David Simelane appointed SANParks Air Services first black Chief Pilot Posted by David Henning on 16 July 2021 Taking the helm of All SANParks Air Services, chopper pilot Ndabenhle David Simelane has been appointed as the new SANParks Chief Pilot, SANParks announced. David Simelane. Picture: Twitter/@SANParksKNP SANParks’ first black chief pilot is dubbed by some as the “Black-Blackhawk,” and is a “skilled professional pilot with solid management and leadership skills with approachability and strength of character to boot,” SANParks Chief Operating Officer Lize McCourt said. Simalane is an experienced pilot, flying in locations such as Madagascar and Sudan on top of being a director at Grand Central airport-based chopper company Ultimate Heli and as an operations manager at Alpine Aviation. During his year since joining the SANParks air wing, he has improved the relationship between the unit and the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). The Air Services wing forms part of SANParks newly created Area Integrity Management unit (AIM) which is responsible for carrying out special operations, conducting environmental crime investigations and environmental compliance. This unit is mandated to coordinate safety and security in SANParks reserves which have come under increasing pressure from well-organised poaching gangs, particularly in Kruger National Park. SANParks air wing plays a crucial role in the fight against poachers, allowing for rapid deployment of rangers to follow and tracking of poachers after incidents. Also Read: SANParks celebrates South Africa’s first black game capture-rated pilot Related Posts Buildings, roads and homes flood as severe weather hits KZN 18 May 2023 Good news from the brink of extinction in Volcanoes National Park 11 May 2023 Photojournalist Graeme Green went to Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park to document the recently opened campus... read more Curiosity skilled the cat 5 May 2023 A member of The Explorer’s Club and founder of Curiosity Company, Francois Malherbe uses tracking... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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