Leading Edge Aviation

Leading Edge Aviation CC is a family-run company established in 1996 and based at Hangar A1, Nelspruit Municipal Airport, in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It specialises in firefighting and heavy lift helicopter operations using UH-1H and UH-60A helicopters. It is also registered with the South African Civil Aviation Authority as an aircraft maintenance facility, registration number 261.

Helicopter fleet

• UH-60A Black Hawk: two pilots, maximum weight 22,000 lb, cargo hook capacity 8,000 lb, typical seating for 13; the company says it is one of a handful of restricted type certified Black Hawks for civilian use outside the USA
• UH-1H Huey: one pilot, maximum weight 9,500 lb, cargo hook capacity 4,000 lb, seating for 9; the company says it has been fighting fires across South Africa since 2006

Services

• Aerial firefighting: the Huey typically carries a 1,000 litre bucket and the Black Hawk up to 3,000 litres
• Heavy lift and construction, including recovery and placement of supplies and equipment in inaccessible areas
• Disaster relief and humanitarian aid with cargo nets up to 8,000 lb; teams have deployed after the Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesia and the 2019 Cyclone Idai floods in Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• Aerial wildlife conservation and patrol
• Film and television bookings
• Aircraft and helicopter refurbishment, including paint strip, respray, upholstery and glass replacement, with more than 150 refurbishments completed

Maintenance and agencies

The company services aircraft from Piper Cubs to King Air 200 and from the Robinson R22 to the Bell UH-1H, and sources helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for local and overseas buyers. It is a registered agent for Nebraska Gas Turbine, Tamarack Helicopters and Van Horn Aviation.

Contact

Phone: +27 (0)13 741 3654