African Pilot Newsletter 40 2011

Monday 3 October 2011

“An enemy takes up more space in our head than a friend in our heart”.  Anonymous

African Pilot's links

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfricanPilot

Aviation hub link: http://www.apmag.info/ 

Website: http://www.africanpilot.co.za/  

African Pilot's November edition

The planning of the November edition is at an advanced stage and production starts this week and will feature Home-built and Kit-built aircraft types. The so called 'Amateur-built' sector of General Aviation has become significant over the past ten years in terms of the overall aircraft population both here in South Africa as well as in many countries in the world. For advertising positions in this edition please contact Willie or Duncan at 0861 001130 or e-mail: marketing@africanpilot.co.za. The absolute closing date will be Tuesday 4 October. Editorial content should be sent to me at: editor@africanpilot.co.za. Thank you.

African Pilot's executive wall calendars

Bookings have opened for the annual executive wall calendar that features all the finalists in the Canon / African Pilot photographic competition. The 13 page calendar can be tailor made to advertise your company's message for the full year. Your personalised calendar may be produced in batches of 50 with your company details appearing on the 13^th leaf of the calendar. The idea is that this aviation calendar will be an ideal Christmas / New Year gift to your favourite customers. This year calendars will cost R130 each or R6 500 + VAT for a batch of 50. The calendar will be available during the last week of November just in time for your distribution into your market before the end of the year. This is a fantastic method of ensuring that your company's details are right in front of your important customers throughout the year. For further information please contact Willie Bodenstein on e-mail: willie@africanpilot.co.za or call 0861 001130. Thank you.

Aero Club of South Africa's coffee table book

African Pilot will be producing a semi-coffee table book together with the Aero Club of South Africa. The project has been approved by the Aero Club and marketing of the book has already started. For the past seven years African Pilot has produced the Aero Club's annual report, but although this document served its purpose, I believe that a more substantial collectable Year Book will be more appropriate for the 4 000 members of the Aero Club. Altogether 6 000 copies of the book will be printed. The proposal is for a 160 to 180 page semi-hard cover A4 book that will reflect the activities of the various sections in pictures with some text to accompany the illustrations. All members of the Aero Club will receive the book FREE as part of their membership package, whilst books will also be made available through pilot shops and retail outlets at a price of R120 each.

This will be a glossy A4 book with many full colour photographs of Aero Club activities over this year, including events such as the Presidents' Trophy Air Race, Power Flying competitions, Aerobatics competitions, Gliding events, EAA fly-aways and Young Eagles, Microlight competitions and Virtual aviation, Aero Modelling, Hot Air Ballooning, Parachuting, Gyrocopters, Hang and Para Gliding, Airshows and so on. The book will also feature the Aero Club Awards ceremony with photographs of the recipients in the rear of the book. This will essentially be a high quality 'Good News' publication that highlights the achievements of members of the Aero Club through the year in glossy pictures. Representing the largest single group of aviators and aviation enthusiasts in South Africa the book is set to serve the interests of Private, Recreational and Competitive aviation in South Africa.

I am looking forward to working with the various member sections through this year so that my team and I can produce a superb publication that will have significant shelf life. If you have suggestions, please feel free to send me an e-mail: editor@africanpilot.co.za. 

Should you company be interested in advertising in this prestigious publication, please contact Willie Bodenstein on Willie@africanpilot.co.za or marketing@africanpilot.co.za.

What is happening over the coming weeks in South African Aviation?

EAA Chapter 322's monthly meeting next Wednesday 5 October by Gordon Dyne

EAA 322 members, friends and anyone who loves aviation and the company of aviators are reminded that the October meeting of EAA Chapter 322 will be held at the usual venue of The Dickie Fritz MOTH Hall in Dowerglen next Wednesday 5 October. Please note the new starting time of 1830 for 19h00. The usual agenda will this month will be abridged as it is the Annual General Meeting. Chairman Captain Karl Jensen hopes that there will be healthy competition for the traditional four elected office positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. However, I know I speak for the whole of Chapter 322 when I say that Karl is irreplaceable and must be returned unanimously as Chairman. If anyone disagrees with me then it will be 'pistols at dawn!' The existing committee has performed flawlessly this year and I for one hope that 'there will be no change.' So sorry Mr. Chairman, if I am speaking out of turn, but tact has never been my strongest point.'

After the formalities are finished and after some sipping of the golden juice, the audience will return to its seats to listen enthusiastically to the guest speaker, no less than Professor Paul Bartels who serves on the Scientific Programme Committee at the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) and is also the Professor at the Wildlife Biological Resource Centre/ Bio BankSA, National Zoo, NRF and served as Doctor at the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Phew! That is a handful to remember. Good to have an academic in our midst!

The Professor will make a presentation on vultures and the interaction of aircraft and the effects on the survival of these birds. Should be a fascinating talk. Let us please have a 'packed house' in honour of our distinguished guest who is giving up his valuable time to talk with us. The evening promises to be yet another spectacular success as we have come to expect. Hope to see you all there. For more information on EAA Chapter 322 please contact our delightful Trixie Heron on editor@afskies.co.za.

Royal Air Force Officers' Club (RAFOC) monthly lunch Friday 7 October By Gordon Dyne

Members of RAFOC are reminded that this coming Friday 7 October sees the monthly 'get together' of many of the 'crème de la crème' members past and present from the SAAF, RAF, RRAF,SAA, SAS, French Foreign Legion and countless other military organisations. Then there are honorary members such as I who can only sit and stare in admiration at these fine men and women who responded when their country called. Time is taking its toll, but the military bearing and gait are still there in abundance.

The lunch will be held as usual at the graceful Wanderers Club in Johannesburg 12noon for 13h00. After the usual splendid lunch accompanied by some fine wines from the Wanderers' extensive cellars the Annual General Meeting will be held. It will be chaired by the present incumbent Bruce Harrison who will as usual bring some humour to the serious matter of electing a committee for 2011/2012. Let us please have a record turnout for this yearly necessity. Thank you. For more information on RAFOC please refer to RAFOC's web site http://www.rafoc.org/.

20th World Precision Flying Championships - Brits Airfield

With only two weeks to go the Brand South Africa Precision Flying Team has been investing many long hard hours beating the circuit or navigating the terrain in order to sharpen their skills ahead of the World Precision Flying Championships. The competition runs from 16 to 30 October at the Brits Airfield in the North West Province. The event has been sponsored by Brand South Africa and will be televised both locally on SuperSport as well as internationally on Airsports TV to over 260million homes on over 50 countries.

Captained by Mary de Klerk, and Managed by Colin Jordaan, the 2011 team is the largest Precision Flying Team SA has boasted in many years. The old favourites such as Barry de Groot, Mary de Klerk, Hans Schwebel, Adrian Pilling, Ron Stirk, Frank Eckard and Colin Jordaan are names that have become synonymous with the Sporting Aviation scene in South Africa. Between them they boast well over 120 Springbok / Protea Caps for representing South Africa at various International Events.

Frank and Mary started a development programme about three years back, which has seen hundreds of pilots filter through the system. A few of these development pilots have excelled at the sport to the extent that their standard is now sufficiently high enough to qualify for entry into the International competitive arena. The four new entries into the SA Precision Flying Team are Walter Walle (a previous Protea Rally and Precision member), Henk Koster (previous Protea Rally), Mike Cathro (first timer) and Thys van der Merwe (first timer). What is interesting to note is that Thys, as a Senior Captain with SAA, is probably the oldest member to ever have achieved his Protea Colours for Sport Aviation. “I did not realise that flying could be such fun” said Thys, a veteran Captain with 42 years' service.

This is the first year ever that the South African Precision Flying team can boast that it has not one but two senior SAA Captains representing the country. Colin Jordaan, ex CEO of SA CAA and current Senior Captain with SAA, too has a rich history with Sport Flying. He has competed in International Precision and Rally Competitions since 1977, was Competition Director for the 1991 World Championships in Stellenbosch, has acted as Judge and Jury on many International Competitions, served on almost every sporting body board in SA and been awarded the FAI Sports Medal as well as Aero Club Gold Wings Award. The team are proud to have him lead them as their manager.

The Competition will be directed by Anthony Russell, a part time Flying Instructor based in Cape Town. He will be supported by Frank and Cally Eckard who will be handing the Route Planning. Jacques Jacobs will take on the role of Chief International Judge.

The International teams will start arriving in South Africa from 13 October. They will be accommodated at Dikhololo Game Reserve just north of Brits Airfield for a two week Bush Experience.  The opening Ceremony will be held at the Brits Airfield on Sunday 23 October. This will be supported by an aerial display lead by Nigel Hopkins (himself a Previous Rally World Champion) and his aerobatic teams. Spectators will be welcome to attend the Opening Ceremony and support their South African team. Further information can be viewed on http://www.wpfc2011.co.za/.

What happened last week in aviation?

Impala Pub last Wednesday evening by Gordon Dyne

A small gathering of aviation lovers and lovers of all the good things in life, attended the monthly 'get together' at the Impala Pub in Bruma Lake last Wednesday. As usual, Colonel Jeff Earle and his charming better half Sharlene were the most gracious of hosts.

I was surprised to see Jeff only drinking coke, but as he explained “I am flying the Harvard in the morning practising for the SAAF airshow at Waterkloof on Saturday.” Good show I thought remembering the golden rule of '12 hours 'twixt bottle and throttle!' It reminded of the times I flew in South America in the seventies, where I experienced more than one pilot who was considerably 'worse for wear.' The rule in that part of the world for pilots was 'don't drink within 12 feet of the plane!'

We all had a very pleasant evening munching on fine Debonairs' pizzas, supping ale and yet again regurgitating all the facts on the shocking Albatross accident in Tzaneen and the tragedy that occurred at the Reno Races in the U.S.A. two weeks ago. The joys of flying. All in all a great evening of humour and camaraderie. Thank you Jeff and Sharlene for your usual warm hospitality.

The next Impala Pub evening will be Wednesday the 26^th October. It is always the last Wednesday of every month. Everybody welcome. For more information on the Impala Pub please contact Sharlene Earle at Sharlene@placo.co.za or Carol van Rensburg at info@jhb.saafa.co.za.

Hope to see you there. 

SAAF Waterkloof airshow Saturday 1 October

Apart from the freak parachutists' accident the Waterkloof airshow could be regarded as a 'huge success' with several unique aircraft formation displays. One of these included the Vampire, Mirage F1, Hawk and a Gripen C. My comment was a 'heritage flight' just like Oshkosh - well done to the SAAF and the SAAF Museum.

The idea of this airshow was to test all the systems for AAD 2012 in September next year and judging by the huge crowds that attended certainly systems were tested to their fullest. Unfortunately the Pretoria Metro cops let the SAAF down, because clearly they had no idea how many people would arrive. Hopefully the municipality will learn a lesson from the pathetic traffic control and rather disappointing understanding of what is actually required to manage such volumes of traffic around the base. Having said this, the SAAF also learnt a lesson on how to manage the parking and entrance requirements for more than 50 000 people that visited AFB Waterkloof on Saturday.

Although windy, fortunately the weather held, because on Sunday the heavens opened with wide spread rains and thunderstorms. I sincerely believe that every spectator experienced goof value for the entrance fee of R50 for adults and R20 for children less than 12 years. The airfield was very clean due to hundreds of litter bins and a team that worked continuously at cleaning up. At one stage Brian Emmenis announced that he was impressed with the level of cleanliness and immediately spectators started collecting the few items of litter around them to place in the bins that were frequently emptied.

I don't think that anyone expected such a large crowd, but this just goes to show that an airshow that is well publicised will draw the crowds in the Gauteng area. African Pilot's show stand was busy throughout the day and my staff members together with Mandy Latimore did amazing business, probably the best ever at an airshow with sales current and back editions, DVDs and posters. We have also learn much from this airshow exercise so that African Pilot will be completely ready for AAD 2012 in terms of having plenty of books, DVDs, capos, T shirts, Golf shirts and posters on sale in September next year.

The gesture from CANON South Africa by having a place where professional photographers could have their cameras cleaned as well as loaner equipment was appreciated by every photographer that I spoke to on the Friday and Saturday. CANON's commitment to aviation photography - in fact all professional photographers' shows why CANON is the leading image making company in South Africa and the world. It was great meeting the guys from Cameratek and watching them work so efficiently. Next year at AAD 2012, CANON has promised a far larger presence specifically to service photographers equipment FREE of charge.

To the men and women of the SAAF, display pilots, exhibition organisers, Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds team, ATCs, Airshow organisers and officials, exhibitors and members of the public African Pilot salutes you for staging a most successful aviation event - the largest airshow of 2011.

Parachute accident at Waterkloof airshow

On Saturday, 1 October 2011, at about 08H15 fourteen South African National Defence Force members from 44 Parachute Battalion were involved in a freak accident during a 'Mass Parachute Jump'. Four members were seriously injured and were immediately airlifted to 1Military Hospital, and all four are reportedly stable. Ten members who suffered minor injuries have been rushed to 1Military Hospital by two ambulances; all ten members are also reportedly stable. A Board of Inquiry will be convened.

AAD2012 back at AFB Waterkloof after six years 

In just under one year the 7th Africa Aerospace and Defence 2012 (AAD 2012) will open its doors at the much larger AFB Waterkloof after being held at AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Please diarise the dates 19-23 September 2012 for the largest military and civilian showcase ever to be held on the African continent. 

Exhibitor numbers at AAD2010 were the highest in the event's history, with 350 exhibitors from 31 countries providing an impressive display of products and services from all parts of the aerospace, general aviation and defence industries. Indications are that AAD2012 will surpass all previous events due to the fact that 85% of the indoor space had already been reserved a full year ahead of the exhibition.

This impressive exhibition will be presented as a partnership between South Africa's Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industry Association (AMD), the Armament Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) and the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA); in collaboration with the Department of Defence incorporating the SAAF. Visitor attendance at AAD2010 was around 96 000 over the five days of the event of which approximately 13 000 were trade visitors representing 59 countries. As part of AAD's corporate social responsibility the AAD2010 Youth Development Programme (YDP) hosted 2 410 learners between the ages of 15 and 20 years, mostly from the Western Cape; as well as from KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.

AAD2012 has a number of features designed to maximise exhibitors' ability to showcase products and services to the growing defence, general aviation and security industries such as the on-site mobility track and participation in demonstration flights. 

“Even a year before the event, AAD2012 has nine national pavilions as well as 81 direct exhibitors from 28 countries confirmed. Already eighty five percent of indoor exhibition space has been booked,” said AAD2012 Exhibition Director Leona Redelinghuys.  Already 18 confirmed civil aircraft will be on static display and will showcase flying capabilities during the two public days.

For the first time and in co-operation with the Aero Club of South Africa and Recreational Aviation Association of SA (RAASA) a dedicated area (Fun Fly Park) for light sports aircraft (LSA) types has been allocated.  “With home-built and kit aircraft, Microlight and gliders, which are regarded as LSA types having become very popular in South Africa, it was decided by the AAD Management that there was an opportunity to showcase this capability at AAD2012”, said Leon Dillman CEO of CAASA and AAD2012 show director.

“For the second time the highly acclaimed IHS Janes Group from London will produce an AAD2012 Show Daily that will be advantageous for exhibitors to showcase their products and services.  The Show Daily will be published on the three trade days and will be circulated widely throughout the show as well as on the IHS Janes and AAD2012 websites which will ensure greater world-wide exposure,” says Vhongani Shumba , AAD2012 Marketing and Public Relations Manager. The media will have a preview of AAD2012 on the day before the show opens. Ample provision has been made for visiting journalists who will have access to a fully equipped media centre.

In collaboration with the General Aviation (GA) and various defence industries the Department of Defence has identified at least eighty high level official delegations that will be invited to attend AAD2012. A series of conferences are scheduled to run concurrently with AAD2012. These include the International Aerospace Symposium of South African under the auspices of the Aeronautical Society of SA and the Flight Test Society of SA and incorporating the Stellenbosch University Technical UAV conference.

The Youth Development Programme celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012 and the organisers are planning to make this a commemorative event. The visiting youth will be able to get a touch and feel of aviation and experience different career opportunities in the Department of Defence. They will form part of a structured programme and take part in activities such as plastic model building, virtual aviation, simulator, target shooting, first aid and investigating crime scenes. These are just some of the exciting events that learners will be able to experience.  The invited learners will be achievers in Science and Mathematics from the Dinaledi schools.

For further information please contact Ms Vhongani Shumba - AAD2012: Marketing and PR Manager

Cell: +27 (0)84 840 3214 E-mail: marketingpr@aadexpo.co.za  
Website: http://www.aadexpo.co.za/.

Paramount and Aerosud unveil 'revolutionary new aircraft' by Leon Engelbrecht

On Tuesday Aerosud and the Paramount Group unveiled a South African designed and developed light high-performance aircraft that it says could sell in the 'hundreds' at a cost of less than US$10 million. Paramount CE Ivor Ichikowitz expects the Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) to take the civil and military aviation market by storm, “challenging dominant Western manufacturers with its low acquisition cost, reduced requirement for maintenance support and extensive operational capabilities.” Speaking at the launch, Ichikowitz added he expected production to start late next year or early in 2013 with the current facility able to build two to three aircraft a month. The two partners conservatively estimate that AHRLAC has the potential to generate annual revenue of up to R4 billion.

Aerosud Managing Director Paul Potgieter said AHRLAC offers a highly flexible form of 'clip-on-clip-off' payload system which enables it to be transformed quickly between operational roles. It can stay in the air for seven to ten hours, making it the ideal solution for patrolling large land areas, borders and oceans. The two-crew aircraft can carry out a wide range of operations including surveillance, policing, border/coastal patrol and anti-smuggling; armed patrol and counter insurgency operations; disaster relief and emergency supply to remote areas; and intelligence gathering. Potgieter said AHRLAC is special because it offers maximum platform flexibility for multi-role applications, from basic visual reconnaissance to advanced electronic surveillance, and intelligence, to armed patrol. “The design is modular so as to support maximum basic airframe commonality for the various configurations and rapid role change ability,” he said.

“AHRLAC is capable of rapid deployment and fast response times with high cruise and dash speed and extended range. Because of the operational simplicity of this aircraft, in times of need, we can get this aircraft to areas where it is required with limited support assistance.” Potgieter said key features of AHRLAC include its 'push propeller' design and high wing for crew visibility, high cruise and dash speeds (maximum cruise speed is 300 knots), payload capacity of 800kg with full fuel and two crew, large operating range (1150 nautical miles on internal fuel) and Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability, including from semi-prepared landing strips, with a take-off distance 550m with full payload. AHRLAC also has an armed patrol capability with 20mmm cannon, rocket pods and beyond visual range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles such as the Denel Dynamics Mokopa or 70mm free-flight rockets across four to six wing hard points.

Ichikowitz expects AHRLAC to be a strong challenger to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). “With AHRLAC we provide a new, affordable, flexible and robust alternative to UAVs, opening new operational capabilities to a variety of new users,” said Ichikowitz.

Potgieter added: “With AHRLAC we have developed a revolutionary aircraft that will maintain the dominant role of the pilot in civil and military flight. We believe that the pilot remains core to conducting effective air operations. In AHRLAC we have produced an aircraft that is, unlike most UAVs, both autonomously capable and offers high survivability, with none of the sub-systems costs related to the operation of UAVs. “AHRLAC addresses the limitations of pilotless aircraft in a package which is flexible, reliable and offers excellent value for money. AHRLAC can go places and deliver missions, both civil and military, which a UAV simply cannot,” for reasons that includes current restrictions on UAV flights in controlled airspace. The AHRLAC programme already includes a full scale concept development model, cockpit layout model and experimental development model for extensive wind tunnel testing and refinement.

Ichikowitz argued that knowledge-based industrialisation that a project such as AHRLAC provides is essential to developing higher sustainable rates of economic growth and therefore jobs. “Global experience proves that high-tech areas can multiply job creation in related sectors by up to eight times the number of people they employ. In addition, continued growth in engineering, design, technical and related trades means that we will be creating jobs at a high level.”

ExecuJet South Africa awarded African Air Force contract

The South African Air Force has awarded ExecuJet South Africa Maintenance the contract for product support services for its fleet of Dassault Falcon aircraft.

ExecuJet had been providing the South African Air Force (SAAF) VIP Squadron with maintenance support for their fleet of aircraft for the past 13 years. “ExecuJet built a good relationship with the SAAF and ARMSCOR (Armaments Corporation of South Africa Ltd) and we have developed a very keen understanding of the constraints, processes and procedures that drive the day to day business in support of the SAAF.” says Steve Bothma, Maintenance Director of ExecuJet South Africa.

ExecuJet was the approved maintenance service provider for the SAAF Falcon fleet for 13 years until August 2010. During this period ExecuJet made substantial investment in personnel and equipment to ensure continuity of the high level of service demanded by the SAAF, while also exploiting opportunities to reduce the cost of ownership of the Falcon fleet. ExecuJet has now regained the contract for a period of five years. ExecuJet will now support all of the SAAF VIP Squadron.

“ExecuJet is proud and honoured to have been selected as the preferred supplier and awarded this opportunity. We look forward to supporting the VIP fleet once more and further strengthening our relationship with the SAAF and Armscor,” says Mr Stephen Paddy, Sales and Marketing Director for ExecuJet South Africa.

ExecuJet will be supporting the SAAF at the Waterkloof Airshow on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Visit us at the Civil Aviation Static Park.

Aero Club of South Africa news

The Aero Club of South Africa would like to thank all their members in the contact details project, AeCSA came in contact with most of the members in order to update contact details for the new system.

Man is a history-making creature who can neither repeat his past nor leave it behind

Pierre Carter, Andrew Smith, ChrisLlotter and Marianne Schwankhart were the first to paraglide of Stella Peak to a small town called Moshi at the Kilimanjaro Mountain. Stella Peak is 5085 meters high and it took the paragliders an hour to land in Moshi. Mrs Linda Willemse of Wild Frontiers guided the rest of the team on foot with freezing weather conditions safely to Moshi.

VFR reporting points

AeCSA has been asked by ATNS to verify current VFR reporting points in regards to their locations, if still in use and common name visual feature to which they are associated.

AeCSA Annual General Meeting

The Aero Club of South Africa's AGM will take place at the Harvard Café at Rand Airport on 26 October 2011.

AeCSA Annual Awards Diner

The Annual Awards dinner will be held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Saturday 5 November 2011.The AeCSA has a great speaker for the night and 8 tables available. Individual seats will be sold for the event please contact Jackie Harmse on 011 082 1100 or E-mail reception@aeroclub.org.za for pricing of tables and seats.

Pelindaba

A work group to develop an aviation model has met and we are repopulating the risk model with local aviation accident statistics. Solution finding with NECSA is going well and there is a good spirit to attempt to keep the foot print of the no fly zone down to the current parameters.

Blue route adjustment discussions

A request to look for a possible solutions including the possible adjustment of the blue route, to look at the feasibility of opening up of Grand Central airport to a regular commercial airline service in a work group.

Suspension of uncertified paragliders in CAT 2 comps

Pilots will not be allowed to enter or compete in any CAT 2 competition using uncertified paragliders. Paragliders holding recognized and legal certification of EN D/ LTF 2-3 will be deemed acceptable for use in CAT 2 competitions. Should a pilot not be able to comply with the above, limited exemptions can be applied for 30 days prior to close of entry into a CAT 2 competition The certification requirements as approved by FAI for harnesses and helmets used in CAT 2 competitions will be given three years to achieve 100 % compliance of these requirements for CAT 1 competitions. Details of incidents and accidents that occur in all paragliding competitions held in South Africa should be recorded and furnished to the AeCSA and the FAI on CIVL's Incident Report Forms to assist CIVL in accident analysis in competitions.

Aero Club of SA's events calendar

The Aero Club of South Africa is working on a single event calendar in order for all the sections to add their events to the main calendar and make it active on the website. For more information on the above please contact the Aero Club office at 011 082 1100.

Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo, Lakeland, Florida, USA

Sun 'n Fun attracts over 5 000 aircraft, over 500 exhibitors and the world's best airshow performers. Day trips to Fantasy of Flight, Disney and Kennedy Space Centre will be included. Tour departs Johannesburg 24 March and returns 4 April 2012.

Two options are available:
A) Camping on the Airfield: R16 850 per person sharing plus airport tax (approx. R4 300). Price includes airfares, transfers, Sun 'n Fun camping fees, airshow entrance, accommodation in a tent with bedding, breakfasts and tour cap. Single person supplement is R1 500.

B) Hotel Accommodation: R19 850 per person sharing plus airport tax (approx. R4 300). Price includes airfares, transfers, hotel accommodation and tour cap. Price does not include airshow entrance. Single person supplement is R3 550.

Bookings & Information: Please contact Neil Bowden Cell 084 674 5674 e-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net.

Opportunity to join an African aviation safari

Emmie Oelofse and Carina Bekker are planning a trip through the southern sub-continent leaving on 5 November and returning on 19 November. The planned route will be from Fly Inn Estate in Gauteng, routing to Kruger, Maputo, following the coastline past Vilankulo, Beira up to Marromeu and into Zimbabwe. Then to Kariba and flying over the Victoria Falls and onto Kasane in Botswana. Thereafter the Okavango Delta, Francistown and returning to South Africa via Polokwane. A scenic trip over the Waterberg will bring the group back to Fly Inn on 20 November. A total of 30 hours of flying will cover this amazing trip. Anyone who wishes to join, please contact Emmie on + 27 11 316 6906 or e-mail: Emmie@aaaviation.co.za as soon as possible.

Alleged remote-controlled plane terror plot

26-year-old US citizen, Rezqan Ferdaus was arrested on Wednesday and charged with plotting to attack the Pentagon and US Capital with plastic explosive-laden remote-controlled aircraft. Reports state that an affidavit said recorded conversations caught Ferdaus talking about using three remote control aircraft like small kamikaze-drones by packing them with C-4 and slaving their controls to GPS equipment. The plan allegedly involved six gunmen divided into two teams. Authorities say those teams were to serve to increase the death toll and chaos at the pre-selected impact sites in Washington, DC. A multi-agency effort culminated in the delivery by undercover FBI agents of fake explosives and weapons to Ferdaus' home, allegedly at his request.

Green flight challenge down to four teams

By Wednesday last week, only four of the original 13 contenders were still in the running for the $1.65 million NASA prize purse in the Green Flight Challenge. The event, which is on-going in Santa Rosa, California, through the weekend, has eliminated all the contenders except PhoEnix, Pipistrel-USA, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's EcoEagle and e-Genius. All met a noise level no greater than 78 dBA at full-power take-off, measured from 250 feet away. “This is the dawn of electric flight, right here, right now,” Mark Moore, an aerospace engineer with NASA, told the Sonoma County Press-Democrat. “This is a Lindbergh moment.”

Wingsuit flyer navigates mountain gap

On Saturday wingsuit flyer Jeb Corliss successfully flew through a narrow tunnel in a Chinese mountain region. The gap between two peaks, known as Tianmen Hole, is just 96 feet wide and about 360 feet tall. Corliss jumped from a Red Bull helicopter and landed safely with a parachute on a bridge. “That was one of the greatest wingsuit flights of my entire life,” Corliss said. After navigating through the tunnel, Corliss had to continue flying through the narrow mountain gap for about two-thirds of a mile before he could safely open his chute.

Piper now hiring in Wichita

On Wednesday Piper Aircraft said it would hold a job fair in Wichita, Kansas during this week. About 20 positions are open for engineers and designers, all of them based at the company headquarters in Vero Beach, Florida. The company has already tried to fill the jobs locally, Piper spokeswoman Jackie Carlon said. “We always search first in Indian River County and then the state of Florida, before looking elsewhere,” she said. “These are all highly skilled positions.” Most of the new hires will be put to work on the Altaire jet project, she said.

Cessna targets Phenom with M2

Late on Monday in a move that caught most in the aviation industry flat-footed, Cessna announced a new bizjet. The Citation M2 is said to bridge the gap between the $3 million Mustang entry-level jet and the $7 million CJ series and it will compete directly with the Embraer Phenom 100, offering a little more range and speed. Cessna will be placing the M2 on the market at $4.195 million, about $500,000 more than the Phenom 100. “Operator feedback and owner insight have indicated a market for a Citation with the size, speed and range of the Citation M2. We expect to see customers new to the Citation family, Mustang owners looking for a logical next step or CJ1+ operators who want a new, more advanced Citation,” said Scott Ernest, Cessna president and CEO

Cracked spark plugs prompt bulletin

Tornado Alley Turbo has issued a mandatory service bulletin (PDF) and asked the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive for the owners of up to 950 Cirrus SR22TN aircraft that have Champion RHB32S fine wire spark plugs, and the list of affected aircraft could grow to include other types with those plugs installed. TAT says it has been gathering evidence that indicates those plugs are experiencing an unusually high rate of cracked ceramic insulators. Cracked insulators can cause detonation problems that can result in severe engine damage. TAT says it's aware of at least two forced landings and one non-injury accident that may have been caused by the damaged spark plugs. TAT President George Braly said that while the initial MSB applies only to turbonormalized Cirruses, TAT systems have been installed in other aircraft types and anyone with a TAT system should check their aircraft's plugs.

Avgas drop-in replacement: clarification

In our story last week about the Unleaded Avgas Transition team's deliberations, we reported that the committee increasingly believes a direct drop-in unleaded replacement isn't likely. But one reader wrote to ask about the recently approved 100VLL, which the FAA announced as an approved fuel in SAIB NE-11-55. Isn't this a direct drop-in? Yes, it is, but it's also not an unleaded fuel, but one that contains about 19 percent less lead than 100LL. It still meets exactly the same octane requirements as 100LL and fits right into ASTM D-910, the current industry avgas specification. The 100VLL spec was developed at the request of industry groups as a potential alternative to 100LL for use in areas where airports may represent point sources of lead emissions that exceed emerging national air quality standards. Until the EPA completes its research on lead endangerment, it's unclear if 100VLL will have any role in future fuel supplies

Everest sightseeing flight down

All 19 people aboard a sightseeing flight returning from Mt. Everest died when the Buddha Air Beech 1900D they were on crashed on approach to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The aircraft clipped a hilltop house in heavy rain and fog about six miles from the airport. There were at least two Americans on board. One person survived the crash but died later in hospital. The crash has prompted comment in some quarters about the safety standards for Nepalese carriers, but according to the airline's website, Buddha Air operates one of the most modern fleets in that part of the world.

Aviation humour

The President of ANCYL Julius Malema walks into an FNB bank and asks to cash a cheque for R5000.

Teller: “No problem Sir. Could you please show me your ID.”?

Malema: “Well, I didn't bring my ID with me as I didn't think there was any need. After all, I am the President of the ANC Youth League.”

Teller: “Yes, I know who you are, but with all the regulations, I must insist on seeing an ID.”

Malema: “Just ask anyone here who I am and they will tell you. They all know who I am.”

Teller: “I am sorry, but these are the bank rules and I must follow them.”

Malema: “Is there some other way around this?”

Teller: “Look, here's what we can do: a while ago now, Caster Semenia walked into the bank without ID. To prove she was Caster she ran around the block in under eight seconds. Another time, Francois Pienaar came in without ID. He yanked out his rugby ball and kicked it just under 100m right into Nedbank's yard. And after that spectacular kick we cashed his cheque. So, what can you do to prove to me that you are really who you say you are?"

Malema stands, deep in thought for what seems like minutes then he finally says: “My mind's a complete blank. Honestly, I can't think of a single thing”.

Teller: “Would fifties be OK, sir?”

Until next week, please be 'Serious about flying'.

Athol Franz (Editor)

African Pilot 'Serious about flying'.