Police want $140,000 for helicopter repair
Jan 09, 2004
THE only remaining Police Air wing helicopter is still grounded at the Entebbe Airbase because its engine, which was taken to South Africa last year, is yet to be fixed.
By Yunusu Abbey
THE only remaining Police Air wing helicopter is still grounded at the Entebbe Airbase because its engine, which was taken to South Africa last year, is yet to be fixed.
Aviation sources said overhauling the engine for the Long Ranger 206 chopper required $140,000.
A Johannesburg-based South African company, National Airway Corporation, was contracted to repair the engine.
However, the Police Chief Pilot, Emmanuel Busulwa, on Tuesday said the force had so far raised $100,000 but was yet to get the remaining $40,000 to clear the bill.
“The $100,000 is already available. But we are now looking around for that balance of $40,000 to pay the South Africans,†said Busulwa, who boasts of 2,400 flying hours.
On January 3, 2003, the only operational Police Air wing’s five-seater Short Jet Ranger 206 chopper crashed beyond repair in Entebbe due to what was initially described as a ‘technical fault’.
The pilot, David Baboineki and the chief engineer, Charles Onen, were injured and rushed to Mulago Hospital. Baboineki later died in hospital.
THE only remaining Police Air wing helicopter is still grounded at the Entebbe Airbase because its engine, which was taken to South Africa last year, is yet to be fixed.
Aviation sources said overhauling the engine for the Long Ranger 206 chopper required $140,000.
A Johannesburg-based South African company, National Airway Corporation, was contracted to repair the engine.
However, the Police Chief Pilot, Emmanuel Busulwa, on Tuesday said the force had so far raised $100,000 but was yet to get the remaining $40,000 to clear the bill.
“The $100,000 is already available. But we are now looking around for that balance of $40,000 to pay the South Africans,†said Busulwa, who boasts of 2,400 flying hours.
On January 3, 2003, the only operational Police Air wing’s five-seater Short Jet Ranger 206 chopper crashed beyond repair in Entebbe due to what was initially described as a ‘technical fault’.
The pilot, David Baboineki and the chief engineer, Charles Onen, were injured and rushed to Mulago Hospital. Baboineki later died in hospital.