Number 01 – 04 January 2021

The January edition has completed its international circulation. This edition features Professional Aviation Services in terms of aircraft and pilot insurance as well as aircraft financing and other aviation financial services. Advertisers can now see the benefits of marketing their products and services to a vast international aviation audience including short videos, picture galleries and actual virtual shops, they will realise that marketing is most important for future profitability. In South Africa and the African continent, African Pilot is the only aviation publication that has purchased the latest 3D software to provide digital enhancement to any advertiser anywhere in the world. At the same time African Pilot is also the only aviation magazine that is easy to read on any digital smart device, because our team understands the importance of ensuring the ease of use in this ‘new normal’ digital age.

It is now obvious that ALL other local aviation publications are attempting to copy what African Pilot has pioneered, but this was to be expected. However, at least African Pilot publishes correct aviation information such as the calendar of events on a regular basis. It was most interesting to see that a certain aviation magazine claimed that it was the first to publish its weekly ‘newspaper’, when African Pilot has been publishing APAnews for the past 20 years.

The February edition of African Pilot will feature Piston engine aircraft over 600 Kg as well as the piston engines and propellers that drive piston aircraft. In 2021 we decided to no longer feature the major South African General Aviation airports, mainly due to the new international nature of the magazine. Instead, I will be featuring many of the smaller airfields and flying clubs at these airfields. Some of these airports have remarkable histories as well as colourful pilots that are building interesting aircraft. The idea is to expose more about sport and recreational aviation within South Africa and to other countries in the world.  

There is no doubt that African Pilot provides the finest overall aviation media reach in Africa.
We are positioned to provide professional video and stills photography, website development, social media platforms, company newsletters as well as several other important media services to our customers.

The monthly magazine is available as a digital edition where ALL advertisers enjoy the direct routing to their websites at a touch on a smart phone or tablet as well as a click of the mouse on a computer screen or tap on any smart phone device. 

Then of course this APAnews service has been part of African Pilot’s line-up since the inception of the magazine 20 years ago.

Website: www.africanpilot.co.za
Facebook: facebook.com/AfricanPilot
Twitter: twitter.com/africanpilot
Instagram: www.instagram.com/african_pilot_/

View and download African Pilot’s last three (3) 2020 editions.
Click on the covers below.

Wouter Botes’ E-book on Flight to Nowhere is available by visiting www.africanpilot.co.za and click on the button provided on the home page. We have provided an option for payment of R60 per download on the page.

Take your business to NEW HEIGHTS this August at the one-stop business to business platform. The platform will be active for 12 months, allowing you to market your products and services to a targeted global General Aviation market and engage with visitors and other exhibitors on the portal. Want to book your booth on the AERO South Africa Virtual Marketplace or simply find out more? Contact one of our team members below to take your business to new heights.

Link to: https://aerosouthafrica.za.messefrankfurt.com/pretoria/en/Marketplace.html

The AeCSA Centenary Yearbook is now available to purchase from the online shop. Please visit www.aeroclub.org.za/shop.

The eThekwini Municipality has unveiled its latest proposal to redevelop Virginia Airport as a mixed-use catalytic project with luxury housing, tourism accommodation and retail outlets to generate revenue.

However, operators at the airport said they had been taken by surprise when The Mercury asked them about the proposal and said they had not been formally notified about it by the city. The city has been mulling over developing the prime Virginia Airport site for the past 10 years. The council resolved to close the airport some years ago and for its operations to be moved elsewhere, but the proposal was met with stiff opposition by the operators and there had been no further action taken regarding the move.

According to a report by the city’s finance and economic development and planning cluster, real estate and catalytic projects unit tabled before council committees in September, the Virginia Airport site had been identified as a ‘catalytic project’ and a study had been undertaken in 2018 / 19 ‘to assess various development options for the site’.

The report noted that following the adoption of the city’s recovery plan in response to COVID-19, the corporate investment committee had approved the revised strategy of bringing forward the process of inviting proposals from private investors and developers for the redevelopment of the site. The value of the property, which measures 29.6 hectares and currently contains a 925-metre runway, a terminal building with 40 offices, a control tower, a restaurant / bar, a fire station, squash court, swimming pool and 16 hangars as well as administrative buildings, was estimated at R367 500 000.

The report said that the municipality’s integrated development plan noted about the site: “There are only a few strategic land parcels owned by the municipality. This includes the Point, the drive-inn site, the Pavilion site on the beachfront, Virginia Airport, the Centrum site and Block AK. In terms of the need for economic development and job creation, there is a need to review the land policy and change the priority for the allocation of municipal land from housing to economic development,” the plan said. “The relocation of the Virginia Airport and its associated operations would give way to new development opportunities on the current site, which is optimally located and has direct access to the beach,” the plan said.

The city said it had published an advert in terms of a public participation process, which airport users say they were not aware of, to seek comment on its plan for the alienation by lease or sale of Virginia Airport. The city called for public comment in an advertisement placed in its Ezasegagasini newspaper on 23 October 2020. It is not clear where additional advertisements appeared.

Darryl Mann, owner of Aero Natal, which operates two hangars at the airport, said the city’s latest proposal was ‘all utter garbage’ and that the plan to develop the site ‘is not going to happen’. Lynne Ross, spokesperson for Starlight Aviation Group, which runs a professional helicopter and fixed wing pilot training academy and a charter division, said that as far as the firm was aware, none of the airport operators had received any official communication from the municipality or airport management. “The municipality can only move the operators if a suitable alternative is made available. If there is no alternative, we cannot move,” she said. “Virginia Airport offers the only inner-city alternative to King Shaka International Airport, to both corporate business and tourists for local travel to any destination in South Africa,” Ross said.

In terms of the plan the city would retain ownership of the property to capture “the benefit of property regeneration as well as financial benefits” by leasing it at market rates to private investors via long-term leases of up to 50 years. According to the report, the expenditure phase of the development was expected to create around 70 000 jobs.

Mann said the proposed plan was a ‘regurgitation’ of the city’s previous attempts to suggest redevelopment of the site. He said in terms of the Constitution the municipality was obliged to provide the existing airport tenants with an alternative airport site approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority. “If the city is thinking of redeveloping the site why did they advertise a month ago for a five-year contract to manage the airport and for air traffic control services?”

Stuart Louw, who operates a specialised helicopter charter service and training schools at Virginia airport, said he had not seen any advert calling for public comment. “They have squeezed it out and told nobody about it in hope of pushing it through. There is so much luxury accommodation and retail space in the city, yet there is no airport. Most cities in the world are looking for a space to build an airport close to the city centre, but eThekwini are trying to get rid of it,” Louw said.

Asked at what stage the planned proposal was currently, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said another report would be filed before council soon. “The relevant department is currently compiling a report for submission at the next council meeting. Council will make a decision based on the outcome of the public participation process as well as comments from National Treasury. The report is yet to be considered by council; therefore, it is premature to respond at this stage,” he said.

The city said the outcome of the 2018/19 study favoured the long-term lease agreement for ‘a mixed-use development which complements the unique tourism, hospitality, sports, entertainment node’ along the M4 corridor. The study envisaged that the mixed-use node would consider the following development elements:

• A luxurious precinct with residential units and supporting retail, tourism accommodation and leisure activities:
• A luxurious tourist destination with all the urban amenities
• Integration of ocean and port city
• Integration of international event hosting such as auto racing and motor shows
• A vibrant 24-hour city node
• A destination for the local community and international tourist that the city can be proud of.

Also among the proposed developments is the building of a Virginia promenade and a Virginia pier to promote fishing activities, to temper the high-intensity shoreline and as an aesthetic feature that can channel stormwater outflow.

The City of Cape Town wants government to reconsider the earlier curfew as it is compromising the tourism industry and has led to numerous flight cancellations. Late in December several flights were cancelled due to the reintroduced a curfew, which is now between 09h00 to 06h00 for most parts of the country. FlySafair’s Kirby Gordon said: “FlySafair had to cancel fights in December and January as a result of the curfew hours that has been moved slightly earlier. This is to accommodate both customers and staff have time to get home earlier.” Gordon said this did impact on the company’s ability to earn revenue during the usually lucrative December holiday period.

The City of Cape Town’s James Vos said the curfew would cost many jobs and affect thousands of travel plans at a time when the economy could not afford another setback. “Cape Town is heavily reliant on the tourism industry, especially at this time of the year when we need more bums on seats and boxes in the belly.” Vos said it was now important to prevent large numbers of airlines cancelling their flights because the travel and tourism industries would be the hardest hit as arrivals decrease.

• Changes to enable customers to be curfew-compliant with minimal disruption to travel plans
• Flying is safest way to travel

The changes will affect Airlink flights that were originally due to depart prior to 08h00 and arrive after 20h00.  These will be rescheduled to depart as soon after 08h00 as possible and where applicable to arrive before 20h00.  In some instances, flights might be consolidated.  These schedule adjustments will provide customers departing on morning flights with sufficient time to commute to airports and complete the necessary health, security and immigration checks without breaking the curfew.   It will also enable passengers landing on evening flights to complete the arrival procedures and commute to their homes or accommodation by the 21h00 curfew. The adjusted schedule will apply at least until 15 January 2021 when the South African Government is due to review the efficacy of its adjusted Level 3 lockdown restrictions in slowing the rate of COVID-19 infections in hotspot areas. Airlink will communicate schedule changes with holders of tickets for any affected flights.  Customers should also consult the flight schedule on our website https://www.flyairlink.com/flightschedule.  

Late in December, at least five countries and airlines, including Germany and Turkey, are reported to have banned flights from South Africa over the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus. South Africa’s health department said that a new genetic mutation of COVID-19 had been found in the country and may be responsible for a recent surge in infections. Online South African publication Business Insider said that Israel, Turkey, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland had all halted air travel to and from South Africa.

Germany said it planned to impose restrictions on flights from and to South Africa and Britain, where the new strain has also been identified. El Salvador said it was banning travellers who have been in either country in the last 30 days or whose flights included a layover in them. European airline SWISS said it was halting all passenger flights from the two countries. Aviation experts said they expected more airlines and countries to follow suit, at least until more was known.

30 January
SAPFA AGM also at Rand Airport after the rally
Contact Rob Jonkers E-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032

30 & 31 January
Sport Aerobatic Club Gauteng Regionals Vereeniging Airfield
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za

3 February
EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting virtual and MOTH hall
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net Cell: 084 674 5674

5 & 6 February
SAPFA Witbank Speed Rally at Witbank Airfield
Contact Jonty Esser E-mail: jonty@promptroofing.co.za Cell: 082 855 9435

16 to 18 February
Saudi International Airshow Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Contact E-mail: news@saudi-airshow.com Website: www.saudishow.aero

27 February
EAA Chapter 322 drive-in or fly-in night at Jack Taylor Krugersdorp
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net Cell: 084 674 5674

We will show a movie on a giant screen on the airfield. Members can drive in or fly in (camp that night on the field). Planned movie is ‘Flying the Feathered Edge’ with Bob Hoover

3  March
EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting virtual and MOTH hall
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net Cell: 084 674 5674

6 & 7 March
Sport Aerobatic Club Judges Trophy Venue TBA
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za

12 & 13 March
Bethlehem Aero Club event TBA
Contact Stephan Fourie E-mail: fouriesj1491@gmail.com Cell: 072 344 9678

19 and 20 March
FASHKOSH airshow at Stellenbosch airfield
Contact: Anton Theart E-mail: gm@stelfly.co.za Cell: 079 873 4567
Postponed indefinitely 

22 to 25 March
HAI Helicopter Association International La Nouvelle New Orleans Los Angeles USA
Contact E-mail: rotor@rotor.org

24 to 26 March
Aerospace and Defence Trade Show (ATDS 2021) Lanseria International Airport
Contact Louise Olckers (GM) Cell: 082 847 3403

27 March
SAPFA Brakpan Fun Rally at Brakpan Airport
Contact Frank Eckard E-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 269 1516

26 & 27 March
Uitenhage Wings and Wheels
Contact Lourens Kruger E-mail: imk@telkomsa.net Cell: 082 320 2615

3 April
Garden Route Airshow at George Airport
Contact Brett Scheuble E-mail: info@gardenrouteairshow.co.za Cell: 084 418 3836

7 April
EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting virtual and MOTH hall
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net Cell: 084 674 5674

17 April
Robertson Flying Club annual breakfast fly-in with spot landing competition
Contact Alwyn du Plessis E-mail: boeredata@breede.co.za Cell: 083 270 5888

17 & 18 April
Sports Aerobatics Club Eastern Cape Regionals Wings Park Airfield
Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za

15 & 17 April
SAPFA Rally Nationals and Fun Rally – Stellenbosch Airfield
Contact Frank Eckard E-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 269 1516

21 & 22 April
Aviation Africa Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda
Website: www.aviationafrica.aero
Contact Alison Weller Tel: +44 7501 185255 E-mail: alison@accessgroup.aero
Postponed until 7 and 8 July 2021

21 & 24 April
AERO Friedrichshafen Germany Global show for General Aviation
Website: www.AERO-EXPO.com
Contact Stephan E-mail: Stephanie.keller@messe-fn.de

24 & 27 April
Aero Club Airweek at Middelburg Airfield
Contact Rob Jonkers E-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za Cell: 082 804 7032

27 April
SAPFA Middelburg Speed Rally at Middelburg Airfield
Contact Jonty Esser E-mail: jonty@promptroofing.co.za Cell: 082 855 9435

Aviation Africa will move to new dates of 7 and 8 July 2021 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. Organisers TIMES Aerospace said: “We believe and hope that with the arrival of the vaccine, the COVID-19 virus will have declined sufficiently that people can have the confidence to travel and attend live events by the second half of 2021.

From 17 December, Royal Zambian Airlines started its service to Johannesburg from Lusaka four times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. For Zambia, this means a busy airport with increased traffic flows which in-turn means more airport taxes and activity in the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. Royal Air Charters has been flying locally yet its strategy started to evolve as disease pandemic effects heightened when there was need to fly into jurisdictions on charter basis to ferry citizens back home. One of these areas was South Africa the worst hit African nation. RAC took the initiative further to introduce permanent flights into Africa’s most industrialised nation, tapping into the demand that initially was serviced by airlines such as South African Airways (SAA) that is since grappling with liquidity and solvency issues.

Apparently one reindeer short of maintaining flight, a man dressed as Santa crashed his powered parachute into power lines on late in December. Santa held fast while Sacramento fire and rescue brought him safely to ground. According to local reports, the incident happened after he ‘took off near a school in Rio Linda to deliver candy canes to children in his community.’

Colleen Bousliman, who lives nearby, told local reporters that he flies overhead often. “He flies just around so people can see and flies around people’s houses,” she said. “This was the first time he was in his Santa suit.” Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District spokesman Chris Vestal noted that some 200 residents lost power while he was extracted from the wires. “It is unfortunate, but we all need to remember that there is still a lot of good out in the world, there are people doing good things and to look at the brightness of the holiday season,” Vestal told the local news.

On Saturday 2 January South African National Parks (SANParks) Airbus AS350B-3+ (Squirrel) helicopter was damaged after losing control during take-off from Cape Town International Airport this morning. According to the statement issued by SANParks, the pilot who was flying alone during the incident only suffered minor injuries and received medical attention. The helicopter is based in Cape Town to assist with aerial law enforcement and conservation management operations in the Table Mountain National Park and surrounding areas. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the relevant law enforcement authorities have been notified of the accident and a full investigation into the cause of the accident will be launched.

An Airbus A320 aircraft, operated by Colombia’s flag carrier Avianca, collided with a ‘pyrotechnic balloon’ mid-air, triggering an emergency landing after the aircraft got entangled in tinsel. The incident unfolded above Bogota overnight when the airliner flying from Orlando, Florida to Colombia’s capital city. It was not immediately clear whether the balloon was carrying any actual fireworks, but online footage circulating shows it did turn out to be packed with tinsel. Long strings of colourful plastic got wrapped around the aircraft’s tail, whilst some apparently got into one of its engines. The collision prompted an emergency landing and the plane’s crew managed to safely bring the aircraft to the ground. Reports have not revealed if the aircraft sustained any damage.

The incident occurred when Delta’s Airbus A321 jet was taxiing for a take-off from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York on 21 December 2020. Other passengers told local media that one of the passengers, who boarded the plane with a female companion and a dog, started acting unruly after the jet began moving. The man stood up during the taxiing and refused to carry out a flight attendant’s order to sit down, complaining of post-traumatic stress disorder. The flight attendant asked the man to take a seat once more, but the unruly passenger did not follow the cabin crew’s order and walked toward the front galley of the plane instead. A few seconds later the aircraft came to an abrupt halt and the flight crew alerted the passengers that the man decided to open the exit and an emergency slide inflated.

According to local media, after an emergency slide was activated, two passengers, the man and his female companion, took their dog and slid out of the aircraft. The couple were taken to custody. After returning to the gate, the maintenance crew evaluated the jet and it was returned to service. Meanwhile, other passengers were placed on alternative flights. 

The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight, as the Cessna 172 approached to land at the airport in Ormond Beach, Florida, he flared too early, before reaching ground effect. Instead of performing a go-around, he pitched the airplane nose down, which resulted in a hard landing on the nosewheel. The airplane bounced and landed back on the main wheels before coming to a stop on the runway. After shutdown, the student and instructor noticed damage to the firewall and lower fuselage.

The pilot reported that, after he completed an aerial observation flight, he decided to conduct a simulated engine-out approach to an open field near Elk, California. When the Cessna 175 was about 40 feet above ground level, he aborted the approach by applying full engine power and elevator back pressure. The descent was not immediately arrested, but the airplane seemed to be accelerating. As the airplane continued to descend, it slipped left and the left main landing gear hit a bush, which induced more left yaw and loss of lift. Subsequently, the wing hit vegetation and terrain, then cartwheeled and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, he noticed an increase in cylinder head temperature on two cylinders in the Mooney M20K. Although he attempted to reduce the temperatures, he soon heard ‘an explosion’ and noted a hole in the engine cowling. He conducted a forced landing to a golf course near Paramus, N.J. During the landing roll, the airplane hit a berm, became airborne again and hit the ground, resulting in the landing gear collapsing and substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot and one of his passengers received minor injuries.

The engine was examined at the manufacturer’s facility under NTSB supervision. The examination revealed that the engine case was breached over the No. 2 cylinder. The oil sump was removed and metallic debris was noted. The oil filter was removed and disassembled, whilst metal was noted in the filter. The oil pump was examined and scoring was noted inside the pump housing. The crankcase was split and the No. 1 connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft, whilst the Nos. 1 and 2 connecting rods exhibited thermal discoloration. Further examination of the mating surfaces of the main bearing saddles had remnants of silk thread around the through-bolt holes.

The break-away torque was measured for the through-bolts on the engine. Eight out of the 12 through bolt torque values were below the manufacturer’s recommended torque values. The through bolts associated with the Nos. 2 and 3 main bearings and measured between 172 in-lbs and 395 in-lbs, which was below the manufacturer specification of 590-610 in-lbs of torque. The No. 2 main bearing saddles exhibited impingement damage and the No. 2 bearing was partially rotated clockwise, which blocked the oil passage to the connecting rod bearings.

The engine manufacturer published a Service Information Letter (SIL), ‘Sealants, Lubricants and Adhesives Authorized by CMI’ in 1999 (revised 16 September 2014). This guidance, which was applicable at the time of the engine’s overhaul, stated that when reassembling the crankcase halves, maintenance personnel should ‘…apply and position P/N 641543 (a continuous, single piece of grade ‘D’ silk thread on the 2-4-6 case half as specified (see Figures 5 through 8). Ensure the free ends of the  thread are covered by gaskets (except the nose oil seal).’

The Continental Aircraft Engine Maintenance Manual, ‘Six Cylinder Engine Crankcase Threading,’ which was released in April 2016, just after the engine overhaul, stated, ‘Do not apply any form of sealant to the crankcase cylinder deck, chamfer, cylinder mounting flange, cylinder base O-ring, or cylinder fastener threads. The use of RTV, silicone, Gasket Maker or any other sealant on the areas listed above during engine assembly will cause a loss of cylinder deck stud or through-bolt torque. Subsequent loss of cylinder attachment load, loss of main bearing crush and / or fretting of the crankcase parting surfaces will occur. The result will be cylinder separation, main bearing movement, oil starvation and catastrophic engine failure.’

On 27 December 2020, the US president Donald Trump signed the $900 billion stimulus package that would provide US airlines with a $15 billion state aid. The $15 billion would help US airlines to recall furloughed workers and pay the employee wages and benefits. The air carriers eligible for the state aid must agree to avoid layoffs or reduced pay rates until 31 March 2021. This would allow the return of more than 32,000 workers who were furloughed in October 2020.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) was planning on furloughing 6,828 employees in the spring of 2021, which would have been a first in the company’s 50-year history. Since the stimulus bill was signed, airline’s CEO Gary Kelly said the company will not need to force any employee cuts for the entirety of 2021. “Given this, we currently do not anticipate the need to conduct any furloughs or pay cuts next year,” Kelly announced in a letter to workers. United said it would recall its 13,000 furloughed workers, but according to the company’s CEO Scott Kirby those call-backs would be ‘temporary’ due to a low demand. Previously airlines received $25 billion under the CARES Act in March 2020. The aid helped them to pay staff and avoid job cuts until October 2020. In November 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that North American carriers saw a 91.3% traffic decline in September 2020. North American airlines have lost more than $36 billion in 2020.

JetBlue has formally taken delivery of its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft, marking the start of a new era for the airline’s fleet. The aircraft arrived at JetBlue’s home at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) over the weekend from Airbus’s US production facility in Mobile, Alabama. It is the first delivery of 70 A220 aircraft JetBlue has on order, which will be phased in to ultimately replace the existing fleet of 60 Embraer 190 aircraft. The A220 boasts a nearly 30 percent lower direct operating cost per seat than the current E190. The A220 fleet will also help to further reset JetBlue’s maintenance costs well into the decade. The airline anticipates the A220 fleet, with improved reliability and longer maintenance intervals, will have a maintenance cost per seat that is more than 40 percent lower than E190s. The A220 is powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which reportedly deliver double-digit improvements in fuel and carbon emissions.

It was reported that EASA rejected PIA’s proposal for provisional permission to resume its Europe operations and announced that the ban would only be lifted after a safety audit by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). PIA flights to the EU were suspended due to safety concerns for a period of six months in July 2020.

“We have asked EASA that they can conduct a safety audit of PIA, free from CAA and in the meantime grant us provisional permission,” a senior PIA official told the Dawn Newspaper, adding that the agency responded it could not issue such a permission. “Consequently, as all preconditions to lift the suspension are not met and, as an audit will be necessary, the agency decided not to revoke your Third Country Operator Authorisation but to extend the suspension period by additional three months,” read EASA’s response letter to PIA. 

Pakistan International Airlines was suspended from operating in the US, EU and a number of other countries after the crash of PIA flight PK8303, when the airline’s crew was found guilty of the accident. Following the crash, the airline found itself in the epi-center of the fake license scandal in the country. It was revealed that as many as 262 Pakistani pilots out of 860 active pilots had questionable credentials to operate aircraft.

According to an anonymous source quoted by Russian state news agency TASS, in late November 2020, a single serial jet was transferred to the military. According to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, ten pre-production prototypes were transferred to the Air Force as well. It is Russia’s first fighter jet of the fifth generation, as well as its first stealth aircraft. It is intended to rival the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor, the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II and the Chengdu J-20, wielded by NATO and Chinese militaries. The prototype of Su-57 first flew in 2010. The first serial production aircraft was completed in 2019 but crashed later the same year. Four more Su-57s are to be built and delivered in 2021. In total, Russian Air Force (a branch of Russian Aerospace Forces) is set to receive 76 new jets by 2027.

NATO air forces announced that around 90% of its air missions across Europe in 2020 were conducted in response to flights operated by Russian military aircraft. The alliance has scrambled fighters more than 400 times across Europe in 2020 to intercept the unknown aircraft in its airspace, according to a NATO statement released on 28 December 2020. Around 350 missions out of 400 were related to flights made by Russian defence aircraft. Alliance air forces outlined that if compared to 2019, Russian military activities in the NATO airspace have slightly increased in 2020. “This is a moderate increase from 2019. Russian military aircraft often do not transmit a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, do not file a flight plan, or do not communicate with air traffic controllers, posing a potential risk to civilian airliners, “read the statement.

Bombardier announced a firm order for 10 Challenger 350 aircraft in a transaction valued at $267 million, based on 2020 list prices. “This order highlights the tremendous value customers place on the unmatched capabilities of our aircraft,” said Éric Martel, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier Inc. “Bombardier’s newly refreshed portfolio and growing service network position the company well to respond to growing interest in private aviation and the enhanced safety it provides.”

In November 2020, despite the COVID19 repercussions and with all safety precautions in place, the Hy4 hydrogen powered hybrid-electric aircraft successfully flew from Maribor airport, in Slovenia, achieving a landmark milestone for the MAHEPA project and for the future of clean aviation. By demonstrating technologies and showcasing that long-endurance and safe zero-emission flights are possible, MAHEPA is creating the technological foundation to enable clean, quiet, safe and sustainable flight; making Europe Green Deal’s goals related to aviation one step closer to reality.

With the renovated and optimized fuel cell system technology developed in MAHEPA and in strong cooperation with multiple national projects, the Hy4 became the most powerful hydrogen fuel cell driven aircraft ever made, directly flying into the next era of air transport. First qualification tests and data dissemination show that the full redundant Hy4 powertrain architecture allows an upscaling of the modular technology.

MAHEPA consortium of Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, Compact Dynamics, DLR, H2Fly, Politecnico di Milano, TU Delft, University of Maribor and University of Ulm is again demonstrating a pioneering direction towards cleaner air transport in Europe, which will be supported by novel technologies developed in the project.

The lively debate over the existence of an actual ‘jetpack man’ frequenting the airspace around Los Angeles took a turn for the real at the end of December and now sceptics and believers alike have video to pore over. What is more, the video was shot from the air by a pilot who is not saying which side of the debate he or she is on. Sling Aviation Academy, of Torrance, released the video shot by one of its instructors while on a training flight with a student. It shows something that certainly looks like a person in a jetpack flying over Palos Verdes at about 3,000 feet.

“The video appears to show a jet pack, but it could also be a drone or some other object,” the flight school says in the description of the video. “If it is a ‘person in a jet pack’ then it remains to be seen whether it is a legal test flight or related to the jet pack sightings near LAX recently that caused disruptions to air traffic.” A couple of airline crews reported seeing something that looked like a “person in a jetpack” near LAX over the summer but the circumstances have tech-minded sceptics shooting down the notion. Any jetpacks that we know about fly close to the ground because their endurance is so short. The airline crew reports showed the object even higher than the Sling Aviation sighting so the prevailing naysaying commenters are putting their money on a conventional electric fan drone all dressed up as Ironman.

The FAA has released final rules for Unmanned Aircraft (UA), commonly known as drones. The new rules will require Remote Identification (Remote ID) of drones and allow operators of small drones to fly over people and at night under certain conditions. These rules come at a time when drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector; with currently over 1.7 million drone registrations and 203,000 FAA-certificated remote pilots. Remote ID will help mitigate risks associated with expanded drone operations, such as flights over people and at night and both rules support technological and operational innovation and advancements.

“These final rules carefully address safety, security and privacy concerns while advancing opportunities for innovation and utilisation of drone technology,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. Airspace awareness reduces the risk of drone interference with other aircraft and people and property on the ground. Equipping drones with Remote ID technology builds on previous steps taken by the FAA and the drone industry to integrate operations safely into the national airspace system. Part 107 of the federal aviation regulations currently prohibits covered drone operations over people and at night unless the operator obtains a waiver from the FAA. The new FAA regulations jointly provide increased flexibility to conduct certain small UAS without obtaining waiver. “The new rules make way for the further integration of drones into our airspace by addressing safety and security concerns,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “They get us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as the delivery of packages.”

The Remote ID rule applies to all operators of drones that require FAA registration. There are three ways to comply with the operational requirements:

• Operate a standard Remote ID drone that broadcasts identification and location information of the drone and control station
• Operate a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module (may be a separate device attached to the drone), which broadcasts identification, location and take-off information; or
• Operate a drone without Remote ID but at specific FAA-recognised identification areas.
• The Operations Over People and at Night rule applies to Part 107 operators. The ability to fly over people and moving vehicles varies depending on the level of risk a small drone operation presents to people on the ground.

The final rule requires that small drone operators have their remote pilot certificate and identification in their physical possession when operating, ready to present to authorities if needed. This rule also expands the class of authorities who may request these forms from a remote pilot. The final rule replaces the requirement to complete a recurrent test every 24 calendar months with the requirement to complete updated recurrent training that includes operating at night in identified subject areas. Both rules will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Remote ID rule includes two compliance dates. Drone manufacturers will have 18 months to begin producing drones with Remote ID, with operators having an additional year to start using drones with Remote ID.

Transport Canada has ordered Elbit Systems Hermes 900 Starliner, an Israeli long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. The order is part of the National Aerial Surveillance Programme, under which the government aims to integrate drone technology into Canadian airspace for environmental monitoring purposes. The Canadian government awarded a $36.16 million contract to Elbit Systems for the acquisition of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). The deal includes one remotely piloted aerial vehicle Hermes 900, the optional purchase of spare parts as well as ground control stations and necessary sensor packages.

Following the agreement, Elbit Systems will deliver its Hermes 900 Starliner as an additional air vehicle to the existing Transport Canada’s National Aerial Surveillance Programme fleet by December 2022. The recent Transport Canada’s investment should help Canadian authorities to complete the environmental monitoring work to protect local endangered species and marine environment.

According to the manufacturer, Hermes 900 Starliner could be controlled from a remote-control station while having autopilot capabilities applicable for automatic take-off and landing procedures. The unmanned aerial vehicle is capable to operate beyond the visual line of sight with a flying range reaching up to 1,400 nautical miles (2593 kilometres). Thanks to technical specifications Canadian authorities will be able to use the vehicle for monitoring activities on the ocean in Canada’s Arctic as well as for oil spills detection and ice and marine habitats examination.

Should you miss out on any edition of APAnews, please visit the website: www.africanpilot.co.za and click on the APAnews link on the front page. All past weekly APAnews publications have been archived on the website.

Until Thursday, please be ‘Serious about flying’.

Athol Franz (Editor)