Bush Pilot training
This SkyAfrica Bush Pilot training syllabus is targeted at mastering the intricacies of bush flying. Daily sorties are undertaken by landing and taking off from selected bush strips, which greatly vary in size and ground conditions. From grass, gravel, short, narrow, uphill, downhill, one-way to landing on wide tarred international airports – everything is on the menu! Experienced bush pilots & instructors will assist you in learning how to handle your aircraft safely and proficiently in the air as well as on the ground.
Flying into the unknown
Flying away from home base, away from tarmac, air traffic control, clean fuel pumps etc. can be intimidating for the first timer or the unpracticed. Like a bird leaving its nest for the first time, flying into a strange environment is mostly a psychological challenge that can put tremendous pressure on a pilot. Most sports and recreational pilots spend their flying hours in and around the familiarity of their home field. It’s comfortable and nice and cozy there, like in mothers womb. We know the field and its procedures, can fly the circuit blindfolded and make beautiful landings in front of our applauding buddies.
Familiarity breeds complacency
This familiarity, comforting as it may be, breeds complacency and makes us lose the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. We have once upon a time learned how to operate a machine, we knew all the right figures and numbers, but can’t remember how to apply them. The world becomes a strange place when we start flying away from home. All of a sudden the runways are longer, shorter, wider, uphill, down hill, sandy, grassy, have high trees on short final and some – like the one above – have cumulus granitus on one end. The wind is blowing from funny angles, the windsock is torn to shreds, there is a herd of Zebra on the runway. And then, when you have survived the ruts and dongas of the so-called landing strip you return on the morning following night of colonial Gin & Tonic sessions, only to find some hyena has chewed up your tyres.
