WOF Aircraft grounded
Mr, Jaco Johnstone, Chief Fire Officer for Msukaligwa Fire and Rescue Services, said the grounding of the WOF aircraft has negatively impacted on the unit's ability to control veld fires speedily and effectively.
The recent grounding of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft of Working on Fire (WOF) could potentially have dire consequences for farmers, the agricultural sector and the forestry industry.
The grounding of the aircraft comes at a crucial time with the prevailing dry and windy conditions lending themselves to the outbreak of runaway fires where every possible resource is needed to control the fires.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) recently grounded all WOF aircraft and suspended the organisation’s air operating certificates, stating that they had failed to comply with legal requirements.
SACAA spokesman Phindiwe Gwebu said in a statement that surveillance conducted on FFA Aviation had revealed certain findings that were regarded as being of a serious nature.
The grounding also comes after what was termed a “spate” of incidents and accidents involving WOF aircraft. At least four accidents had been reported since the beginning of this year. Two of these accidents were fatal.
The unmistakably bright yellow-painted helicopter and fixed wing spotter plane could until recently be seen in the air space above Ermelo and the surrounding district areas while playing an important role in spotting and dousing veld and forest fires.
WOF was established in 1993 as a government initiative in order to train people to fight veld and forest fires and trades under the name FFA Aviation.
WOF ground crews will, however, continue to function, but will be without the much needed assistance of the spotter plane and the helicopter with its “water bomb”.
According to reports, other contractors and service providers who have the necessary resources will be enlisted to assist the ground crews, especially in the forestry sector.
Mr, Jaco Johnstone, Chief Fire Officer for Msukaligwa Fire and Rescue Services, said the grounding of the WOF aircraft has negatively impacted on the unit’s ability to control veld fires speedily and effectively.
“The WOF aircraft have proven to be of invaluable assistance in the past and are now sorely missed. However, we are prepared and thus far we have been able to cope well under the circumstances,” he said.
A meeting was held last Wednesday between FFA and SACAA officials in a bid to resolve the situation and it was hoped that WOF aircraft would be back in the air within a week or two.
