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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
KERMIT WEEKS
Kermit Weeks acquires unique Boeing Stratoliner houseboat
7 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
VEKTOR AVIATION'S insight into the SOUTH AFRICAN AVIATION industry
During the first week of March it was all engines firing for Vektor Aviation as the company hosted a team of Lockton and London-based underwriters. This was the first time that some of these brokers and London-based underwriters have been hosted by Vektor to geta better insight into the South African aviation industry. Their exposure to the South African aviation industry included visits to various clients in Gauteng and North West as well as to Lanseria and Wonderboom airports.
3 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
GLOBAL HELICOPTER SALES IN 2023
Deliveries in the rotorcraft segment rose by nearly 10 percent last year compared to 2022. The turbinepowered category showed even better performance with its 753 deliveries equating to a 10.4 percent boost.
1 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
LOCKHEED MARTIN 35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb
The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.
2 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
ENSTROM Helicopter Corporation
With crisp handling, well-appointed features, incredibly smooth ride, beautiful style and roomy interior, Enstrom’s line of helicopters offers the attributes of the ultimate luxury sports car and for an unexpectedly affordable price.
1 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
POLIKARPOV I-16
Rare POLIKARPOV I-16 flies again in SPAIN
3 min |
April 2024
African Pilot
CABRI G2
Helicopteres Guimbal was founded late-2000, with the purpose of developing and certifying the two-seat helicopter Cabri G2.
1 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 |
April 2024
SA Flyer Magazine
Flying Cars A fool and his money...
There is a hoary old adage - that you can fool most of the people most of the time. And that's enough to raise lots of money for screwball ideas. The Pegasus, a VTOL business jet that is nothing more than a computer graphic comes to mind.
6 min |