Training in South Africa
 

I am looking to do some flying in SA at the end of the month while on holiday.
Can anyone give contact details of training company, preferrably JNB or Durban.

You can try National Airways Corporation (NAC) and Natal Flight Centre which are all based on the Virginia Airport in Durban.

The avaiation mags like Pilot and Flyer carry ads for several flight schools in SA.

(OK guys, it was an extra long wait, I had to read something!:) )

WHO/ONCHO Africa Pilots Around?
 

Have any of you worked for the World Health Organization/ONCHO Control Progamme in West Africa?

I came back in December from working over there and I would like to contact pilots who "went there, did that" to exchange impressions, see if you miss it.

I was based in Odienne, Cote d'Ivoire with Evergreen Helicopters Inc.

Hour Building in SA
 

First of all If I fly in SAA, will my hours count towards my CPL(H)?

And if so, can anyone recommend a school, preferably around Durban?

I've had a flick through the Africa board but couldn't find anything recent....

Cheers

(Whirly - this is the other reason I can't go to Russia! I'm visiting relatives in SA in October...)

Try Chopper Flying Services in Durban, they have a pretty good flying school. If you get to JoBurg then talk to Dave Mouton at Helibip.

Can you give us a heads up on what the operation was like, what you did, aircraft, location etc. Just curious as to the way it all worked there. Met Gerald Rock from Evergreen at Heli Expo and he gave me some info but would like to get background from one of you lot that have been there.

I'mmmm let's see,

The ONCHO program has lasted for something like 20 years, and it basically about 2 things, one is applying chemicals in very precise doses into rivers of every size all over West Africa, the reason is control an insect that spreads Onchocercosis or "river blindness", and the other is "prospecting" which is going out and landing in rivers and villages to take samples and see if things are working OK.

We flew the MD500 D/E models, which does things that I didn't know helicopters could do, the maintenance is great, although they don't really worry about the appearance, and fancy stuff, bring your own GPS. At one time there was more than 30 500's working on the contract, and a couple of spray planes. We also had a Cessna 206 to go to the city, run errands.

There have always been 2 main bases one in Togo, LamaKara and one in Ivory Coast, Odienne, each one of those has its pros and cons and their share of very different flying, but the flying is almost always into neighboring countries, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso since it's where its most needed.

The flying . . . . ahh yes the flying indeed. Before I left, the Base Manager eMailed me and said "the flying is fun", I thought "flying is always been fun" . . . I was wrong.

We had a spray sistem thru which we applied small doses (say 1.3 lt) of expensive chemicals, this meant, being precise, being low so as to get it all in the water, and being most of all, FAST! The WHO is grouchy about pilots who take their time to make an approach to a river, this meant you could fly 150 miles or more in a day between or below trees, always trying to get as close to the ground, the water, as possible. When an WHO guy tells you to "make a drop" from crusing above the river, he expects you to inmediately dive for the river and get in and out of there as quickly as possibe and move on down the river. As you fly you get to see all kinds of cool scenery and animals.

There are fuel caches stewn about the country in small villages where you have to land and "recharge fluids" this is kind of a bummer since you have to do the refueling yoursef and those barrels are HEAVY! specially in 40C heat.
I had never refueled myself before I went there, and moving those barrels could always be exciting since 20cm scorpions and Cobra snakes liked them for shade.

You kept in strict contact with your base reporting every new river, TO or LDG, via HF, they always knew where you where which was great in case you inadvertanty ran into a tree, and had to have someone get you, it happened more than once. There are practically NO wires in any of the countries, only large cities have electricity and telephone so the few wires there are are clearly known. We usually went out on tuesdays, and came back, the next day or the day after that, spent the night mostly in small hotels in the other countries.

Overall it was a cool job, lot's of fun. The Con's were, flying in aircraft in which looked like they had belonged to the Taliban, dealing with the chemicals and fuel all the time, and that since the program is winding down after 20 years there are few people at the bases to make friends with, historically Evergreen has hired people from all over the world to do the job in, this makes it more intersting and fun, in our 2 bases, we had people from, Portugal, Switzerland, NewZeland, England, Peru, France, Mexico (me), and U.S.

Well here you go, hope this gives you a picture.

I think Discobeast might be able to help you out on this one. "Come in Discobeast! Are you out there Discobeast??"

:D

Autorotate

Can one still find a cold Castles at the "Rotor Arms" or is that now gone......

Thanks for the amazing background on it. Gerald had said I would be welcome to go down there and do a story on it. Now that I know what its like will most certainly have to go and have a look. Thanks again.

Autorotate.

Hurry
 

Well you have to really hurry, I thing the program is on its last year (after 20) and as I left there were only a few helicopeters left over there.

As for Gerald, I really don't know him, the big bosses were Del Smith and John Keisler in McMinnville, OR. The Project Manager is Ron Gorman in Africa, he lives in the Togo base.

yep! chopper flying services would be the best bet around durban. good company and they even operate a new ec130. in JHB helibip/the helicopter people are the best. they are at grand central. talk to Dave Mouton, Chris G. or Elsa over there. nice people to deal with.

these are the approx. costs in SA:
hire&fly: around US$130 per hour
instruction: around US$144 per hour

contact me if you need more info.....

hey, irlandes, get back to those books, buddy!!! hehehe....


ciao! :D

I was in the second group of Evergreen pilots to do that contract....the first Chief Pilot absconded with the petty cash....paid his way home with it. The second Chief Pilot nearly killed himself in a Pilatus Porter crash....the third Chief Pilot tried to drink himself to death.....the line pilots lasted anywhere from days to several years. We were based in Bobo-Diolasso in what was then the Republic of Upper Volta now Burkina Faso. We flew three Jetrangers and one Pilatus Porter. There was no flight following, no GPS, maps were sometimes hand drawn. There were no observers, pilots were alone for the whole week .....departed on Monday morning....returned late on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Survival kits were typical Evergreen....hand full of Charms candy....and some matchs....and a couple of condoms....I assume for use with the native ladies. The French UN official who started the program was an absolute gentleman as was his Belgian assistant. The local staff we met in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Mali were a delight to deal with. We did some wonderful flying....stayed lost....at times did not even know which country I was in! Lived very rough....Evergreen standard accomodation and pay.....really bad! Bobo had one pinball machine which you could not tilt....no ice....bad gin....one hotel....two restaurants.....we shared one Land Rover between five pilots and one mechanic who lived in two different locations.....five miles apart. There was no refrigeration in the market....dysentery was a normal situation. Loved the experience.....saw some very interesting sights....met some very coloful people.....and have never been slightly interested in working for Evergreen ever since.

They paid me every penny they had promised....but would not tell me the details of what had been paid during a collect telephone call from Bobo to the Chief Pilot....then Larry Vineyard. He merely reaffirmed Payrolls statement that "Evergreen doesn't release that information over the telephone!"

Howdy guy's

Lama Kara signing in. 1998 to 1999.
Yup, Evergreen hasn't changed, but fulfilled every
promise they gave.
Memo from Oregon came every couple of months, requesting us to dress as gentlemen !!
Miss the flying !
How's Jay doing ?

This sounds like interesting work, i understand they are slowig down but are they vlosing completely or are they still hiring. Would love to know, so if anybody knows, let me know.
Thanks

P.S
My spoolchucker seems to be broken so please excuse spelling.

Since Chopper Flying Services are a Eurocopter agency I doubt they would have any 206s. There website is as follows:

http://www.helicopter.co.za/

Autorotate.

sasless,

Well your description of the place from a few years back seems to match everything I've heard from the past, it was fun. I really don't see how you could have worked without GPS, I never knew where I was most of the time and I had GPS! nor less with a JetRanger, when I got there the kind of flying done would have caused any 206 to fall apart on the first day of manuvering around the river. I know what you mean by the chief pilot trying to kill himself by drinking to death, the info handout I got when I got there said "it is forbidden to attend the WHO meeting while drunk"

staticdroop,

Last I heard they let some of the last pilots go early this year and they now only have a couple of pilots who will stay until the end of the project later this year, but who knows give EHI a call, nothing to lose, much to gain.

Bushwacker,

Jay isn't there anymore, he's with Dyncorp in S.America last I've heard. As for the memo about the dress code, well it seems dressing wasn't a priority by now.

there are no AS355's in SA. not that i am aware of anyway... but there is a EC135 if you want some twin time on eurocopter products. it is operated by STAR. an EMS-company. talk to Dave Mouton at Helibip about it if you are interested

ciao!

Discobeast

Where in Aoteoroa are you, I am at Princes Wharf (AKL). Heading to Jo'Burg Thursday to catch up with Dave M and then go as part of their seven ship flight (EC-120 x 5, EC-130x1 and AS-350? x 1) to Nairobi for the Rally of Kenya. Should be a good trip. Staying overnight in Malawi somewhere.

Autorotate.

hi autorotate,

i'm in albany, north-shore. i was wondering if they were going to go up for the rally again. i heard the last time was an awesome trip. wish i could go along..... damn! hehehe...

wow! 7 ships hey?! plus the EC130?! i knew dave would get to play with the new toys!!! hehehe...

where do you know Dave from?

ciao!
:D

Viking-Oncho
 

I spent 18 months in West Africa in '79-81 with Viking Helicopters of Ottawa Canada on the the Oncho project. Looking back it was one of the greatest time and most challenging job of my flying career. Nothing like 200 miles out to a fuel casche in 1/2 mile vis in the "Harmatan". No GPS in those days and just C model 500's! Good times and good people. "Flag" beer tasted good when it was cold!

I have spent a lot of time back and forwards doing stories and shooting pics, back from the days when Brian Lehmkuhl was running the Rand Airport unit for SAPS, with Rod McLay as 2IC. On this trip am also catching up with Mark McJannet and Ivor Marais at STAR and up to Livingstone where there are a couple of 350s plying the tourist trade.

If I get time will duck across to Vic Falls where the old UAC and Southern Cross have combined to form Zambezi Helicopters, flying 2 x 206L and one 206B.

The trip to Nairobi is going to be fun. Sliding door on EC-120 and have just bought 100 rolls of slide film, should be just enough for the trip.

Not sure if you know John Fogden, foggie used to be Ops Dir of NAC at Rand, now is Helo Inspector here in Kiwiland for the CAA (C***s Against Aviation).

Autorotate.

Autorotate, If your going up through Malawi, I will bet you stay in Karonga...... Dont Eat the salad......Also dont get into any Bullfights..............Gerry will explain......

Bert,

Arr into JNB last night and caught up with Dave and some of the pilots. I am flying with Martin, Daves Chief Pilot in an EC-120. Leaving crack of dawn tomorrow and refuel at Tete then through to Llongwe (not sure on spelling) and then throw a few jerry cans in the back and do a bush refuel the following day for last leg.

Now have eight aircraft going from here. By the way did Dave mention they bent a Rooivalk during a flight test for the pilot the other day :eek:

Autorotate.

P.S. Dave said Gerry is on this flight as well.

Found this which backs up Daves little incident :D


A Rooivalk belonging to the South African Air Force (SAAF), was involved in an accident on 28 June outside Pretoria.

Denel says that during a routine maintenance test flight, with one of its test pilots at the controls, the helicopter carried out a quick stop manoeuvre when the aircraft hit the ground ‘in what can be considered a hard landing’. First news indicates that the port shock absorber collapsed as a result of the impact, with some collateral damage.

The crew were not injured in the incident and the aircraft was returned to the Denel plant at Kempton Park.

An official board of enquiry has been and a first sitting will be held.

hi autorotate,

i thought it was only petri van zyl in the rooivalk. did'nt know dave was with.

martin bouer, the chief pilot, is a great guy. i flew with him once in a 350 doing a test flight. do you know if nic is going along as well?

are you talking about gerrie that own the EC120?

Talking aboput Gerry Broberg......Former SAP Pilot and general all around good guy....

Bert & All

Made it into Nairobi yesterday. Great trip and I got to fly EC-120 ZS-RNA all the way, with Martin as co-pilot. Chased girafe around low level in Zim and then did a photo shoot at 11,500 ft in front of Kilamanjaro with Gerry flying EC-130 as No 1, Francois and Mark in EC-120 as number 2 and Renae in AS-350BA as No 3.

Will post some when I get home. Bert, heard from Gerry that you tried to ague with a Buffalo and got butted for your trouble :D

Stopped on top of 7300 ft mountain to top up with jerry cans. Route was

Pietersburg - Chireze - Tete - Llongwe (Overnight) Dodomo and then Nairobi.

We have 28 helicopters working on the rally here. Will post more soon.

Regards

Autorotate.

wow! sounds like an awesome trip! just wondering.... is it possible to post some photos here?

did rene fly ZS-RHA? RHA currently holds the world helicopter altitude record @ 42,500ft.:eek:

enjoy:)

Autorotate,

Disco beast got me on this site, as I asked about the trip on a thread in "African Aviation" Anyway I am envious. I had one hell of a good time a few years ago...
And Yes I am de great Kenyan Booolfighter... the Sumbitch threw me ass over teacup. But I did get a lot of toothy smiles from the locals....
That trip, every year will no doubt become the most popular Helicopter flying in Africa and I can see it becoming something that will have its own Alumni Association....
Please keep Gerry out of trouble, he seems to think that Tonic wards off Malaria....

Bert & Discobeast

Am back in JoBurg now, doing some flying with STAR and SAPS and then Johaan Nell and the Land & Ag B3. Left Nairobi this afternoon.

Renee flew the Giraffe up there, blue and green BA. I will post some of the images once I get them developed. Shot images all the way up there including the amazing formation shots in front of Killy.

Bert, I am going to be back on this trip next year so you should make a point of joining us. Am also going to make up some t-shirts commemorating this years bash so if you and Discobeast would like one will put a couple aside.

Now Arthur Walker, he is a character.

Autorotate.

Autorotate, so all you did was the ride up...... Fun begins when the work begins....and those good evenings along the routes.
next time you have to stay the entire time.....Ride home is not so bad also. Did you see a customs Official in Malawi wearing Vaurnets?? If so they were mine, the little S51T was so fast I didnt catch him.....Stop by vegas on the way home.....

The whole plan was originally just for the trip up. I was going to stay but a certain person turned out to be a real SOB, and since he was running the helo ops side I decided it wasnt worth the hassle.

They now have a Helipark where all the machines are based and work out of so all nights are spent in tents at Suswa. The only ones that dont are Garry and Renee who are based out of the Safari park because they are flying the media.

We went and had lunch at Carnivores down at the end of the airport, such delights as zebra, crocodile, ostrich, etc.

All in all a great trip and if I had the time to stay I would have waited around but also the owner of the 120 we flew up there was coming up to fly it home with friends so that was another reason to cut out early.

Autorotate.

Giraffe? Ohhh yeaah… got it! the giraffe… right! ;o) I think Helibip wanted to buy it just before I left for NZ. Guess they did!

Would love to have one of those T’s! Now I can say, ” wasn’t there, didn’t do it but hey… got the t-shirt!” hehe…

Have fun with the STAR EC-135. Don’t know the folks that operate STAR personally but know about them.

And enjoy a couple of Castles at Rotor Arms at the SAP-hangers. Cheapest drinks in town!!! Right… Bert?:D

Cheers!

Thats for sure. Its a beautiful place. Many times there when there were Pilots in the SAP Airwing. Seems most have all gone by now and the load is being picked up by the few remaining.
Sad thing, but Im sure it will revert to jungle in the not to distant future.
If you visit the place dont forget to bring a good bottle of Gentleman Jack and leave it for those who are still there......

Bert

Just got back from having a few in the Rotors Arms for you. Went flying with Marius in Jo'Burg in the 500E and found a couple of carjackers in delightful Soweto. Then it was back to Pretoria for an air to air shoot with the B3 from a 105. Beautiful shots then we had to retire to the Arms. Got a couple of commenorative bottles of wine with the SAPS AIRWING logos on them so might drop one off on the way through Vegas in a few weeks.

Great day and back with STARS tomorrow with the EC-135 and then Sunday head north with Johann in the Parks B3 for some game counting and darting etc. Life sucks NOT :D

Autorotate.

John Bassi Helicopters in Pretoria has R-22 for R1,350 + VAT per hour for hours building and is rumoured to being getting a Hughes 300 to add to Jet Ranger which goes for R3250. Tel 082 892 9444.

Bert

Got to meet Fred today, great guy and we had a ball. Flew up there with Johaan in the Land & Ag B3. Then we met up with Fred at the lodge and flew up to the mountain site and had lunch. The next couple of hours resulted in some awesome images. You know the pedal turn he does in front of the rock face, well he recreated that while I was on the ground and we got some spectacular images. Also got Johaan to do it in the B3 and he had the thing upside down, and yes you did read right - wait and see the evidence :eek:

The we had them in formation looking down the sheet cliffs with one under the other. From here it was off around the park shooting from the B3 to Fred. Low level over the reserve was great.

Then swapped to Freds machine and chased the B3 around. Got simply out o this world images of the B3 with two Rhinos, giraffe and Wildebeest. Will email some for you. Then drive back to Pretoria with Fred, drinking few beers on the way back, 140kmph and handgun on the seat, just in case of highjacking. Needless to say a great day, and a true gentlemen. Heard a few war stories about you too :D

Autorotate.