Dusting fire fighting

[airlopez]

Hey guys

Could anyone give me some information about crop dusting / aerial application, fire fighting in Africa. What is the market there for pilots, operators, conditions etc

Thank you

[Whiteknight68]

Try South African compagnies.:ok:

[cavortingcheetah]

It isn't quite as fashionable in South Africa as it used to be.

News - South Africa: 'Boys grew breasts after crop spraying' (Page 1 of 2) (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080712083756254C972685)

So conditions will still be dry, dusty, hot, under paid, hard work and structurally demanding. Only difference between now and the old days is that probably most people hate you and, being Africa, take pot shots at your aircraft.

Orsmond Aviation in Bethlehem, Free State, are still involved as far as I know.
Avex Air which used to be really big in spraying and survey has diversified as far as I know. The company's new mission statement is to make a sustainable profit and I would doubt that that vision includes crop spraying. But you could drop C. Chandler, one of the directors, a line. His contact is within the public domaine. He used to be an SAA Captain and was recently enough banging around as skipper in a 727. He might be able to give you some good advice and I won't go so far as to pre-empt him.

[airlopez]

Nobody knowns anything else, specially about fire fighting.

[cavortingcheetah]

It rather looks that way. There is another aviation website which is more localised to South Africa.
But have you actually been in touch with Orsmond as I suggested? As far as I know, they've always had the fire fighting contract for Sappi's huge forestry plantations where fire would be catastrophic.
Sappi : Home (http://www.sappi.com/)
and perhaps you can find some more information from this website?
Thirty Thousand Feet - Aviation Medical, Rescue, and Firefighting (http://www.thirtythousandfeet.com/rescue.htm#firefighting)
Thinks that's all I have for you so, hasta pronto!