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Two issues about check rides: A) the only real objective of a check ride is to complete it and get the fellow out of your airplane. B) It has never occurred to any flight examiner that the examinee couldn't care less what the examiner's opinion of his/her flying ability really is.
African Pilotâ€tms March edition and Service Guide supplement
Our bumper February edition is presently printing and will be available for distribution by Friday this week. Planning is well advanced for our March edition which will also be packaged together with the African Pilot Service Guide as a supplement. Due to the fact that February is a short month and the necessary packaging will take three days out of the production schedule our team will be closing the March edition slightly earlier that usual. Closure for advertisers in this edition will be 2 February 2007 as indicated on our printed advertising price guide or please visit our Website, where all the required information is available: www.africanpilot.co.za
The main survey feature of this edition will be a â€ËœFocus on the Commercial Aviation Associationâ€tm and all the affiliates of this most important aviation body that represents all of Commercial Aviation in South Africa. Although African Pilot is not the â€Ëœofficialâ€tm journal of CAASA, our magazine has shown considerable support for the professional aviation body over the past few years, which culminated in our company being awarded the â€Ëœofficialâ€tm exhibitorsâ€tm catalogue for Africa Aerospace and Defence in September 2006. African Pilot is proud to be associated with CAASA as well as other official bodies like the Aero Club of South Africa that represent aviation in our country. For further information on CAASA please call their offices at Lanseria International Airport +27 11 659 2345/8 or e-mail: caasa@iafrica.com
Al Ain Aerobatics Show in UAE (repeat from last week)
The Al Ain Aerobatics Show, the unique event of its type in the region is organised by UAE Air Force and Air Defence as well as the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. The show aims to help promote individual achievement, team spirit and goodwill relations between participants from many different countries around the world. The unique event is a testament to the superb relations which UAE has with different countries.
History and Events: The Al Ain Aerobatic Show, one of the most dynamic and spectacular air events in the world, takes place each year in the garden city of United Arab Emirates. The show is aimed at boosting the presence of the UAE in the field of airshow sports at the international level. The first event took place in 2004 and in a very short span gained a world wide reputation as a major aviation sports event. The five day show in 2005 and 2006 attracted massive media attention, and the visitorsâ€tm number in both the airshow exceeded above 120 000 in 2006. The major events of 2005, included the FAI Grand Prix, jumps by the paratroopers, solo display by UAE Mirage 2000-9, free jump by Felix Baumgartner, display by Airbus
A-330, remote control and participation of aerobatic teams from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, India and Russia.
The event of 2006 included participation of world Free Fly team lead by UAE Free Fly team champion, fly past by UAE Air Force (Hawk-102, Mirage 2000-9, F-16), Jet formation teams (Russian Knights, South African Sasol Tigers, Breitling), Propeller teams (Mazda team, Royal Jordanian Falcons), FAI individual aerobatics displays, Rope cutting, Wing Walker display, helicopter display and night display by Hang Glider, Wing Walker and Para motors. Al Ain will be hosting International Aerobatic Championship from 26 to 30 January 2007. The show will be attended by various international aerobatic teams and the stunt pilots from Asia, Europe and the United States. African Pilot has been invited again this year and Mark Mansfield will be attending the airshow on behalf of our magazine.
For further information, please visit the Website: www.alainaerobaticsshow.comÂ
Helicopter accident on Friday 19 January
By Sholain Govender and Barry Bateman
A quiet North West village was rocked by tragedy on Friday when a helicopter crashed on its outskirts, killing the pilot. Steve Mandell, 28, of Pretoria, was on a trip to Brits when his helicopter crashed.
Simon Pege, of Robokala village in Lethlabile in the North West, was out ploughing a mealie field at about 8:15am when he heard a strange sound. "I heard a loud noise and saw the helicopter going down. I ran towards it and as I was running I heard a loud explosion," said the 57-year-old resident.
'He was a brilliant pilot with about 3 500 hours flying time.' The crash site was about two-kilometres from the nearest tarred road. Mandell was flung from the aircraft and his body found lying metres from the burnt-out wreckage.
The helicopter, a Safari Baby Belle which was owned by Naturelink Aviation, was a crumpled wreck. The fuel tank was ripped from the fuselage and lay about 5-metres from the wreck.
Police from the Lethlabile police station were alerted to the crash by residents who saw the helicopter nose-diving and disappearing from view. Captain Paul Maerman said when he arrived at the scene; he saw Mandell's body lying a few metres from the plane. A Naturelink Aviation employee, who would only identify himself as Dian, said they were just starting their investigation and may issue a statement next week.
Mandell's best friend Alewyn Burger, who is also a Naturelink Aviation employee, said Mandell was on a recreational flight from Wonderboom Airport to Brits at the time of the crash. "He (Mandell) took off at about 7:45 am and the accident happened en route.â€ÂIt takes about 40 minutes to fly to Brits from that airport. Steve was originally from Port Elizabeth but he moved to Pretoria recently. He was a brilliant pilot with about 3 500 hours flying time. He flew anything from helicopters to large aircraft," he said.
Wonderboom Airport emergency services manager André van Rooyen confirmed the helicopter took off from the airport, but could not provide further details. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) workers cordoned off an area of about 100 squares metres around the crash site and carried out on-site investigations before leaving the scene afternoon. The CAA would carry out all investigations to determine the cause of the crash.
Steve was the son of Port Elizabeth aviation personality, Dave Mandell also a member of the Algoa Flying Club. African Pilot would like to express our sincere condolences to Steveâ€tms family; Dave, Janet, family and Steveâ€tms friends.
Hangar Fire at Cato Ridge by Miranda Andrew
Fire-fighters spent more than two hours on Tuesday night trying to put out the flames that destroyed five light aircraft and a micro-light at the Cato Ridge Airfield near Pietermaritzburg.
John Fitzgerald, divisional commander of the eThekwini fire department, who responded to the scene, said the planes had been completely destroyed before fire-fighters could put out the fire.
The damage to the planes and the building is estimated to be about R4-million.
"We were called out to the Cato Ridge Airfield at around 10pm Tuesday night after hearing that a popular light aircraft hangar was on fire. According to the owner, at 6pm when he locked up the premises, there was no fire or sign of anyone," said Fitzgerald.
He said at this stage, they have no clue as to how the fire started but they would investigate the possibility that the fire was started by arsonists. The hangar and aircraft was used by the Cato Flying School. Despondent students visited the scene this morning and watched fire-fighters inspect the wreckage. "This is where we were learning to fly," a student told the Daily News this morning. "It's a place that we call home," 23-year-old Sarah van der Merwe said.
Wayne Bond, the owner of the Cato Flying School, could not be reached for comment this morning. His close friend, Jeff Dyer, who owns another flying school at the airfield, said Wayne was devastated by the loss of the aircraft. "He has been going for more than 20 years and he had many students who are in the advanced stage of getting their pilot's licences." Dyer said there were 10 different hangars at the airfield, but only Bond's hangar went up in flames. "It was desperately sad to see the students congregate at the scene of the fire this morning. If someone has done this deliberately I want them to know that not only have they hurt one man's business and his family, but they have left many flight students devastated."
He said two of the aircraft damaged in the fire had been bought recently, while the others had been built by Bond. "I feel sorry for Wayne and I hope he has insurance cover. This was his life's work and he will have to find his feet after this," said Dyer.
Information taken from AVCOM - Thank you.
â€Å“After consultation with the owner and the affected parties the following details can now be released: The hangar owned by Wayne and Erica Bond contained two business:
Cato Flying School - instruction on microlight flex-wing and 3-axis
Cato Aerotech - agents and builders of SG Aviation and F1 Evo aircraft
Aircraft destroyed in the fire were:
1 x 2 seat Rally (used for demonstration and training)
1 x 2+2 Seat Rally (under construction)
1 x F1 Evo (under construction)
1 x Aquilla II 503 (used for training)
1 x Savage (belonging to Hazard, he was converting)
The fire appears to have started inside around 20:30 on Tuesday night and was contained within the hangar. The intense heat totally destroyed the aircraft and the structural integrity of the hangar. Nothing was spared. The Fire brigade were alerted at about 21:10 by a resident at Cato Airfield when the fire was first found. By the time the fire brigade got there it was far too late (one of the firemen / fire chief did state that it takes about 10 minutes for a house to be destroyed!).
Wayne and Erica have lost a thriving business and their livelihood, as such we (his friends, past students and members of Cato Flying Club) are sending out an appeal to anyone who can assist in what ever manner so that they can manage through this difficult time and to assist in getting their business back up and running as quickly as possible.â€Â
Anyone who wishes to make a donation can use the following banking details:
Bank: Nedbank
Account name: Cato Flying Club
Account No.: 1381405703
Branch code: 138126 (
Gale Streetâ€â€œ Durban)
Air Adventure Tours Oshkosh Website now updated for 2007
On the site you will discover:
- Photo galleries from 2006, 2005, 2004
- Itinerary for 2007
- Options and prices for 2007
- US and Shengen visa information
Please visit: www.airadventure.co.za and if you have any queries or problems please contact Neil Bowden on his cell phone: 084 OSHKOSH (084 674 5674). Thank you.
The following four reports were provided by the monitors of AWSA
1. Publication for comments: SA SAR regulations 2006
By virtue of the publication of Government Gazette 29465, the Minister of Transport has, under section 23 of the South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act, 2002 (Act No.44 of 2002), made the regulations in the linked Gazette available for public comments. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the regulations by not later than 11 January 2007. Submission should be forwarded to the Director General for the attention of Mr.Patrick Modiba.
The Department of Transport, Private Bag X93I, PRETORIA, 0001.
E-mail address:Â ModibaP@dot.qov.za Tel No: (012) 309-3512
The Gazette can be found at: http://awsa.co.za/docs/gg29465_nn1790.pdf
2. 24th amendment to the CARS becomes effective
The twenty fourth amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations (1997) became effective on 28 December 2006 with the publication of Government Gazette 29511. For the two documents containing the Gazette go to: http://awsa.co.za/docs/gg29511_nn1317a.pdf and
http://awsa.co.za/docs/gg29511_nn1317b.pdf
3. Carriage by air amendment act (2006) assented by SP
The State President assented to the Carriage by Air Amendment Act (2006) on 19 December 2006. For details, which were contained in Government Gazette 29499, go to:
http://awsa.co.za/docs/gg29499_nn1301.pdf
4. Summary of aviation legislation changes to come
Neil de Lange, general Manager of Aero Club, has forwarded a brief summary to the monitors of AWSA containing details of aviation legislation changes anticipated in the immediate future.
For details go to: http://awsa.co.za/docs/20070108Aeroclub.pdf.
About threatened airfields
Thank you to the many persons who responded with information on â€Ëœthreatened airfieldsâ€tm in South Africa. We are compiling a list which we will publish shortly from information received from our readers since this is most important information for all pilots to have at their fingertips. We will also share the information with other publications that publish â€ËœPilot Destinationsâ€tm, frequency charts and electronic pilot information such as â€ËœEasy Planâ€tm. Please keep sending this information to e-mail: editor@africanpilot.co.za Thank you.
The following letter, which is self explanatory, was received this week:
Athol â€â€œ interesting short piece on Threatened SA Airfields in the latest newsletter. Thank you! Perhaps we should ask the Easy Plan, etc., chaps to make these notes against the airfields in their programs, so one if aware of them when planning flights. Much easier than referring to various paper notes â€â€œ but like the fact that you are collecting this information centrally.
One other airfield Iâ€tmve been warned off is Rustenburg. Apparently itâ€tms OK in the day, but wise to avoid at night because of an adjacent squatter camp. I canâ€tmt personally verify this â€â€œ was just advised by several people not to attempt a night landing (was planning to do so on a night cross country to keep my hand in on an unlit strip).
As far as your â€Å“virtualâ€Â magazine is concerned, Iâ€tmm not sure what format youâ€tmre looking at. I subscribe to a couple such magazines through ZINIO (http://www.zinio.com) which has a really nice interface and a great way of managing subscriptions and storing the magazines offline for later reference, etc.
Regards
Guy Whitcroft
Thanks Guy for your suggestions, which we take seriously - Ed.
Aviation Humour Submitted by Bradley Gargan
Confucius say....
Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.
Confucius say....
Lady who go camping must beware of evil intent.
Confucius say...
Man who keep feet firmly on ground have trouble putting on pants.
Confucius say...
He who run behind bus get exhausted.
Confucius sayâ€Â¦
Man who leap off cliff jump to conclusion.
And finally: Confucius sayâ€Â¦
Man who runs into propeller gets prop whacked.
African Pilot weekly newsletters
Should you happen to miss out on any African Pilot newsletter please visit our Website: www.africanpilot.co.za, and click on the NEWSLETTERS icon on the front page because all past AP newsletters are archived on the Website.
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