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"The course of the flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air, and partly to lack of experience in handling this machine." Orville Wright
African Pilot June edition
Due to the incredible demand for our improved May edition, we have decided to increase the print run for our June edition by an extra 500 units to 9 500 copies. Several aviation shops at Lanseria, Wonderboom and elsewhere were replenished during May due to excellent sales of our monthly magazine. Perhaps this has something to do with the Namibian cover article. Our Namibian distributor, based at Eros Airport, has also placed orders for additional copies due to incredible support in that country. Our June edition, with another incredible cover picture by Frans Dely, features Glen Dell, the World Advanced Aerobatic Champion, flying his Red Bull Extra 300. Also included is a pull out poster of the aircraft in the plan view by Aidan Owen.
ABC rating for African Pilot
From the very first edition of African Pilot, our policy has been to provide the names and telephone numbers of both our printers and distributors, since African Pilot has always believed in complete transparency with regard to circulation and sales of the magazine. The failure to provide advertisers with the means to check on their investments would surely result in the advertisers questioning the figures that they are being fed. African Pilot joined the Accredited Bureau of Circulation in July 2004. However, due to sound advice from the ABC (the only recognised body that accurately audits media circulation) we decided to postpone our audit until the middle of this year. At only three-and-a-half years old, African Pilot is currently undergoing the audit process, which takes several months to complete. We expect to become the second aviation magazine to achieve an ABC rating by July / August 2005. The reason for this move is all about providing accurate circulation figures to advertisers who are dependant on ensuring that their message actually reaches the audience for which it is intended.
Bultfontein fly-in Saturday 14 May
Although this was a very well organised event, the strong northerly wind of 25 gusting 30 knots placed a serious damper on the events of the day. One is reminded that you can choose the date of your event, but no one has control over the weather. African Pilot spent the Friday evening with friends on Ray Gleimiusâ€tms farm near Bloemfontein before visiting the Bultfontein fly-in the next morning. On arrival it was immediately apparent that the organisers had their â€Ëœfinger on the pulseâ€tm, as the airfield was superbly prepared and the hospitality delivered to visiting pilots was outstanding. There is always something about the smaller country aviation events, since the local aviation population is very pleased to host visiting pilots irrespective of what aircraft they fly.
After being shown to a parking spot by the marshals, we were taken to the registration tent to meet with the organisers where we exchanged the usual pilotâ€tms laments about the weather whilst enjoying a scrumptious breakfast. Brian Emmenis was there doing his best to keep the crowds entertained under difficult circumstances. The level of support the SAAF are giving regional airshows and fly-in events is quite fantastic, and Bultfontein was no different. A Cessna 185 â€ËœSky Shoutâ€tm, a Cessna Caravan and the Siyandiza Puma all displayed. In total, about fifty aircraft and many hundreds of people attended what should have been a lovely day in the African sun, but the weatherman did not play the game this year. Compliments to the fine aviation folk of Bultfontein for superb organisation. We hope to see you again in a yearâ€tms time.
Rand Airportâ€tms Jozi Airshow - Sunday 15 may
There is no doubt that the splendid organisation of Rand Airportâ€tms management and the many airshow teams that are based at this airport, made a huge success out of the Rand Sasol â€ËœJoziâ€tm Airshow. In addition to displaying to thousands of spectators at Rand Airport, the organisers arranged for several of the display teams to fly over Orlando Stadium in Soweto where a crowd of children watched the pilots dancing in the sky. This was a first in South Africa and we understand from Sasol, the main sponsor, that the exercise was most successful. Although the early morning weather was suspect with some heavy cloud about, this cleared up to some extent through the day. We have been advised by the organisers that the total number of tickets issued were just short of ten thousand.
There was a superb briefing by Scully Levin (event organiser), Brian Zeederberg (airshow director), Ian Popperwell (airshow safety director) and Kevin Woolacot (display team starter) The execution of a complex programme was exactly to plan and on time throughout the action-packed airshow. Compliments go to the ATCs, Ricardo Afonso, Craig Allen, Jaco van Jaarsveldt and Wendy Sacks, who kept the action in the sky going, utilising both runways in spite of a strong northerly wind throughout the day. It is abundantly clear that these four ATCs have worked together many times and are also familiar with the diverse display team capabilities. Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds team covered the entire public area of the airfield with a sound system that provided both entertainment and information about the displays throughout the day.
Scully put a good airshow together with an amazing variety of old radial engine aircraft â€â€œ DC-3, DC-4 and the only remaining airworthy Carvair in the world today -to high performance aerobatic aircraft, the Sasol Tiger Jet display team and the white Aviation Dimension L-39 which is a new entry onto the airshow circuit. Two remarkable displays that should be singled out were both those of World Advanced Aerobatic Champion, Glen Dell, flying his Red Bull Extra 300 and later his South African designed Slick 360. Both displays had the crowds on their feet as they recognised the sheer brilliance of Glen flying certain new routines that have seldom been seen before. It is most difficult to mention all the display teams that took part, but in spite of the difficult flying conditions, every team performed at their peak. As Scully remarked at the briefing: "The slickness of the annual Rand Airport Airshow is un-surpassed in South Africa and ranks amongst the best in the world."
Several aviation companies exhibited their product line-up of services and all were upbeat about the quality of contacts they had made at this airshow. The majority of an excellent variety of vendors I spoke to were satisfied with their sales and the litter planning was good with dustbins being emptied regularly. After the airshow was over the airfield was still fairly clean despite the windy conditions throughout the day and the airport staff immediately set about the task of cleaning up so that Rand would be open for business as usual on Monday morning. Spectators received excellent value for the entrance gate fee they paid and almost everyone interviewed was very satisfied with the events of the day. The ASSA team have every aspect of airshows covered and organisers of airshows throughout South Africa should consider leaving the actual planning to the team which understands events of this nature. Well done to all who made Rand Airportâ€tms airshow a tremendous success.
Polokwane Airshow next weekend
The Department of Transports International Convention starts in Polokwane (Pietersburg) this week, 16 to 20 May, and culminates in the airshow next Saturday, 21 May, at the main Gateway airfield. The Saturday airshow starts at 10.00hrs, therefore pilots wishing to fly in should be on the ground by 09.00hrs and will only be able to depart after 17.00hrs on Saturday. The frequency will be 124.3 MHz and then will switch to ground 131.0MHz for parking. All pilots are to report to the G&L Aviation hangar on arrival where the compulsory airshow briefing for participating pilots will take place at 09.00hrs. The hospitality of local aviation people in South Africaâ€tms most northern city is always outstanding and all pilots are invited to fly in to the event. For further information please contact Johan Wilken: 082 445 8096 or e-mail johan@moolmangroup.co.za For joining procedures please refer to the ATNS Website: www.file2fly.atns.co.za
Presidentâ€tms Trophy Air Race
Scheduled for the weekend of 26 â€â€œ 28 May at New Tempe airfield, Bloemfontein, African Pilot has been advised that the number of entries has reached an all time high in recent years of seventy five. The organisers will cut off entries at 100 aircraft, therefore pilots are reminded that if they wish to enter this most prestigious annual event, they will have to make a decision soon and contact the race organisers: Kassie Kasselman: 082 404 1642 or the chairman of the South African Power Flying Association, Chris Booysen: (041) 391 4400 â€â€œ e-mail: mail@sapfa.org.za or visit the Website: www.sapfa.org.za. Further details to follow next week.
The Daimler Chrysler Extreme Airshow 2005 and Vintage / Classic Fly-In
East London â€â€œ 4 June 2005
Featuring the SASOL Tigers, Showdown Jetcar Display Team, World Aerobatics Champ, Glen Dell, Thunder City Jets, SAAF, Castrol Aviator Flying Lions, the Flying Davidsons, Shurlok Pitts, plus lots more â€Â¦ Contact: Dave 043-743 6644 or Liz 043-736 6181
Approx 30 Vintage / Classic aircraft from all over SA flying the beautiful Wild Coast before arriving in East London for the airshow (Contact Rob 084-2001829)
"A SASOL Turbo Airtainment Tour Spectacular"
African Pilot Annual Airshow and Event trophies
This year African Pilot will be visiting practically all organised airshows and flying events in South Africa where we will be scoring points for the best organised and produced event of the year. We will also appoint certain influential persons to partake in the judging in order to make this a fair procedure.
Two trophies will be awarded at the Aero Club Awards dinner on 5 November 2005:
1) The best organised airshow through Air Show South Africa and the Aero Club of SA.
2) Any other aviation event where outstanding organisation will be recognised.
The latter could be a social event, fly-in or organised fly-away as long as aviation is the main theme. This award will be open to all sections of the Aero Club of SA as well as to commercial companies in the aviation business and final adjudication will be decided by the Aero Club board. In addition to crowd management, food and beverage arrangements, sound and public address systems, access arrangements for the spectators and appropriate arrangements for pilots and media, litter management will also be judged at these events
In addition to a floating trophy and individual trophy, African Pilot will arrange for the sponsorship of a fantastic getaway prize for the individual plus partner who is recognised as the main organiser of the particular event. We welcome any person or organisation who would like to become involved in this initiative to come forward and assist in the co-sponsorship of the African Pilot Airshow and Events Awards.
Your individual thoughts about this issue are welcomed and if you would like be become one of the silent judges at these events this would be appreciated as our team is often hard pressed to accurately judge each event. The comments of any individual who was present at the particular event will be considered. However, to be fair specific organisers of the particular event will not qualify for scoring. A moderating team consisting of regular airshow pilots, ASSA members, journalists, photographers, Aero Club, ATNS, CAA and any person we wish to appoint will become part of the judging team. At all times the judges identity will remain confidential so as to ensure a completely impartial result.
Airshows are to be judged according to the following criteria:
Initial planning including Aero Club, ASSA and media communication
Professional ATC participation: arrival, airshow and departure clearances
Suitable aircraft and vehicle parking arrangements
Pilot, airshow and safety briefing including disaster management planning.
Display pilot and participants hospitality arrangements
Public address systems and appropriate public broadcast entertainment.
Host organisationâ€tms social interaction with the display teams, media and important invited guests.
Social responsibility towards the local / regional population
Youth development programmes including aviation education
Sales satisfaction for local and distant vendor participants
Crowd control access, security planning, and policing
Food and beverage arrangements including appropriate variety of vendors
Litter management and cleanliness of the airfield during and immediately after the event
Overall airshow safety including any transgressions by individual pilots
Organiserâ€tms airshow report to be submitted to ASSA and the Aero Club of SA
Each of the above 15 sectors will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10. This means that the maximum points that could be achieved would be 150. We have already started judging airshows and events according to the above criteria. However, your individual comment son the idea of ensuring the continued professional management of airshows throughout South Africa is important. Please e-mail: info@africanpilot.co.za Thank you. Please note that this is an African Pilot initiative that was proposed before the establishment of ASSA and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ASSA board.
How do display pilots, media and vendors benefit from Air Show SA membership?
Legislative Benefits
It became clear over the past few years and more recently, with the publication of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Bill that airshows would come to an end if the industry did not get its house in order. It has been said: "If we do not regulate ourselves, somebody else will".
The Safety of Sports and Recreational Events bill is being promulgated as a result of the Ellis Park disaster where a stampede caused a large number of fatalities. It was found that this was as a result of organizational short-comings: public could not hear the PA, marshals were not clearly identified, insufficient access etc. This bill applies to any gathering of more than 2,000 people.
Members of the airshow fraternity were faced with the clear and present threat that airshows would be curtailed or restricted to such an extent that they would no longer be viable. This would in turn mean an exodus of sponsors which would largely spell the end of airshows in South Africa.
ASSA provides the accreditation framework to accredit events, safety officers, flight directors and display pilots. The Air Force, ATNS and CAA are on the board of ASSA and therefore ASSA has the influence to satisfy the regulators that there is a clearly defined framework in place to run airshow events.
All of the above takes a significant amount of effort and time that the board members are giving the airshow fraternity for free. However, the basic running costs such as fax, telephone, office etc must be paid by the members. The members in turn get an organization that represents them and ensures that airshows continue. Please have a look at www.airshowsa.org.za for details of the framework that is being created.
Association benefits
Members are part of an association that speaks with a single voice. An event organizer cannot therefore exploit individual members or teams. Members are assured that an accredited event is controlled by accredited staff and has the required safety structures in place.
Commercial benefits
The association provides corporate sponsors with a point of contact to channel funds into the industry. ASSA has already attracted Sasol as the sponsor of the Sasol Turbo Airtainment Tour 2005. This means ASSA will give funds directly to seven nominated airshows. ASSA is holding discussions with a number of other corporate sponsors. The benefit to members is that the airshow circuit grows and makes it an attractive vehicle for additional sponsorship.
1time expands aircraft fleet â€â€œ again!
1time is pleased to announce that it has purchased a second MD82 aircraft for R15 million in a cash deal. The continued strength of the SA Rand has again persuaded us to pay cash for the aircraft rather than utilise traditional foreign leases. By locking in our capital cost at a strong Rand and depressed post 9/11 aircraft prices, 1time will derive a long term cost advantage on our competitors.
The 157-seat,stage 3 noise-compliant MD82 aircraft offers low seat costs derived from the low capital cost and operating efficiencies of new generation aircraft. This will further enhance our ability to continue offering the lowest airfares in South Africa. The aircraft will be utilised to increase capacity and frequencies on existing routes.
1time was launched in January 2004 as South Africaâ€tms first genuine, low fare airline offering airfares between 30% and 70% lower than its competitors, re-inventing airline pricing with no hidden costs. These low fares have dramatically stimulated the domestic air travel market with many first time flyers. Growth has been steady with 1time expecting to carry over 750 000 passengers in our second year of operation. To cater for this demand, our sixth aircraft, a second MD82 will be added to the fleet in May 2005.
GLENN ORSMOND (Chief Executive Officer) Cell No: 083 648 1988
RODNEY JAMES (Marketing Director) Cell No: 083 626 4211
Aviation humour
An elderly woman kept peering out the window. Since it was totally dark, all she could see was the blinking wing tip light. Finally, she rang for the steward: "I am sorry to bother you," she said, "but I think you should inform the captain that his left-turn indicator is on and has been for some time." | 