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"So you thought life was simple? Hell no! Just when you thought that things had settled down to normal again, someone threw a spanner in the works. This is the stuff that makes life interesting." - Anonymous
Bonus for African Pilot subscribers
The publishers of Pilot Destinations, Lalla and Ernie Alexander, have offered all current African Pilot subscribers a free copy of this comprehensive information book. In addition, all new subscribers will receive a copy of the book to be packaged together with their March copies of African Pilot that have already been mailed. African Pilot delivers unmatched value to all loyal subscribers for only R220 per 13 issues (special offer for the first 50 persons to subscribe during March.)
African Pilot first on the shelves
Once again our March edition is first on the magazine shelves - a full five days before the end of the month. This edition contains the all important El Ain Airshow story with spectacular pictures by Frans Dely as well as some from me. The African Pilot story is complete, with all display teams and participants being recognised. Other articles included are the Very Light Jet and Light Jet survey, e-NewsCopter and the home building of a Cozy Mk IV.
The magazineâ€tms new layout is easier to follow with all six competitions, valued at a total of R51 000, listed on page five. African Pilot brings more value and opportunity for our readers to win than any other aviation magazine on the African continent.
Calling all Microlight pilots
Our April edition will contain a survey on as many Microlight aircraft types as possible and we have written to all known manufacturers / importers. Although we have already received several responses to our questionnaire, we are concerned that some importers of microlight types may not be included in this survey. Every microlight pilot can assist by raising the question with the importer or manufacturer of the particular type they fly. Simply ask the relevant people to make contact with our offices: e-mail: info@africanpilot.co.za. Thank you.
Western Cape aviation scene
It has always been a pleasure to spend time with our clients and aviation friends in the busy Cape Town aviation business. Although the pilots and operators of this region often feel that they have been forgotten, at African Pilot we feel strongly that this region is one of the most important on the African continent. Experience has also shown that the overall unique variety of aircraft in the Cape Town region makes for interesting photography and reporting. All persons interviewed during this particular visit to the Mother City were exceptionally pleased that AAD 2006 will be held at AFB Ysterplaat in the week of 20 to 24 September. African Pilot will become increasingly involved in the marketing of AAD 2006 over the forthcoming months with the idea of providing travel packages that will include: flights, accommodation, car hire, entry to the exhibition, preferential parking, as well as a host of other arrangements. If your business has ideas of what can be offered to South African and international delegates during the AAD week, please send these suggestions to: info@africanpilot.co.za. Thank you.
Thank you to Cape Town Flying Training Centre
I spent some interesting moments this past week with Findlay Smith, owner of CTFTC, in his Yak 52 undertaking his well-structured spins and upsets course. The training was worth every bit of the effort and I believe should be at the top of every pilotâ€tms list of things to do. I will certainly return for further training later in the year as I found Findlay to be an outstanding teacher with the required patience to show pilots â€Ëœthe other sideâ€tm of the flying envelope. Although the Yak 52 is an ideal trainer for this type of instruction, she is quite a handful, especially when things go â€Ëœpear shapedâ€tm. Thanks to Findlay and his professional team of instructors at Fisantekraal who made me feel very welcome throughout the week. African Pilot readers can look forward to an exciting article in our April edition on â€ËœAn introduction to aerobaticsâ€tm in the Yak 52.
AAD venue change and the reasons for the Cape Town decision
By Oliver Stratford â€â€œ CEO of CAASA
Since the News Flash dated 31 January 2006, regarding the proposed move of AAD to AFB Ysterplaat was distributed; this office has received a number of telephone calls from persons who have expressed their concerns about the move. The management of AAD has therefore decided to distribute further information on why it was decided that Ysterplaat was the only suitable alternative for AAD, given the fact that AFB Waterkloof is no longer serviceable.
AAD is a combined civilian and military exhibition, the only one of its kind in Africa, and as such the venue used to host AAD has to meet certain requirements, including the following:
̢ۢ More than 15 000 m2 of indoor exhibition space
̢ۢ A serviceable runway that can accommodate most aircraft types
̢ۢ Enough outside space for large military exhibits, as well as civilian and commercial aviation static displays
̢ۢ Sufficient accommodation for local and international trade visitors
̢ۢ Access, parking and security
̢ۢ Availability
Due to the requirements above it is very difficult to find a venue that meets them all, AFB Waterkloof being the only possibility in Gauteng. The due diligence that was undertaken by the management of AAD included the following venues in Gauteng:
̢ۢ AFB Swartkop
̢ۢ Wonderboom
̢ۢ Lanseria
̢ۢ Grand Central
̢ۢ Gallagher Estate
̢ۢ The Dome at Northgate
̢ۢ Nasrec
̢ۢ Denel Aviation at JIA
The following venues outside of Gauteng were also considered:
̢ۢ Bloemfontein (AFB Bloemspruit)
̢ۢ Durban
̢ۢ Polokwane (Gateway International)
̢ۢ Cape Town (AFB Ysterplaat)
After this investigation it became clear that AFB Ysterplaat was the only venue that met all the requirements and was available for the hosting of AAD.
There was consideration given to postponing the show. AAD is an international show and its dates are set in the international calendar. As such there are no other dates available that do not clash with another international show. In addition, AFB Waterkloof may only be available again in 2008, which would mean cancelling the 2006 show. It must be remembered that AAD is considered a national asset, therefore cancelling the show is not an option.
All decisions taken by AAD are based on consensus, and no one partner has more influence than the others. This resulted in the decision being taken by AAD management to move the exhibition to AFB Ysterplaat. This decision was not taken lightly, considering that the bulk of the AAD exhibitors (military and civilian) are based in Gauteng.
In order to attempt to alleviate the challenges of the move to AFB Ysterplaat, the management of AAD have been in constant consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry - DTI about possible initiatives that can be taken to enhance the show and attract the correct category of trade visitor. These initiatives will include the hosting of a conference on the DTIâ€tms Aerospace Strategy, among others, as well as possibly receiving a subsidy from the DTI to off-set the increased costs that qualified exhibitors are likely to incur.
The management of AAD is always open to suggestions and comments and you are welcome to contact Geoff van Hees if you have any further enquiries or require more information.
Please contact Geoff (deputy airshow director) at: Tel: (012) 420 1539 Fax: (012) 347 9889
E-mail: aad@amd.org.za or Cell: 084 840 3215. Thank you.
Get Ready for the Rand Airport Challenge
The event is planned for Saturday 1 April, so set that date aside and get permission for the one who must be obeyed. This will be a fun flying, navigation challenge and will be run under a new set of rules designed to introduce NEW COMERS to the exciting sports of Rally and Precision Flying Competitions.
Two sponsors have generously donated some great prizes. They have awarded prizes for the following challenges: For the Club or Flight School who enters the most teams, the winner gets a great prize. There are also two prizes for the closest times at turn point three and turn point five, and there is a lucky draw. Sorry to the Springbok Pilots; while you are welcome, your can only qualify for the prizes if you navigate for a new pilot on the navigation scene. So we have a chance for all new comers to win.
Since this is a Challenge, start challenging other flight schools or pilots. Does Flight School XYZ train better pilots than flight school ABC? And how about a personal challenge between pilots; why, Lance could put a case of beer on beating Arthur at the spot landing. The entry form will have a space for your challenge.
Frank Eckard
Tel: +27 (0)11 395 1968
Fax: +27 (0)11 395 1968
Tel Cell: +27 (0)83 269 1516
E-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za
F-22A 'Raptor' to appear at Sun 'n Fun - USA
The F-22A 'Raptor' Stealth technology fighter will make its first civilian airshow appearance at Sun 'n Fun Fly-In 2006, April 4-10 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The Raptor is America's newest fighter aircraft. The design provides an unprecedented combination of stealth, super cruise, manoeuvrability, and integrated avionics with a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, engage and kill threats well before being detected. Two of the aircraft will arrive on Thursday, April 6, and are expected to stay for three days. For more information visit the Website: www.sun-n-fun.org.
Kitty Hawk Fly-in and Aerobatic competition
Kitty Hawk Aerodrome is hosting a fly-in and Aerobatic competition from 10 to 12 March 2006. The competition and display flights will take place on Saturday 11th. The entire aviation spectrum, including microlights, gyroâ€tms, helicopters and everything else that flies, is invited to come and enjoy an action packed weekend starting with arrivals from Friday 10th until departures on Sunday 12th.
The competition is hosted by the Sport Aerobatic Club and forms part of the run-up qualification rounds for team selection to the YAKWAC in June at Hluhluwe and AWAC later during the year. This will be an opportunity to see South Africaâ€tms best aerobatic pilots competing and honing their skills in preparation for these international events.
During Saturdayâ€tms lunch break there will be a number of highly entertaining display flights featuring a variety of aircraft including the likes of a Stearman, Harvard, Pitts Specials, Extra 300L, the all new Slick 360, Yak 52â€tms, Ravin 500â€tms and hopefully the first RV10 in S.A. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome. Camping facilities will be provided and breakfast, lunch and dinner from Friday evening up to Sunday afternoon. A public address system will ensure good continuity throughout the weekend.
Saturday evening promises to be a party of note as Kitty Hawk celebrates its first official event in the new club house with live music, good food, great atmosphere and a venue that caters precisely for the aviatorâ€tms needs. The new club house and taxiways and other existing features promise to offer everyone a relaxing and enjoyable weekend in the true spirit of aviation that was kindled so many years ago at the original Kitty Hawk from where we proudly got our name.
ARRIVALS
There are no time restrictions on arrivals and departures throughout the weekend and an advisory service will be active from Saturday morning. Since the aerobatic box (directly west of the field) could be active anytime, all arrivals to enter from the north, east or south. Please call five miles inbound on 120.65 MHz and the advisory service will take you from there.
FAKT AIRFIELD DETAILS
FREQ: 120.65 MHz
RWY: 01/19 TARRED, 850 METRES
ELEV: 4600'
NOTES: Aerobatic box directly west of rwy. All circuits east of rwy.
FUEL: AVGAS
CONTACTS: Leon Joubert, 082 6060 527, Dolph Kruger, 082 651 2312
Slack staffing makes Cape Town Airport a grim destination
By Igsaan Salie - Sunday Weekend Argus
The noticeable lack of immigration officials as well as rampant absenteeism has raised fears that criminals may escape detection at Cape Town International Airport. This was the banner headline in the Cape Argus on Sunday. The problem is not unique to Cape Town because Johannesburg International Airport also suffers from poorly trained immigration officials not being able to cope with South Africaâ€tms growing tourism industry.
Those officials that do pitch up to work are over worked and recently one immigration officer had to process 1 200 arrivals single-handedly after other officials failed to arrive at work. Passengers were delayed over the past weekend for up to one-and-a-half hours because officials failed to arrive at work. Spokesman for Home Affairs, Nkosana Sibuyi, said the department was concerned about â€Å“capacity issuesâ€Â at the airport and had spoken to officials about the situation. He added that the department was looking into employing more people to help ease the workload.
African Pilot comment
Our March edition contains a very well written article by Prof. Johann Coetzee, "Aviation Safety", which sets out the absolute requirements for the training and selection of persons in the aviation industry based on qualifications rather than a blatant attempt to fulfil racial quotas according to government policy. Obviously the placement of under qualified persons into positions with which they cannot cope will lead to this type of situation. The very officials who should be setting standards are often sloppy and amongst the poorest ambassadors to South Africa imaginable. If people do not want to work or are too lazy to work they should be replaced, because the compromising of South Africaâ€tms tourist industry and the thousands of jobs at stake is not negotiable.
This thread is starting to show itself throughout government where inexperienced people are being placed into positions for which they are not qualified according to international standards. When this situation starts affecting aviation and overall safety is compromised, South Africa will start a steady downhill slide that cannot be rescued. One only has to look at similar situations in countries to the north of our own where blatant corruption and the dishonesty of officials has led to the undoing of not only tourism, but also business. According to ICAO, Africa has the worldâ€tms worst airliner accident record â€â€œ many times higher than any other continent. South Africa has traditionally had an excellent record for overall aviation safety, but the question of continued service excellence is now been seriously questioned.
Aviation humour
An airliner was taking off from Kennedy Airport. After reaching a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom: â€Å“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome on flight 293, non-stop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, NO! LOOK OUT!!!
Silence followed, and after a minute or two the captain came back on the intercom and said, â€Å“Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant brought me a cup of very hot coffee, which ended up spilling in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!â€Â A passenger in cabin yelled, â€Å“That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!!â€Â | 