Archive for June, 2010

Air charter companies in Kenya and East Africa have segmented their services into different categories in line with ones budget. There are both non-scheduled and scheduled flights offered.

Private Charter Flights Kenya.

In Kenya we have Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport in Nairobi which provide these services. In Most cases for smaller aircrafts you can charter them from Wilson Airport but still you can be picked and Dropped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for those connecting international or local flights due to the traffic jam on Mombassa Road which might cause you missing the connecting flights.

There aircrafts of different capacity found at Wilson Airport namely, C-172 /C-182  3 seater  single  piston engine which  takes  two passengers with  15 kilos of cargo in soft bags and it is ideal for scenic flights, sight seeing flights, aerial survey& photography flights. They have low wings and flies at 8,000 feet enabling the passengers to view geographical features and even take photographs as it flies visual. For short distances of 3 hours return with 10 kilos per person baggage allowance it can take upto 3 passengers and it works out perfect for families and business travelers.

The C-208 Caravan  which is the horse and the most reliable aircraft  with short take-off and landing performance it has proved to be the most reliable 12 seater single engine turbo prop in  Africa, America ,Middle East, Europe and especially in war torn areas as it is easily converted into cargo and passenger configuration at a short notice. The caravan is mostly used for humanitarian and relief supplies in South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Mozambique as it is the most economical in terms of fuel, maintenance and it can carry upto 1 tone of cargo only for a flight of 3 hrs and 30 minutes one-way and there has to be fuel at the arrival destination or at alternate airstrip to allow it fly back to point of departure.

The C-206/C-210 5 seater single piston engine also plays an important role in aircraft charter and they very few and for any bookings it has to be done in advance. These are the ideal aircrafts to use to shorter airstrips of less than 800 meters long  like, Mfangano Island,Rusinga Island,Loisaba,Kitich,Muktan,Maktau,Shaba,Joys Camp (Shaba),Satao,Solio,shompole,chyullu hills, kambi ya kanzi, among other airstrips just to mention a few.

The LET 410 and  DHC-6 Twin-otter18 seater twin engine turbo prop which have both short takeoff and landing performance is used in flying into national parks & reserves and also for charter to major cities in Kenya. The aircraft is non-pressurized and you can carry baggage allowance when full capacity of 20 kilos per person. There is other airport/airstrip like Mombasa, Lamu, and Nanyuki where you can get private charter aircrafts to any destination within /out of Kenya.

The Beech craft 200 Superkingair  10 seater pressurized   turbo prop which is mostly used for long haul charters and can be configured into V. I. P and it is also used for Air Ambulance, Emergency & Medical  Evacuation flights as it flies above 25,000 feet above sea level and at  250 knots per hour.

The Citation Jet Bravo 550  7 seater  is also available fitted with Air Ambulance medical facilities and which can also be used with Business Executive with tidy schedule and the commercial flights does not meet  their requirements or fit in their diary. Special services are offered like champagne, hot luches, hot and soft drinks, DVD and a flight attendant but also you can request for special meals, breakfast, lunch. The citation bravo flies at 40,000 feet above sea level at a cruising speed of 420 knots per hour they are very scarce and an advance booking as to be made.

The Beech craft 1900C 18 seater pressurized with the same performance like the Beech craft 200 which can be configured into V. IP is also used for air ambulance, emergency & medical evacuation flights, V. IP executive flight and other corporate private charters. There is a B737-300 purely for adhoc charter flights for passengers and you can obtain a quotation on request. You can charter  to anywhere  within Kenya   Kitale,Kisumu,Kakamega,Busia,Eldoret,Webuye,Mandera,Mombasa,Lamu,Malindi,Diani,Kiwayu,Masai Mara,Amboseli,Tsavo,Samburu,Nanyuki,Lake Nakuru,Lake Naivasha,Elwak,Wajir,Garisaa,Lokichogio,Lodwar,Marsabit,Moyale,Loyengalani,North Horr,Hola,Bura,Lokori,Lokitaung among other destination.

For cargo charter flights there Fokker 27-500  5 toner,DC-9 Freighter 10 toner,B737-300   15 toner,H748  5 toner ,LET 410 1. 5 tones, Caravan  1 tone for all cargo flights within Africa.

Be aware flights to Northern and North Eastern Kenya a police clearance will have to obtain as these are restricted areas which will take approximately 2 working days notice. The areas that are restricted are Lokichogio,Lokori,Lokitaung,Lodwar,Marsabit,Moyale,North Horr,Iliret,Lasamis,Garisaa,Wajir,Mandera,Elwak,Banisa,Takaba, Hola,Bura among others. There are also choppers or another name helicopter AS350 Single engine in 3 and 5 seater capacity for private charter but only found at Wilson Airport, Nairobi and Nanyuki Airstrip. There are also cash-in transit services by private charter to South Sudan and  to Northern and North Eastern Kenya to Mandera,Moyale,Marsabit,Wajir,Hola using  a 5 seater or 3 seater aircraft . These services can be extended to South Sudan to destinations like  Malkal,Wau,Yei,Rumbek,Darfur,Yambio,Bentiu,Juba and many other destinations.

Private Charter Flights East Africa

These services have become more depending and many players are penetrating into this industry to ensure the travelers have all the products and services they need.

In East Africa which comprises Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Burundi,Rwanda  the services are available from the major Airports Like,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport,Moi International Airport,Nanyuki Airstrip,Lamu,Malindi,Kilimanjaro International Airport,Arusha Airport,Daresalaam,Mwanza,Zanzibar,Mbeya,Dodoma,Entebbe,Soroti,Kampala,Kigali,Bujumbura which provides both international and local private aviation flights. You charter flights from Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airports to  Lake Manyara,Ngorongo Crater,Seronera,Grumeti,Sasakwa,Lobo,Mafia Island,Pemba Island,Mahale,Zanzibar,Kigoma,Kogadete,Ndutu,Kleins Camp, Serengeti and many others including major cities like Dodoma,Musoma,Tabora, Kigoma,Mbeya,Geita,Mwanza.

In  Tanzania  you can get aircrafts ranging from Caravan 208  12 seater single turbo prop engne,Let 410  18 seater twin engine, Twin otter  17 seater twin engine,Beechcraft 1900C  18 seater pressurized,Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized,PA-34 5 seater twin piston engine,ATR 42  45 seater turbo prop twin which mostly are based in Arusha,Kilimanjaro,Mwanza and Daresaalam. You can  charter an aircraft to national parks & reserves at short notice and an aircraft of your choice and with the capacity that you require.

In Uganda there aircrafts like PA-34  SENECA 3  5 seater twin piston engine,Beehcraft 1900C 18 seater pressurized,Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized, Let 410  18 seater unpressurized,C-208 Caravan 12 seater single turbo prop engine with many others. You can charter from Entebbe to South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Khartoum, Juba, and Rumbek for either cargo or passengers.

In Rwanda you can charter CRJ Regional jets, Beechcraft 1900D 18 Seater Pressurized same to Burundi but most of the Aircrafts will be chartered from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and DR Congo. Most of the aircrafts are on contract by United Nations or Non-Governmental organizations and you can’t charter them.

There direct private charter flights from/into Kenya National Parks & Reserves to point of entry/exit in Tanzania like, Kilimanjaro,Musoma,Mwanza,Zanzibar,Arusha. All is required 4 working days notice to organize for immigration & immigration officers who will facilitate the clearing and obtaining permission to land in Tanzania. For those firms with a month timetable then a block clearance can be obtained with a roaster for the officers and stand-by and their telephone contacts.

Kenya is a hub for all commercial and non-commercial flights for cargo and passengers within Africa including  South Sudan, Somalia,Darfur,DR Congo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport,Lokichogio and out of Uganda  Entebbe International Airport,Gulu Airport for flights to Central Africa Republic,DR Congo, South Sudan,Juba,Yei,Rumbek and many others.

For flights into Uganda from Kenya you will require 1 day notice to obtain clearance, Tanzania 2 working days notice same to Rwanda and Burundi as these are cross-border flights and you require over flight and landing permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of that country. Flights to Somalia the charterer will have to give a letter on the firm letterhead to the carrier with details of flight, departure date, names and nationality of the passengers or nature of cargo and purpose for the flight which the carrier will attach on the request letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya for clearance issuance and the flight will not take off until an official communication has been received which is copied to Control Tower, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority. Flights to South Sudan you will be required to give 2 working days notice for obtaining the passes and you will have to take original passport,2 copies passport size photos for every passenger and you will be issued with one to three month passes or 1 to 6 month which you should renew on expiry and on arrival South Sudan you will pay visa fee of usd 100=00 per person for one month.

Please when planning to travel to cross-border, observe the above condition carefully in terms of duration for obtaining permission and the required documentation as in South Sudan if you fly there without passes the aircraft will be shot and this is endangering your safety