In December 2024, a juvenile White-Backed Vulture, rescued and partially rehabilitated by caretaker, Firrel, required transport from a remote settlement near Klein Mier Pan to Vulpro, Hartebeesport for further care. The vulture, named Hermanus, was safely secured and flown by Bats pilot, Roger Bozzoli, despite challenging conditions, including extreme heat and turbulence. Upon arrival in Hartebeesport, it was handed over to Vulpro for continued rehabilitation. This mission, facilitated by The Bateleurs and Vulpro, played a vital role in vulture conservation efforts.
PILOT REPORT:
Aircraft: Piper PA28R – 201T
Details of Flight:
Leg | From | To | N.M. | KMS | Open Hobbs | Closing Hobbs | Hobbs time |
|
1 | FAGM | FAUP | 393 | 728 | 2133.8 | 2136.9 | 3.1 |
|
2 | FAUP | ZZZZ | 112 | 208 | 2136.9 | 2138.0 | 1.1 |
|
3 | ZZZZ | Kroon | 421 | 780 | 2138.0 | 2141.0 | 3.0 |
|
4 | Kroon | FAGM | 47.6 | 88 | 2141.0 | 2141.4 | 0.4 |
|
Totals |
|
| 973 | 1804 | 2141.4 |
| 7.6 |
|
Note: ZZZZ = Klein Mier pan S28 45’23’’ E20 17’08’’
Distance etc listed above based on actual route flown (VFR routes, avoiding restricted airspace.)
I am so sorry but as usual I clean forgot to take pics of the Hobbs meter at any point at various points, Highlighted in yellow.
Mission:
Collect a juvenile White Backed Vulture that had been nursed back to health by a gentleman with the name of Firrel who resides in a tiny settlement on the edge of the Klein Mier Pan which is adjacent to the Haakskeen Pan (famous for being the site of the successful world land speed record attempt in the “Bloodhound” Jet powered racer.
The Bateleur call to action was posted on Friday 6th December and I was available to do the trip the next day (Saturday) and confirmed the trip with Steve.
This was obviously going to be a long trip and I spent a few hours calculating my Flight Plan. At this stage I was not sure of exactly where I was going to have to land, but I assumed that it was close to the Pin drop sent to Steve by Firrel so..
Rand to Pin Drop 421 nm at 130Knots (Expecting a slight Headwind) is 3.24 Hrs at 12.5gph.
Pin Drop to Kroon 421 nm at 150Knots (Expecting a slight tailwind) is 2.81 Hrs at 12.5gph.
Kroon to Rand 48nm at 120Knots =0.4 hours at 12.5 gph.
Total Estimated Flight time 6.41 Hours at 12.5gph makes 80Gals.
Full fuel on the plane is only 72 gals. I contemplated taking 50litres (13.2 gals) in Jerry cans but even this would have left me very tight on fuel so I elected to route outbound to Upington to fuel up. Out of interest Avgas at Upington was R33.00 per liter including VAT, there was no call out fee for Saturday during open hours, the airfield opens at 10.00 am B.
The flight to Upington was smooth at level F105 and my ground speed was slightly better than the 130 knots I had planned. I was Airborne at Rand at 0446Z and I touched down at Upington at 0752Z, Landing on Runway 19 which is only 7999 feet as opposed Rwy 17 which is 16076 feet long, a bit of a waste for an Arrow.
Departed from FAUP at and tracked out from UPV on Radial 352 until I could orientate myself with my GPS and my maps, there are sooooo many pans in the area but most of them conform to the shapes shown on the WAC map series. This does not apply too well to the many circular pans. While on this leg I was sent a pin drop for Firrel’s actual position while he was waiting for me, this clearly indicated that he was at Haakskeen pan, but… The sun, the turbulence, mixed with age and a predisposition I had of where I needed to land led me to the smaller Klein Mier Pan. I was expecting at least to see a car or a person somewhere on the pan, but, despite 6 circuits inspection runs and aerial examination of markings on the pan I chose a “Runway” and landed. This was a first for me and actually turned out perfectly. The Surface of the Pan was firm and very flat and smooth, because of the lack of texture it was not easy to judge Round out height but using a sort of night flying technique, managed to do a pleasing greaser.
Klein Mierpan courtesy of Google Earth
Can you spot the Runway?
Not a soul to be seen… I checked out the scenery, not much to see and then suddenly, movement in the few scrubby bushes between me and the little settlement. This turned out to be a collection of the local children who were quite fascinated to see an aeroplane on their local pan, and an old white man standing there looking a bit lost. Eventually they approached close enough to talk to and when asked about Firrel I got a blank look.. (Oh Shit, wrong place). Eventually after explaining he was the man with the pet vulture, they lit up and said he was alive, they had seen him this morning. (It transpired they were talking about the bird).
Two vehicles arrived and they confirmed that Firrel was on his way, bird et al. The kids all wanted selfies while standing on the wing, I had to take on the role of photographer and found that the word Glimlag causes a different facial expression to Smile.
Eventually the most rattletrap bakkie arrives with a few kids and a Vulture on the back, The kids are sommer holding the bird like a chicken, it seemed quite relaxed and was obviously very cool when Firrel picked it up, it was so calm I thought it might purr but when I got a bit closer it sort of snapped at me. I was introduced formally to the Vulture, his handler had named him Hermanus.
Fortunately, I had taken a pet travel container with me and the bird was shoveled in, I don’t know what I would have done had I not done this, as there was no way I was going to sit in a aeroplane for over 3 hours with a Vulture hopping around the cockpit, and telling me I was flying poorly.
By the time I got airborne the OAT was sitting at about 42 degrees but the little plane hopped off quite quickly and I set heading for Kroon and climbed to Level 115. It was very very bumpy all the way home but until I reached Hartebeesport there was not a cloud in the sky.
My landing at Kroon was the worst I have done ever, I was Hot and High (I should have gone around), there was a stiffish crosswind and I sort of collided with the ground and bounced at least 10 feet in the air. Much braking got me stopped at a safe distance from the runway edge.
The Vulture was collected in due course by Alistair and was reportedly doing well on a drip.
The short flight to Rand was uneventful, but I left behind the beginnings of what turned out to be a sizeable thunderstorm.
Vulpro gifted me with a hat, a beautiful book about SA Vultures, some chokkies for my wife Julia and some Biltong and a very cosy fleece jacket. Thanks guys!
A great thank you to: The Bateleurs for opening up this space for pilots, Vulpro - Especially Kerry and Alistair for their great work with Vultures and many other species of Raptors. Firrel, for being the kind of person who cares and of course Steve McCurrach, GM Bateleurs, who is a never ending source of inspiration and positive help in coordinating a trip like this.
Signing off...
Roger Bozzoli, Bats Pilot
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