African Pilot
TOURISM, THE ANSWER TO REBUILDING AFRICA'S AVIATION INDUSTRY?
As global air travel positions to outperform 2019 levels, there is a surge in initiatives across Africa’s aviation industry to improve domestic and international air connectivity and increase air traffic within Africa and between Africa and neighbouring regions.
4 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
COMAC C919 TO FLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
While China's home-built aircraft, the COMAC C919 received its Type Certificate (TC) in September 2022, the narrow-body jet is yet to carry passengers on a commercial flight. However, this is about to change, as local media reported that the C919 will be operational 'as soon as possible.'
6 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
UK SELECTS FOUR COMPETITORS TO BID FOR NEW MEDIUM HELICOPTER CONTRACT
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) has down selected four manufacturers to move to the next phase of its £1 billion (US$1.15 billion) new medium helicopter acquisition.
3 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
TOP 10 IN SERVICE ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN THE WORLD
Within the 90th edition of APAnews this year I reported on Nigeria acquiring T-129 attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries and this prompted me to take a look at the world's in service attack helicopters.
8 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE IN AVIATION
Look into any pilot’s hangar and you will see a wide variety of oils and lubricants for their aircraft. Look closer and you will also see a variety of tools and different cleaning supplies for every part of the aircraft. Then take a look inside the cockpit and you will see redundant systems to ensure safe flight.
6 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
BILL HARROP'S ORIGINAL BALLOON SAFARIS NIGHT GLOW
On Saturday afternoon 19 November Christine and I together with many people from the Magaliesburg valley west of Hartbeespoort Dam were treated to a delicious dinner and an amazing spectacle as somewhere in the region of 15 historical hot air balloons were inflated on the beautiful rolling lawns of the estate.
5 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
ORION CUB
Rugged yet beautiful, solid yet lightweight, easy to build and completely dependable.
1 min |
December 2022
African Pilot
Alton Aero Engineering cc
Emric airlines and Alton Aero Engineering were established in 1972 at Empangeni airfield by Boet Voges, Merwyn Wallace and the late Cyril Johnson to provide a service to the local aviation industry.
1 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
African Airlines 2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger numbers and revenues of African Airlines plummeted, but there have still been success stories in Africa's aviation industry over the past year.
10+ min |
November 2022
African Pilot
NAMESTO REMEMBER: World War II veteran takes to the air in SBD Dive Bomber 80 years later
World War II veteran Dick Miralles slid into the gunner's seat of the SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber almost as easily as he did 80 years ago in the South Pacific. Miralles (98) was reliving his wartime experience in a restored SBD operated by CAF Airbase Georgia in Peachtree City, Georgia.
2 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
ZS-VCE - A PERSONAL HISTORY
In 1949 an Ercoupe, the 415-E model, with the serial number 4975 was born. I'm not exactly sure how she got into South Africa, but she started her life as ZS-BSJ as early as 1950. As with all Ercoupes of the time, she had no rudder pedals and was fitted with the Continental C-85 85 hp) engine.
7 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
THE COVID ADVENTURE CONTINUES - HYENAS OF THE LIMPOPO
Smuggling of cigarettes, contraband, vehicles, humans and equipment to and from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River has become a normal daily business, but increased dramatically from the beginning of April 2020 when South African lockdown regulations banned cigarette sales.
3 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
CORSIA, SAF & Poppy Mania
Who wudda thought it? According to ICAO, the biggest crisis facing the airline industry today is not the sky-high price of fuel or the problems of actually getting it to the airports when gas pipelines are being blown up and tankers get caught in storms.
6 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
REVISITING A PC-12 CRASH
Sometimes it's not the speed that breaks aeroplanes, it's the slowing down.
6 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
PARAMOUNT QUALIFIES ENGINEERS
Addressing the pending skills shortage, Paramount Aerospace Systems PAS), has qualified fifteen students as aircraft technicians and engineers.
1 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
TECNAM’S P2012 STOL
Tecnam has introduced the new P2012 STOL dedicated to Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) operations.
1 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
FLYING A NAVION RANGEMASTER FROM LAGOS TO NAIROBI
Laura McDermid continues her stories of Iris McCallum’s flying exploits.
5 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
HUGH’S FIRST FLIGHT EVER
Some of my friends say that am a slow reader and a late developer. Maybe they are right, but I find that when I read something, I tend to remember it better than some of the high-speed readers of my acquaintance do, and when, a bit later in life than some of my contemporaries, I spot some new enthusiasm I tend to fall for it, big time.
5 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
ERCO ERCOUPE A WONDERFUL LITTLE PLANE!
With its low wing, tricycle gear and safe car-like handling, the Ercoupe was a genuinely revolutionary aircraft.
10+ min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
FLYING FOR FREEDOM
AS THE FOUNDER and driving force behind his registered and approved non-profit organisation, Flying For Freedom SA (FFFSA), Tokkie Botes has donated over 1,000 hours of flying in his Bell 206 to the service of conservation in Southern Africa.
1 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
WORLD AIRCRAFT SALES STAY HEALTHY
The International Aircraft Dealers Association’s 2022 Third Quarter Market Report documents a flourishing resale market for business aircraft with a balanced outlook for the next six months.
1 min |
November 2022
SA Flyer Magazine
BOEING MAX 7’S APPROVAL DELAYED
The FAA is asking more questions about Boeing’s 737 Max 7 aircraft, increasing the likelihood that the company will be unable to complete the certification process by late December and have to undertake a costly redesign.
1 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT
Situated in Midrand, between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Grand Central is a boutique airport offering visitors a range of services from aviation retail and car rental to chartered flights, flight schools, aviation maintenance operations, excellent restaurant and corporate rental facilities.
10+ min |
November 2022
African Pilot
BLACKHAWK DELIVERS 100TH XP67A ENGINE UPGRADE
Blackhawk Aerospace's XP67A engine upgrade delivers much faster climb and cruise speeds to the Beechcraft King Air 350.
2 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
BEST OF THE BEST: ND WWII VETERAN REFLECTS ON A LIFELONG LOVE OF AVIATION
World War II Army Air Corps pilot Ernest 'Hod' Hutson stands in his Grafton, N.D. home on Thursday, 17 May 2018
3 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
TEN EUROPEAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS YOU MAY NOT HAVE ENCOUNTERED
When it comes to European aircraft manufacturers, Airbus is the undisputed king. However, there are still many smaller and perhaps lesser-known aircraft makers on the continent, including ATR, Dassault, Fokker, Saab and Piaggio.
2 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
HIGH DEMAND FOR THE PC-12 NGX AND PC-24
Exhibiting both the PC-12 NGX and the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet at the world's premier business aviation show, the National Business Aviation Association & Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), Pilatus confirms very high demand for both aircraft.
2 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR AIRPLANE'S OIL?
Recently I was talking to an engine rebuilder about oil change intervals for aircraft engines. He related an experience with a plane owner who was having him do an annual inspection on his aircraft. A problem came up when the mechanic listed an oil change as part of the inspection, even though the aircraft had been flown just 12 hours in the last 12 months.
3 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
HOLBORN ASSETS SPRINGS AIRFIELD SEASON FINALE SPEED NAVIGATION RALLY
The South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) organised the 2022 Season finale Speed Navigation Rally on Saturday 1 October 2022 at the Springs airfield. This was the fourth event of Season four of the Speed Rally series.
4 min |
November 2022
African Pilot
DEMOCRATISATION OF LUXURY COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE AVIATION
The aviation industry continues to evolve and proliferate, with new trends becoming increasingly prevalent in commercial and private aviation. However, a notable phenomenon in private aviation entails the democratisation of luxury travel, characterised by changing perceptions among air travellers about private flying as a domain exclusively reserved for the ultra-wealthy and increased utilisation of private air travel services.
3 min |