Date Published:
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Acting Director General, Dr. Erustus Kanga, officially opened the biennial pilot proficiency training for the Service Airwing at Kilanguni Serena Lodge in Tsavo West National Park on February 13, 2023. During the one week training, pilots learnt from international experts drawn from the US, led by world-renowned aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff, Captain Jeffery Rochelle, and Captain Pete Scott Muntean.
Dr. Kanga welcomed the training of KWS pilots noting it has been an enormous success story. He said the high standards of safety and efficiency achieved by the pilots is a testament of the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. The biennial proficiency training has continued to evolve and expand over the years. This year, the training covered a wide range of essential topics, including a review of the current general operation, flight and company standards, a review of maneuvers and procedures necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate, emergencies training and demonstration, unusual attitudes familiarization, and ground briefings.
He noted, with tremendous appreciation, that the Airwing has made a significant contribution to the reduction of poaching through the support of aerial reconnaissance and personnel transportation. The DG promoted the following pilots to the next rank upon recommendation by the Human Resource Advisory Committee; Capt. Kennedy Shamala, Capt. Kenneth Mwiti, Capt. Isaac Oyile, Capt. Moses Mwiti, Capt. Chris Cheriyout, Capt. Said Bashane, Capt. John Tiapar..
Patty Wagstaff, the first woman to win and a three-time US national Aerobatic Champion, graced the occasion by leading the proficiency training. Dr. Kanga requested Patty and her team to partner with KWS to get new husky aircraft fitting for conservation work. Since 2001, she has traveled to Kenya, teaching a training program to give bush, recurrency, and aerobatic training to KWS pilots.
She said she is proud of the KWS Airwing noting the training is required every six months to monitor the pilots’ proficiency. Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), a wildlife conservation institute that cares about all animals worldwide, is responsible for funding the training. Patty brought apologies from Dr. Bill Clarke, who missed the training for the first time due to health problems. Dr. Clarke seeks the funding for the proficiency training and has donated several airplanes to KWS, among other projects.
KWS Airwing Deputy Director Michael Nicholson thanked Patty Wagstaff for the twenty-two years of support to KWS. Deputy Accountable Manager Captain John Munyori presented the achievements since the proficiency training started. The air-wing department was created in 1990 to provide air support services to wildlife management. Airwing is involved in park patrol, translocation, rescue missions, animal census, security and Veterinary operations in conservation.
The choice of the husky aircraft is because it carries a pilot and rear seat observer seated in tandem, has an excellent view on either side for observation purposes, has a very short landing and take-off distance, and is a low maintenance aircraft, among other reasons.
Captain Kennedy Shamala gave the vote of thanks, thanking the Government of Kenya and KWS DG for supporting wildlife conservation. He also extended gratitude to National Air Support Department Director General Brig. Edgar Lokopoyit, Animal Welfare Institute, Kilaguni, and Tsavo Conservation Area management.
