SANParks Air Wing

[harrys]

Really cool

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

They should have cleaned the windows before take-off

[Alf]

Would love to do a flight like that

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Kruger National Park
@SANParksKNP
New gearboxes for the oldest aircraft in our fleet arrived. ZS-OPK will be ready to take to the skies again soon to provide the much needed support to rangers on the ground.
4:39 PM · Jul 11, 2020

[Peter Betts]

I flew many times over the Southern Bulge of Kruger up to Tshokwane out of Skukuza in the Patanavia observer airplane..mainly with the Wild Dog Research Scientist who asked me to join for the ride ..Lovely following roads like the H10 and S114 etc and seeing little toy cars below ... the plane was literally able to hang in the air..I must find my old videos and make them edit them onto modern media

[Richprins]

David Simelane promoted to chief pilot of SANParks Air Services

SANParks' chief operating officer, Lize McCourt, said it came as no surprise that Simelane, aka “The Black-Black Hawk”, was progressing through the ranks, as he is a skilled professional pilot with solid management and leadership skills, with approachability and strength of character to boot.
2 hours ago




> Photo: Linzetta Calitz

SANParks was proud to announce that Ndabenhle David Simelane has become the first black chief pilot for the SANParks Air Services.

The organisation’s chief operating officer, Lize McCourt, said, “Simelane’s most recent promotion sees him moving from the rank of pilot to SANParks’ chief pilot and the person responsible for operations as per the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s regulations.



“It comes as no surprise that Simelane, aka “The Black-Black Hawk”, is progressing through the ranks, as he is a skilled professional pilot with solid management and leadership skills, with approachability and strength of character to boot.”

On arrival at the SANParks Airwing in Skukuza almost a year ago, Simelane wasted no time in forging a solid relationship with the Civil Aviation Authority – an endeavour that served SANParks well in terms of aviation compliance.

Air Services is part of the newly formed area integrity management unit (AIM), which comprises air services, firearm management, special operations, environmental crime investigations and environmental compliance.

The main objective of creating the AIM unit was to establish and better coordinate safety and security within SANParks. The objective is well under way, with AIM providing core functions such as logistical ranger support, among other crucial services, within SANParks.



McCourt noted that the unit played an integral role in establishing the command centre within the Table Mountain National Parks. “We believe that the team will continue to excel with Simelane at the helm of Air Services.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Simelane will take SANParks Air Services to the next level, and it is my sincere pleasure to see transformation in the airwing. Fly, Black Hawk, fly!”

https://lowvelder.co.za/736768/david-si ... -services/

[Lisbeth]

[Peter Betts]

I have flown out of Skukuza with the Patanavia air plane in the Parks Air Wing looking for the 5 Wild Dog Packs in the South Bulge. Dr Mills put aerials on the Wing to talk to the Radio Collar on each packs Alpha Female >> seeing Afsaal etc from the air etc was amazing as was locating all 5 packs before 11am