CATEGORIES

SOLAR CHARGING FOR PLANES

Saxon Air has completed the installation of what it calls a 'pioneering electric charging point' at its Business Aviation Centre in Norwich, believed to be the first of its kind at a UK regional airport, with the purpose-built infrastructure featuring a solar energy array specifically tailored for electric aircraft.

SLING H2 - HYDROGEN FLIGHT

A team of aeronautical students and their lecturers in Switzerland are building a Sling High Wing with hydrogen propulsion.

FRENCH FLIES

Like it or not, the French know how to make great planes - even if their cars are funny. So imagine what you get when you take French flair to the world's best-selling plane.

AVIATION'S GOT THE CAREERS - BUT ARE YOU READY?

Now that Covid is receding into being a bad dream and the aviation industry is bouncing back strongly, the aviation press, blogs and websites are abuzz with predictions that we're facing a massive skills shortage. The only way to address this is by dramatically ramping up training to ensure an ongoing flow of new professionals into the industry

AERO CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA AWARDS: 2024

General aviation is a dynamic and multifaceted pursuit that celebrates the freedom and exhilaration of flight. From piloting aeroplanes and helicopters to soaring with eagles in a glider, it offers a rich tapestry of experiences.

The Amazing PT6A Story

The famous slogan says - 'Trust in God and Pratt & Whitney'. And it is largely thanks to the ubiquitous PT6A that this statement is still true.

FLYING AROUND THE KZN AIRFIELDS

In less time than it takes to drive from one side of Johannesburg to the other, you can fly to beautiful KZN to experience amazing scenery and some fantastic airfields and hospitality.

MARK TIERNEY'S CAFE PROPOSAL

One of the many challenges faced by African airlines is access to cost effective finance.

GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

I'm sure you are familiar with the 'Leave Bug'. It's a little worm which lives in calendars. It hatches in cycles of two. Just before you are due to go on leave it grabs the last five days of duty and makes each one last for 48 hours.

OCTOBER 2024

The end of the year is fast approaching and so spare a thought for airline staff as this is one of the busiest times for them!

ENGINE FIRE!

Iris McCallum's continues her stories about her early years with Air Kenya, and we get to revisit one of her more dramatic moments.

VAN CELEBRATES HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY

RICHARD “DICK” VAN GRUNSVEN celebrated his 85th birthday by flying the RV-15X. This event was a celebration of decades of passion, innovation, and dedication to aviation.

LANSERIA AIRPORT implements E-Gates

As air travel continues to grow, pressure mounts on the check-in process, resulting in frustration and often leading to missed flights.

EXERCISE VUK'UHLOME 2024

The South African Army's Exercise Vuk'uhlome 2024 Distinguished Visitors (DV) Day took place on 21 November at its Lohatlha Combat Training Centre. Although an Army exercise, the event combines SAAF squadrons for ground support.

ORYX MEDICAL EVACUATION MISSION

ON SUNDAY, 10 NOVEMBER, a 22 Squadron SAAF Oryx helicopter was mobilised for a critical offshore medical evacuation mission. A German tourist had encountered a sudden medical emergency while aboard a cruise liner off Cape Agulhas.

WHAT ARE FRENCH CESSNAS?

IN THE LATE 1950S GENERAL AVIATION WAS BOOMING IN THE UNITED STATES. CESSNA HAD EMERGED AS A LEADER IN THE LIGHT AIRCRAFT MARKET, RIDING THE SUCCESS OF THE CESSNA 140 AND 170 SERIES INTO THE EVEN MORE POPULAR CESSNA 172.

RIGHT SEAT RULES NO.24 SLIPPING IT IN

What a graceful thing a sideslip is. When you watch an aeroplane slip gently onto the very threshold of a grass field and straighten out just before the wheels brush the turf, you know you are looking at an aviator - not an aeroplane driver.

Continental Aerospace Technologies Avgas engine workshop

Over a period of two weeks Tim Owen from Continental provided engine technical training within the Cirrus South Africa's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) at Lanseria International Airport for a selected group of individuals working within piston engine aircraft overhaul shops.

FK 9 Mk vi - RAPTOR

The FK9 Mk VI has just landed in South Africa.

An aviation photographer's experience at the Presidential inauguration

Witnessing the helicopter formation for the Presidential Inauguration in Pretoria on 18 June 2024 was an incredibly unique and exhilarating experience, an opportunity that does not come around very often.

EAA Chapter 322 Young Eagles 2024

The Experimental Aviation association (EAA) has a long history of engendering the passion for flying amongst its members as well as the youth of the world. EAA is a worldwide organisation with its most well-known event being the annual gathering in Oshkosh for a week of aviation as the largest aviation event in the world at the end of July each year.

Jabiru South Africa

Ask the aviation industry about Jabiru aircraft and you will find that they have an excellent reputation.

Bat Hawk Aircraft

Based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, Micro Aviation SA (SACAA M-628) is the manufacturer of the most affordable Rotax 912 ULS powered light sport aircraft in the world.

Belgium chposes Airbus H145M for Armed Forces and Federal Police

The Kingdom of Belgium will procure 15 multi-role H145M helicopters for the army and two helicopters plus three options for the Federal Police. The contract was signed between the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), on behalf of Belgium and Airbus Helicopters.

Sun City plans for sustainable solar energy

Sun City is going to great heights in its bid to one day take the resort completely off the grid. With all available space on the roof of Sun Central now covered by solar panels, the resort lifted its sights to the roof at The Palace and the Sun City hotel.

ExecuJet MRO Services! South Africa Set to Achieve New Record for Airframe Heavy Checks

JOHANNESBURG - ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, is poised to set a new record this year for airframe heavy maintenance checks. The company's previous annual record was seven, but this year it will complete at least 11 thanks to additional work on Dassault Falcon aircraft.

Maputo airshow 2024 What a treat!

On Sunday 16 June Christine and I returned from attending the Maputo airshow and what a fantastic experience this was not only for estimated 15 000 spectators, but also the members of the media present. As always Brian Emmenis and his team were on top form with a great selection of music. The grand finale with the Puma Energy Flying Lions T6 Harvards was simply beautiful and I saw several spectators with tears in their eyes as they expressed their happiness for the airshow.

Single-pilot operations and lemon juice

Psychology researchers have found that some of the dumbest criminals and the cockiest pilots may have something in common: a hazardous cognitive bias, the Dunning–Kruger effect that hinders self-perception, clouds judgment and leads individuals to overestimate their ability. However, new psychological discoveries may provide a cure.

Tech designed to prevent runway collisions tested in Washington

One Friday morning, the pilot of a Boeing 757 airliner approached Yakima Airport in Central Washington and lined up to land. On the threshold of the runway below, a Falcon 900 business jet was set for take-off, directly in the path of the Boeing 757.

Aviation industry improves baggage handling

SITA announced an improvement in the air transport industry's rate of mishandled baggage. The newly launched SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 reports the number of bags mishandled by the industry falling from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 passengers in 2023.