Bush Air fills up at Alzu
Its not everyday that you get to see a light aircraft next to you at a pump at a filling station. But motorists who happened to be at Alzu Petroport, next to the N4 freeway, on Sunday, got to experience just that.
Experienced pilot and local celebrity Milne Pocock says that he wanted to land at Alzu for quite some time. Last week Sunday he decided to visit the popular rest stop, have a bite to eat and fill up his plane.
He says that it was mostly done out of protest to the Civil Aviation Authority’s planned legislation to make it illegal for light aircraft to land anywhere other than a licenced airport.
Up to now, it is not illegal to land at a place such as Alzu, if you follow the necessary protocol.
“It is all about control. They want to control us more. We are fighting it tooth and nail. Small aircraft should have the freedom to land anywhere if they can do it safely,” he said.
Mr Pocock, whose Bush Air Advanced Bush & Mountain Flying Training featured on the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Job Interview series, says that to his knowledge Alzu is the only place in South Africa where you can comfortably land your light aircraft, have something to eat, and push your plane all the way to the petrol pumps to fill up.
A much shorter landing strip in Harrismith allows only for micro lights and very experienced pilots to land.
He says that Alzu management agreed to widen a dirt road on their property to allow for light aircraft to land there.
Mr Pocock advises pilots who plan to stop over at Alzu to never taxi their planes in the parking lot.
“If you get the security guards or someone to help you push it through the car park and up to the pumps, it is perfectly safe,” he says. He warned that pilots should not try to taxi their aircraft, with rotating motor, when people are near.
“That will be illegal and will give the authorities the excuse they need to shut us down.”
Mr Pocock was invited to partake in the Middelburg Airshow, but had to decline because he is out of the country at that stage.
To sign the petition against the legislation planned by the CAA, visit our website www.mobserver.co.za and click on the link https://www.takingchargeevents.co.za/petitionsignup.asp. All parties concerned as well as property owners can sign. Petitions close on 12 March.
