Dedicated helicopter will move cargo to inaccessible destinations in Zambia

LUSAKA-based Air Alpha Zambia is expanding its helicopter fleet to offer a dedicated craft to clients whose operations are inaccessible by road. “The rainy season is coming up and some roads turn to mud. The service will mostly be for mines. They need replacement parts in a hurry,” Kim Andersen, director of Air Alpha Zambia, told FTW. Andersen said the helicopter would also be used to conduct animal censuses. “We just signed a deal with a major game park to provide air transport to count their wildlife. We’ll need a helicopter for that,” he said. The chopper will be used to haul freight and supplies to game parks. Hunting trophies will be airlifted to swiftly bring them to refrigeration facilities or taxidermists. Road freight is the most cost-effective option for goods transport, but as business becomes more competitive in the mines and game parks vie to offer timely services to clients, chopper transport is seen as a worthy option by firms that are struggling with road inaccessibility issues in Zambia, Andersen said. To meet demand, Air Alpha Zambia has opened a helicopter pilot training school at Lusaka International Airport. The company also announced a helicopter service for fruit and vegetable farmers who supply Lusaka supermarkets and hotels but are hampered by erratic transportation schedules.