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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - With excitement thick in the air, Eden's first dedicated emergency firefighting airstrip was launched yesterday morning, 6 December, at the Denneoord Aerial Fire Base.
The event was presented by the George Municipality, in collaboration with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association and in partnership with Working on Fire (WoF) and the Eden District Municipality.
The timing of the launch perfectly coincides with the start of the Southern Cape summer fire season.
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The event kicked off with a keynote address by Mayor Melvin Naik, and included various activities and exhibitions.
A live aerial firefighting demonstration with a fixed wing aircraft and helicopter around noon was the highlight of the programme.
The aerial base, where five aeroplanes and a chopper will be stationed for the fire season from December 2017 to April 2018, is operated by WoF, a programme funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Municipalities in the Eden District Municipality, in association with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, will work with WoF on a call-out basis as services are required.
The airbase consists of a 1 000m x 30m runway, 20m-diameter helipad, fire base office (the existing municipal building was upgraded), hangars, taxiways and water refilling point.
A live aerial firefighting demonstration with a fixed wing aircraft and helicopter around noon was the highlight of the programme.
George Municipality Fire Chief, Neels Barnard, said residents of neighbourhoods in the flight circuit area of the Denneoord airstrip can rest assured that all safety precautions will be taken and flyovers, landings and take-offs will all be within the legal parameters set out in the South African Civil Aviation Act.
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According to Barnard, this landing strip will be a massive boost to George and the Eden District when it comes to firefighting capabilities in the future.
"Having a dedicated emergency airstrip means firefighting planes can respond much faster than they would be able to if they were stationed at an airport where they would have to wait in line for a runway along with other aircraft," he said.
"This is especially applicable during the summer fire season, which coincides with the very busy holiday season when hundreds of flights are scheduled at commercial airports.
"George is privileged to have this facility on our doorstep as our proximity to the airbase will ensure very quick response."
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