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"Happiness is not an instant occurrence, nor does it miraculously emerge within you like the break of dawn; it is a by-product of consistently managing your life and pointedly applying your mind. Happiness is more a 'verb' than people realise and much less evident-driven than most would imagine. It is more an approach to life than specific outcomes of life. It is being in love with living one day at a time, notwithstanding setbacks and frustrations. It is allowing life to flow through you instead of bumping into you every ten minutes." Quote from a good friend who shall remain nameless.
African Pilot off to Oshkosh this week
I will be leaving for Oshkosh via Paris on Wednesday together with the advance group that will be setting up the campsite at Oshkosh. The main body of South African campers travelling with Neil Bowden's Air Adventure Tours will be leaving on Friday and Saturday evenings. Altogether 120 South African tourists will be making their way to the Mecca of Aviation this year, a tour not to be missed if you are 'serious about flying'.
African Pilot's August edition is complete
This past week our team completed the August edition, which is presently at the printers. This is another bumper edition that features 44 types in our very light aircraft survey, one of the most popular aircraft surveys undertaken. Unfortunately a few importers missed the much publicised deadline and we were forced to exclude their information. The August edition will go into distribution during the week of 24 July and will be fully distributed by 28 July. If sales are anything like the current month, where many shops were completely sold out of African Pilot by the tenth of the month, we will be very happy.
Subscription special offer
This edition of African Pilot will also contain a subscription special offer that will continue until 31 December 2006. We are offering new subscribers and those that renew their subscriptions, fourteen issues for the same price as twelve â€â€œ a saving of R130 on the retail price of R25 each. From 1 August readers can also subscribe on line through our Website: www.africanpilot.co.za
African Pilot's two Websites
Our main Website reflects shortened versions of the articles contained in our monthly magazine. Through the main Website www.africanpilot.co.za our aviation images Website is easily accessed. Images taken by our photographers are represented as thumbnails and are free to use in any form as presented. However, larger images can be ordered by following the ordering process at the prices reflected. We also have a general images Website, which contains a host of subjects not related to aviation. In addition to the Website images, we have more than 6 000 colour transparencies of a general nature and another 6 000 colour transparencies that specifically reflect aviation subjects.
AFS Studio (Pty) Ltd
The business of AFS Studio is the Graphic Design and Management of many successful advertising and design campaigns. Several of the advertising campaigns that are reflected in African Pilot are originated by the creative team of AFS Studio. This year we have once again produced the prestigious Bayer wildlife calendar with five images obtained from our extensive wildlife library.
African Pilot 2007 calendar
Our creative team is presently completing the design of a fourteen leaf glossy annual calendar for aviation clients to order. The exact specifications and prices will be notified in future magazines as well as AP Newsletters. This will be an ideal opportunity to purchase aviation theme calendars as corporate gifts for your clients in batches of either 50 or 100 upwards. The calendar will contain your company information that will be visible throughout the year, as a strip on the bottom of the calendar. Each facing page will contain two months as the calendar date pad i.e. January / February or February / March and so on. Examples with pricing will be available at AAD 2006 and on our Website from mid August.
Bloemfontein cash heist from News24/SAPA
Gunmen who robbed a chartered aircraft at Bloemfontein Airport held the pilot at gunpoint, say police. Bloemfontein - Free State police have launched a manhunt for a gang who robbed a chartered aircraft at the Bloemfontein airport of an undisclosed amount of money early on Thursday. Police spokesperson Captain Elsa Gerber said a group of between eight and ten men stopped their Ford double cab bakkie in front of the Beechcraft Baron twin plane around 07H45, preventing the pilot from taking off.
"The robbers gained entry to the area when the Coin security van which delivered the cash to the plane left the area," she said. The remote controlled gate to the enclosed area is about 200m from where the pilot was preparing the privately owned plane for takeoff.
Gerber said one of the robbers jumped on the plane's wing, opened the co-pilot's door and held the pilot at gunpoint. Three others moved to the back of the plane and held a security guard at gunpoint. "The other men loaded four bags of money with an undisclosed amount into the bakkie," said Gerber. The robbers sped away from the hangar which is situated just next to the main airport's parking area. Gerber said the 19-year-old pilot, Dewald Gobbler, and the 23-year-old security guard, George Matsotso were unharmed.
"It all happened very fast," Gobbler, who is based in Johannesburg, said. "They stopped in front of the plane. The guy told me to switch everything off and they took the money and left. "The guy held the pistol at my shoulder... the whole thing took about 40 seconds." The highway patrol as well as a police airplane is assisting with the search for the suspects. Gerber said all rural police stations around Bloemfontein have also been put on high alert.
AAD 2006 News
The Department of Trade and Industries has approved funding through the Aerospace Industry Support. Initiative (AISI), for a pavilion at Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006
(AAD '06). This pavilion will accommodate thirty small companies in the Aerospace Sector, and allow them to exhibit their products and services. The thirty successful applicants will receive funding for a nine square metre stand at the pavilion as well as a R7 000 travel allowance for companies based outside of the Cape Town Metro area. If your company is interested in applying, or knows of a company that would qualify, please contact the AAD office at e-mail: aad@amd.org.za, for an application form.
AAD/NAC Competition
If you are a mobile phone user in South Africa, Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) and National Airways Corporation, are offering the chance to win a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Course through 43 Air School in Port Alfred. In order to stand a chance of winning this fantastic prize all you need to do is SMS your name and the code word "NAC" to 36110.
SMS' are charged @ R5.00 per SMS, and you can send as many SMS' as you like to increase your chances of winning. SMS entries are only available on South African mobile networks. Please visit the Website: www.aadexpo.co.za to read the competition rules.
AAD Website
The AAD Website: www.aadexpo.co.za is constantly being updated in order to keep everybody informed on the latest developments regarding the exhibition. So please make sure to visit the site often for the latest news and information regarding AAD.
On line registration.
The facility to register on line for: exhibitors, visitors, contractors and media will be available from Monday 17 July 2006. If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like us to add anything to the website please send a mail to the AAD Office:
aad@amd.org.za
AAD Courtesy Transport
AAD is planning to implement a courtesy transport system of the three trade days (20 â€â€œ 22 September 2006). This system will run between Cape Town International Domestic Arrivals and AFB Ysterplaat from 8H30 to 10H30 in the mornings and from 14H00 â€â€œ 16H30 in the afternoons. This will enable trade visitors to come to AAD for the day without having to hire a vehicle. Access to the shuttle will be by means of your Website visitor registration or trade invitation. In addition, a shuttle system will be in place between AFB Ysterplaat and the Waterfront from 11H00 until 15H00. This system will be accessed by means of bookings made in the organiser's office at AAD.
General Aviation Seminars
The organisers of AAD have been planning two General Aviation Seminars to take place during AAD '06. The seminars address the following:
- "The future availability of leaded fuels" on 21 September 2006 from 09H00 to 12H00
- "The introduction of RVSM in Africa" on 22 September from 09H00 to 12H00
The organisers need to evaluate the feasibility of these seminars in order to confirm the speakers. Among the speakers who have indicated an interest in presenting papers are Kevin Ewels of ATNS, Mike Farmery, Shell Aviation's Global Fuels and Quality Manager and Paul Ludick on Inter Avionics. If you would like to attend either of these seminars please send a mail to the AAD Office aad@amd.org.za indicating your interest. The organisers will measure the interest in these seminars mid August and a decision will be made as to whether the seminars will go ahead or be cancelled.
Flight Training Pavilion
Africa Aerospace and Defence and the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa (CAASA) would like to offer all flight training schools an equal opportunity to market and promote their organisations and gain maximum exposure through the exhibition. We therefore invite you to take advantage of this very important platform as a medium to market your products and services throughout South Africa and the rest of the SADC countries. AAD & CAASA would like to offer you a 6m2 (2m X 3m) exhibition stand package within the Flight Training Pavilion in hall 4. The cost of the exhibition stand package is R6 500 excluding VAT.
The exhibition package includes: shell scheme walling with company name, carpeting, electricity supply, three spotlights, table, two chairs and a brochure stand. Contact Lerato Monageng Tel: (+27) 11 661 4000; E-mail: lerato@kagisoexpo.co.za
Recreational Aircraft Park
Africa Aerospace and Defence and the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa (CAASA) would like to offer all companies marketing very light recreational aircraft, microlights etc. the opportunity to market and promote their organisation and gain maximum exposure through the exhibition. We therefore invite you to take advantage of this very important platform as a medium to market your products and services throughout South Africa and the rest of the SADC countries. AAD & CAASA would like to offer you a 9m2 (3m X 3m) marquee, with a table, 2 chairs and parking for your aircraft package in the specially reserved area for R7 500 excluding VAT. Please contact Lerato Monageng or Nishi Naicker on (011) 661 4000 or e-mail lerato@kagisoexpo.co.za or nishi@kagisoexpo.co.za
Exhibition space availability
All potential exhibitors are urged to confirm their bookings or book their space as soon as possible as exhibition space is becoming a premium in Halls 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are all fully booked, while there is only limited space still available Halls 3, 4 and 11. Please contact Lynn Browne, Nishi Naicker or Lerato Monageng at Kagiso Exhibitions in order to finalise your space. Tel: (+27) 11 661 4000 or e-mail: aerospacedefence@kagisoexpo.co.za
AAD official exhibitor's catalogue
African Pilot was awarded the 'official exhibitor's catalogue' assignment after the required tender process was followed about six weeks ago. It has come to our attention that another business involved as an exhibitor at AAD 2006 is attempting to confuse exhibitors by marketing their own listing of exhibitors. For clarification on this issue, we recommend that exhibitors contact either CAASA the organisers at +27 11 659 2345/8 or Kagiso Exhibitions on +27 11 661 4000. For specific details on how the official catalogue has been designed, please visit our Website: www.africanpilot.co.za for pricing structures.
Contact Mark Mansfield: +27 11 702 2342/3 - E-mail: aad@africanpilot.co.za. Thank you.
SAA adds fuel stop to USA flights
SAA has added a fuel stop in the Cape Verde islands on all its American operations because of a fuel shortage in Dakar, Senegal due to strike action. Truckers are striking in Dakar making it impossible to transport fuel from refineries to the airport. Instead of cancelling flights to Washington and New York, SAA has added a stop in Ilha do Sal starting from last week, increasing the travel time per sector by three hours. The airline says it will inform all passengers of the added travelling time and will distribute letters explaining the situation. SAA will monitor and assess the situation on a daily basis.
Experts to gather at TourismAfrica2006 to overcome African air transport challenges TourismAfrica2006, which will be held in Geneva on September 10-15, is supported by leading international and Pan-African institutions such as the African Union, the World Tourism Organisation, UNCTAD, UNESCO, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. This international event aims at fostering the development of Africa's tourism industry and at promoting destinations in African countries.
This first initiative solely for Africa, will gather within a congress, an exhibition and a Business Development Centre, qualified African and International decision-makers from the public and private sector. Practitioners involved in the development of hospitality, transport, tour-operating, investment, tourist promotion, tourist engineering, construction, media, culture and leisure in Africa will be present at TourismAfrica2006.
The Congress, under the patronage of the WTTC and chaired by Mr Jean-Claude Baumgarten, will open TourismAfrica2006 on September 10 and 11, 2006. One of its panels will address "Air Transport in Africa." Chaired by Mr Thomas Windmuller, IATA Senior Vice President (International Air Transport Association), it will cover three main topics:
- Aviation's importance to Africa's Tourism Industry development
- African aviation's attractiveness to African and international airlines
- Working together to overcome air transport challenges in Africa
The following air transport figures and executives will identify key components that will stimulate growth in Africa's aviation industry:
- Folly Kossi, General Secretary, African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
- Robert J. Aaronson, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI)
- Girma Wake, CEO, Ethiopian Airways
- Mohamed Ghelala, Managing Director, Air Burkina
Moreover, TourismAfrica2006 represents a unique opportunity for airline companies working with Africa to promote their activities, identify new destinations and develop cooperation with international decision-makers present during this occasion.
Heartlines films www.heartlines.org.za
Starting on Sunday July 16th, a series of eight films will be shown on SABC 2 @ 20H00 in the evening. Each one will deal with various aspects of life in South Africa, the pandemic of HIV & AIDS, corruption, crime, violence, poverty, and the breakdown of families. These are locally produced films, which are designed to provoke discussion in the whole country. Having been sent the resources for community workers, and reviewing the contents of all eight films, I would urge you all to watch this series. Some of the films will provoke anger, some sympathy, some love, and some despair. However, ALL of them will have a message for you, and the whole country, and will hopefully change people's attitudes and moral values. There will be follow up debates on radio and in the printed media. I guarantee that if your colleagues at work watch these films, they will have something to say about it on Monday mornings.
Fake flights sting consumers - Australia
Diane Willis thought the cheap tickets to fly to Melbourne and Brisbane were almost too good to be true. She was right. Ms Willis is one of at least a dozen Australians stung by a scam internet site offering cheap airline tickets that looked all above board. But she discovered to her cost that the Website and the tickets were fictional. "I really thought it was right, the Website looked good, it was offering tickets from Qantas, from Virgin, from Jetstar," she said.
"This is a warning for anyone that you've got to be careful about these things."
A friend of Ms Willis, who used the same newflights.net website to buy tickets, raised concerns when she went to confirm her Qantas tickets only to find that six tickets had been booked.
The pair quickly worked out something was wrong. Unfortunately for Ms Willis, she was unable to retrieve the AUS $770 she'd spent on buying the fictitious tickets.
Corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is using the case of Ms Willis and others to highlight how would-be scammers are using the internet. In this case, two American-based scammers used stolen credit cards to buy the tickets on behalf of their Australian 'customers'. Delia Rickard, the regulator's deputy executive director of consumer protection, said in this case the scam company had used the term 'limited' to try to give themselves more credibility. "Travellers today are accustomed to cheap internet deals, frequent flyer schemes and budget airlines," she said. "However, in light of this, consumers need to be aware of fake companies advertising on the internet, which promise to save you hundreds on your flight but leave you stranded at the airport with nothing but a worthless ticket."
Ms Rickard says one of the easiest ways for a consumer not to get stung is to use the national names index at www.asic.gov.au, which will confirm if a company exists. ASIC has since closed down the newflights.net website. Despite being stung by the scammers, Ms Willis still plans to take her trip to Perth - and to use the internet to buy cheap tickets in the future.
"But I think I'll go through Qantas or another name Website in the future," she said.
This is a warning to all South Africans and aviation companies operating in southern Africa. Scams such as the above operate all around the world. The saying goes: "A fool and his/her money are soon parted." African Pilot has often brought scams involving fictitious charters and cheap tickets to the attention of our readers and yet time and again we hear of yet another company that has been 'ripped off.'
Manned Ornithopter flies in Toronto
If a wing flaps in Canada, and nobody's paying attention, does it make a stir? Luckily for aeronautical engineer James DeLaurier, who last Saturday saw his one-seat Ornithopter fly for the first time, a reporter at The Toronto Star who shares his fascination with flapping flight got the story into the media. The aircraft flapped its way into the air (with a boost from a small jet engine), climbed to about three feet above the ground, and sustained flight for 1 200 feet and fourteen seconds. It returned to the runway and tipped over onto its nose, damaging the gear, reportedly the result of an encounter with a crosswind. But it beat by two seconds the Wright brothers' first flight, and that was good enough for DeLaurier.
Aviation humour
"Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks are in the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or other adults acting like children."
African Pilot weekly newsletters
Should you happen to miss out on any African Pilot newsletter please visit our Website: www.africanpilot.co.za because each AP newsletter is archived on the Website under the section "Newsletters". | 