Kishugu Aviation

Kishugu Aviation is the aviation business of the Kishugu group. It is based at Nelspruit Airfield in South Africa and provides specialist aircraft and skilled pilots to clients that need a professional aviation company. Its vision is to lead aerial firefighting and aviation services in Sub Saharan Africa.

The company was previously known as the Forest Fire Association. It started in 1989 with two aircraft. Today the group owns or operates more than 40 aircraft and serves public and private sector clients.

The company provides aerial firefighting and has supported the Working on Fire programme of the South African government for 17 years. The company says it is the primary fire resource for wildfire management across South Africa, and it has over 32 years of experience in fire management in a variety of global landscapes.

The bulk of its fleet is made up of AT802 fixed wing bombers, all owned by the company. The company describes the UH-1H Huey as the most used and best aerial firefighting helicopter in the world. Cessna 182, 206 and 210 aircraft are used for command and control. It also runs Bell 206 JetRanger and LongRanger helicopters and a Beechcraft King Air.

Its aerial work covers game relocation, anti poaching, disaster relief and charter work. The company offers these services to public and private sector clients.

Kishugu Unmanned Aerial Services is the drone arm of the company. It offers drone services for film, mapping, agriculture and inspection work. The unit is a level 1 contributor under black economic empowerment rules, and it is 80 percent black owned.

The company runs an aviation maintenance organisation and an aviation fuel service, with Puma Energy supplying bulk fuel at the Nelspruit Airfield fuel farm. The fuel service can deliver fuel anywhere in South Africa, in drums, in bulk or from underground storage. The main facility is at Nelspruit Airfield, and technicians travel to bases across the country to maintain aircraft in the field.

Services

• Aerial firefighting
• Aircraft maintenance organisation
• Aerial work
• Aviation fuel services
• Unmanned aerial services
• Charter work
• Aerial cinematography
• Aerial mapping and survey
• Precision agriculture
• Security and surveillance