Category: Category1

The fires that raged in March and in April this year have destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of the moorlands on Mount Kenya.  In reality it could have been worse with the precious indigenous forest at risk.  Everyone remains vigilant, although thankfully the late rains have bought some relief.

Routes film team have captured here the challenge of controlling and putting out the fires, and the massive damage to the natural ecosystem. Mount Kenya Trust continue to be instrumental at coordinating efforts on the ground.

All photos and video by ROUTES

Fire fighting training at Borana Conservancy for our helicopter pilots. It takes a whole new set of skills to use the Bambi bucket – filling, flying and dumping 700 litres of water with accuracy!

Thank you to Andy Payne for the brilliant instruction, and to Borana for the great location.

Airbus H125 helicopters, Tropic Air Kenya

Sunday morning departure for Beira, Mozambique! Timmy and Cyprian are supporting the relief efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai – tens of thousands of people are in desperate need of support, and we hope to make a difference despite the massive scale of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding.

Cyclone Idai is the worst tropical cyclone on record to hit the southern hemisphere, affecting Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.  3 million people have been directly affected, vital infrastructure has been destroyed, cholera has broken out and over 1000 people have lost their lives.

Tropic Air Helicopters Ltd has been contracted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to support the relief efforts in Mozambique, the worst hit of the 4 counties affected.

Thrilled to host the Switch TV media team at Tropic Air, making a mini-production for young aspiring pilots!  

Who better than our Chief Pilot Iain Njiraini to give an insight into what it takes to be a commercial pilot. Action on the ground and in the air were caught on film with Iain proving to be a natural!  This movie will be a great inspiration and motivator for young Kenyans!

24th February – 5th March

Bush fires have been raging on the eastern side of Mount Kenya. Thousands of hectares of moorland has been lost, and the threat to Kenya’s most important water tower remains, along with precious indigenous forests that flank the country’s highest and most iconic mountain.

With incredible coordination by the Mount Kenya Trust and with support from Rhino Ark and KWS, the situation came under control within 10 days.  Support from far and wide has been overwhelming – Kenya Defence Forces sent 150 soldiers and a further 200 volunteers were fighting the terrifying wild fires from dawn to dusk. British Army, the Mountain Club of Kenya, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Borana Ranch – and countless other organisations, business and individuals supported the efforts.  Generous donations were received in the form of money, food, water, blankets and fire fighting equipment. Anyone who could, donated and helped!

Tropic Air carried our aerial surveys at dawn with KWS and Rhino Ark to identify the areas in trouble. Our helicopters were moving rations and materials onto the mountain, and remained on site to mobilise teams and move people to the most needed areas.  We also used a ‘bambi bucket’ to drop water – the same was being done by the Sheldrick Trust helicopter and spray planes belonging to Farmland Aviation.

While we wait for our rains to come, the situation remains fragile and the risk of more fires breaking out is extremely high.  The Mount Kenya Trust is monitoring the situation.

@ Bobby Neptune

Captain Mario Magonga, the pilot of the aircraft who tragically lost his life along with 4 American tourists, worked for Tropic Air from 2008 until 2015, during which time he held the position of Chief Helicopter Pilot. He was a much loved, spirited member of our team, and remained a great friend and supporter of Tropic Air.

Mario was a 12-year veteran of the Kenya Defence Force where he was initially trained and ultimately became a trainer.  We had great respect for him, both as a person and as a pilot, and his death leaves all that were lucky to have known him, shocked and at a loss.  Our deepest thoughts are with his family.

March 2014 @ Bloomberg Pursuits