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All of this adds up to a need to talk about low flying in honest, detailed terms. If nothing else, we have to get beyond the futility of prevention by preaching abstinence. We must educate pilots about what they face when they take an airplane down low away from an airport so that they can make a reasoned decision as to whether to get that speed fix and if they decide to do so, they do it somewhere and in a fashion that they will not kill themselves or get the chance to defend action from the SA CAA. Adapted from a quote by the US FAA.
African Pilots February edition
This week my team will prepare the February edition of the magazine for printing. At this stage we still have several advertising pages available, but these need to be reserved by Tuesday 13 January at the latest. Should your company or business be interested, please call Marius at the office: (011) 702 2342/3 or e-mail: marketing@africanpilot.co.za. The African Pilot 2009 price guide is published on the website: http://www.africanpilot.co.za/
Women in aviation
The February edition of African Pilot sees the start of our feature on Women in Aviation, which I think readers will find very interesting. Although we are featuring only South African lady pilots who are currently flying, I see in the English Telegraph the death is reported of another of those amazing wartime female pilots, who although could not fight in the war played a vital role in ferrying planes. She was Benedetta Willis who died aged 91. She won her RAF wings in 1941 and for the next five years she ferried planes and airmen.
Talking of the war and nothing to do with aviation, but shocking and interesting nevertheless
The death is reported of Michael Lyons aged 85. He was one of the first British soldiers to liberate Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. He was so shocked at the sights he saw, he had to be locked up by his officers and restrained for three weeks, until he calmed down.
Protests at Alitalia job cuts
Rome Baggage handlers and ground staff caused disruptions last week at Romes Leonardo da Vinci airport in protest at job cuts that are part of Alitalias imminent re-launch. The new airline merges the profitable assets of the old Alitalia with the smaller Air One and will include a foreign partner, probably Air France-KLM.
Vietnam Airlines profit plunges
Bangkok Vietnam Airlines, a state owned carrier, said last week that its pre-tax profits plunged 35% last year as fuel prices soared and the economy slowed. The global economic slow-down had cut demand for air travel.
Fatal accident involving a Nanchang CJ6A
On the 3rd January at Justin-Propwash Airport Texas, a Nanchang CJ6A Chinese trainer crashed whilst taking part in a formation flight. Both occupants of the plane were killed. Apparently the plane was turning sharply onto finals when it spun and went straight in. There are more than 100 of this popular aircraft in the USA. In South Africa there are only two CJ6As flying. ZU-ECD and ZU-ECE. However there are still two for sale, which are hangared at Springs Airfield.
Precision and Rally flying dates from SAPFA by Mary de Klerk
I trust you all had a marvellous break and are ready to challenge the New Year in all aspects of your lives. Our task is to get you motivated with your flying and to this end we have scheduled the following events between now and July 2009:
|
DATE |
EVENT |
VENUE |
|
24 January |
Precision & Fun Rally |
Rand Airport |
|
21 February |
Precision & Fun Rally |
Brits Airfield |
|
28 March |
Precision & Fun Rally |
Virginia Airport |
|
18 -19 April |
Nationals Precision & Fun Rally |
Tempe Bloemfontein |
|
23 May |
Precision & Fun Rally |
Rustenburg Airfield |
|
28 - 31 May |
Presidents Trophy Air Race |
Tempe Bloemfontein |
|
27 June |
Precision & Fun Rally |
Parys Airfield |
|
19 - 26 July |
Precision World
Championships |
Poland |
Rand Airport programme: Meet at the Customs Hall at Rand Airport. (No you do not need your passport.)
Arrive 07H30 for 08H00
Briefing 08H30
1st aircraft airborne 10H00
Prize giving 14H00 (this might be earlier or later depending on the final entries)
Depart for home 15H00
You will notice that we have incorporated both Precision & Fun Rally into one event. The reason is simply that the National Precision Championships are due to take place on 18 & 19 April and those interested in participating in the Precision Championships will have three events at which to practice. For further information please contact me on 084 880 9000.
New domestic airline to be launched Airtime Airline by Ntando Makhubu
This Durban-based airline is scheduled to start operations on 25 January when its first flight leaves Durban for Johannesburg. A one-way ticket will cost a mere R225. Chief executive officer of Black Bird Aviation, the company running Airtime Airline, Vino Eargambram, said after launching the Durban-Johannesburg flights, that they would then start flights from Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, before introducing a service from East London and Bloemfontein. We will be flying to East London within the next two months, where we will be offering customers competitive rates, he said.
The airline, dubbed the Durban Connexion, will operate on a pay as you fly concept. Customers buy prepaid cellphone airtime rather than plane tickets. If a flight costs R300, the customer would be required to purchase that amount of airtime and send a text message, quoting the 10-digit cellphone number as a reference. The airtime is deducted and serves as payment for the flight. Customers have the option of flying a year after purchasing their tickets.
Eargambram said the three major cellphone networks Vodacom, MTN and Cell C were part of the deal. Our customers will have the choice of the time and flight they want to take, subject, of course, to availability, said Eargambram. This, he said, was part of the different reservation system they would offer. The airlines recently launched website lists the cheapest flights as those between Johannesburg and Durban, costing R375 one-way and R750 for a return ticket. Customers flying between Durban and Port Elizabeth will pay R425 for a single trip and R850 return, whilst the Durban to Cape Town journey will cost R625 for a single and R1250 return.
OR Tambo Airport communications manager Nothemba Noruwana said she did not know about plans for a new airline to use ACSA airport space. I am not aware of the move to introduce a new airline. That information has not been communicated to me, she said. It is understood the airline has taken over the office space of the now defunct Nationwide Airline at various airports.
Another aviation scam
I received the following e-mail, which I have copied and pasted exactly as received. It is interesting that Paul Adams does not know much about English grammar or spelling. I question how many similar scams reach aviation companies each day and how many individuals in aviation are innocently caught up in them.
From: Paul Adams [mailto:paul.4ram@gmail.com]
Sent: 18 December 2008 09:31 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: ASECNA/AFRICA OVERFLIGHT NAV DEBT
Dear Sir,
Your company is debted to Asecna in the area of overflight nav debt and the amount is EU 48,760.00
Failure to hear from you today, we will inform our intl debt collectors to visit your company and we will no longer grant your company permission again into Africa.
Reply us now and we will provide you with our banking details for the urgent payment.
Signed:
Paul Adams
Asecna Accountant Officer
ASECNA/AFRICA OVERFLIGHT NAV DEBT
Pratt & Whitney bullish on geared turbofan
Twenty years in development, the new geared turbofan engine from Pratt & Whitney is currently nearing the completion of tests and the company sees big things in its future. The engine is designed to cut fuel burn by 12 percent, compared with the most modern engines currently available and should be scalable. "We see the geared turbofan concept playing out for the whole future family of engines," Pratt & Whitney President Steve Finger recently told Reuters. Pratt & Whitney hopes that after 2013 the engines will find a broad range of applications, beginning with upcoming regional jet aircraft from Bombardier and Mitsubishi and scaling up to produce more than 95,000 pounds of thrust. "Whatever happens" said Finger, "we do not believe anyone can bring anything that can compare with a geared turbofan, for a long time."
Canadas Expedition E350 receives FAA certification
The Expedition E350, a backcountry single-engine aircraft manufactured by Found Aircraft Canada, has been granted type certification by the FAA. The type certification includes both day and night VFR and IFR for the E350 with either tricycle gear or with floats. "Certification of the E350 is the culmination of over two years of development by our dedicated team of employees and suppliers who worked hard to make this day happen," says Drew Hamblin, spokesman for Expedition Aircraft. "The Expedition was designed to be the true meaning of a high performance, flying SUV and the undisputed heavy-hauler in its class. The aircraft, which seats four to five, has a full fuel payload of over 900 pounds, with a range of 700 nm at 156 knots. "E350 owners will not have to choose fuel over friends when planning long cross-country flights," Hamblin said. The airplane is designed for STOL performance, with rugged landing gear for operating from unprepared airstrips and a powerful 315-hp Lycoming IO-580 engine. Production of the E350 has begun and first deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2009. The airplane is built on a steel-tube frame with both carbon fibre and aluminium skins.
More layoffs at Cessna
Cessna is warning its workers to brace for another round of layoffs as the deepening financial crisis puts the brakes on aircraft orders. The Wichita Business Journal says Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver confirmed earlier reports that Cessna CEO Jack Pelton had sent an e-mail to employees saying the company's production schedule was being changed in response to economic conditions. He did not detail how each of the various production lines would be affected, nor did he say how many people will be laid off.
Cirrus calls mandatory staff meeting
Cirrus Design held a mandatory staff meeting last Thursday to discuss the company's state of affairs. WDIO TV is reporting that major staffing changes are in store for the company, which like virtually all aircraft manufacturers, is seeing sales drop in the current economic crisis. The TV station quotes vice president of business administration Bill King as saying: "Huge internal staffing changes are planned. If the market conditions continue to soften and they certainly could, you know, for the first quarter or two of the year here then we are going to need to be thoughtful about how we respond to that as well," King told the TV station. "We certainly cannot allow the business to get put into a situation where we cannot sustain it."
Superior Chapter 11 still shipping parts
Superior Air Parts says it is continuing to fill and ship orders following its bankruptcy filing of last week and the acquisition of most of its assets by Textron Lycoming. Superior's Kent Abercrombie said last week that although the company laid off staff following its 31 December bankruptcy filing, it is maintaining sufficient staff to accept and fill orders. Superior's XP experimental engine programme will continue, but its popular owner-build programme for homebuilders has been at least temporarily suspended. Lycoming's purchase includes only Superior's assets, meaning its PMAs and STCs for aftermarket parts, production certificates and various approvals, plus all parts in inventory and related intellectual property and equipment. Curiously, it did not buy Superior's Millennium cylinder line for Teledyne-Continental engines that, presumably, represents yet another asset Superior can sell.
FAA certifies Embraers Lineage 1000 business jet
Embraer announced on Wednesday that it has received the type certificate from the FAA for its ultra-large Lineage 1000 executive jet. The aircraft, aimed at the high-end luxury business jet segment, is based on the Embraer 190 commercial jet, which was certified in 2005. It can carry up to 19 passengers in a roomy interior with lots of baggage space, for up to 4,500 nm. The layout features five distinct privacy zones and two lavatories, with a third lavatory and a stand-up shower unit available as options. The cockpit is equipped with a five-screen integrated Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite. The airplane sells for $43 million and first deliveries are expected early this year. To date, more than 20 of the jets have been sold worldwide, according to Embraer. "We are pleased to announce the certification of the Lineage 1000 by the FAA," said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President of Executive Jets. "One of the great achievements of this project regards the maximum range of the aircraft, which was extended to 4,500 nautical miles, giving operators new possibilities for routes and destinations."
Thielert recovering from insolvency
Despite last year's insolvency and a subsequent drop in production, Thielert Aircraft Engines is now in the black and working to capacity, according to Bruno M. Kubler, the company's insolvency administrator. Kubler also said in a news release last Wednesday that all employees still have their jobs. "The fact that TAE was able to make it back into the profit zone again without any staff cuts is especially gratifying, particularly in these financially difficult times," Kubler said. He added that he is negotiating with new potential investors, including two defence contractors, and he is hopeful that by developing new military applications for the diesel engines and quickly obtaining certifications, the company can ensure its sustainable future.
Boeing and Airbus may lose most of their order backlogs
Currently sitting on more than five years worth of unfilled orders, both Airbus and Boeing may hope that backlog could carry them through even a moderately prolonged economic slump, but orders on paper do not always become flying aircraft and at least one analyst sees much less certainty than the order books suggest. The Teal Group's Richard Aboulafia believes the possibility exists that as much as 70 percent of the orders totalling more than 7400 aircraft held by Boeing and Airbus will become order deferrals instead of aircraft. A global economic crisis coupled with erratic fuel prices throws a big spanner in the works of just about every kind of air travel, and as airlines around the world struggle to direct their fleets toward profitability the most expedient solution for some may be a rollback of expansion plans.
Bizjet backlogs are evaporating
Another industry-watcher is predicting the same in the business jet market. Brian Foley, who runs his own consultancy firm in New Jersey, said in a news release that much of the backlog reported by most of the major manufacturers is made up of large orders from start-up companies which will undoubtedly have challenges starting up in the current economy. "Whereas previous backlogs were speckled with fleet orders from a handful of fractional providers, current order books sport a cadre of unproven, start-up fleet purchasers launching unproven businesses into a deep worldwide recession," Foley said. "These types of entities have placed literally hundreds of business jet orders."
AirVentures economic impact is worth more than US$110 million
A new economic impact study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh shows that EAA AirVenture Oshkosh brings an estimated $110 million economic impact to Oshkosh-area counties each year. The university's Centre for Community Partnerships conducted the independent study during last summer's event, surveying visitors from every U.S. state and 15 other nations about their length of stay, daily spending, overall impressions of the event and other demographic information.
Pilots and smoking - the author wishes to remain anonymous
I will tell a personal horror story.
Both my parents smoked like chimneys for many years. My father smoked Texan plain, my mother Benson & Hedges. My father broke his leg about 40 years ago and nearly died after a clot came loose. He gave up smoking on that day and is fairly fit for his age, but wears a stocking permanently. My mother continued smoking and ended up on one of the oxygen systems permanently. She still smoked whilst on oxygen, but finally gave up smoking about 15 years ago. She had contracted chronic emphysema whilst smoking.
My parents retired to their home at the coast in 2000. I sent my mom down with my ex wife and children on SAA and I paid a fortune to SAA to supply her with oxygen during the flight. My dad towed his caravan down and I towed my trailer down with the last of their possessions. My parents were settled at the coast for 21 days before my mother collapsed straight into her plate of food after suffering a major stroke. She never recovered and her brain was almost totally destroyed. She never recognised me after the stroke.
We lived in hell for 18 months with me flying down every single weekend to be with her. She had a second stroke and was reduced to cabbage level. She died on 18 Feb 2002 and the cause of her death was directly linked to her smoking. I do not make any judgement calls on smokers, but I do not smoke and no one in my family smokes. However, if the collective children ever smoke, I will remind them of what Granny looked like before her death. She was tortured for nearly 18 months before she finally passed away.
Editors comment
This is a reminder to pilots who insist on smoking that on reaching the age of 50, if you are still smoking you are likely to lose your pilots licence. I have also watched someone who was once very close to me destroy her life through smoking. Today she has a chronic lung disease that has left her with less than 30% of her lung function, which can never be restored.
Aviation Humour
According to The Australian, an airliner recently encountered severe vibration in flight.
The captain decided to make an emergency landing, and switched on the seat belt sign.
The vibration stopped immediately.
A passenger emerged from a lavatory and explained that he had been jogging on the spot. | 