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Make a resolution today to start working on you, by creating a clear understanding of the infinite potential that exists within you lying dormant, waiting for activation. Colin Turner. Born 24 October 1954 in Forres, Scotland, Turner is a Corporate Entrepreneur, Mentor and International Best-Selling Author.
African Pilots March edition
My team will be starting with the production of the March edition today and the magazine is scheduled to reach the printers on Thursday 12 February. We still have some advertising space, but we will require your order by Tuesday at close of business. Please call 011 702 2342/3 or 011 468 2636 or our dedicated marketing cell phone: 079 880 4359. You can also e-mail: marketing@africanpilot.co.za Thank you.
We apologise for appearing not to be answering our telephones this past week. Unfortunately, the incredible electric storms over the past two weeks knocked out some of our Telkom lines. Fortunately we have cell phone communication as well as e-mail communication through i-Burst. It seems that the whole Telkom system is gradually breaking down, because the so called technicians that were sent to solve the problems simply created further problems with some lines that were working. Roll on Neotel the system could not be more welcome in a country where Telkom is failing business and the population. In future if you cannot reach our offices by phone, please contact me on my cell phone: 082 552 2940. Thank you.
African Pilots Service Guide delayed by one month
I have decided to postpone the production of our annual Services Guide for one month. Therefore the book will be packaged and distributed together with the April edition of the magazine. From next year we will always schedule the Services Guide in April so that we have more time for marketing this important document. Unfortunately due to the lead time required for production and printing, this reference book needs to be delayed. For further information please e-mail marketing@africanpilot.co.za The African Pilot price guide that includes the Service Guide and the Training Supplement scheduled for July this year is available on the Website: http://www.africanpilot.co.za/.
Entertainment for Aviators
Talk Show on Thursday 12 February By Jeremy Woods
I am constantly surprised when I find yet more hidden heroes amongst our South African flying fraternity. This is, of course, the reason for the EAA Talk Show Series; to reveal these people and their exploits to us. I am extremely excited about the guests we have booked for this month and March.
Buzz (Stephen) Bezuidenhout, the founder of Starlite Aviation at Rand airport, is by all accounts a fun loving, amiable, practical joker who came through the ranks of the SAAF circa 1968 and has 6 000+ hours on fixed wing aircraft, but has excelled most in his flying of helicopters. He apparently has more than 17 200 hours on rotor wing aircraft and is a Designated Examiner (DE) for both helicopters and gyrocopters. One of the most impressive aspects of this man is his uncanny ability to recall from memory the technical data and detail of every aircraft that he has flown. Buzz has more than 30 different Helicopter ratings.
Joining Buzz on stage is Dave Dwyer who was trained in the SAAF where he flew Alouette IIIs and Pumas before becoming an instructor at Central Flying School (CFS) Dunnottar. He spent about 15 years in the commercial world as an entrepreneur in the packaging industry before returning to his passion. Daves maxim is To Fly is Heaven, to Hover is Divineand so now he is, in his own words, a swamp fly flying helicopters, which support the oil industry in such far flung locations as Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and other central African countries.
Date: Thursday 12 February
Time:18h30 for 19h30 (time to order your Drinks & Boerewors roll)
Venue: EAA Auditorium adjacent to TAC and Holding point of Runway 29
Entrance at Hurricane Road (NOT through the main gate)
Cost: R30 (R20 for card carrying EAA, & AMSA members)
Booking: Send an e-mail: Admin.woods@icon.co.za or phone me between 09h00
and 17h00. Tel: 011 888 8495 Cell: 082 883 0436
AIR Africa 2009 to introduce innovative matchmaking programme
It is all systems go for the first aviation industry trade exhibition, AIR Africa 2009, taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre from 22 to 24 April. According to Duma Exhibitions managing director, Lynn Browne, there is no doubt that the current slowdown in the economy is hitting all sectors and the aviation sector is no exception. This will naturally have an impact on the overall size of the first show, but it will not interfere with the core focus of the show and the value of the dialogue sessions which are key to this kind of focused business to business trade expo. Weve also confirmed an innovative business matchmaking programme, organised by marketing company, Outsmart Marketing. This effectively creates a platform whereby participants at AIR Africa can pro-actively and effectively network by viewing, selecting and scheduling interactions with their select target market prior to the event.
Browne says this understanding of the exhibitors target requirements means the right individuals can be matched and a one-on-one interaction is confirmed even before the start of the expo, ensuring a measurable exhibition experience. She says the programme is currently incorporated into business events ranging from mining, oil and gas, satellite communications, power, international trade, manufacturing, retail and dcor. Here exhibitors have reported an increase in business dealings of up to 40%.
Commenting on the dialogue sessions, Browne says the sessions open up some exciting opportunities. At the moment we are finalising our speakers, but hot topics include air safety, general airport and baggage safety as well as safety management systems and commentary on the new legislative changes and their impact. Training and technology are also top of the pile with a focus on multipurpose crew/pilot licences and skills development, the introduction of RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) airspaces and future developments. These and other issues will be highlighted in a series of morning and afternoon dialogue sessions which will be chaired by leading experts in their respective fields. A full programme will be finalised mid February.
AIR Africa 2009 is definitely following the global trend set by large aviation shows such as the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) in the United States. It is a show for the trade by the trade and specifically designed to attract key buyers and decision makers in airlines corporate flight departments, charter operators, owners/pilots and the private aviation and training sectors. Response and feedback from exhibitors to the show has been encouraging. At present some of our key exhibitors include companies such as SAAB, Security & Aviation Systems, Sennheiser, Pferd SA (Pty) Ltd, IndigoSAT and Hiconnex to name just a few. We anticipate a footfall of about 3 500 quality visitors over the three days of the expo.
Anyone interested in finding out more information about AIR Africa can contact Lynn Browne on info@airafricaexpo.com, 011 788 9562 and any companies particularly interested in participating in the matchmaking programme can e-mail info@businessmatchmaking.co.za.
SAA Board forms sub-committee to deal with allegations
The Board of South African Airways (SAA) held a scheduled meeting on Friday where documentation forwarded by trade union SATAWU to the Public Enterprises Ministry was discussed. The Board viewed the allegations in a serious light, and has agreed to establish a committee of non-executive directors. The committees mandate is to immediately engage an independent, external agency to conduct an in depth investigation into, amongst other things, the following issues as they relate to SAAs CEO and members of the Executive Committee:
1. The issue of retention premiums.
2. Alleged issues of a conflict of interest.
3. Issues of procurement.
The Board has noted that SAA Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula has welcomed the investigation, and further that he insisted that it should be undertaken. Dr. Ngqula and members of SAAs Executive Committee have undertaken to co-operate fully with the investigators. Board chairman Jakes Gerwel has informed the Public Enterprises Minister of the Boards decision.
Issued on behalf of SAAs Board
Lancair sells 25 military trainer kits
Lancair announced on Tuesday that it will provide 25 modified Legacy FG kits to be assembled in Colombia and used for primary flight training by the Colombian Air Force. The aircraft, known as the Synergy, has a 15% larger wing, leading edge cuffs, and larger ventral fins than the standard model. The company says modifications make the aircraft quite docile, but adds it still has plenty of get-up-and-go. Lancair, through its Colombian partner SudAir Corporation, will provide the kits to Colombian Aviation Industry Corp. (CIAC), which will build them for the air force. "This initial agreement is a result of over two years of negotiations," said Lancair President Joe Bartels. "We will provide moulds, fixtures, jigs, materials, technical support and composite training to CIAC for purposes of its construction of the initial 25 aircraft."
Hawker Beechcraft cuts 2 300 jobs
Adding to the thousands of jobs already lost over the last few weeks to aviation businesses, Hawker Beechcraft CEO Jim Schuster announced on Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, that at least 2 300 jobs will be cut at his company. In a letter to employees published at the local KSN.com news Website, Schuster said, "We are undoubtedly facing one of the most severe tests in our company's history." He cited global economic decline as the cause of declining orders and deliveries. In addition, he said, the government's stimulus package has failed to loosen up credit markets and orders from fractional markets have declined considerably. He also blamed the media and some politicians for characterising general aviation as a wasteful extravagance instead of a critical business tool and the source of millions of American jobs. Schuster added that with no end in sight to global market volatility, he could not offer any assurance that there will not be further reductions. Hawker is the third-largest employer in Wichita, with about 7 500 employees. The company also employs 2 000 others worldwide, to build a range of aircraft from business jets to piston singles and the T-6 military trainer.
The LSA bright spot
Amidst all the news of job cuts and downturns, the light sport aircraft sector just keeps on cranking. Dan Johnson, chairman of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, estimates that about 11 500 people attended the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo just over a week ago in Florida. This was a record for the show and about 20 airplanes, worth about $2.5 million, were sold over the four-day event. "Every exhibitor to whom I spoke will return for Sebring No. 6 in 2010," said Johnson. In addition, he announced that two new regional LSA shows will be held this year. The HOT (Heart of Texas) LSA Show will be held in March in Bryan, Texas and the Midwest LSA Show will follow in October, in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Johnson also noted that two new U.S.-built LSAs made their debuts at the show: M-Squareds Breese 2 and RANSs S-6 Coyote. The Breese, built in Alabama, sells for just $34,995, fully built from the factory. The Coyote is a ready-to-fly version of an airplane that has been one of the top-selling home built types with almost 2 000 copies in the air. Other new aircraft introduced at the show were the Flaeming Air FA-04 Peregrin, built in Germany and the Skyteton K-10, built in the Ukraine.
Aviation humour
On a recent holiday flight, a student kept peering out of the
window. As it was totally dark, all she could see was the port side blinking wing-
tip light. Finally, she rang for the flight attendant.
"I am sorry to bother you," she said, "but I think you should inform
the pilot that his left-turn indicator is on and has been for some time." |
