The ship-to-shore helicopter services at the ports of Durban and Richards Bay have been restored after a R65-million tender was awarded to Denel Aviation to maintain helicopters, transport pilots between the quayside and vessels and provide practical experience for the 17 cadet pilots being trained by the Transnet Ports Authority (TNPA) to take over the service within the next five years.

In January, the TNPA said it would suspend its airborne pilot service in KwaZulu-Natal’s harbours after its contract with Acher Aviation expired. A contingency plan was put in place with pilots being ferried to vessels via pilot boat while the tender was under evaluation.

The transformation-based and structured aviation contract would be undertaken entirely by Denel pilots during the first year, after which the ratio would reduce by 20% a year over the next four years when the TNPA would take over the service entirely.

It has been contracted to outside service providers for 17 years.

Denel Group CEO Mike Kgobe welcomed the awarding of the tender to Denel Aviation and emphasised the company’s credentials within the local and international aviation sectors.

He noted that Denel was aware of global concern about flight safety and reassured all stakeholders that the company adhered to the highest standards, and would ensure that all pilots conformed to the local civil aviation requirements and had the requisite experience in maritime operations.

Through its flight test and operations business unit, Denel Aviation employed well-trained test pilots and maintenance test pilots for both the fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. Denel Aviation had amassed a collective 200 000 hours of operational flying time and had an impeccable safety record, he emphasised.

The company’s “extensive” experience in aviation, which incorporated maintenance, repair and overhaul upgrades, systems integration and flight testing, had played a material part in its selection, he added.

Further, Denel Aviation was primarily associated with successes in the defence and security environments through its involvement in the management of aircraft like the Hercules C-130, the Oryx, the Rooivalk, the Squirrel and the Bo105 helicopters operated by both the South African Air Force and the South African Police Service.

“Denel Aviation is a global player in the military and civil aviation sectors holding approvals and accreditations from certification bodies, aircraft original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and civil aviation authorities like the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency, or EASA…. Denel prides itself on not only being at the forefront of innovative design but has developed strong relationships with global OEMS, including Agusta Westland – the OEM of the TNPA platforms,” he said.

Meanwhile, TNPA CEO Tau Morwe announced on Wednesday that the Durban helicopter was already back in the sky but technical difficulties with the helicopter stationed in Richards Bay would see the service resumed only on Thursday.

Despite reports that shipping and freight companies reported delays, as it takes up to 15 minutes longer to land a pilot on board a vessel, TNPA chief harbour master Captain Rufus Lekala said he was not aware of any problems.

“We put a contingency plan in place that we planned well and executed to the best of our ability. If there were delays, they weren’t significant,” he said.

Industry stakeholders, including South African Association of Freight Forwarders KwaZulu-Natal branch customs and maritime committee chairperson Dave Watts and South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents CEO Peter Besnard, claimed they felt the suspension of services could have been managed and communicated better; however they valued its reinstatement as it significantly improved turnaround within the ports.

Lekala said that while the TNPA currently operated three helicopters in Durban and Richards Bay only, it had not abandoned the idea of expanding this service to other ports.

He said that western ports presented significant challenges when it came to fog and weather. However, should volumes increase at eastern ports, the TNPA would consider employing helicopters at these.

He added that helicopters were chartered when needed at Saldana Bay.