TWELVE Eastern Cape pilots and their eight passengers might be allowed to leave Namibia’s Ondangwa airstrip today.
Last night the leader of the group, Larry McGillewie, told the Daily Dispatch they had negotiated a total fine of R4800 (R400 each) with Namibian prosecutors, police, army and civil aviation authorities.
“We are busy paying it now. We should be able to fly to Swakopmund tomorrow. We have lost two nights and R40000 worth of accommodation. We are pissed off.”
He said they admitted to not being in possession of a Landing and Overflight Authority form – a document he said they applied for along with all other paperwork but which did not get returned to them.
His wife, Sharon, said they were told they could easily get the paper work done at the airport, and that the authorities seemed to “have it in” for the group.
The 12 pilots were arrested at the airport and driven off in police vans to spend Saturday night in a filthy cell after being arrested by a large number of armed police and army personnel after landing in the Nambian town.
They were released from jail after seeking a court order, but were not allowed to fly off in their 12 small planes.
South African spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Clayson Monyela confirmed that consular staff in Namibia were on the scene trying to assist the stranded party.
He said some pages in the group’s landing clearance papers were disputed by Namibian authorities.
East London aviators Patrick Hill, Darren Hanner and Bryan Erasmus, who lives with a disability, were among the jailed pilots.
Erasmus slept on a table in the cell.
Lindy Nel, in charge of ground logistics for the tour group, said they were using the adventure to raise money for Cansa, and that her father Tommy, a cancer sufferer, was among the travellers who left Grahamstown for a round trip including Botswana and Namibia.
She said: “It was too tiring for him and he left earlier.” —
Pilots stranded over missing form
Last night the leader of the group, Larry McGillewie, told the Daily Dispatch they had negotiated a total fine of R4800 (R400 each) with Namibian prosecutors, police, army and civil aviation authorities.
“We are busy paying it now. We should be able to fly to Swakopmund tomorrow. We have lost two nights and R40000 worth of accommodation. We are pissed off.”
He said they admitted to not being in possession of a Landing and Overflight Authority form – a document he said they applied for along with all other paperwork but which did not get returned to them.
His wife, Sharon, said they were told they could easily get the paper work done at the airport, and that the authorities seemed to “have it in” for the group.
The 12 pilots were arrested at the airport and driven off in police vans to spend Saturday night in a filthy cell after being arrested by a large number of armed police and army personnel after landing in the Nambian town.
They were released from jail after seeking a court order, but were not allowed to fly off in their 12 small planes.
South African spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Clayson Monyela confirmed that consular staff in Namibia were on the scene trying to assist the stranded party.
He said some pages in the group’s landing clearance papers were disputed by Namibian authorities.
East London aviators Patrick Hill, Darren Hanner and Bryan Erasmus, who lives with a disability, were among the jailed pilots.
Erasmus slept on a table in the cell.
Lindy Nel, in charge of ground logistics for the tour group, said they were using the adventure to raise money for Cansa, and that her father Tommy, a cancer sufferer, was among the travellers who left Grahamstown for a round trip including Botswana and Namibia.
She said: “It was too tiring for him and he left earlier.” —
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