Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
TUESDAY, 08 AUGUST 2006: Today
South African National Parks (SANParks) took ownership
of the AS350 B3 s/n 4091 helicopter at an official
hand over ceremony held at Lanseria Airport near
Johannesburg. Both Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk and SANParks
Chief Executive Dr David Mabunda, accepted the
helicopter on behalf of SANParks.
The helicopter is the first
of two bought by SANParks in July 2006 and the
second will be delivered in December 2006. The
sale negotiation involved a trade-in of two EC
120 helicopters at a value of R5,577,600 each,
with a total cost of R17,256,727 per helicopter.
Speaking at the function, Minister
Van Schalkwyk said he was delighted at the acquisition.
“Our protected areas are an
integral part of world conservation and biodiversity.
In this regard, government supports this investment,
which will ensure preservation of our national
heritage and its accompanying natural resources
for the benefit of all our citizens”, said Minister
Van Schalkwyk.
He further said that this investment
could not have come at a more opportune time.
“In the run up to important international events
like the 2010 World Soccer Cup, the country is
currently busy revamping its tourism infrastructure
to ensure that these meet the required world standards”.
The two EC 120 helicopters were
bought in 1999, and had served their purpose well
in SANParks, flying more than 3,900 hours over
six years. They had already reached their optimum
buy-back value, major routine and obligatory engine
overhaul, as a result SANParks made a decision
to upgrade the helicopter fleet by acquiring more
versatile helicopters with advanced capabilities.
Said Dr Mabunda: “SANParks is
one of the biggest users of helicopters and we
are ecstatic to have the helicopter as an additional
resource. Helicopters are an essential tool in
all our national parks as they are often used
in day-to-day park management activities, specialised
and highly sensitive game capture operations,
fire fighting, anti-poaching and law enforcement,
wildlife census projects as well as emergency
rescue operations”.
The AS350 B3 s/n 4091 helicopter
is a “multi-role, reliable, fast and rugged workhorse”
well equipped with “advanced systems such as dual
channel FADEC, vehicle and engine monitoring displays
as well as integrated GPS”. With a sling capacity
of 1,400 kg, the AS350 B3 s/n 4091 features are
essential for manoeuvres which require “high performance,
including “hot and high” missions and sling work”.
“Safety is an important element
of park management, conservation and biodiversity
management, and since the old helicopters had
already reached their optimum use, this is a good
investment to SANParks, park management staff
and the animals”, added Dr Mabunda.
Riaan Aucamp
