Urgent help wanted

[Dreamer]

Approved by Admin

Hi all,

I am posting this thread in the hope that someone may be able to help in this connection please. This was the original story and the authorities have given up their search and rescue mission. However, the families have not given up and they have started a Facebook page requesting any kind of assistance. First off, let me just say I do not know the family and I am just asking this because Sealine is like a big family and there is always someone who knows someone who can help.

Avcom (and you can check their forum http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=104043&start=30) is also involved in the search and rescue mission.

http://www.thenewage.co.za/68617-1008-53-Mozambique_calls_off_search_for_missing_plane

Message taken from the Facebook page started by the family:

Guys... we are looking for volunteers (5-10ppl) to assist in research projects as they come up (such as find bikes we can rent in Moz or contact game parks to ask for volunteer spotters).

Also Volunteers for local outreach which will include contacting ppl in Moz to ask them to assemble volunteers.
please send me an email on clairelynn.moller@gmail.com

Please if anyone can help, and even if only by prayer, I am sure this would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Thank you all. Dreamer

 

[Serra Moz]

Dreamer, this report is dated 3/11/12


Three South African Air Force aircraft are still searching Mozambique for a light twin-engine aircraft that went missing on Sunday. No word of the aircraft has yet been heard.

SAAF media liaison Brigadier General Marthie Visser told defenceWeb that the Air Force began assisting with the search on Monday, using a Cessna Caravan. Another Caravan and a C-47TP transport aircraft later joined in the search.

Visser this afternoon said the aircraft were still in Beira and would continue the search until it was called off by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), which has two other aircraft participating in the endeavour.

Bryan Simms and his son Robert, from Midrand, Johannesburg, were flying back to South Africa in a Beechcraft Baron 58 they had purchased in Uganda when contact was lost around 45 minutes from Beira airport. They had departed Lilongwe, Malawi, and were due to land in Lanseria airport north of Johannesburg.

Santjie White, head of the ARCC, said the only thing the search and rescue team had to go on was a villager who heard a low-flying aircraft.

No distress signal was received from the aircraft, which is believed to be somewhere in Mozambique’s Tete province.

 

[Dreamer]

Serra Moz wrote:

Dreamer, this report is dated 3/11/12


Three South African Air Force aircraft are still searching Mozambique for a light twin-engine aircraft that went missing on Sunday. No word of the aircraft has yet been heard.

SAAF media liaison Brigadier General Marthie Visser told defenceWeb that the Air Force began assisting with the search on Monday, using a Cessna Caravan. Another Caravan and a C-47TP transport aircraft later joined in the search.

Visser this afternoon said the aircraft were still in Beira and would continue the search until it was called off by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), which has two other aircraft participating in the endeavour.

Bryan Simms and his son Robert, from Midrand, Johannesburg, were flying back to South Africa in a Beechcraft Baron 58 they had purchased in Uganda when contact was lost around 45 minutes from Beira airport. They had departed Lilongwe, Malawi, and were due to land in Lanseria airport north of Johannesburg.

Santjie White, head of the ARCC, said the only thing the search and rescue team had to go on was a villager who heard a low-flying aircraft.

No distress signal was received from the aircraft, which is believed to be somewhere in Mozambique’s Tete province.

Thanks Serra for the correction - apologies to all. That is exactly why we should check our threads before posting. Assistance is still required though.

 

[Dreamer]

Hi all,

For those who have Facebook and would like to know more, updates on the search and rescue mission can be found by clicking on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/BryanRobSimms

Thank you.

 

[Dreamer]

Michael Appel

The family of missing pilots Bryan Simms, 60, and his son Robert, 22, are offering a substantial reward for any information that leads to their return.

The pilots have been missing for just over two weeks and it’s thought they were flying over Mozambique’s Tete province at the time of their disappearance.

Family and friends of the missing aviators have also launched a private search after a joint Mozambican and South African government search which covered 27 000km² was called off on November 3.

Family friend Britt Stevens, speaking on behalf of the Simms family, said the exact figure of the reward is yet to be determined, “but I can say that it will be a substantial reward and is being offered to get people involved in the search”.

The family believe the missing pilots made an emergency landing in or near the Gorongosa National Park.

“Bryan and Robert were flying a Baron 58, a light, twin-engined piston aircraft. They were ferrying the aircraft from Uganda to South Africa and were carrying no cargo,” Stevens said.

The aircraft had been on contract to the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies in Sudan when hostilities broke out again and work for the plane ceased.

“The owners decided to bring the plane back to South Africa where there was work for it. Bryan was asked to fetch the plane and he took his 22-year-old son, also a pilot, for the added experience of a trans-Africa flight.”

Simms is said to have reported engine trouble on the morning of October 28 and that he was diverting to Beira International Airport. Stevens said Bryan then reported that he would cease radio contact to focus on his cockpit and was not heard from again.

One of those who will help in the private search is renowned animal behaviouralist Kevin Richardson better known as the Lion Whisperer.

“He always helped young pilots, advised them, mentored them and that’s how he became a very good friend of mine. He was there when I got my pilot’s licence in 2000. He is a guy who, wherever he goes, is full of humour and spirit and who touches peoples’ lives,” Richardson said.

The family has appealed to anyone able to assist with the search to email brsimmsoffice@gmail.com, or contact 078 800 9929 or visit www.operationsimms.co.za for more information.

michaela@thenewage.co.za

 

[Dreamer]

Volunteers continue search for father and son pilots missing in Mozambique
16 NOVEMBER, 2012
in OTHER

South African pilots Bryan and Robert Simms have been missing since 28 October, when the light aircraft they were ferrying had to make an emergency landing in Mozambique and disappeared.

Their family have filed a missing persons report and believe that the missing pilots made an emergency landing in or near the Gorongosa National Park. A USD $5000 reward has also been offered to locals who can identify the location of the plane.

Since the official government search was suspended on 3 November, volunteers have taken up the cause and donated hundreds of hours and more than ZAR500,000.00 (USD $56,000.00) in equipment and financial support toward the Search and Rescue effort.

To date, volunteers have done more than 20 sorties by air in addition to daily exploration in and around the Gorongosa National Park by the ground team. The teams have followed up on a handful of legitimate leads based on satellite imagery, communication triangulation and villager information.

The search is being carried out by ground and by air, with teams based in Beira, Chimoio and the Gorongosa town canvassing search areas daily.

The SAR volunteer aircraft have clearance permits which allow them to fly in Mozambique to conduct the search. These permits expire today and the aircraft will be returning to South Africa. The SAR volunteers plan to use the return of the aircraft as an opportunity to consolidate results of all activity to date and determine how to continue with the next phase. In the meantime the ground search will continue.

Richard Maier has been leading air operations, having donated his King Air B200 and running sorties himself with a team of professional spotters and pilots daily. Eric and John Verkerk, brothers of Mrs. Lillian Simms, have been heading up the ground teams around Gorongosa.

Bryan’s brother and son, Mike and Stephen, are leading operations for the search from Midrand in South Africa, with the involvement of a number of key volunteers and experts. The aviation community has also been actively involved in mapping and analysing flight path scenarios and data. This information has enabled the SAR operations team to prioritise the search area, eliminating some areas which have been searched thoroughly and identifying new areas of interest.

A facebook page (www.facebook.com/bryanrobsimms) has been created and a website will launch shortly (www.operationsimms.co.za) to keep the public apprised of the progress of the search. Nearly 1,300 people are following the SAR efforts through social media.

There is also a hotline +27788009929 and email address brsimmsoffice@gmail.com which anyone can contact to offer assistance and leads.

The Simms family would like to extend special thanks to Richard Maier, Angus Money, and the DECA Group who have donated aircraft to the search; pilots Euan Kay, De Clercq van Heerden, and Martin Venn; Eric Verkerk, John Verkerk, Werner Coetzee, Des O’Brien and Sakkie for their efforts on the ground; Sakkie van Zyl and Piet van Zyl and the Gorongosa National Park management; the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) for providing satellite images and leads; and all of the SAR volunteers especially Dane and Donna du Plooy, Rob Thomas, the Van Oldenmarks, and the Stevens family and team.

Note: issued on behalf of the Simms family. Sarah Brooker, Science in Public’s director, is Bryan’s niece and Robbie’s cousin.

 

[Dreamer]

This sad news was posted on the Facebook page for
Bryan and Rob Simms

It is with a very heavy heart that I relay this information to you all...

"Yesterday afternoon, the Simms family received the news that the plane wreck was found in Mozambique by a local villager. Neither Bryan nor Robert survived the impact. We are awaiting positive legal identification. The outpouring of support, hope and love from you all has helped to sustain us since the search began 28 Oct. We ask that you please respect the privacy of our family during this difficult time. There will be a wake on Friday for those who wish to pay their respects, details forthcoming."

Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of Bryan and Robert. May their dear souls rest in peace.

 

[Serra Moz]

R.I.P. How sad, at least there's some closure for the family, how unjust it may sound.

 

[Serra Moz]

Mozambican authorities had to use a bulldozer to pave a way to the burnt-out wreck of an aircraft, presumed to be that of a missing South African father and son.

The wreck of an aircraft was found at a remote area near Moia in Mozambique by villagers who alerted authorities after hearing a radio report about the two missing men.

"The site is extremely difficult to identify, even from the air,” Richard Maier, a pilot who previously headed up a search for the two, told News24.

"The only part of the aircraft that was identifiable was a propeller."

The bodies of two people were seen at the burn-out wreck, but still had to be identified.

Bryan Simms, 60, of Midrand, and his son, Rob, 22, were last heard from on 28 October 2012, when their light aircraft - reportedly a small Baron 55 - went missing over Mozambique's vast province of Tete en route to Lanseria airport, north of Johannesburg.

Shortly before the plane went missing, Bryan said in a radio message that he had problems with one of the engines.

Left behind

The Simms family said in a statement that they received news that a plane wreck was found in Mozambique by a villager, and that neither occupants survived.

"We are awaiting positive legal identification. The outpouring of support, hope and love from you all has helped to sustain us," a post on a Facebook page dedicated to the search said.

Bryan's wife Lillian said in a post: "Bryan and Rob died doing what they loved best,"

"You are both as free as a bird, you are together. You have left a massive void in our lives but you live in our hearts and minds forever

 

[Dreamer]

Serra Moz wrote:

R.I.P. How sad, at least there's some closure for the family, how unjust it may sound.

I agree, Serra Moz, and it must be very difficult for Lillian who has lost both the men she shared her home with.



From Lillian Simms

"As we continue to live with all the hope, faith and love that has so generously been bestowed to us, the road ahead is a rocky one as Bryan and Rob died doing what they loved best. This is a difficult one for us all - family, friends, volunteers, rescuers and for all who are in our lives. The support that has been shown and shared is a true testament to who Bryan and Rob are and will be. RIP Bryan Simms and Robert Simms - you are both as free as a bird, you are together. You have left a massive void in our lives but you live in our hearts and minds forever. "

A message from the Simms family...

"We are truly grateful to the generous individuals who have contributed financially to the search efforts. Your support has made it possible for us to do an extensive search by ground and air over the past two weeks as well as raise the awareness locally in Mozambique which ultimately led to the discovery of the plane. We thank you so much for your contributions, which we have used wisely. Any remaining contributions after expenses will be transferred to the Santjie White Trust to help with future Search and Rescue missions in South Africa. At present, no further contributions are needed as it appears our search has come to an end. Thank you again."

Antje Stevens, head of the Operation Simms Home Office, wrote:

"It's been such a hard journey the last 3 weeks, friends of ours - a father and son both pilots went missing in Mozambique on the 28th Oct and yesterday it was confirmed they found the wreck. When we found out they were missing we launched "Operation Simms" set up a Home Office and co-ordinated the search from SA working with pilots aircraft ground crew you name it till 2/3 in the morning - setting up bank acc, emails, FB page and Website, radio and print press releases etc some volunteers could only spare time out of their offices but we didn't give up and eventually we found them!!! THANK YOU to everyone i know who liked our page, followed our stories and supported the search xxxxx"

To Antje and every single person involved, THANK YOU will never be enough. We did EVERYTHING we could. We never lost hope, we never gave up. Bryan and Robert will be in our hearts forever.

BRYAN AND ROBERT SIMMS'S CELEBRATION OF LIFE
The Simms family will hold a celebration of Bryan and Robert's lives for family and friends this Friday the 23rd at the Harvard Cafe, Rand Airport.

The event will start at around 17:00 and a fly past in honour of Bryan and Robert will take place at 18:00. (Please bear in mind the Joburg traffic)

It was a specific request from Bryan that there be a happy occasion held in the event of his passing. Bearing this in mind, it is requested that no sombre attire be worn. Also please come and enjoy sharing a humorous story or a positive memory about them.

If you have a fond photograph of Bryan and/or Robert, please send a single photo to lillian.simms@gmail.com.