Pilot needed for Sardine Run?

pietmeyer · Postby **pietmeyer** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:19 pm

Hi Guys

I have a friend operating a diving charter and they are needing a spotter pilot for the sardine run during June (will have to confirm the dates) They will be operating out of Port St. Johns. As far as i know there is a runway with lots of cows and no hangar on a mountain or something but not sure. Anybody know of somebody willing to do these flights for the divers?

Please let me know if you are interested or know of a runway in the area that we can use....any info will be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Piet
082 774 7541
or email meyerph@telkomsa.net

vernon11 · Postby **vernon11** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:53 pm

Hi Piet.
Yes there is a runway on a mountain top, there are generally lots of cows or the paties they leave behind and there is no hangar. Last year the people flying from there had a security guard. I think they brought thier own guard. I believe there were also folks involved who slept in tents next to the runway.
Good luck.
Vernon.

John.com · Postby **John.com** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:41 pm

Watch out for the Kites!!

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17913&p=176566&hilit=kite#p176566

Safe Skies!

John

pietmeyer · Postby **pietmeyer** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:40 pm

Thanks for all the info. Now I need somebody that can go fly for these guys

Marius Nel, are you interrested? Come on guys. I am sure there is somebody that would like to and will actually go and do it for these guys. You will even get paid

jtresfon · Postby **jtresfon** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:44 am

I'm a gyro pilot but have not flown the Sardine Run. However I spend a month out of every year at Port St Johns to dive and film the Run.

The field at PSJ on the mountain top is in good condition but as has been said there are no hangars. Last year's pilot (Jan) kept his Bantam there but hired round the clock security guards who slept next to the plane in tents. The airstrip sits on top of a cliff and is a popular sun-downer spot. The odd drunk tourist can seldom resist the urge to push and pull on bits of the plane it seems... Last year Jan's pitot tube was bent out of shape by some idiot. There were also some pilots that flew microlights out of the strip at the Magwa Tea Plantation which is a little more protected.

Most days there is a strong offshore wind until about 11am and the weather can get pretty nasty. The flying is inherently fairly dangerous, most of it low over and far out to sea. There are few beaches, mostly just sheer cliffs offering almost no (dry) landing options. Putting down in the water at Sardine Run time guarantees an abundance of marine predators available to take an interest and is not advisable. Having said all of that the scenery is incredible and I can't wait to get my gyro up there on a recreational basis. The guys that flew there last year all had bigger balls than me!

Rgds
Jean.

ZS-NEL · Postby **ZS-NEL** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:00 pm

pietmeyer wrote:Thanks for all the info. Now I need somebody that can go fly for these guys

Marius Nel, are you interrested? Come on guys. I am sure there is somebody that would like to and will actually go and do it for these guys. You will even get paid

Send me the details and most important "THE PAYMENT PART"

John Young · Postby **John Young** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:41 pm

ZS-NEL wrote:Send me the details and most important "THE PAYMENT PART"

What price to fly 10 to 15 miles off shore at 500' will make it worth it ??

Most days there is a strong offshore wind until about 11am and the weather can get pretty nasty. The flying is inherently fairly dangerous, most of it low over and far out to sea. There are few beaches, mostly just sheer cliffs offering almost no (dry) landing options. Putting down in the water at Sardine Run time guarantees an abundance of marine predators available to take an interest and is not advisable. Having said all of that the scenery is incredible and I can't wait to get my gyro up there on a recreational basis. The guys that flew there last year all had bigger balls than me!

Agree with Jean.

Regards
John

Papillon · Postby **Papillon** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:35 pm

I knew of a certain newly qualified instructor from Cato Ridge a few years back - very nice chap - went to fly the sardine run & sadly never came back!

I agree with both Jean & John

Slabfish · Postby **Slabfish** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:05 pm

Lost a dear friend on a sardine run spotting flight

Be careful out there

John Young · Postby **John Young** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:10 pm

Papillon wrote:I knew of a certain newly qualified instructor from Cato Ridge a few years back - very nice chap - went to fly the sardine run & sadly never came back!

Yeah, remember well - RIP

Had a NGC Photographer back seat - high impact speed into water - suspect steep downwing turn - nose wheel broke off on impact. Neither found.

Then the Flightstar that crashed near East London en-route.

Then the Flighstar that crashed near Cato Ridge en-route.

Ask Cuzzie (Solo Wings) - he has done it a few times.

Regards
John

ZS-NEL · Postby **ZS-NEL** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:06 pm

My rate per hour has just gone UP!

Just came back form a midday bumby sometimes low level through trees, koppies and all kinds of lines in search of a plane door that came off yesterday. NOT NICE INDEED

Asterix · Postby **Asterix** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:23 pm

I did not know that ZU -DLO had doors...

Let it be a lesson to you - don't fit doors to your Aquilla!