I’d like to share a couple of hands-on techniques which I hope pilots will think about and benefit from if they haven’t come across them yet. As far as possible I will keep it simple enough for the layman to understand, but sometimes there is no substitute for going into the finer details.
Continue reading “Knowledge and experience is key to being a proficient bush pilot”
In the bush, there’s a slight catch 22. You have to be slightly fit, to become fit. Not having a flight to do that day I decided it would be good to go for a jog as I haven’t done an exorbitant amount of cardio and the effect of the daily fresh bread’s impact on my waistline was lingering in the back of my mind. I was joined by the director’s daughter who is definitely more fit as she recently completed a three-day MTB race. Out here we also always try to move in groups, so I was glad someone with more experience in this environment could join me. Continue reading “Getting chased up a sausage tree by an elephant”
You will not have the faintest idea of what the day might bring you when you’re working so far from civilization. This is what makes the African continent intriguing and full of adventure! The problems we encounter here would be strange and bewildering for anyone who lived their whole life in a wealthy and well established first world country. I suppose we find their problems just as perplexing and sometimes ridiculous such as the rail companies in Japan apologising for departing 20 seconds too early. Man will always find something to complain about I suppose. Friday 8th of June…
The aircraft has been prepped and the day has finally arrived for me to head to the bush. I routed via Jeki airfield, Lower Zambezi, to pick up an Australian couple who would join us at Tafika, Luangwa Valley. It was a quick sprint from Lusaka to Jeki in the cool morning air as the new engine still required to be operated at high power settings for the run in. The take-off out of Jeki, I thought would be a rather interesting one. I had eight people’s luggage, two of them that were missed on a connecting flight and a short (860m useable) runway. Continue reading “En route Base-camp : Tafika 12 51.317′ S 31 59.812′ E”
PilotWhite 