... as Richards Bay
chopper takes off
PORTNET'S NEW Agusta A109 helicopter at Richards Bay entered service during the past fortnight and has already undergone its 50-hour inspection, signalling a successful launch at the port.
The multi million rand helicopter has been purchased by Portnet to take on the piloting duties at Richards Bay, where a helicopter service operated by Court Helicopters had been in operation for several years. Another helicopter is due to enter service shortly at Durban (FTW November 6, 1998).
The Durban-based company contracted to Portnet to fly and service the aircraft, Balmoral Central Contracts, has five air and five ground crew either already trained or in training at each port to handle the duties of transferring Portnet ships pilots to and from ships outside both ports.
The Durban operation is expected to begin towards the end of December when the second Agusta A109 machine arrives from Italy. This aircraft will be used to complete the environmental impact assessment presently being undertaken at Durban, and will give assessors and other interested parties the opportunity of seeing and hearing the helicopter at work in the intended area.
The A109 has an extremely low noise level. It is reported to be almost inaudible at 400 metres, and Portnet is confident it will meet all criteria for the assessment.
Recent reports in a weekly newspaper, the Mail & Guardian (3 December) raised several questions over the appointment of Balmoral Central Contracts by Portnet, calling the contract a questionable deal. The report suggested that Balmoral was not in possession of necessary licences or the required infrastructure and personnel, while also reporting that the company was not listed and was untraceable.
FTW has interviewed the person mentioned in the report, Vaughan Peacock of Balmoral Central Contracts on several occasions, and on each occasion spoke directly with him - the telephone book was used to establish the initial contact and the 6 November FTW report was based partly on this interview. According to Peacock his company's licences, infrastructure and operation are open to scrutiny by any reputable newspaper.
A spokesperson for Portnet confirmed that they were comfortable with the appointment of Balmoral and with their licences and ability to fulfil the Portnet contract. We more or less suspected that such a report might surface, as there has been a lot of disappointment among unsuccessful service providers, particularly from those who stood to gain from a military contract for helicopters signed with the Italian company.
By Terry Hutson
