprune congratulated Glynn Dell on his achievement in the World Aerobatic Champions, and stated that Glynn taught him to fly. Now the "wrong gender Injector" is suddenly a helicopter pilot taught by Glynn. Then upon closer investigation, it turns out that Glynn did indeed teach Mr. Gary Fox to fly a heli. So it was assumed that Injector was Gary Fox, it was posted, and Injector NEVER posted again.

During the last couple of postings on this thread, Gary Fox's name gets mentioned a few times, and what happens? INJECTOR posts again, only to once again attack Francois.

I think that it is time that the REAL TRUTH and facts about the Huey and the 2 Gary's are posted here. They are up to dirty tricks and are trying to implicate innocent people in their "shenannigans". They're trying to set up innocent people by deliberately spreading false rumours about them, and are trying their level best to implicate some SACAA staff members in their actions as well.

Unfortunately for them, not everyone takes them seriously, especially Gary Fox, who is known to be a rogue, a liar and a rip off artist, and there are many people in the aviation industry in SA that will atest to that. Watch this space!!! I think a couple of shockers are coming this way!:ok:

[Rhodie]

Captain Gary Fox,Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and Authorised factory trained pilot AND mechanic.

Captain....???? In his wildest, wettest dreams will Gary Fox ever be ATP rated...!! If he now claims this, it will be a forged FAA ticket that he is using..!

C'mon now Gary - tell all these lovely people about Drome Z helicopters based at Grand Central, tell about how you sold heli's that did not belong to you, tell how you scamed people out of millions, tell how you destroyed a old mans life and livelyhood on the farm you supposedly bought, tell how you stripped the farm of all it's assets and then dissapeared, tell how you ripped off your neighbors there and sold their equipment and never paid them, tell how you threaten people with physical violence, with even more serious threats when they expose you, tell how you 'borrow' money from (previous) friends and then never repay them, tell how you fabricate qualifications, ratings, references etc.etc.etc.

So, tell us already.. :mad:

Come on Mr. Gary Fox... but remember, what goes around, comes around...

R

PS: First you run away to Zambia, then when quiet enough you come back - I now hear that the Zambian authorities are looking for you... add that to the Arab gentlemen's list as well....

would you buy a Jetranger from this man...?

[alwaysinverted]

Rhodie, you are right on everything you've posted. I have it confirmed by a number of people, including one of Gary Fox's long time "acquaintences" at Grand Central. His poor father I'm lead to believe, are suffering from terreible health problems due to the hell his boy have put him through. He allegedly, practically financially ruined his father as well.

It is true that this man is a crook. He is an unrehabilitated insolvent, and uses his girlfriend "Natalie Burger" to front for him. He drives her car, uses her banking account, and operates a company called Specialized Aviation Services with either Natalie or a relative of hers as the sole director. Watch out for this guy.

It is also true that he stole a wack of US Dollars from the Omanians, allegedly as "upfront" money to ship 2 Jetrangers to Oman for a spraying contract. Instead of shipping the Jetrangers to Oman, he stole the money. Rumour has it that these people are on the look out for him, and that there are threats out there that if they find him, they're going to castrate him with a blunt knife!:ok: Ouch!:D

Its rather amazing how thugs like this get away with these things all the time. It does'nt help sueing this guy for anything, because he's got nothing. Not a house, not a car, no assets, nothing. Maybe just a few "mechanic" tools

Furthermore he is not a South African citizen, and the people I spoke to, tells me that not long ago the Dept. of Home Affairs was also looking for him due to the use of a false ID. Apparently his SA ID was cancelled, but he still used the cancelled number.

He wants to expose thugs......

My goodness, this thread is now off the Huey topic, and people are exposing him! What a guy!:} :} :* :yuk:

Apparently this guy is such a good bull:mad:r that he brags that he can sell ice to an Eskimo. People say that this guy lies so convinceingly that the naive are easily taken by him.

One of his "old acquaintences" tells me that there is something seriously wrong with this man. He's concentration span is about 3 minutes and then he looses it, and floats onto topics that are totally irrelevant, but on each and every topic, he proclaims to be an expert.

Sounds like a "Jack of all trades, master of none". How do peopole like this sleep at night?:confused: I would'nt want to fly with him. Sounds way to risky. Wow!:eek:

[B Sousa]

As to Mr Fox, dont know the guy and have no Axe to grind with him.
However if he is representing himself as an FAA Inspector, he could get his tit in a wringer. AlwaysInverted posted what FAA licenses he has currently which translate that he had a foriegn (to the US) helicopter license that was valid and they, as usual issued a U.S. based PPL.. Even if he held an ATP in another country he could get no more than a PPL in the states with out going through the process of testing and checkrides such as my good friend Freddie from the far North did.
As to " Factory Trained"..............mmmmmmmmm ... I don theeenk so. Bell is not doing any B205 courses according to their schedule for the last couple years.. Not to say it couldnt happen, but I doubt very seriously that someone unloaded about $20K U.S. for this rare occasion. Anyone can get signed off in the machine, again, not by the factory.
Bottom line is no matter how much folks here jump on the Gary and Gary show, they still seem to be surviving, with the ability to make the SACAA "Cowtow" (Its a Chinese thing, look it up )and Lawyers must still be getting paid. So, as a team they can not only sell Ice to an Eskimo, but Water to a Drowning Man. Thats the world of business.......in SA.


AlwaysInverted writes: "It is also true that he stole a wack of US Dollars from the Omanians, allegedly as "upfront" money to ship 2 Jetrangers to Oman for a spraying contract. Instead of shipping the Jetrangers to Oman, he stole the money. Rumour has it that these people are on the look out for him, and that there are threats out there that if they find him, they're going to castrate him with a blunt knife! Ouch! "
Im curious as to this posting. I do know some folks involved in Spraying there. They are from the Midrand area. Could there be a connection???

[Grommet]

Eish how do these Pale Ones complain, whilst you are deciding on Brother Gary he is making another smooth deal. Power to you Gary. May the force of Bob be with you. Don't these Pips understand this is Africa not the UK or Holland. The Brothers rule and our Protectors make sure we prosper. The age of the Pale Poops is over. Make way for the new order. Brother Bob has taught Brother Jacob well. May he soon rise to power and provide his supporters with the distribution of wealth from the Pale Ones.

[alwaysinverted]

Yo Grommet, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go and make some deal with your bro Gary. You're gonna get shafted my man.... big time:D

You sounds like one of those typical "zero on tops". :mad:

[Rhodie]

After reading Grommet's post here and on the CAA circus et al - I am seriously hoping that this fellow is just someone with a wicked sense of humour giving us a wind-up... :E

If so, good on ya Grommet... :ok:

If not, well we will see...

By the way, **** ***is a pale-face, not a PDI comrade... :confused: so unless he throws a bunch of US$ at 'Brother Bob and Brother Jacob', which he is very unlikely to do given that he doesn't share his ill-gotten gains (nor, for that matter do the aforementioned brothers), then the so-called 'distribution' aint gonna happen...!!

20 Million Zim dollars to the winner..

R

[DualDriver]

PLEASE TAKE NOTE......

After previous statements by Rhodie and Clipboard, INJECTOR has dissappeared..... YET AGAIN!!!:hmm:

AAAG SHAME:cool:

[Deanw]

Cape Argus: 18 March 2005:


Vietnam War veterans land in city

A Cape Town-based helicopter and ship company has purchased three Huey helicopters which were used by the United States during the Vietnam War.

And the company is planning to use the round-nosed aircraft to boost tourism in Cape Town and to aid various relief projects.

The Hueys cost between $600 000 and $1 million each.

Through Madiba Air and Sea, Cape Town is the only place outside the US where the Huey is commercially flown.

"It's a big tourist attraction," says Gary Fox, Federal Aviation Administration inspector and authorised factory trained pilot and mechanic.

Fox said the Hueys have been demilitarised and type-certified.


http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/_0323083627_001.jpg
(Apologies for the poor scan)

The name 'Madiba Air and Sea' has been registered at the Registrar of Companies, but not yet allocated to an entity, as is the name 'Madiba Air and Marine'.

'Madiba Air (Pty) Ltd' was incorporated on 9 June 1989. The current director is Shaun Steven Pautz, who was appointed on 30 November 2004. The previous director was Gary Walter Van Der Merwe.

[alwaysinverted]

Looking at the picture one can clearly see that the helicopter on the far right, is a Bell 204. That is for sure a fresh import into Cape Town.

I've been told that the Bell 204 was refurbished as a museum piece, and that it has been de-militarised and civilianised with certain restrictions. Its type certificate specifies that it may not carry passengers and may only be used for external cargo and slinging. It will therefore be interesting to see if this helicopter will also be deployed in a Club, to bypass the Commercial carrying of passengers.

The other two helicopters are Hueys (Ex Zim & Ethiopia) and they have been in Cape Town (Helibase) for nearly 2 years.

[Couch Potato]

The new import is a SW 204HP (Southwest Florida Aviation), serial 1104, to be registered ZS-RXX. According to the plate, the engine is a T53L11D.

The newspaper pic above, from left to right: AB 205 'Zim 6', Bell 205 UH-1H 13729 (ZS-UHI) and the new SW 204HP ZS-RXX.

Herewith pic of ZS-RXX on it's first (?) engine run in Cape Town. It is just waiting on the paperwork from the CAA before flying.

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/img1.jpg

[B Sousa]

Surprise Surprise. Thats a UH-1B. Older than dirt on the Bell 204 Airframe. Another Fun Machine. With Dual Hydraulics it would be the UH-1C add the 540 system and -13 engine it would be the UH-1M.
Some will find that when loaded up, hopefully with a few less than a UH-1H, that there is less power and a shorter tailboom. That translates to less Tail Rotor when you need it.
Be careful out there kiddies.
Certainly looks nice. Since its SA you can probably do anything with it. Im pretty sure you will find that Southwests Aircraft when registered in the states, fall under "Restricted Category" (that means no PAX). But its SA, with no functioning CAA, those rules may not apply.
Begining to look as though someone may be trying to do things correctly for a change.
If they paid between $600k and $1M, I think they were had. $200k-$400K should be about the going price. Depending on remaining times of course.
If anyone was really interested I could explain how they arrived at the tail numbers.
Another funny thing that I hear that Mr. Mandella is copyrighting a few things. One of them may be "Madiba". Im sure he would love to hear that a bunch of palefaces are forming a company with American Combat Aircraft using that name.........Wonders never cease.

[farmpilot]

Mr B

I wanna know about the tail numbers!!!

[B Sousa]

OK Mr Farmpilot. heres what I have so far from some dusty memory banks clouded with Caribbean Rum..

Firstly all the military aircraft have serial numbers that read something like 68-12345 or 71-12345. The first two designators were the year that the Military contract was purchased, not necessarily the year of manufacture, but very close. This was mainly due to the huge assembly line of Aircraft.
So, because the numbers were so very long the Army in their wisdom would take 68-12345 and paint 82345 on the tail for a five digit number or just the 81234 for a four digit. That represented the 8 as in 68 and the last four of the sequential number.. Problem arose with they went into the next decade and 78-12345 was issued. The remedy was to take a 0 into the number meaning over ten years old, such as 01234 etc. It would readily ID aircraft that were over ten years old and not confuse with a newer issue of the same sequential number.
The only way to really Identify the aircraft is from the Data Plate located on the left side of the panel under dash on the left side.
In the case of 8606 it will say Bell Aircraft Model 204/UH-1 and the serial number should be XX-8606 Rather than painting 08606 it is acceptable to make it 8606. Since this has come out with a new type certificate it may longer have that data plate and the number could be meaningless. I think that it would be interesting to know the original number and its history can be traced to ascertain where the aircraft served. Its a Nostalgia thing. In fact If Im correct I may have 8606 in my logbook....have to dig that out.
Hope that thoroughly confuses the issue. Im sure someone will correct me on a couple items, but its close enough for SA.
Lots of other info on www.vhpa.org

[terminator 112]

Hey guys, my first posting! Don't scare me off now please. So much politics in this industry, I wonder if getting my licence was such a good idea. It's really great that the topic of discussion is now the machines and not the faces who have the guts to import and run them. I read a few previous pages and was not impressed with the rather personal info that was being flung out. I know that I am still a "baby" in the industry but it's obviously not all that I imagined it to be. Since I started an interest in flying I have been encouraged and my schooling, closely monitored by people that I have grown to like. They are those with vision and a passion for flying and see beyond the presure of competition and have the "balls" to do something better so that the Huey will survive. It's a beautifull machine, lets see more of them here! Good luck to you all. :ok:

[B Sousa]

Terminator writes:" They are those with vision and a passion for flying and see beyond the presure of competition and have the "balls" to do something better so that the Huey will survive"

Maybe you didnt see the other posting. It will survive as long as its flown within the "Type Certificate". I think you will find that the new type certificate restricts it to Agriculture, Forest Fires and Slingload work. The first Paying Passenger or " Club Member" who place their Butt on the canvas seat for a turn around the patch will make this just another mess, same as the first one.
Should the owners decide to violate the Type Certificate, Im sure they will also be telling the world that everything they do is according to how they want to do it, (that would include maintenance) , not necessarily they way it should be done.
Lets wait and see.........Someone certainly will be looking for a return on their investment and I still have my R100 ready for the bets.

Take a look: http://www.swfateam.com

[bladestrap]

204's certainly don't cost US$600K to a million in US$'s.

Neither did those old stripped out Hueys cost that when they were acquired 2 years ago.

I was told today that the 204 in the picture above was imported by Jannie Smith of Parys in the Free State. An ex cropspraying pilot now a businessman who flies charters in a King Air 200. He also owns a MD 500E. Rumoured price he paid to be in the region of US$340K.

It certainly looks nice in the pic. A 7 pax configuration I'm lead to believe. Well, I'm sure the owner will have a lot of fun with it. Good luck & safe flying.
:ok:

[farmpilot]

Mr B

Thank you so much for the info! Very interesting, I'm straight onto Amazon to get some more avaition books on Vietnam.

So do you fly out of Vegas? Cos if you do I know a load of Virgin hosties who love to flip around town there:ok:

Farmpilot

[Couch Potato]

A 7 pax configuration I'm lead to believe.

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/IMG_0323.jpg

[B Sousa]

7 Pax looks good, but as posted before, Type Certificate is for Zero Pax (in a normal world).. Lets hear the FAA Inspector??? say it aint so.

Farmpilot, tell the Hosties that the head Virgin has a piece of the company I fly for so they get employee rates..... It works both ways.
www.heliusa.com

[farmpilot]

B Sousa

It must have been you guys I flew with last year then. The Mrs did a long Vegas so we did the night flip down the strip. Very impressed I was to, we even had the old squirrel dance routine at the end. Still very good and well worth the employee rates:}

I'll look you up next time I'm there, do you do camera ship flying? Sorry Mr Moderator if this is greying the boundries a bit........

[terminator 112]

B De Sousa

Why does an aircraft need to fly Pax to survive. Word has it that the new Company has some very inovative ideas for the future of their machines wich include, but not limited to, fire fighting, slinging and airshows etc. I know that you will say "let's wait and see, time will tell" and you may get to keep your 100 Bucks, but don't "SHOOT" them down before they have even 'got off the GROUND'. :)

[B Sousa]

Terminator..........
Now that we know whos camp your in, let me explain.........
Nobody is shooting anyone down. As I said it all comes down to the almighty Rand.
Firefighting, Slingloads, and Airshows are great but not as much money as hauling (SLF)Self Loading Freight on short term tours..
AND if I were a betting man. I would (for less money) use a sling aircraft that could pick up more than a B204 with a -11 engine. Same with a Bambi Bucket. Educated folks who intend on Sling work or Fire work would not even consider a B204 over a B205 for the same price. So either someone sold the Owner/Purchaser of this nice machine a bill of goods or eventually butts will hit the canvas seats depending on the mood of the Courts and CAA.
Another point here is that SWFA does take a UH-1B/204 and install 212 drive train, larger tailboom, and the -703 engine. If one were to invest in a Sling Aircraft that would be the ticket. IT is a real hauler. This does not appear to be the case in this situation.
Airshows by all means as this is a pretty aircraft and would be a real hit......Revenue?? not at airshows unless you haul PAX....
So for whoever invested in it with the kind of money mentioned here, Im sure want a return. Which makes your statement a case of smoke and mirrors to anyone in the helicopter industry.

[SASless]

That is certainly a pretty B Model Huey....Bert...you confused me....did not the Charlie model have a 540 rotor system and the M model was nothing more than a Charlie model which had the -13 engine....which made the Mike Model a real horse. The Charlie model which is very similar to the Kilo model except for the engine, had the accumulator system and not a second independent hydraulic system. The Bell 205 had a single hydraulic system (same as the UH-1B/D/H....and the 205A-1 had dual hydraulics like the later derivative of the 205A-1 now known as the 212 and the deriviative of it called the 412. Also...the Bell 211 model which was basically a UH-1B airframe with a 2000 shp engine, a 48 foot wide chord blade with swept tips....I would assume an H model tailboom....that would lift 6000 pounds all day on the hook.

Trivia question for you Bert....on a Bell 412 where are the Bell 47 parts?:ok:

[B Sousa]

Sasless
Yes the C model was a B with the 540 and -11, also dual Hydraulics, then -13 for the M. Got my commas in the wrong place.
We had a B once with a -13 in it. To do a maintenance test they put sandbags in the back to hold it down. Dam thing came off the ground and might have over Tqd the Transmission, had a lot of power.
Took many a newbie slick driver out in M models when they were transitioning and taught them my first lesson which was the difference between the H and M. Heavy, Hot and High you lose the tail rotor right now. I used to take the guys up on a big clear ridge at about 6000' AGL and have them do an H model approach. It was a hoot to watch that pedal heading for the chin bubble just before the ass started swinging around. Their eyes got awful big before I said Ive got it and make a missed approach.
Its why I believe SWF is offering a B model with a larger tailboom, bigger drive train and -13 engine, it will be a slingload god. Im sure as time marches on the will also offer the left Bubble door with guages mounted for Vert Ref work. Not the case here as this is a raw B model set up as a display. Its sling capabilities are much less than the SWF/B, or the H. In fact I dont remember ever seeing a C or M used for sling they were always set up with Gun systems. Also the Dual Hydraulics were another nightmare similar to the 412, maybe even the 212. You lose one, get it down, you lose two......adios. M models did have separate independant systems not sure on the C. Its been 15 years since I flew an M, almost that long since I flew a Snake. I lost hydraulics once in an M model (only one of them)and it was interesting. Cockpit filled with mist in less than second, got the light etc., really woke me up on a dark night. They were somehow connected but still independant. each operated different aircraft systems as I recall.
As to the Cape Aircraft it looks very sweet in the Army colors and will be a great machine for Airshows as a "Static Display" or Demo flyer.. If done properly a skit could be put together with fees charged. I have been involved in a couple of those and some money could be made. Not as much as has been done in contravention to existing rules. Disagreement on this thread is based on prior use and maintenance of surplus aircraft.
Bell is now touting the new 210, have not heard of the 211. Its Bells way of making a ton of money. They have pissed and moaned about folks getting surplus UH-1s, now they realize there is a ton of money in it so they got a bunch from the military to refirb and make even more money. They missed the boat years ago when the surplus aircraft hit the streets. They didnt support them and most folks went to Eurocopter. Now that they are making a slight comeback, someone in the managment system must realize how they screwed up.
As to the 412/47, I only have a dozen or so hours in the 412 and a few hundred in the 47, so I never had someone ask that before. Im sure you will enlighten the forum with your vast knowledge.

[SASless]

The 211 model of the Huey was called the Huey Tug and was designed for sling loading 105mm artillery pieces with an A-22 bag of ammo. It used a Chinook engine....and a unique set of 48 foot blades with swept tips. I recall seeing some video of them flying but do not know what ever became of them. They were designed to take 6000 pounds on the cargo hook.

Take a wander over to a Bell 212 or 412 sometime and look at the tailboom baggage compartment door hinges.....Bell 47 Part numbers on them. Just a bit of trivia.

[B Sousa]

Sasless, your gonna have to get to Vegas for a Beer OR, Im back to the Virgin islands next week for a month, come on down as I need a replacememnt Pilot, at least email me if you want to be a tour toad.
Bell 211 Huey Tug. I always thought that was the B214 but again your right. According to this site http://www.aerofiles.com/_bell.html

211 Huey Tug 1968 = Considered for the Army's prime Artillery Mover. Uprated dynamic system rated at 2000hp and a larger 48'0" rotor with a wide chord and swept tips.

214 (TC H10SW) - 16pCH, developed as an improved version of UH-1H, aka Huey Plus.
214 1970 = 2000hp Avco Lycoming T-53-L-702. POP: 4.
214A 1974 = 2930hp Avco Lycoming LTC4B-8D; rotor: 50'0" length: 49'3" load: 4020# v: x/161/0 range: 215. Gross wt: 11,480#. POP: 295.

214B Big Lifter 1975 = 2930hp Avco Lycoming LTC4B-8D. POP: 70.

214C 1977 = SAR version. POP: 39.

214ST aka Super Transport 1980 = Stretched twin. Two 1625hp GE CT7-2A (civil version of GE T700), rotor: 52'0" length: 49'4" v: x/161/0. Gross wt: 17,500#. Developed with funds provided by Imperial Iranian Army, but none delivered due to 1979 revolution in Iran. Approximately 40 later sold to Iraq and used in Iran-Iraq war, as well as Gulf War. POP: 98.


I told ya Im not an expert, just a Pilot.

As to Trivia..........Your remember the throttle grips on the Hiller OH-23(UH-12)??
Just to save you some curiosity, they said " Harley Davidson"

[Grommet]

Hello China's the Grommet is back from simulator training... passed with flying colours. By the way the Bell 204 may be designed to carry 7 overweight Americans. Give that whirly bird to me for the weekend and I will run the Alex to Tshanba route in 17min with 22 brothers on board each way. I reckon I could make Mr Gary a small fortune in one weekend.

[B Sousa]

Grommet
Thats actually 9 if you consider the two overweight guys upfront.

[clipboard]

Now Grommet, a black boy would never make a statement like that. You are sure as hell, as white as they come. Man, it is clear you don't know the black culture at all. You're having us all on. Some white boy pretending to have a Com and acting like a hout. No no no, not Grommet!

[Rhodie]

Hmmmmm.....

Reading the dark Grommet's comments on a few other threads - I am still wondering... :suspect:

Now, Mr. Eardrum Tube - my 20 million Zim $ is still up for grabs to the troll finder.. :hmm:

Has to be in slightly used so-called 'bearer certificates', as the Zimboon governmunt has run out of real money to print the funny money.. :rolleyes:

BTW - I know MANY of the training captains and aircrew in the local carriers - it shouldn't be too hard to find a Zimboon grommet who is doing sim training now, should it... :E

hook, bait, set...

Cheers

R

[INJECTOR]

Glad to see you boys were busy while I took a short vacation.

It makes me wonder if you guys are really serious aviation enthusiasts or simply fed up with life and everybody else.

It seems though it is not necessary to expose Francois Marais/ Clipboard/ Bladestrap on the Jet Blast Forum as based on all the personal attacks on **** ***the moderator finds it acceptable on this thread.

I also find it interesting to note that certain pages on the EC120 thread have being removed by the moderator for whatever reason.

Like everybody else I'm not interested in mud slinging or being derogatory about anybody but I do believe that facts are facts and that fraudsters should be exposed. None the less may aviation prevail and helicopters be the preferred way of transport (much safer than fixed wing).

As promised I had a chat with the two Gary's and it seems as those our rumour network is not consistent with the truth.

If you are genuinely interested in the Hueys you can find **** *** at Helibase on any given day with the new toys and he has extended a special invitation to "Rhodie" and "Alwaysinverted".

By the way Bert, had a good look at the 204 and have been told by the engineers that it is one hell of an A/C with a dash 13 and H-model drive system and blades. (Blades cut down by a foot).

Still trying to get up to speed with what is going on and all the technical information and will be back shortly.

[4HolerPoler]

There are no thread removals or alterations made unless the post is clear libel or uses excessive bad language.

4HP

[alwaysinverted]

INJECTOR, now why would you be a messenger for Mr. **** ***? Why also would you want to invite me to the Helibase on behalf of Mr. **** ***? Having read your postings and your interest in the EC 120 thread, YOU ARE Mr. **** ***. That is clear!

Vacation??? What vacation? I was in the Helibase hangar this week, and met Ken & Jannie, and saw Mr. **** ***there, faffing about Jannie's UH-1B. Yes thats right Mr.***, I now know who you are.

Heard a couple of very interesting tales, but I guess that's nothing new! I just think that there are so many stories being told about the Hueys, and not even 20% is true.

I must say, I'm rather disappointed.:}

By the way Mr. INJECTOR, you keep on talking about exposing fraudsters? Is'nt that a bit rich coming from you? Why don't you name the SACAA Inspector involved in your alleged fraud scheme here on the thread? Lets see how big your balls are!:yuk:

[Jetdriver]

Or uses real names that are not already in the wider public domain !! Be warned for the last time. It is not acceptable to use real names whilst hiding behind the anonymity of a username on this or any other of these forums. The only common exceptions have been in the use of real names that are already in the public domain, or in the "where are they now" forum.

[Rebound]

Mr Alwaysinverted, you mention in your post that you were in the Huey hanger (AMO) earlier this week and saw . That may well be true.

has the right to be in the hanger, you were a guest (or a spy). Did you have a coffee or maybe a beer?

The Huey Extreme Club has never turned people away, they have welcomed all parties interested in aviation, may you be a pilot, journo or just some wannabe....

The problem that they face now is people who come visit, have a coffee, have a bullsh:mad: t with the boys and then run off to go post on the pprune...

Thanks for the hospitality :\

[alwaysinverted]

Rebound, would'nt you just love to know?

I was invited there, had no beer or coffee, and nobody said anything about the Huey Extreme Club. I went there to see the 204 and have a chat with the owner.

What is however amazing, is the fact that this whole Huey business have been blown so much out of proportion by lies, fabrications and other stories which we all know does'nt exist. I mean, your mate the "Chief Engineer" is renowned for talking nonsense, and that in itself makes him a laughing stock in the aviation industry, and gives aviation a bad name. I mean, why can't the guy just be straight? Why all the stories? Everyone in the helicopter industry knows this boy, and like he always says, "I've earned my reputation in the industry". True, by being crooked and all the rest that have been posted here on pprune.

Now I'm still kinda wondering why he would want to invite Rhodie & myself to the Helibase? Maybe you can be the messenger now and tell us, seeing that he's been on vacation and still trying to get the engineering facts.:ok:

[Rebound]

Alwaysinverted, next time you come and visit, (if its early then have a coffee, if its late afternoon then have a beer) your welcome!

The said "chief engineer" whom i have not known for too long goes about his business looking after the Hueys (blady fine job he does), keeps customers satisfied by producing the goods and is like the rest of us...has a passion for aviation.

For myself, i cant give a flying hoot about the past, instead focus on the future and try and make aviation a pleasure...

So come on brothers and sista's, enough of the witch hunting..

[B Sousa]

"By the way Bert, had a good look at the 204 and have been told by the engineers that it is one hell of an A/C with a dash 13 and H-model drive system and blades. (Blades cut down by a foot).
"

OK, that means it is the STCd model from SWFA. Just painted up in Army Colors. -13 and that puppy can really hang a load. Blades cut down by a foot seems a bit odd. They may be the blades used on the M model with a wider Chord than the H also shorter. Or if it has an H tailboom then normal blades will be acceptable.
Point of curiosity for sure.

Again the big question is and everyones waiting, the STC is for no PAX. Sort of like when a hooker takes her first trick. Once she does it, shes just another Hooker.

[Couch Potato]

http://www.sapfa.org.za/avcom_image/plate.jpg

[carnivoruslegallus]

Coach Potato, I could not quite make out the engine details on the data plate. What is it?

I understand that this bird's got the small engine in it. Dash 11 or something. Let us know.

Well, as a Huey fan, I'm glad to see that there's another bird in SA. Although not a proper UH-1H Huey, I think that its great that the war bird enthusiasts are bringing airplanes to SA that we normally just see in the war movies, or read about. Good one!

What is however sad, is the fact that some of the people involved in this whole deal, are messing it up for others. I think enough have been said about the people involved here on pprune and elsewhere, and yeah, maybe "Rebound" is right. Maybe we should forget about the past and look towards the future, although it may be difficult.

It certainly is'nt easy to forget a rip off artist and a bull:mad: r like. Just thinking how he ripped off my partner and everyone else a couple of years ago, makes my blood boil. Remember ZS-HLA Mr. F? How you stripped off the components and sold it for cash and left it as an empty shell huh?

Anyway, its probably not going to help harping on that. The man is just one helluva sick puppy, and I will never believe that he's doing the helicopter industry any good.

I rest my case!:}

[alwaysinverted]

Wow, more than 11 000 people have read this thread to date. Makes you think hey? Someone should vote this into a 5 star rating for gossip, libel & bull:mad: t.

Mr. Rebound, I doubt it very much if the Chief Engineer could keep any customer happy. It sounds like the 204 owner is not too happy at this time. I was at the CAA office today and heard a few stories. The SACAA have not yet conducted an "import C of A Inspection" on the heli. Neither has it been issued with an authority to fly. Now surely, if the man was an expert, doing his job right and staying on the right track, why the delay? I also heard that the "Chief Engineer" did not perform any of the paperwork on the helicopter, but that a JHB based engineer, who does have licenses, had to fly down to Cape Town to sign it off. Why? Maybe you can tell us why the "expert" did'nt do it?

When I was in the hangar the other day, I noticed a lot of new faces, and heard a lot of stories. I'm kinda wondering why there are so many people defending the Huey these days. You sound like you're quite close to the lot, so maybe you can enlighten all the Huey enthusiasts as to why the Huey still flies without insurances, (3rd party & pax liability) why an incompetent and unqualified engineer maintains it, why it breaks down so often, why scrappy parts removed from the other 7 Hueys shells parked in the hangar (and lying in the store) are so often fitted to it, why it is flown with patched & timex main and tail rotor blades etc.?

These are just some of the things I learned during my 45 minutes in the hangar. Very informative. I'm sure the SACAA people would love to see that lot. Not that they really care.

So my question? Who is the Chief Engineer actually keeping happy other than himself? I'm sure if the tourists who fly on the Huey learn about this lot, they wont go near it. I think there are a lot that needs to be rectified, but the big question is, when will that be?

Lastly, your staff need to be schooled in diplomacy. Never in my life have I ever heard defamatory stories about each other being told with so much zest. Train them, or fire them. They're not doing your business any good.;)

[B Sousa]

Photo of the Data Plate, means that the Bell Plate must be adios and this in fact is the SWFA Aircraft..... That would explain the engine, drive train and blades. All acceptable to the FAA in a restricted category form.....
Another question popped up as I got a call from a couple other owners in the Industry who stated,yes it may be a remanufactured restricted Aircraft, but how did it slip by the U.S. State Department. Usually they (former Military) are not exportable.
Im sure someone out there has the right answer.......or at least another answer that will continue to fuel the flames on this thread.
Even a dummy like me can understand **** *** when the poor guys name is mentioned so many times. This is better than a fifteen round fight with Mike Tyson.
Either way it would be nice to see that Aircraft do a sling load. I bet it can hold a bunch. Anybody have an idea what they certified it for on the hook??

[B Sousa]

Not one to let such a great thread die. Heres an email that I received and am passing it on..... This is a rumor network so Take it as a rumor. If you wish to verify some of it, go to www.google.com or www.copernic.com and download their search engine.
This may upset a few but it should be considered consistent with what has happened in the past...
"Southwest Florda Avaition is owned by Jamie R. Hill and Ronald R. Hill is also somehow involved. SWFA brought a bunch of UH-1Bs into the country from Singapore, rebuilt them to some degree, registered them as Restricted category machines. Several of them crashed due to airframe failures due to corrosion. Caused enough problems to generate an FAA action that forbids previously foreign operated aircraft from being registered here in the USA. He also did a Mod wherin he whacked off two feet from an H Model Blade, moved the trim tabs...but it did not work out well,..lots of cracking problems.
That aircraft in question was registered as N37BA ( http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21080&key=1 ) and was duly exported to SA and de-registered with the FAA. Question remains how he did that export...it requires US Department of State Approval.
The aircraft was manufactured in 1964.
The Charlotte County Sheriffs Department is supposed to have investigated SWFA for having possession of up to 23 helicopter airframes that had been obtained by the Sheriffs office under the Federal Government Excess Personal Property program. ( http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/121201/tp2ch19.htm ) ( http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsheadline.cfm?headline=1789&banner=1 )( http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/010902/tp2ch16.htm?date=010902&story=tp2ch16.htm)
Shady operator at best.... at least one $200,000 lein oustanding in the State of Florida on him and a second lien on what appears to be his wife in the amount of $80,000. both liens filed under the Company name and each of them."

Heres another little tidbit for the smell test on "Business Ethics" ( http://www.njb.uscourts.gov/chambers2/Gambardella/97_22513_First_Interregional.pdf )
So the rest is not necesary..... It explains to me one thing in that the blades used are not as I expected . Also it does not say that the Aircraft in the Cape is one of the above....just implies that based on past practice , chances are good. So much for pretty paint jobs.
I do hope someone from SWFA will post here, using their name of course and tell us all its not true.

[SASless]

Old saying....."Let the Buyer Beware" springs to mind here.




Helicopter rebuilder questions search

Sheriff left parts, copters behind, says Hill


The State Attorney's Office search of a Punta Gorda helicopter business last week may indeed uncover a "conspiracy," said Ronald Hill, manager of the business, Southwest Florida Aviation Inc.

That's the conspiracy between fellow U.S. military veterans -- to help the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office rebuild Vietnam-era helicopters for public use, said Ronald Hill, manager of Southwest Florida Aviation Inc.

Hill's father, Jamie Hill, owns the Southwest Florida Aviation business, located across the street from the sheriff's hangar at the Charlotte County Airport. The business has been rebuilding Bell "Huey" helicopters and exporting them since 1982.

The State Attorney's Office searched the business for two days last week looking for evidence that proved Jamie Hill engaged in a scheme with former Sheriff's Capt. Robert Carr.

According to State Attorney Investigator Ralph Cunningham, the scheme was for Carr to embezzle helicopters from the Sheriff's Office and sell them or their parts in Third World countries.

Both Carr and Ronald Hill have denied the allegations. Jamie Hill was out of the country on business and couldn't be reached for comment.

Jamie Hill served in the U.S. Army for five years in Vietnam as a U.S. Army helicopter crew chief. All of Southwest's floor technicians are also U.S. military veterans, staffers said. Carr also served in the army as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

In fact, one of the helicopters Carr flew in Vietnam, the Huey "Five-Oh-Deuce," is one of the helicopters that Southwest helped the Sheriff's Office rebuild.

For the past three years, Southwest has provided technical advice, tools, manuals, materials, parts, storage space for junk and skilled mechanical services -- often free of charge -- to the Sheriff's Office, Ronald Hill said.

"You're talking about veterans helping out other veterans over there," said Hill. "We were trying to assist our fellow man."

Southwest's floor supervisor Mark Fry said he spent 21 years in the U.S. Marines. He said he and another U.S. veteran/technician volunteered to work weekends to install an engine, transmission and main rotor hub into the sheriff's 502.

"I just put all the major parts in it," Fry said. "(Carr) asked me to do it; he's my friend."

"You've got to be nice to them," added Southwest technician Anthony Laurenti, also a U.S. veteran. "I mean they're the sheriff's department."

Most of the sheriff's aviation unit's staffers were also veterans, at least until recently. Those veterans had included Carr, who resigned from the Sheriff's Office in January, former U.S. Army pilot Carl Burgerhoff, who resigned in August, and former U.S. Army mechanic Denis Mintze, who was suspended in June.

Southwest's staffers say they were hurt to hear Cunningham claim, in newspaper interviews, that stolen parts exported by Southwest could be winding up in the hands of "terrorists and drug dealers."

"I don't know how you could be more insulted than that," said Laurenti.

Jamie Hill founded Southwest in Fort Myers in 1982. In 1986, he moved the business to Punta Gorda.

Ron Hill pointed out that all exports of de-militarized military surplus aircraft must be approved by the U.S. Customs and the State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls. The export forms require Southwest to declare the name of the customer and the country receiving the aircraft must approve of the import.

If Southwest violated the law, they'd soon be put out of business, he pointed out.

According to a search warrant, State Attorney Investigator J.S. Purdy told Circuit Judge Donald Pellecchia he had probable cause to believe that Southwest's property contained materials that had been "stolen or embezzled."

The judge granted permission to search specifically for evidence that Hill's father, Jamie, committed grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft and making illegal modifications to aircraft identification numbers. The warrant listed serial numbers for nine helicopters that Cunningham said were "missing from the sheriff's inventory."

The investigators seized seven helicopter hulks and crates of parts and records.

Hill, however, said the Sheriff's Office asked for permission to store its helicopter hulks at Southwest's lot. He also said the sheriff's aviation staff has dropped off and retrieved aircrafts several times.

Southwest has never transported sheriff's helicopters to its lot, he said.

He also said some of the parts seized in the search may belong to the Sheriff's Office. However, he said many of those parts were brought to Southwest by the sheriff's aviation staff for technical inspections -- and then never retrieved.

Many of those parts were deemed to be junk, Hill said. He pointed out that many parts had reached their limit for hours of operation or were missing "data tags." Without data tags, which allow mechanics to track maintenance history, many components can never legally be installed again.

"At no time did we ever receive records on any of the sheriff's aircraft," Hill said. "At no time did we ever receive flight logs, maintenance records, component records."

"There must be a misunderstanding," he added. "If there's no misunderstanding, than this search is just a ruse."

He suggested that corporate espionage was a possibility.

He pointed out a Bell helicopter official accompanied investigators, apparently to help them identify helicopters without data tags by the serial numbers on other components.

However, Bell is a direct competitor of Southwest. Bell offers a kit for about $150,000 to beef up civilian Hueys with military-sized engines, Hill said. Southwest provides the kit -- and installs it -- for $125,000, he said.

Southwest, which is one of only five Type Certificate holders in the U.S. that rebuild military surplus Hueys, also competes by providing rebuilt utility helicopters at one-fifth the cost of Bell's new civilian utility helicopters.

"Bell and the FAA have been trying to do away with everything for these Hueys for years," Hill said.

He also challenged the State Attorney's claim Southwest illegally altered identification plates on the aircrafts. He pointed out that Southwest holds a Type Certificate license from the FAA. That authorizes Southwest to remove "data plates," which are aircraft identification plates, to rebuild aircraft.

After the aircraft is rebuilt, it is inspected by the FAA. If approved, Southwest is authorized to remove the data plate and affix its own stating Southwest is responsible for the re-manufacturing, he said.

Hill said investigators seized old data plates from a Southwest cabinet that Southwest had removed from aircraft that were scheduled to be remanufactured.

Hill also cited several documents indicating that more than half the helicopters seized had no "data plates" when they arrived.

Those documents include a Sept. 1, 1999 letter from Carr to Chris Butterworth, then-director of the state's Bureau of Federal Property Assistance. The letter states that the four helicopters, the same ones investigators were searching for, had been "cannibalized."

"The UH-1H helicopters were received without data plates and many components were removed prior to our accepting this aircraft at Marion County Sheriff's Office," Carr wrote. "We have completed the cannibalization process and need direction to turn in these helicopters. These airframes have no salvageable parts."

Hill doesn't possess any followup correspondence. However, that should be in the possession of the Sheriff's Office, officials have indicated.

Hill also cited documents showing that a fifth helicopter seized by the investigators wasn't stolen. It was officially released to Southwest after Carr turned it in to the U.S. General Services Administration as an unusable hulk.

That helicopter was then bought at an auction on Aug. 25, 1999 by Donald D. Hunt of Roseburg, Ore., according to a U.S. General Services Administration document. Hunt then signed another document releasing that helicopter to Hill.

"This item is in scrap condition, no data plates, no records, no avionics or parts," the GSA states in its document. "Scrap value only."

Hill said the sheriff's trucking contractor dropped off four helicopter hulks at Southwest's yard in 1999. None had data plates. Sheriff's staffers asked Southwest to remove all the major parts, Hill said.

But, it wasn't a secret operation. Southwest listed the parts to be removed in an April 12, 1999 letter to Carr, records show. "All items removed will be returned to you," the document states.

Hill said the parts were delivered to the sheriff's hangar, but many of them were brought back to Southwest for technical inspections. Some of those parts were then deemed to be junk and were never retrieved by the Sheriff's Office, he said.

Southwest staffers say within weeks after Sheriff Bill Clement took office in January, sheriff's aviation staffers rushed to cart off four helicopter hulks. Those hulks had data plates, according to Hill.

Which helicopters are which? Investigators will have trouble figuring that out, said Hill.

Fry pointed to a large canister on the tarmac. He said it contained a rusted transmission that Mintze had asked Southwest to inspect. When Fry saw it had no "data tag" and was rusty, he deemed it to be junk.

"I told Denis to come over here a year ago and get this thing," Fry said. "It's still sitting here."

Hill pointed to two main rotor hubs sitting outside on the tarmac. He said sheriff's staffers left the hubs after inspections deemed them to be junk.

"They're 'boat anchors,'" Hill said. "I haven't tried to sell their stuff. I've had three years to sell those parts."

Fry said the investigators seized several tail rudder grips from Southwest's hangar. The grips are melon-sized, yoke-shaped parts made of either aluminum or steel. The grips must be discarded when they reach a certain limit for hours of operation.

The investigators seized grips that had been removed from sheriff's helicopters -- and replaced with good used ones by Southwest, Fry said.

"I can't use 'em; they're out of hours," said Fry. "They're scrap."

Hill cited a document showing other property that was seized in the search. He said the property included several rotor blades for Bell 205 and UH-1B helicopters.

Those blades don't fit any of the UH-1 helicopters listed in the search warrant, Hill said.

Carr declined comment for this story.

Purdy also declined comment, citing the fact the investigation remains open.

You can e-mail Greg Martin at [email protected]


By GREG MARTIN

Staff Writer

[alwaysinverted]

Very Interesting!

The SACAA should look into this lot.

Maybe the UH-1B that arrived here was destined for the scrap heap. I remember someone saying that it was put together for the purpose of a static display for some museum. Well, if it is a museum piece, it probably does'nt have any servicable parts on it. Maybe the paperwork should be thoroughly inspected, rather than just taken for granted.

If its true about the Hill's, then a lot of this whole thing with Mr. Chief Engineer who's name we can't mention, makes a lot of sense. Two peas in a pod.:confused: