AMPHIBIANS AND S.A WATERWAYS

crossing16 · Postby **crossing16** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:25 pm

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know the legalities of owning an amphibious microlight in RSA with regards to landings and take off's from SA waterways?
Is one allowed to land at public dams for recreational flying if his airplane is equipped with landing gear and floats?
etc etc

Tribal Croc · Postby **Tribal Croc** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:41 pm

As far as I can remember there are some BIG issues regarding landing on dams ect.

There is n guy at Brits airfield with the Seagle he might be able to give more accurate information.

kloot piloot · Postby **kloot piloot** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 6:53 pm

The issues related to flying between inland dams and the spread of hyacinth. Although it was never made law, Water Affairs still own the bigger state dams so you are limited to smaller waterways. Rainer (at Brits Airfield) pursued the matter but by the time the Seagle was completed he found that the Seagle is very under powered on the Highveld unless taking off into a stiff headwind or at the coast.

Rainer: 082 873 7273 or his wife (speak more fluent English) Barbara : 082 713 1016.

Also speak to Michael Coetzee who did some trike flying off Hartbeespoort Dam some 10 years ago. Was stopped couple of months later. Mike Spike: 082 892 3664

Bundy · Postby **Bundy** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:59 am

The Seagle is the only amphibious aircraft I've seen or am aware of in SA? Please correct me if i'm wrong.

Yip another one of those well thought out regulations.

It must be based on hard evidence somewhere that only aircraft can spread hyacinth? Not boats, canoes, jetski's, yaught's, fisherman, cayaks or windsurfers....which are allowed to spread the floating weed as much as they like wherever they choose.

If that is the only reason for the law, it boggles the mind a bit? I guess with so few aircraft capable of landing on water around, no one has really bothered to challenge the reg.

Blue Max · Postby **Blue Max** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:06 pm

It makes me sick to see the polution caused by local authorities to our rivers and water systems and the lack of the goverment to do something about it..
They shit in our drinking water but we can not land in the water.!!!

Bugwar · Postby **Bugwar** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:52 pm

Bundy wrote:The Seagle is the only amphibious aircraft I've seen or am aware of in SA? Please correct me if i'm wrong.

I remember something on the website of the guys who made "flying the fish" dvd about a flying boat?

justin.schoeman · Postby **justin.schoeman** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:22 pm

You can also try chat to Trevor Davies. He got all the paperwork in place for developing the amphibious Thunderbird.

http://www.tde.co.za/

Big Man · Postby **Big Man** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:46 pm

by Blue Max » Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:06 pm

It makes me sick to see the polution caused by local authorities to our rivers and water systems and the lack of the goverment to do something about it..
They shit in our drinking water but we can not land in the water.!!!

Looks like we will have to land in shit ( in the shit )

lion · Postby **lion** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:28 pm

justin.schoeman wrote:You can also try chat to Trevor Davies. He got all the paperwork in place for developing the amphibious Thunderbird.

http://www.tde.co.za/

That was my TBird a looooong time ago. We had a lot of fun on Harties. Trevor fitted Full Lotus floats on a magnificent custom structure for the TBird. Trevor got Water Affairs permission to fly from Harties but we weren't allowed to land on any other dams due to hyacinth issues.

We read a book on float flying and in typical SA maak n plan, went float flying.

The late Gareth did most of the proving flights of 40 hours at the time.

We took the TBird to Mozambique to run a float plane operation there for a few months - near Makaneta.

I have some pics which I can scan and post in time (no digital cameras then!). Even did a promotional video to set up an operation in Mauritius and a serious written proposal to the Mauritian authorities (now that is a story in itself!).

Cheers,

L.

lion · Postby **lion** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:25 pm

Here are two pics - this was fun!

lion · Postby **lion** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:30 pm

Got video as well - in VHS - loooong time ago!

John Young · Postby **John Young** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:23 pm

Hi,

Amphids are very popular here.

Had a lekker hour in this one.

Even seen Foxbats with floats.

Regards
John

Eagle · Postby **Eagle** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:05 pm

The FIB also now Certified at CAA !!!

ZS-NEL · Postby **ZS-NEL** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:48 pm

Bundy wrote:The Seagle is the only amphibious aircraft I've seen or am aware of in SA? Please correct me if i'm wrong.

http://www.infozone.tv/?p=180 There are also the Rhampos on its way to SA.

Loco · Postby **Loco** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:53 pm

ZS-NEL wrote:
Bundy wrote:The Seagle is the only amphibious aircraft I've seen or am aware of in SA? Please correct me if i'm wrong.
http://www.infozone.tv/?p=180 There are also the Rhampos on its way to SA.

Damn that's cool