NOVEMBER 2024

November sees strong growth in aircraft registrations with 16 additions, but 10 aircraft are cancelled as exported. The Type Certified additions are a mixed bag.

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NEW REGISTRATIONS

First off is a 37-year old first-generation Bombardier (or should that be Canadair) Challenger 600S, ZS-FAA (1030). It is rather odd that it is only now shown in this month's updates as it was noted at Wonderboom Airport in November 2022 with this registration applied and where it remained until flown to Lanseria Airport in November - probably for some maintenance as it had not flown during the past two years.

This jet was delivered new to the Royal Canadian Air Force in February 1987 where it was given the type designation CC-144. It was initially configured as an electronic support trainer and operated by 414 Squadron at CFB North Bay. It was withdrawn from RCAF service in 2000 and in February 2001 sold to a new American owner and registered N60S, It would later also take up the registrations N630BB and N721ST before it was imported to South Africa in 2015 and registered ZS-SKC. It was operated by the Angolan construction company Crisgunza and then took up Angolan registry as D2-SKC. It did not stay there long and eventually returned to South Africa. It would seem there is some life yet in this old lady and I await with interest to see what the next chapter in her life brings.

Incidentally the 'S' designation indicates the addition of winglets to the base model 600.

The next addition is a 2016 model King Air 350i Fusion ZS-DYA (FL-1072). This formerly British registered plane (G-SRMB) was imported by Ascend Aviation. It arrived on delivery at Lanseria International Airport on 14 October having ferried from Bournemouth routing via Kefalonia, Luxor, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam and Harare.

Third up is an Air Tractor AT402B ZS-MFE.