Search on for missing SA pilot

A LIGHT aircraft that left from Keetmanshoop for Upington in South Africa on Sunday morning is missing.

The South African Search and Rescue Organisation (Sasar) has been flying search planes over the planned route of South African pilot Charles Wooler since Sunday, but by late yesterday there was still no word on his whereabouts. According to Christian Sell, Air Traffic Control Chief in Windhoek, two similar aircraft had departed from the Keetmanshoop airport within two minutes of each other.The missing plane left at 09h21, and was scheduled to arrive in Upington at 11h13.However, only one of the two pilots called in to report that he had crossed into South African territory, Sell told The Namibian yesterday.”Usually you give about 10 to 20 minutes to accommodate wind-resistance, but after about an hour they became worried and alerted the authorities,” Sell said.It emerged later that the two planes were still in contact with each other about 130 km from Upington, Sell said, although Wooler had failed to inform the Namibian authorities of his entry into South Africa.It might be that he had been on an alternative frequency, dubbed the “chat line”, Sell said.Wooler was reportedly the only occupant of the missing plane.He is a member of the Krugersdorp flight club.Sasar spokesperson Santjie White yesterday told reporters that an extensive search conducted over the flight area on Monday continued yesterday in the Gordonia area.She added Sasar was using the police network as well as the farm radio network in the area, while the local community was also involved in a ground search.South Africa Air Force pilots and local microlight pilots have also been employed in the search for the missing aircraft, it is reported.”We do fear that there might have been an accident, and the pilot was the only one on board,” Sell said.”Normally in the case of a forced landing, pilots would call for assistance.But we haven’t heard anything yet.So yes, we do fear that something might have happened to him,” Sell said.According to Christian Sell, Air Traffic Control Chief in Windhoek, two similar aircraft had departed from the Keetmanshoop airport within two minutes of each other.The missing plane left at 09h21, and was scheduled to arrive in Upington at 11h13.However, only one of the two pilots called in to report that he had crossed into South African territory, Sell told The Namibian yesterday.”Usually you give about 10 to 20 minutes to accommodate wind-resistance, but after about an hour they became worried and alerted the authorities,” Sell said.It emerged later that the two planes were still in contact with each other about 130 km from Upington, Sell said, although Wooler had failed to inform the Namibian authorities of his entry into South Africa.It might be that he had been on an alternative frequency, dubbed the “chat line”, Sell said.Wooler was reportedly the only occupant of the missing plane.He is a member of the Krugersdorp flight club.Sasar spokesperson Santjie White yesterday told reporters that an extensive search conducted over the flight area on Monday continued yesterday in the Gordonia area.She added Sasar was using the police network as well as the farm radio network in the area, while the local community was also involved in a ground search.South Africa Air Force pilots and local microlight pilots have also been employed in the search for the missing aircraft, it is reported.”We do fear that there might have been an accident, and the pilot was the only one on board,” Sell said.”Normally in the case of a forced landing, pilots would call for assistance.But we haven’t heard anything yet.So yes, we do fear that something might have happened to him,” Sell said.