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The future is being formed in the womb of the present and unless we weigh todays actions in terms of tomorrows consequences we will expose our lives to anarchy and improvisation. - B.Z. Bokser.
Ben Zion Bokser, (1907-1984) was one of the major Conservative rabbis of America. Bokser was born in Poland, and emigrated to the United States at the age of 13 in 1920. He attended City College of New York (BA, 1928) and Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary, followed by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (ordained 1931) and Columbia University (PhD, 1935). He taught for many years as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Queens College, City University of New York. His first pulpits were Bronx, NY, and Vancouver BC in CA. He served as the rabbi of Forest Hills Jewish Centre in Queens, New York for his entire life, starting in 1933 and remained in that position for more than fifty years. He had a two year period as a United States Army chaplain during World War Two, stationed at Camp Miles Standish in Massachusetts. During WWII, he organised aid for Jewish soldiers. Bokser was an advocate of social justice, taking a position in favour of the construction of a housing project for the poor in the middle class community of Forest Hills. During this episode, called the Forest Hills housing controversy 1966-1972, he was in constant contact with many leading politicians and building developers. He fought against the death penalty in NY state. He served as a programme editor for the "Eternal Light," the Jewish Theological Seminary's radio programme; a lecturer on homiletics, and a participant in the Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion and the Institute for Religious and Social Studies, both Seminary-run programmes. Bokser heard Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook speak in New York in 1924 and became an avid student and great proponent of his teachings. Bokser and his wife had two children, His son was the scholar of Rabbinic Judaism, Baruch Bokser. His daughter Miriam wrote "The Holy Name" on the universal aspects of Jewish mysticism and similarities with the mysticism of other religions.
African Pilots February edition
A completely different idea for the February edition was produced and is now at the printers. This will be the first time in the eight-year history of African Pilot that I have placed the picture of a woman on the front cover, instead of a flying machine. The idea was born out of the need to celebrate the role that women pilots play in aviation in South Africa. After completing the momentous task of compiling all the information and photographs required for this feature article, I can say that I am very pleased with the result and I really hope that our readers will enjoy something different. Thank you to all the ladies who took part in this expose. I truly enjoyed interviewing, photographing and editing your individual stories.
Marketing for the March edition starts immediately. Please contact Marius at (011) 702 2342 or marketing@africanpilot.co.za. This edition does not have any particular theme due to the inclusion of the annual aviation Service Guide.
African Pilots annual aviation Service Guide
There is only one aviation service guide that actually works for its advertisers, because it will be distributed in a sealed plastic bag inside every edition of the forthcoming Marchs African Pilot magazine. The only reliable method of placing the advertisers information into the hands of the aviation industry is in conjunction with a monthly nationally distributed aviation magazine. Details of the annual Aviation Service Guide are to be found on the African Pilot Website: http://www.africanpilot.co.za/ click on the price guide button to receive details of costs for inclusion in this important annual reference work. Should you require one of my team to visit you, please call Marius at: (011) 702 2342/3 or e-mail: marius@africanpilot.co.za
African Pilots readers questionnaire
The January edition of the magazine contained a readers questionnaire aimed at delivering better service to our readers. This questionnaire may also be completed on-line by visiting the Website: http://www.africanpilot.co.za/. Thank you to the many readers who have already submitted their feelings about the magazine. My team will be analysing the results and these will be made public once the assignment is complete. At this stage may I thank the many readers who have complimented our editorial team and those who have made suggestions for future magazine content.
Lazertronics airfield disaster
Severe weather conditions sometimes play havoc with aviation and this summer season in the highveld region of South Africa has been no exception. South Africa in fact probably experiences some of the worst electric storms in the world. On Tuesday 13 January about lunchtime a vicious storm passed through the northern region of Johannesburg and inflicted terrible damage on the microlights hangared at Lazertronics airfield.
This thunderstorm passed through Beaulieu, Kyalami where African Pilots offices are situated. I was concerned that the roof of my building might be blown away. In addition to torrential rain, frightening thunderclaps echoed throughout the region. After suffering a direct lightning strike in early December, which destroyed several vital computer systems, printers, burglar alarm and intercom systems, whilst preparing the January edition, I decided not to risk another disaster. Therefore we suspended work and disconnected all electronic equipment for the duration of the storm.
The storm on 13 January moved further north and delivered its full force onto the microlight hangars at Lazertronics airfield just east of Lanseria International Airport. The damage caused was not dissimilar to that which was experienced by the residents of Contermanskloof airfield near Cape Town some six months ago. As the pictures of the Lazertronics airfield in our February edition show, microlights were tossed into the air like leaves in the wind and at least one large hangar was blown some distance away.
Our thoughts go out to those pilots who have sustained serious damage to their planes and hope that someone will start a relief fund to which African Pilot can contribute for the reconstruction of the hangars. Any reader who may be interested in supporting this cause should contact me at: editor@africanpilot.co.za.
AOPA Safety Award 2009
The South African division of AOPA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a USA based organisation with more than 700 000 members worldwide, will be making an award for aviation safety.
AOPA SA is concerned about the future of general aviation in South Africa and is particularly worried about the level of aviation safety within the sub-continent. AOPA believes that pilot education is the only way to improve the situation. Firstly we are always saddened by the loss of life and secondly we are also worried about the apparent standard of safety in general aviation in this country says Koos Marais, AOPAs Gauteng Provincial organiser. In addition, AOPA is also troubled by the negative publicity and perceptions as a result of aviation accidents. It is not unthinkable that public pressure could force the authorities to ground the entire general aviation fleet or significant sections of it.
AOPA decided to act pro-actively and to institute the AOPA Safety Award. It hopes that it will become an annual event and that it will raise the general level of safety awareness in South Africa. Koos Marais continues We have taken cognisance of the fact that the majority of the entrants will be so-called safe pilots. Our goal is twofold: Firstly we hope that the involvement of these safe pilots will rub off on their non-competing pilot colleagues and that it will create a general interest in safety. Secondly we want to show these safe pilots that we are all human and we all can make mistakes from time to time.
The competition will initially take the form of regional heats or preliminaries in each of South Africas nine provinces and all licensed pilots may enter. They will fly with a designated judge who will judge their level of safety as measured against a standard list of criteria. The three best performing pilots from each province will be selected for the finals. All nine provinces finalists will compete in the final competition to be held at Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria on 12 and 13 June 2009 and a winner will be chosen. The winner will receive a trophy as well as a special blazer at a gala dinner. AOPA will attract extensive publicity from the aviation and general media, including television coverage, thereby raising the general awareness of aviation safety and improving the public perception of general aviation.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority has already pledged its support for this competition and it has indicated that it will provide some sponsorship. AOPA is appealing to the industry and other role players to support it by means of financial sponsorship. All sponsors will be acknowledged in AOPAs correspondence as well as in the printed and electronic media.
For further information please visit the AOPA Website: www.aopa.co.za.
Provincial organisers:
Gauteng: Koos Marais 072 2005973
Free State: Jacques van Wyk 082 4549717
Western Cape: John Nicholas 076 8020931
Northern Cape: Jannie Visser 083 4131663
Eastern Cape: Dave Perelson 082 7722961
Limpopo: Alan Davson 083 4554315
Mpumalanga: CC Pocock 082 4905721
North West: Albert de Witte 083 6285492
KwaZulu Natal: Craig Ralphs 083 6355295
EAAs Bush Pilots Workshop
On Thursday evening the 22 January a workshop will be held at the EAA auditorium, on some of the aspects of bush field landings for the Private Pilot.
Flying away from home base, away from tarmac, air traffic control, and clean fuel pumps can be intimidating for the unpractised. Like a bird, leaving its nest for the first time, flying into a strange environment is mostly a psychological challenge, which can put tremendous pressure on a pilot. The average sports and recreational pilot spends most of his flying hours in and around the familiarity of his home airfield.
This familiarity, comforting as it may be, breeds complacency and makes us lose the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The world becomes a strange place when we start flying away from home. All of a sudden the runways are longer, shorter, wider, uphill, down hill, sandy, grassy, have high trees on short final and some have cumulus granite on one end.
EAA is honoured to have Karl Finatzer and some of the staff of Karls Sky Africa Flying Safaris present this workshop to us. SkyAfrica normally runs a full time six day Bush Pilots Course which includes 20 hours of practical bush flying, but we will be covering one of the most important sections of its ground school syllabus, namely field approach techniques. Karl Finatzer, an internationally experienced GA pilot with 3500 hours on singles, twins and float planes, has been teaching tourist European pilots to be Bush Pilots in Africa for many years. He will be assisted in the lecture by some of his flying instructors. Apart from the Bush Pilots Safaris, SkyAfrica is also a registered ATO, AMO and Charter company.
Date : 22 January
Time : 18h30 for 19h30 (time to order your refreshments)
Venue : EAA Auditorium adjacent to TAC and Holding point of Runway 29
Take the entrance at Hurricane Road (NOT through the main gate)
Cost : R30 (R20 for card carrying EAA, & AMSA members)
Booking: Send an e-mail, or phone me at the office between 09h00 & 17h00.
Hope to see you there
Jeremy Woods
EAA Project Coordinator, Rand Airport Tel: 011 888 8495/6 Cell: 082 883 0436
US Airways jet lands in Hudson River
A US Airways Airbus A320 with 164 passengers and five-crew landed in the Hudson River, near midtown Manhattan shortly before 3:45 pm, US time on Thursday. Flight 1549 was scheduled to depart out of New Yorks LaGuardia at 3:04 and departed at 3:26 pm for Charlotte. It was floating in the water at 3:45 pm. The earliest reports (now confirmed) state that the pilot reported multiple bird strikes after flying through a flock of Canadian geese.
The aircraft appeared to be mostly, if not fully, intact as New York Waterways ferries and police boats swarmed around the aircraft. Passengers could be seen both on the outboard left wing and in rafts amid floating debris, which appeared to be seat cushions. By 3:59 pm, the aircraft's fuselage had disappeared below the water.
Congratulations to Captain Chesley Sullenberger (57), a former US Air Force fighter pilot who has served as an instructor and safety chairperson of the Air Line Pilots Association. He has also participated in several NTSB accident investigations. Capt. Sullenberger has been praised by survivors and officials for smoothly landing the jet belly-first onto the Hudson River. He walked through the plane twice, whilst the aircraft was slowly sinking, after everybody else was off, to ensure that there were not any passengers still on board.
Editor comments
The quality of reporting on this accident in the US has been excellent as only the facts have been presented by the media to the public. Compare this with the reporting of the1time MD-82 aircraft which last week, returned safely to Port Elizabeth Airport after a partial engine failure. The Herald contained a whole lot of sensational and grossly inaccurate reporting.
Reporter Sbongile Dimbaza reported: passengers watched in horror as a plane engine caught alight during a 1Time flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg yesterday, forcing an emergency landing. The terrifying incident occurred after the planes left engine failed ten minutes into the flight, emitting three loud bangs and causing the plane to list in mid-air.
Customers with heavy baggage, displaying a range of emotions from seething to shocked, could be seen standing around the airport, with others opting to pass the time at a coffee shop as it remained uncertain when they would be flying out. Former Springbok rugby star Jacques Olivier, who was travelling with his family, said there was panic in the plane as three loud bangs came from the engine, causing the plane to drop down onto its side. Another irate traveller, Jay van der Vyver, who was travelling with his fianc (sic), said he saw black smoke coming from the rear, before the loud bangs went off.
What a load of hogwash. How could any passenger see either of the engines on an MD-82 when the engines are mounted on the tail of the plane? Secondly, I know that 1time Airlines did everything possible to assist passengers, and the planes captain in particular spent much time talking to his passengers in the terminal building. The crew of this plane is to be commended on its superb handling of the situation given the circumstances of the incident. I called the editorial staff at the Herald and requested that they print a retraction of the earlier editorial and address an apology to 1time Airlines.
Unfortunately the overall standard of aviation reporting by the general media in South Africa is rather poor. It irritates me when reporters and certain editors try to sensationalise aircraft accidents including the publishing of graphic pictures of a tragic accident which happened several years ago when South Africas former cricket captain Hansie Cronje and two experienced pilots lost their lives. What is the point of re-hashing something which was front page news in the general media at the time of the accident? Is this the way to sell more magazines? Is this the way to support the very industry that supports the magazine in the first instance? My appeal to the general media is to try and find reliable information and not try to sensationalise aviation accidents.
Flying is a whole lot safer than any other form of transport. This fact has been statistically demonstrated over many years. There was only one aircraft accident this past holiday season claiming one life, yet the carnage on South African roads was appalling, including a horrific bus accident which claimed many lives.
SAA must set aside R240m tender, says Judge
The Johannesburg High Court has ordered SA Airways to set aside a R240-million tender the airline awarded to Starcom Worldwide, lawyers have revealed. Last year Mercury Media took SAA to the Johannesburg High Court after the airline failed to award them a R240-million tender to handle its marketing and advertising portfolio. Mercury Media's legal representative, Lea Cohen, said Acting Judge Joseph Brett had ordered that the awarding of the tender be set aside. SAA had also been ordered to reconsider the tender process and to pay the costs of the suit.
Last year Mercury Media supplied the court with documents showing that, of the four companies that bid for the tender - the other three being Starcom Worldwide, Media Coordination and Mindshare - Mercury had received the highest score. The media company said that according to the SAA procurement manual, it deserved to be appointed. South African Airways then became the second biggest parastatal after the SABC to be taken to the High Court to answer allegations of tenders being illegally awarded.
Asking the court last year to set aside the decision, Richard Solomon (SC), counsel for Mercury Media, said: "It is clear that the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) took it upon itself to award the tender to Starcom when in fact it had no jurisdiction so to do. There is no evidence that the CFST (SAA's Cross Functional Sourcing Team) recommended the tender be awarded to Starcom. The BAC only has jurisdiction to act on the recommendation of CFST." At the time, Advocate Dabi Kumalo (SC) asked Acting Judge Brett to rule against Mercury Media or refer the matter back to SAA to reconsider its initial decision. Acting Judge Brett reserved judgment on the main application.
Robyn Chalmers, SAA's head of group corporate affairs said on Wednesday that the airline was studying the judgment and appropriate action would be taken.
Note: According to previously published reports, Starcom was appointed strategic media partner by SAA in July 2007, following a tender process which began in 2006. Although Starcom had been handling various media projects for SAA over the previous year, the relationship was now formalised in a three year contract.
Air Austral selects A380 in single class configuration
Air Austral, the airline based in Saint Denis, La Reunion, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the purchase of two A380s in a single-class configuration. In such a configuration, the A380 will offer unprecedented level of fuel economy, further emphasising the eco-efficient nature of the aircraft.
In a single-class configuration the aircraft will seat around 840 passengers in the widest economy class seats and the proven quietest cabin in the sky. Air Austral plans to operate the A380 through one of its subsidiaries on its high-density route from La Reunion to Paris, France. No engine choice has been made at this stage.
Fugitive pilot captured and charged
An Indiana pilot who is alleged to have faked a distress call on Sunday night, parachuted from his Piper Meridian and fled a small Alabama town on a motorcycle he had hidden there, was facing the end of his marriage and the collapse of his business empire, authorities say. Marcus Schrenker (38) was found by US marshals last Tuesday night, in a tent at a Florida campground, close to the Georgia border. He had slit his wrists in an apparent suicide attempt. "There was a large loss of blood and he was pretty incoherent," Frank Chiumento, a US Marshal Service deputy chief in Tallahassee said. "If we had not arrived at that time, Schrenkers survival was questionable, that is for sure." Authorities said Schrenker is expected to recover, and will face charges of criminal fraud and several lawsuits, as well as federal charges alleging that he faked the distress call and abandoned the airplane. In an e-mail to a friend sent last Monday night, which has been posted online by Fox News, Schrenker insists that a side window broke at 22,000 feet and he jumped out in hypoxia-induced panic. He added that he had considered suicide for some time, but would never intentionally endanger others by abandoning the airplane. "If I had wanted to commit suicide with an aircraft I would have just flown it into a mountain," he wrote. He added, "I have embarrassed my family for the last time and by the time you read this I will be gone." After Schrenker jumped, the empty aircraft continued heading south at about 2,000 feet for about 200 miles. Military aircraft intercepted and reported the door was open and the left seat empty. The airplane eventually crashed into a swamp in northern Florida, narrowly missing several homes.
Cessna reports progress on its new aircraft
Despite the ongoing economic downturn, Cessna continues to move forward on new product development, including the Model 162 SkyCatcher LSA, the large-cabin Citation Columbus business jet, and the Citation CJ4, the company said in a news release last Wednesday. "Despite the uncertainty of the world's economic environment, we believe it is critical that we do not compromise our future," said Cessna CEO Jack Pelton. "Our new product development programmes are proceeding on schedule. We remain committed to investing in these programmes, whether it is in aircraft development, facility construction or ensuring we have the people resources to meet our schedule." The SkyCatcher is nearing final ASTM compliance certification and deliveries are planned to begin later this year, the company said. Flight testing is focused on gathering data and making minor refinements to ensure the aircraft complies with ASTM requirements and fulfils its intended role in the training and sport flying market, Cessna said. An extensive ground vibration test, though not an ASTM requirement was conducted to ensure a high standard of airframe integrity. Additional testing beyond the ASTM requirements will include a full airframe fatigue test on a production aircraft.
Eclipse auction cancelled
The Associated Press reported that a public auction to sell the assets of Eclipse Aviation last Wednesday had been cancelled for lack of qualified competing bidders. According to AP's story, which will pave the way for EclipseJet Aviation, owned by current Eclipse Chairman Roel Pieper, to pick up the company for roughly 20 cents on the dollar, Pieper is proposing to pay $188 million and offer 15-percent equity to senior secured creditors. Eclipse's total liability was estimated at more than $1 billion when it filed for Chapter 11 protection in late November 2008.
Pilot confronted over alcohol smell
Last week two passengers at a security checkpoint at Port Columbus noticed that an airline pilot they passed nearby, smelled strongly of alcohol, so they told a TSA agent. However, they did not stop there. As the men proceeded beyond the checkpoint, they noticed that the pilot was heading towards their own departure gate and so with further inspired mortal vigour took matters into their own hands. They approached the pilot and told him quite frankly that he stank of alcohol, adding that if he had a drinking problem, he should not be flying an airplane. At that point, the man identified only as a Chicago-based Southwest Airlines captain turned red in the face, turned around and ran away. Airport police were despatched and later found the captain in a restroom, where he had apparently removed his uniform jacket and replaced it with a normal business jacket.
Australias multi-crew pilot licence category draws concern
Last month six cadets from China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines completed work at Boeing's training arm, Alteon, in Brisbane, in a Multi-Crew Pilot licensing programme (MPL). This programme aims to revolutionise and streamline airline cockpit crew training to answer the forecast demand for pilots. Boeing and Airbus together have orders on hand currently for more than 7,000 aircraft and all of them will need pilots at a time when the pilot population is expected to lose increasing numbers to age-induced retirement. To produce more airline pilots at a faster rate, MPL shifts training's emphasis from flight hours, directly to airline cockpit competency with a focus on cockpit resource management, critical thinking and risk management. Aspiring airline pilots in the 20-month trial programme did not spend thousands of hours building their flight skills, working their way up from private, to instructor, to commercial aviator to airline pilot, but instead were trained from day one for the job they will be doing in aviation, Civil Aviation Safety Authority chief executive Bruce Byron told The Australian. MPL, now tested through two years, was endorsed on 19 December by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with rules and requirements that support the programme. However, because the programme replaces what could be years of hands on flying with simulator training and coursework, opponents say substantial concerns remain.
Aviation Humour
Sue and Bob lived frugally in the mid west. They had been married for many years. Bob had always wanted to go flying and the desire deepened each time a barnstormer flew into town to offer plane rides.
Bob would ask Sue, but Sue would always say, "No way. Ten dollars is ten dollars."
The years went by and Bob figured out he did not have much longer to live, so he took Sue to the show, explaining, it was free to watch.
Once Bob arrived there the desire to fly became really strong. Sue and Bob started an argument.
Between flights, the pilot overheard them arguing, listened to their problem and said, "I'll tell you what. I will take you both flying. If you don't say a word during the flight then the ride is on me, but if you make one sound you pay me ten dollars.
So off they flew. The Pilot doing as many rolls and dives as he could, to make Sue and Bob talk. The pilot headed towards the ground as fast as the plane could go pulling out of the dive at the very last second. However, not a sound was heard.
Finally the pilot admitted defeat and flew back to the airport.
"I'm surprised, why didn't you say something?" the pilot said.
Bob replied "Well, I almost said something when Sue fell out of the plane, but ten dollars is ten dollars." |
