African Pilot
FACT FILE - THE UNCONVENTIONAL, BIZARRE BELL AIRACUDA
Larry Bell, founder of the Bell Aircraft Corp., now known as Bell Helicopter, entered the aircraft manufacturing industry with a unique bang. After dropping out of high school in 1912, Bell worked for various aircraft companies, including Martin and Consolidated, before starting his own company in 1935.
3 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
The design and implementation of glass cockpit avionics upgrades for Cessna 425s
For more than 45 years, Century Avionics have been helping pilots safely navigate the skies by upgrading, installing, maintaining and supporting aircraft avionics to enhance functionality and experience a,deep passion for the wonders of flight.
3 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Piasecki steps up development of HYDROGENPOWERED PA-890 HELICOPTER
Piasecki Aircraft Corp is stepping up its plans to bring a hydrogen-powered helicopter to market by the end of the decade. Development work that has been significantly boosted by support from the US Air Force now involves the evolution of a 660-kilowatt test rig for the propulsion system into an iron bird unit that will pave the way for a full-scale prototype the company aims to start flying in 2028.
3 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Japan Coast Guard boosts fleet with additional H225 order
The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has placed an additional order for three H225 helicopters, increasing its total H225 fleet to 18. As the largest Super Puma operator in Japan, the Coast Guard received three H225s in December 2023 and one in February 2024 to bolster its expanding fleet. These new helicopters will support territorial coastal activities, maritime law enforcement and disaster relief missions across the country.
3 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
BEST OF THE BEST - THE DE HAVILLAND MUSEUM
Situated just outside the centre of London the de Havilland Museum is to be found and although small and compact it is an absolute joy, celebrating as it does the exploits of one of Britain's foremost aviation pioneers, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland an aircraft designer of some repute who left an incredible legacy, and made a massive impact on aircraft design and production in the early part of the 20th century.
6 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Business Aviation Trends in 2024
From the relentless quest for greener aviation, to revolutionary technological advances, regulatory challenges and postpandemic health safety imperatives, the business aviation landscape is in a state of flux.
7 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
DART Aeronautical Cessna 182 panel upgrade
This relatively new Cessna 182 underwent a complete panel upgrade from its original equipment analogue instruments to a complete digital ‘glass cockpit’ over the space of six weeks.
5 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Building an autonomous business jet
A vision of an artificial intelligence piloted business jet was presented to the world last October by Embraer, while in recent years autonomous piloting in specific circumstances has become a reality. Two companies, Cirrus and HondaJet now offer an autonomous flight feature for emergencies. For several years before these recent developments, the aviation industry had been debating reduced or no pilot operations.
6 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Five of the most expensive private jets in the world
When modern jetliners came into existence, only a few privileged wealthy people would get onboard an aircraft. But half a century later, more people have access to air travel than we might have imagined.
4 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
30th edition of AERO Friedrichshafen attracts more than 31,000 visitors
The 30th AERO will not only be remembered as an anniversary edition, but also as a trade fair with a particularly large number of innovations and premieres. With 31,500 visitors from 81 nations, the numbers were significantly higher than the previous year’s edition and the proportion of pilots among visitors increased once again. The AERO Drones, the AERO Gliding Expo and the AERO Career Days proved their worth.
6 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
SACAA's National Aviation Conference 2024
I spent Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April attending National Aviation Conference hosted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) staged at the CSIR Conference Centre in Pretoria. As you can see from the attached pictures the conference was very well attended and I was impressed by the programme and the quality of the various speakers including the four discussion panels.
8 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Sun 'n Fun airshow 50th anniversary
The opening day of the 50th annual Sun 'n Fun began with amazing airshow performances, exhibits, a career fair, workshops, forums, good food a concert and movies. This year's event took place between 9 and 14 April at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida.
8 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
PILATUS PC-24
The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Following the PC-12 single turboprop success, work on the jet project started in 2007 for greater range and speed.
4 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
HONDAJET
Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft Company is the latest venture in Honda's drive to enhance the freedom of mobility.
2 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Absolute Service Centre AMO 173
As the only Textron Aviation authorised service facility on the African Continent and the oldest Cessna authorised service facility outside the USA since 1964, Absolute’s Service Centre has also been awarded representation for the Beechcraft and Textron eAviation Pipistrel portfolio. Absolute Service Centre (ASC) is the African regional representatives of the worldwide Textron 1CALL hotline support network. The management team at the Absolute Service Centre is proud of its heritage and long-standing support and representation of Textron Aviation products.
3 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
Spatial distortion
On Wednesday, 20 December 2023, a pilot and two transmission line workers on-board a Bell 407 helicopter with registration ZS-RXO took off from Majuba Venus Power Station landing zone (LZ) in KwaZulu-Natal province to conduct aerial work on the T299 mast (a section of Majuba Venus Power Station). The pilot intended to land back at the departure landing zone.
7 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
End of an era: Final four Air India Boeing 747s leave the carrier's fleet
After over a quarter of a century, the last four Boeing 747400s have finally left Air India's fleet.According to the carrier, the four-remaining aircraft, the oldest of which dates back to 1993, have been sold to a US company that specialises in the sale of used aircraft, spare parts and jet engines. One of the aircraft was acquired by the airline in 1993, one in 1994 and the remaining two in 1996.
2 min |
May 2024
African Pilot
GNSS JAMMING AND SPOOFING EVENTS PRESENT A GROWING DANGER
Last year, reports that fake signals were jeopardising aircraft navigation systems spiked in the area over the Black Sea. First reported by security intelligence organisation OpsGroup, the reports cited false or jammed global navigation satellite system GNSS) signals, affecting the US global positioning system GPS) civil signals, causing aircraft navigation systems to show missing or inaccurate position information.
8 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
A-10 demonstration team announces its final season
After more than four decades of performing around the world, the US Air Force A-10C demonstration team announced that 2024 will be its final season. The 355th Wing located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona said the decision was a part of the Air Force’s divestment of the A-10 Thunderbolt Il, affectionately known as the Warthog.
2 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
AVIC'S AC332 LIGHT TWIN HELICOPTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic announced the first flight of its light-twin AC332 helicopter in Tianjin.
1 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
HILL HELICOPTER HX50
The arrival of Hill Helicopter’s HX50 is set to shake up the world of general aviation, with some of the most interesting technological developments seen in decades.
2 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES to expand widebody fleet with up to 20 Boeing 777X airliners
With commitment for eight 777-9s and up to 12 more, Ethiopian Airlines is the first African customer for highly fuel-efficient 777X passenger jet.
3 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
STELLENBOSCH AIRSHOW 2024
The Stellenbosch Airfield, home for the Stellenbosch Flying Club SFC) is widely regarded as one of the finest airfields in South Africa. Located amongst the vineyards of the region's wine lands and having the Hottentots Hollands mountains as a backdrop verifies this view. With this picturesque environment the SFC airshow is also considered as one of the must attend’ airshows. With a strong support from the SFC membership who display their varied and seldom seen outside the region, personal aircraft adds to the variety of aircraft adds to this statement.
3 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
EMBRAER'S PHENOM 300
The Phenom leads the business jet industry in twinjet deliveries and is the world's best-selling light jet for 12 consecutive years
1 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
AERO CLUB of South Africa AIRWEEK 2024
Once again, the annual Aero Club of South Africa’s AeCSA) Airweek 2024 was hosted by the Middelburg Aero Club from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March. AeCSA’s annual Airweek was staged earlier this year in anticipation of fine weather, which turned out to be the case throughout the weekend. Without doubt Airweek is the most important General Aviation event on the South African calendar because this event brings all the sections of the AeCSA together on one airfield over a two-day period, whilst the Experimental Aircraft Association EAA) South Africa hosts its national convention at the same time.
5 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
WHO IS TO BLAME FOR SAA'S FAILED PRIVATISATION?
Following the announcement on Wednesday 12 March 2024 by Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan that the Takatso transaction had been cancelled, several pertinent questions arise: Who is to blame? What does it mean for SAA? What does it mean for future privatisations?
6 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. It has maintained a presence in South Africa since 1994. Airbus Southern Africa Pty) Ltd is a one-roof entity shared services), incorporating Airbus Commercial, Helicopters and Defence Space and has its South African headquarters at Grand Central Airport in Midrand, South Africa.
7 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
PC-12 SILENT 7 PROPELLER Now with improv ved certified take off performance
Due to the smaller diameter the seven-bladed MT-Propeller for the Pilatus PC-12 has more ground clearance for less blade tip erosion and FODs.
2 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
HAI HELI-EXPO 20024 EXPERIENCES RECORD-BREAKIING ATTENDANCE
This year’s event staged between 26 and 29 February included the announcement that the show's producer, Helicopter Association International HAI), was rebranding as Vertical Aviation International VAI). VAI is the world’s leading membership association dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, which encompasses all aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing.
10+ min |
April 2024
African Pilot
EAA Young Aviators March meeting
On Saturday 2 March I witnessed firsthand the incredible rej Jyenation of General Aviation where younger people, mostly studying for their pilot's licences that has also brought considerable diversity to the membership of the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) and specifically Johannesburg Chapter 322.
2 min |