Global Aviator
Off Script Instructors
We all have that yearly, sometimes twice yearly, check with an instructor. Be it a PPL renewal or a more sophisticated professional license with instrument rating review. It’s a process we must all endure to stay proficient and within the standards required.
4 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Husky battles Cub
For years my home airport was the domain of the Piper Cub. This is, until recently when two similar Husky's joined the fleets of two separate rental companies. If, like me, you've become quite addicted to the Piper Cub you simply cannot escape any comparative research. A trained spotter has to do his best to distinguish between the two types, so how big a difference can it be for a pilot?
5 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
DHL Global Forwarding is investing R127-million in a new facility in Johannesburg
Aimed at cementing its position in South Africa, the new 13 000 m2 facility will be located within the bonded zone at Skyparks Business Estate, next to the OR Tambo International Airport.
1 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, Inc. adds Cargo Director and a new Northeast office in USA
Expanding its international operations, Chapman Freeborn is growing to meet the increasing demands of the air charter sector and support existing customers in the US market.
4 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
CH-53K completes first sea trials
The CH-53K King Stallion was seen working in a modern naval environment for the first time in early January when it completed a two-week period of sea trials in the Atlantic.
4 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Extreme Flight Hooked By A Stall
Patrick McAlee, airline pilot, airshow pilot extraordinaire and owner of Extreme Flight, experienced his first flight at the tender age of five years old when his father rented an Aeronca Champ to fly to the EAA AirVenture Fly-in at OshKosh. He did a stall, which Patrick says he still remembers vividly! It both scared and hooked him at the same time!
4 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Maldives - More Popular Than Ever
Ravaged by a tsunami the islands took eight years to recover but are now more popular than ever.
10 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Belgium Says Goodbye To Its Loyal Workhorse
As in many other countries and air forces, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules has also been the workhorse within the Belgian Air Force for many years. This military transport aircraft has proven its value several times during numerous military missions and humanitarian deployments and was an essential part of military logistics and tactical transport within the Belgian armed forces
7 min |
February 2021
Global Aviator
Royal Flying Doctor Service adds FlightSafety's MissionFit® to its Pilatus PC-12NG training programme
FlightSafety has been selected by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Central Operations to provide a MissionFit® Flight Training Device for use in its Pilatus PC-12NG pilot training programme.
2 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
Zanzibar: A journey into ancient times
Centuries ago, Zanzibar was an important area for the spice trade, first with the Arab world from around the eleventh century, before falling under the rule of Arab sultans who reigned over the islands and with the local Swahili.
10+ min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
WOOD
Think about your favourite aviation museum – anywhere in the world, then remember the oldest aeroplane there. Almost certainly, that aeroplane will have been substantially made out of wood. It doesn’t matter where in the world you were, it was – with a certain amount of steel, aluminium alloy, and fabric, the material of choice
5 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
EJECT! EJECT!
In a grim reminder of the risks associated with flying over sea, an Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter crashed at about 16h30 on 26 November, 2020, reportedly soon after take-off from “mother”.
7 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
A HERO DEPARTED
How does one say a befitting farewell to a human being who achieved true legendary status? How does a fellow human find the right words without falling back on cliché and fable? Well, I’ll tell you, it’s tough and in most circumstances it’s nigh impossible but this is my version of a gentleman, a decorated military veteran, a friend, a farmer, a husband and my Father.
2 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
Vertigo Can Bite
It’s not easy to admit having succumbed to such a serious bout of vertigo that it brought me and a fellow crew member to within seconds of losing our lives. However, if by telling the story others are cautioned against making the same mistake, then too bad about the shame of it.
5 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
Spidertracks Announces Sponsorship
Spidertracks has announced its partnership with Eco Helicopters (“Eco”), which recently launched its Ecomax™ on-demand urban air mobility service. Based on the EcoMax™ all-electric helicopter, EcoMax™ urban air mobility will commence in early 2021.
2 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
2020 Royal Black Hawk Exercise
This year was the eighth time the 1st Regiment of Artillery of Bourogne had organised the "Royal Black Hawk 2020" exercise held in the vicinity of Belfort and its surrounding areas, and lasting for about two weeks. More than 400 soldiers and a dozen combat helicopters participated in this life-size exercise.
4 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
Lockheed Martin Flies Mission-enabling Kubernetes Onboard U-2
The U-2 flew a Kubernetes cloud that connected in-flight to a ground node, extending the U-2’s network-of-networks connectivity.
3 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
Hi Fly Bids Farewell To Its A380
On 17 December Hi Fly said goodbye to the A380 by drawing a heart in the sky as a final tribute to the Mirpuri Foundation and the “Save the Coral Reefs” campaign, raising awareness of the need to protect the world’s oceans.
2 min |
January 2021
Global Aviator
LICENCES
It’s generally accepted that the baseline qualification for professional pilots worldwide is the CPL/IR, or Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating.
6 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
The Yakolev Yak-130
The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light fighter originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi as the "Yakovlev-Aermacchi Yak-130/AEM-130"
4 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
Tef's Test
So that time of the year rolls around again, well actually a bit longer than a year due to the 'Chinese' flu. I eventually am allowed to complete a renewal of my license without the fear of interacting with the public and hence bursting into flames.
2 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
HX50 Revolution: A HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW COST HELICOPTER
Hill Helicopters, whose concept has been under study since 2007, regards its HX50 helicopter as the best type of personal helicopter – crafted on field-proven engineering, state-of-the-art manufacturing and iconic British design. The HX50 has been introduced by Hill as “a first of its kind platform, every minute detail has been elaborately crafted to deliver a helicopter specifically focused on the needs of private owners”. It will be able to carry five passengers and luggage with ease.
5 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
BAIL OUT! BAIL OUT!
When a young naval instructor and his pupil — a trainee flight cadet from Indian Air Force — marched across the tarmac to their aircraft on 21 November 2003, little did they know they would be ‘walking the wing’ a few minutes later.
9 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
Collins Aerospace And Boom Supersonic Sign Strategic Collaboration
Collins Aerospace Systems has signed a collaboration agreement with Boom Supersonic to advance nacelle technology on Boom’s forthcoming flagship supersonic airliner, Overture.
1 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
Wright Flyer III
Two years after building their first aeroplane, the Wright brothers built and flew their first practical aircraft.
3 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
Mi-28NE 'Night Super Hunter'
Andrei Boginsky, Russian Helicopters’ CEO on 24 November, confirmed that serial production of the military helicopter had been launched. It was primarily designed to search for, and destroy low-speed air targets, tanks, armoured and non-armoured vehicles, low-speed aerial targets destruction, air reconnaissance, and target designation for other helicopters and aircraft. as well as enemy manpower in daytime and at night, in all weather conditions.
4 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
MRO Providers Are Forced To Be More Efficient Than Ever Before
There is no denying that COVID-19 shook the aviation from the ground up. Many businesses dependant on aviation had to downsize or change their plans immensely to stay in the industry. MRO businesses are not different and are already seeing a chain of changes affecting both customers and providers.
1 min |
December 2020
Global Aviator
ROSOBORONEXPORT Presents the Orlan-10E versatile unmanned aircraft system
The Orlan-10E has become one of the first Russian modern tactical unmanned aircraft systems to successfully undergo all tests with the Russian Ministry of Defence and enter service with the Russian Land Forces and airborne troops. The system has proven its reliability and effectiveness during numerous operations in various weather conditions.
2 min |
November 2020
Global Aviator
CAUTION WIRE STRIKE!
One of the numerous risks posed to helicopters that operate in a medium stretching from ground to a few thousand feet is the abundance of wires. Starting from the local cable guy who runs cables across the street to the farmer who wants to zipline his produce across valleys, to the high-voltage power lines that criss-cross the countryside, wires are an omnipresent hazard to low-flying choppers. Often invisible to the naked eye till it is too late, wire strikes claim a few helicopters and their crews every year. Here’s an example from my personal recollection.
6 min |
November 2020
Global Aviator
300th Advanced Light Helicopter Rolls Out Of Indian Manufacturer HAL's Hangar
29 September, 2020 was a special day for Indian aerospace manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The 300th advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv) rolled out from its production hangar.
2 min |