Van Horn Aviation | Composite Rotor Blades

Spotlight on Flying for Freedom SA

For owner and dedicated pilot Tokkie Botes, animals and the conservation of animals is the passion behind Flying For Freedom SA. FFFSA’s mission is to fly for the survival of those without a voice.

Based in the North West Province of South Africa this non-profit company is dedicated to preserving its natural heritage and protecting endangered species. Tokkie and his crew fly a Bell 206B JetRanger to assist in the anti-poaching operations of black and white rhinos, threatened to extinction due to the market for rhino horns. FFFSA also assists by flying veterinarians to snared animals; conducting aerial surveys of vultures, an important part of Africa’s wildlife and eco-system; and defending the habitat of the nocturnal Riverine rabbit, the most endangered mammal in South Africa.

September 2019 was especially important as each year September 22 is recognized as World Rhino Day. This year their fundraiser ‘A Night to Remember’ was a huge success! Aviators Brewing Company held the event which included aerobatic displays, delicious food, prizes, auction items and special guest speakers.

With around 1600 hours flight time on their Van Horn Aviation 206B tail rotor blades, Tokkie says “It makes a huge difference to have them on the helicopter when you do any kind of game work, it makes the helicopter much more maneuverable.” And whenever people ask him if there is a difference, he will always answer, “it feels like an old car that got powering steering,”

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AD Compliance Reminder for Certain 206L MRB Operators

By Kim VHA • April 25, 2025

For 206L LongRanger operators flying P/N 20633000-101 serial numbers A007-A009 or A012-A104, we would like to remind you that these blades are subject to AD 2022-22-08, which requires recurring tap inspections every 400 flight hours or 2,400 engine starts, whichever comes first. You can learn more about the tap test requirements and procedure in our video . These blades are likely to develop a delamination in the area of the weight pocket on the lower surface of the blade. The AD further requires removing the blades from service if the delamination reaches 6 inches in length. However, extensive company testing indicates that all blades will likely achieve their full retirement life before that occurs. So long as the delamination is monitored and does not exceed the permitted length, the blades are entirely safe to fly with no adverse effects on aircraft behavior or performance. Operators are required to report their findings at every inspection interval to VHA for tracking using the form on the last page of Service Bulletin 33000-4 . Completed forms should be emailed to info@vanhornaviation.com . Providing this data helps to ensure all operators of these blades remain safe. All of the identified blades are likely to have delaminations, so if none are detected please contact us for assistance. In addition, this AD is considered an interim action and once sufficient data is gathered it may be updated to reduce the required frequency of inspection. Refer to AD 2022-22-08 and SB 33000-4 for further information.