Kishugu Aviation

Kishugu Aviation is the aviation business of the Kishugu Group, based at Nelspruit Airfield in Mbombela, South Africa. It was previously known as the Forest Fire Association and started in 1989 with two aircraft. The site says the group now owns or operates more than 40 aircraft and serves both public and private sector clients.

Services

• Aerial firefighting, including support to the South African government Working on Fire programme
• Aerial work: cargo, disaster relief, wildlife darting and airlifting, anti-poaching, game capture, utility and construction work and survey support
• Private and corporate charter
• Aviation maintenance organisation and aviation fuel services
• Unmanned aerial services using drones

Helicopters

The Bell UH-1H Huey is used for fast deployment of helicopter attack teams to wildfires and for aerial fire attack with 1,000 litre Bambi Buckets. It is also used for cargo, disaster relief and game lifting. Bell 206 JetRanger and 206L LongRanger helicopters, which carry five people or 400 kg of cargo, are used for anti-poaching, aerial work and charter. The site also names the Airbus AS350 Squirrel for cargo and utility work and the Robinson R44 for darting and game capture.

The fixed-wing side includes four Air Tractor AT-802 single engine air tankers, Cessna 182, 206 and 210 aircraft used for command and control, and a Beechcraft King Air.

Company facts

• Started in 1989 as the Forest Fire Association
• Head office and workshop at Nelspruit Airfield
• Anti-poaching pilots are trained for night flying with night vision goggles
• Level 1 B-BBEE status shown on the site
• Part of the Kishugu Group with Kishugu Training and Kishugu Fleet Solutions