About Us
Kishugu Aviation offers a wide range of aerial services to the public and private sectors – from aerial firefighting to aerial work such as game relocation, anti-poaching, disaster relief, unmanned services (drones) and charter work. Kishugu Aviation also provides aerial support to the South African Governments’ Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (Expanded Public Works) Working on Fire Programme (WOF).
KISHUGU AVIATION GROUP
Kishugu Aviation, previously known as Forest Fire Association (FFA), started in 1989 with two aircraft and has grown into an aviation leader which today own/operate more than 40 aircraft.
The Kishugu Aviation Group is part of the Kishugu Group along with Kishugu Training, Kishugu Fleet Solutions and Working on Fire and provide all aspects of Integrated Fire Management Services to all affected sectors from governments, environmental and military agencies to forestry and agricultural companies to land users, NGO’s national and multi-national development agencies, industry associations and Fire Protection Associations (FPAs).
This includes all aspects of wildfire management from aviation services, fleet services, ground firefighter training, incident management teams, equipment and tools.
WE MAKE USE OF THE BEST AERIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET
The bulk of our aviation fleet consists of the highly effective AT802 fixed-wing bombers, all owned by Kishugu, the UH-1H Huey helicopter, which is rated as the most used and best aerial firefighting helicopter in the world, and the Cessna 182/206/210’s, used as command and control aircraft.
Aside from our aircraft we also contract in aircraft in various areas to supplement our core capacity where needed. Kishugu provides a wide range of specialist aircraft and highly skilled pilots for our operations or to clients.
Kishugu Holdings
Kishugu has over 32 years’ experience in a variety of global landscapes affected by fire. It has done extensive work in protecting, preventing and suppressing wildfire, based on applied research on all aspects of wildfire. For the last 17 years, this expertise enabled Kishugu to successfully implement the South African Governments’ Working on Fire Programme.
Today, it is the primary fire resource responsible for wildfire management across South Africa. The multi-award winning programme is celebrated as the most successful job creation and skills development programme in the history of South Africa.
Kishugu provides all aspects of Integrated Fire Management services to all affected sectors from governments, environmental and military agencies to forestry, agricultural companies to land users, NGO’s, national and multi-national development agencies, industry associations and Fire Protection Associations (FPA’s).
This includes everything needed in wildfire management from aircraft, vehicles, pilots, firefighters, incident management teams to equipment, tools and training.
Our global leadership in Integrated Fire Management is maintained through innovation and investing in people.
Our belief in high environmental and ethical standards is reflected in our core values of accountability, teamwork, excellence and making a difference.
Our specialised management teams are experts in diverse wildfire scenarios, from the grass and peat lands of Asia and South America to the tropical forests of Africa and beyond. We have the experience and capacity to tailor-make wildfire solutions to specific challenges. Kishugu can deal with virtually any wildfire scenario as we have the capacity and resources.
Our Vision
Be the leader in aerial firefighting and aviation services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Our Mission
Our Values
Kishugu Ethics Line
We strive for excellence in all our operations: saving lives, properties and the environment. To be excellent, we need to be accountable for our actions.
Accountability is key to Kishugu’s continued success and for this reason, we make available – to all our stakeholders – a free and anonymous, externally operated Ethics Line.
This management tool enables concerned employees, partners, suppliers etc., associated with Kishugu to anonymously report any fraudulent, corrupt and unethical practices to an independent third party – Whistle Blowers (Pty) Ltd. By doing so, you can help protect the integrity of the organisation.
Whistle Blowers
To contact Whistle Blowers, you can make use of any of the following platforms:
Phone: 0800 111 528
SMS: 33490
Email: kishugu@whistleblowing.co.za
Website: www.whistleblowing.co.za
We Strive For Ethical Behaviour
KISHUGU AVIATION BOARD MEMBERS
Emile Grobbelaar
Summary
Emile Grobbelaar
CEO of Kishugu Aviation and Director of the Board
Qualifications:
BCompt Honours
CA (SA): South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr. Grobbelaar joined the Deloitte Pretoria office in 2001 and was seconded to the Deloitte Office in Tampa Florida, USA in 2003 and later moved to the Nelspruit branch. He left the Auditing Profession in 2006 for a career in commerce and industry whereby he joined Kishugu in 2009 as a Director and CFO of the company. He participated in developing and driving the group strategy, with specific focus on Finance. His interest for aviation grew where he became more involved with Kishugu Aviation. He served on the Aviation Board since 2010 and today holds the title as CEO for Kishugu Aviation since 2018.
Dean Khumalo
Summary
Dean Khumalo
Non-executive Director of the Board
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr. Khumalo served as the Executive Manager for MRO Operations at Denel Aviation SOC. Previous to that he held the position of Divisional Manager: Technical Services at the South African Express AIrways SOC. He previously worked as the Senior Manager for Airworthiness at the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
Qualifications:
Masters Degree: Aviation Safety specialising in Aircraft Airworthiness – ENAC and ENSICA.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Regenesys Business School.
Diploma in Senior Civil Aviation Management – Singapore Aviation Academy.
National Diploma in Aircraft Engines and Airframes Maintenance.
National Certificate in Aircraft Engines and Airframes Maintenance.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ Licence. (SACAA Categories A & C).
Aeronautical Engineering Certificate.
Johan Heine
Summary
Johan Heine
Non-executive Director of the Board
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr. Heine, who is the co-founder of the Kishugu company, previously known as the Forest and Fire Association (FFA) changed the face of wildland firefighting when he developed a model called Integrated Fire Management. This model today, is being implemented by various countries across the globe as well as in all nine provinces in South Africa. Kishugu also became the implementing agent for the SA government’s Working on Fire Programme. His extensive knowledge of firefighting and his pro-active and integrated approach to fighting fires, made this company the leader in it’s industry. After 30 years of gaining and sharing his knowledge, he exited the company in 2018 and is now serving as a non-executive director to the Board.
Trevor Abrahams
Summary
Trevor Abrahams
Chairperson
Qualifications:
B.A. Hons: Post Graduate Award Human Science Research Council
M.A: Post Graduate Research Award Human Science Research Council
M.A.: SUNY Foreign Student Scholarship Awards: December 1981, April 1985.
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr. Abrahams served on various boards within Kishugu, either as a director or Executive Director. He is currently the MD for Working on Fire. His previous experience ranges from being the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Chairperson of the National Aviation Security Committee, National Director of the SCHED Trust, the Advisor for the Ministry of Education as well as the Advisor for the ministry of Trade and Industry. Mr. Abrahams was also a consultant to the Department of Transport.
Duke Moorosi
Summary
Duke Moorosi
Non-executive Director of the Board
Qualifications:
Professional Aviation Management: McGill University, Canada
DeHavilland Twin Otter Training: Toronto, Canada
Beechcraft King Air 300 Course: Wichita, KS, USA
Fokker Friendship RSA Training: Comair, Johannesburg
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr Moorosi has extensive experience in Flight Operations and holds an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. Over the years he gained Executive Level Management Experience and was the Chairperson of the Safety Review Panel of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). He held the position as the Chairperson of the SACAA as well various directorships at several companies.
Colin Jordaan
Summary
Colin Jordaan
Non-executive Director of the Board
Qualifications:
Aeronautical Engineering: Wits University
Mechanical and Structural Engineering: Aeronautical Research (CSIR)
Aviation Business Leaders’ Development Course: Cambridge Judge School of Business, UK –
Chief of Civil Aviation Authorities Course: Singapore Aviation Academy.
Skills, expertise and experience
Mr. Jordaan was the CEO and Director of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the ex-officio Executive Director on the CAA Board.
He was a member of the South African Institute of Director’s since 2008 and a Non-executive director of 3S Media (Pty) LTD from January 2006 to July 2015.
Prior to that, Mr. Jordaan held the position as a non-executive director of the Recreation Aviation Administration South Africa (RAASA) as well as the Director on the Board of the Aero Club of South Africa. His experience in directorship started in 1975 when he was the Director of the Wits University Flying Association (Section 21 Company).
