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Remember that a superior Pilot is one who uses his superior judgement to keep himself out of situations that would require the use of his superior skills. Anonymous.
Xtreme Air and Track Festival 16 to 19 June 2005
African Pilot conducted a most successful photo shoot of various exotic cars and bikes together with several interesting aircraft at Wonderboom airport on Wednesday afternoon. The purpose of the photographic assignment was to obtain pictures that will be used for a major publicity campaign in all South African media. Although thunderstorms threatened and a gentle sprinkling cooled things off somewhat, the resulting sky was quite dramatic a photographers dream. A big thank you to all those people who made this assignment an outstanding success, especially the management and fire services of Wonderboom Airport. Pictures taken at this photo assignment have been posted onto the African Pilot images Website: www.africanpilot.co.za please follow the images links. If any publication wishes to use any of these images please send your request to: info@africanpilot.co.za stating your requirement and we will ensure that high resolution digital images of your choice are sent to your publication with suitable captions. Something for free! This does not often happen in modern times. However, African Pilot wishes to see all media who want to support the Xtreme Air and Track Festival obtain the best that dramatic photography can offer.
AEC Exhibitions, the owners of the Xtreme Air and Track Festival, have advised African Pilot that many big names in aviation, motoring, outdoor sports and various extreme sporting activities have already signed up for the event. In addition, one of South Africas largest retail groups will be participating with a fantastic line up of outdoor merchandise. Please remember that the entertainment will go on into the evenings with wine tastings, potjiekos competitions, and other featured entertainment soon to be announced. African Pilot will be building a wooden bush lodge on the airfield that will serve as our media centre - a place for our clients and readers to pop in and enjoy some well deserved rest during their busy day. As announced last week, African Pilot has been entrusted with the development and production of the official programme souvenir catalogue that will be on sale for R10 at the event. We will be printing at least 25 000 programmes and R2.50 from every programme sold will be donated to CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa. This is the chosen organisation that will benefit from this event. Since our announcement last week (AP Newsletter 08-2005) we have already received several bookings for advertising space in the souvenir programme. We have now developed the rate card brochure which is posted on the African Pilot Website and will be circulated in print during March. If you wish to reserve your place in this exciting multi- discipline Xtreme event programme, please contact Andre at our offices: (011) 702 2342/3 or 468 2336 or e-mail: info@africanpilot.co.za
Should you be interested in participating at this spectacular event please contact AEC Exhibitions: Tel: (011) 781 5351/2
E-mail: africa-x@iafrica.com Website: www.airandtrack.co.za
Henley Airs annual awards function
Henley Air hosted an invited group of their clients and aviation personalities to their annual awards function on Saturday 27 February. The Henley Daknatmaak (roof-wetting) party was also significant as this was also the official opening of their enlarged new facility at Rand Airport. During the past few years the Coetzees have awarded Henley Air plaques to pilots and aviation personalities who have excelled in their particular field of expertise over a significant time period.
This year awards went to two outstanding air traffic controllers who have both displayed their excellence in airshow controlling. Ricardo Afonso and Tyrone Spykermann were the worthy recipients of the Voice in our ears awards. African Pilot has often commented on the requirement for ATNS to provide qualified and committed air traffic controllers at airshows who understand the pressures of display flying. An award was made to Buzz Bezuidenhout in recognition for the role he has played in Helicopter training in South Africa over many years. Buzz is the Chief Flying Instructor at NACs 43 Air School helicopter division based at Rand Airport. The fourth award was presented to one of South Africas well known aerobatic pilots, a man who always has a broad smile and is totally committed to outstanding display flying - none other that Martin van Straten, one of the key members of the Sasol Tiger L-29 Jet aerobatics team. Although essentially a rather shy person, Martin is well liked amongst the aviation fraternity due to his good natured temperament.
Apart from a delicious meal, the guests were serenaded by the delightful flute and saxophone playing of a most elegant lady. The big moment came when a fireworks display lit up the airfield in spectacular showers of big bangs. For ten minutes Rand Airport was transformed into a spectacle of brilliant colour. The new Henley Air hangar position lends itself to this type of event as the sun sets over the city of Johannesburg in the distance. African Pilot salutes all recipients of the Henley Air Awards and at the same time would like to thank Andre and Professor Johan Coetzee for their incredible commitment to South African aviation.
African Pilot Cape Town trip
I will be visiting the beautiful city of Cape Town this coming week from Thursday 3 March to Sunday 6 March. Since making this announcement in the last AP Newsletter, I have received several invitations for meetings. Thank you Capetonians. This proves that there are many people out there that actually read the weekly AP Newsletter.
EAAs SpaceShipOne presentation
The opportunity for South African Aviation enthusiasts to listen to Mike Melville in person will present itself at a one-off illustrated lecture at the Linder Auditorium, Johannesburg College of Education on 16 April 2005 at 18:30 at a price of R100 per ticket for Aero Club and EAA SA members. For non-members the fee will be R130 per ticket.
Booking procedure: Send an email to: russelvb@absa.co.za requesting number of seats and quote your Aero Club membership number. You will be sent confirmation quoting your booking reference (Aero Club number), and number of seats, and amount owing. Payment should be made into the EAA bank account, banking details: EAA of SA, Absa Bank, account # 4045879929, quote booking reference number. You will be sent an electronic ticket via e-mail (for block bookings the tickets will be emailed to the person making the booking) Limited seats are available, so hurry!
Terry Hertz EAA of SA Vice President Cell: 083 296 6460.
African Pilot has already reserved five seats.
Invitation to attend CAA Aircraft / Industry liaison workshops
1. The CAA Aircraft Airworthiness and Aircraft Certification Divisions will be holding a series of liaison workshops with the relevant aviation industry (AMOs) on the following dates and the venues specified in the table below. The exact venue will be confirmed at a later date.
|
AREA |
VENUE |
WORKSHOP DATE |
CONFIRM DATE |
|
Lanseria,
Wonderboom,
Pietersburg,
Free State |
Lanseria |
8 April 2005 |
11 March 2005 |
|
Johannesburg International Airport,
Springs, Vereeniging,
Rand, Bethal,
Mpumalanga |
Johannesburg International Airport |
6 May 2005 |
22 April 2005 |
|
Cape Town, Stellenbosh,
Port Alfred, Port Elizabeth,
George, East London |
Cape Town |
1 June 2005 |
13 May 2005 |
|
Durban, Margate, Richards Bay,
Mkuze, Virginia |
Durban / Virginia |
3 June 2005 |
13 May 2005 |
2. Delegates from your organization are invited to attend these very important workshops at a venue most convenient for you and we kindly request you to confirm your participation by the date as indicated in the table above.
3. Very important matters will be tabled at these workshops; they include the following;
- Developments in the CAA aircraft divisions;
- Regulatory amendments / proposals;
- AMO and AME issues;
- Modification approval processes;
- Completion of logbooks;
- Developments in the avionics domain (RSVM; ELT, TCAS 2 etc.)
- Specific questions from the industry will be addressed.
Should you have any other questions you wish the CAA to address more extensively, kindly forward such matters to Mr.Carel Raath (raathc@caa.co.za) by the latest 11 March 2005. Thank you.
The following questions were raised by the industry and they require further follow-up:
a) NAC still waiting for STC approved for the past 2 years?
b) Similar type with regards to AME licences?
c) Auto-pilot modification approval on NTCA?
d) Credit of funds in the CAA account money seemed to be lost NAC?
e) When will the CAA decentralize and have representation at Lanseria Airport?
f) CAA does not respond to faxes, calls or letters. Why?
g) What is the status of RSVM in Africa?
h) How are the currency fees going to be implemented with regards to the recent CAA communication? Will aircraft be grounded for non-payment of currency fees?
i) Test flight results from the certification division are taking too long to be approved.
j) Why is Trevor Abrahams still shown on your letterheads?
k) CAA seems not to be doing a lot of surveillance. Why?
l) C of A inspections are being delayed for no apparent reason.
m) Fees are high; why does the CAA not deliver high service standards?
n) What is the CAAs position on certifying suppliers of aircraft spares?
o) CAA Finance Department is not customer oriented and is inefficient.
p) What is the difference between the Accountable Manager and the Compliance Officer in an AMO?
q) Is mandatory to have calibration dates attached on calibration tools?
r) Why does the process of amending or promulgating the regulations take forever? The CAA made a commitment to respond to the outstanding questions that were not answered immediately within a time frame of two weeks.
Kind regards,
Obert Chakarisa - Senior Manager: Airworthiness Tel: (011) 545 1099 / 083 627 7361
Received from Holland
I have been on a business trip to Amsterdam in Europe for 2 months. I was fortunate enough to have my family with me but I soon started to miss my girlfriend (as my wife calls it), which is hangered at Krugersdorp Airfield. I therefore tried to find some small airfields in the Netherlands but could not find any within close reach from Amsterdam. I consequently teamed up with a local aviation enthusiast who invited me to Schiphol airport to go and take some photographs. Arriving at Schiphol we drove down a narrow road. At first it appeared to be a traffic jam in front of us but I soon realized that the occupants in the more than 50 cars were there to watch the long distance wide bodies take off between 2pm and 5pm. With the temperature at -7degrees C and the wind cutting like a knife, they waited for the aircraft to line up on the runway before quickly getting out, taking a few photographs and then returning to their cars. I shared some of our South African aviation facilities and experiences with them and they were astonished. They simply could not believe that a country in Africa had aviation facilities and freedom that they are only dreaming of. For me it was a great experience but on my way home I concluded: "Oh South Africa dear land!!"
Regards,
Juri Keyter e-mail: jurikeyter@venturecomms.com
Central Flying Academy navigation rally
The rally will be on 4 March at Rustenburg. Interested parties can contact Nigel Hopkins on his cell phone: 083 226 5854 or Chris Spencer-Scarr on 083 450 4422. The next rally will be at Rand Airport on 2 April. Please contact Frank Eckhard on 083 269 1516.
Pharos Airshow programme
Pharos flying sponsored by Pharos Medical Plan, have announced details of their 2005 Airshow program. The aircraft to appear on the South African airshow circuit will be:
Interavia I-3, Yakovlev Yak 52 and a Yak 18T. The branding of the aircraft is now complete and they will be appearing at the following airshows:
28 / 29 April EAA Airweek - Wonderboom
15 May Rand Airport - Germiston
18June Xtreme Air and Track Festival Wonderboom.
9/10 July Durban Wings club Airshow - Virginia
3 September Noo Newcastle
30 October Port Elizabeth airshow
25/27 Nov Overberg - Test Fight and Development Centre
2/4 Dec Ysterplaat Cape Town
Pharos Medical Plan is looking for that picture which defines the image of Pharos Flying. To this effect Pharos Medical Plan will be launching an amateur photographic competition. This will be undertaken in association with African Pilot magazine. Details and prizes will be announced in the next edition of African Pilot magazine.
Inaugural general meeting of Air Show South Africa
To be held on Wednesday 16 March at 19.00 at Sky Raiders, Hangar # 42, Rand Airport, Germiston.
AGENDA
1. WELCOME & ATTENDANCE.
2. APOLOGIES.
3. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW SINCE OCTOBER 2004.
4. REVIEW OF CONSTITUTION AND ANCILLARY REGULATIONS.
5. CALL FOR VOTE.
6. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
7. REGISTRATION OF FIRST ASSA MEMBERS.
For further information please contact Anne Pickard (011) 827 5503 or 827 7677
E-mail: annep@henleyair.co.za
Airborne frequency alert
Although not strictly my responsibility, but in the interest of safety, I was wondering if you thought it sensible to perhaps highlight the following in your weekly Newsletter. It has been brought to my attention that the 1:250 000 map of the JS TMA records the Magalies GF Area FAD 70 as having a frequency allocation of 124,4MHz. The frequency published in the AIP and on the 1:100 000 map is 124,8MHz, which is the correct frequency.
Regards,
Rod Fowles Centre Manager ATNS Johannesburg
Tel: 011 928 6526 Fax: 011 3951045 Cell: 082 5699860 email: rodf@atns.co.za
Photographers illegally using African Pilots name
It has come to our attention that certain photographers are using African Pilots name to get into security areas as well as into the inner workings of both Civil Aviation companies and the South African Air Force. Although difficult to control, the illegal use of African Pilots name for the personal benefit of individuals must cease immediately. All African Pilot photographic assignments are cleared through the correct channels beforehand and our authorised photographers will always carry the correct personal and corporate identity. We request that operators demand to see the identity of any individual posing as an African Pilot photographer and report the incident to our offices: (011) 702 2342/3 or 082 5522940 (all hours). Thank you.
Bad debts in the aviation industry
Sadly, since the launch of African Pilot, we have occasionally been the victim of various unscrupulous individuals in the aviation industry who are either unwilling or unable to pay their accounts. Even worse, student pilots and other aviators are paying hard earned money to these unscrupulous operators, who know full well that they will not be fulfilling their obligation to the persons concerned. We have a policy of not accepting advertisements from certain suspicious operators and we are quite willing to share our BLACK LIST with companies or investors who wish to protect their business against such operators. Enough is enough. Please forward any queries to Jane: info@africanpilot.co.za
Aviation humour
Pilot: "Roger, I'm holding at 3000 over beacon."
Second voice: "NO! You can't be doing that! I'm holding at 3000 over that beacon!"
(Brief pause, then first voice again): "You idiot, you're my co-pilot."
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