28 Jul 2021

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has a total of 13 aircrafts and eight pilots, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng told Parliament Tuesday.

Answering a parliamentary question, Ms Kereng explained that the Beechcraft, bought in 2016 at a cost of over P40 million was currently in Gaborone at the DWNP hangar at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and in use.

She said the aircraft was budgeted for in the 2015/2016 financial year and purchased through US-based Allied Jet International Inc. through direct procurement.

The other aircraft, she said, was the Kodiak, also currently in Gaborone at the DWNP hangar at SSKIA and available for use.

She said Kodiak was bought as a new aeroplane in 2016 for over P27m and was budgeted for during the year 2015/2016.

She said the aircraft was bought through SkyQuest Kodiak Sales Africa, LLC from the USA, via direct procurement because the company was the only authorised dealer for Kodiak aeroplanes sold in Africa.

She said the Cessna was currently in Maun for outsourced routine 100-hour maintenance and was expected to be released and available before the end of this month. She said it was donated to the department at the beginning of 1990 by the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

Furthermore, she said among the three Augusta helicopters, two were also in Gaborone at the DWNP hangar at SSKIA. Amongst these, she said one was available while the second was waiting to be ferried to South Africa on July 29 this year for its scheduled 100-hour maintenance while the third Augusta helicopter was in South Africa for maintenance.

Ms Kereng said all the Augusta helicopters were bought in 2017 and were budgeted for during the 2017/2018 financial year.

The two Augusta A109K2 helicopters were bought for US$1 524 320.57 from Candy Logistics Southern Star (Ltd), while the Augusta 109E was bought for US$1 555 915.37 from Hovercoza CC. via direct procurement.

She also indicated that the BELL Jet Ranger helicopter was currently in Gaborone and available for use.

She added that the aircraft was bought for the department from the manufacturer as a new helicopter in 2001 by the insurance company that provided insurance covers then, to replace a helicopter previously owned by the department, which had crashed in 1996, adding the insurance company handled all procurement-related issues.

Again, she said the among the Jabiru aircrafts, two were donated to the department by local companies and four were bought by the department in 2015 for over P800 000 each.

That, she said was budgeted for during the 2014/2015 financial year, adding “the four aircrafts were bought from Jabiru Aircraft Southern Africa (formerly Shadow Lite C.C.) in South Africa, using direct appointment, because the company is the only distributor of Jabiru aircrafts in Africa.”

On the pilots’ qualifications, the minister said of the eight pilots, five had Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) while three had Military rating (equivalent to the CPL) and were aged between 27 and 55 years.

Ms Kereng explained that since procurement and up to July 9 this year, the aircrafts had flown different amounts of hours for different missions, depending on their capabilities and function.

Gaborone Bonnington South MP, Mr Christian Greeff had wanted to know the total number of aircrafts the DWNP had, their current status, location and when they were bought.

He also wanted to know the financial year and amount they were budgeted for as well as the company that was used to purchase them and the method of procurement.

Mr Greeff also wanted to know the number of pilots the department currently has and their qualifications as well as age range and the number of hours each aircraft had flown on wildlife and anti-poaching exercises since it was bought. ENDS