Bush pilot

Preparations for launching a C206 in the Namib Desert (2018)

Refueling an aircraft in the field

Bush pilot is not a job title in the strict sense of the word, but a term for a pilot who mainly performs flights in rough terrain. Since the flight operations are often carried out far from civilization, many employers expect bush pilots to have at least a basic knowledge of repairing aircraft .

Planes

Robustness and STOL capability are required of an aircraft in the bush , because long, well-developed runways are rarely available. Single-engine machines are often used, such as the Piper PA-18 Super Cub , Aviat Husky , Antonow AN-2 , Cessna 182 “Skylane” , Cessna 206 “Stationair” , the Cessna “Caravan” or the Pilatus PC-6 . Among the twin-engine machines, the Barkley-Grow T8P-1 , Beechcraft Model 18 , Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander , de Havilland Canada DHC-6 are proven bush planes.

Areas of application

Typical service areas in which bush pilots operate are:

Mission aviation
Transport of bush doctors , medical missions
Transport of tourists and expedition members to inaccessible areas
Monitoring of coastal areas
Monitoring of animal movements
Transects
Participation in rounding up herds of animals, etc.
post Office

Peculiarities of bush flying

Since many bush flights are carried out in the so-called Third World , where there are seldom reliable air traffic control posts and serious weather reports , a bush pilot must have a good knowledge of the region concerned and possible meteorological phenomena in order not to endanger himself or others. A good landing technique in a confined space is essential, partially on bush landing sites the ability to go-around because of the topography not been around.